We continue or stable tours for the new jumps season with Mark Howard getting the lowdown from Sandy Thomson on his team.
ALOOMOMO (FR) 10 b g Tirwanako (FR) – Kayola (FR)
A lovely horse who broke his shoulder earlier in his career and we were therefore delighted to see him win for us at Kelso in January. Runner-up over hurdles at Ayr in March, his big target was the Northern Lights series final but the season was cut short. He is qualified for this season’s final so he is likely to be aimed at that once again, plus some of the nice two and a half miles handicap chases.
BASS ROCK (FR) 4 b g Martaline – Horta (FR)
A new arrival, he only raced once in France finishing fifth at Clairefontaine in the summer of last year. He is a lovely horse and we are looking forward to starting him off at Carlisle on Thursday.
CAVENTARA 8 b g Kayf Tara – L’Aventure (FR)
He loves hock deep ground and stays very well. A winner at Kelso on his reappearance nearly a year ago, he was still going well when falling in the Borders National at the same track last time. Off since, that will be his main target once again with one run beforehand.
DELUXE RANGE (IRE) 5 b g Westerner – Kildea Cailin (IRE)
Fifth on his hurdles debut at Hexham on Saturday, he is a nice horse who ran in a couple of Irish points before we bought him. He has strengthened up during the summer and is a lovely horse for the future. His future is as a chaser but I am hopeful he will win over hurdles beforehand.
DUC DE GRISSAY (FR) 7 b g Denham Red (FR) – Rhea De Grissay (FR)
A winner over fences at Kelso in March, he remains eligible for novice races until the end of November. The original plan was to aim him at the Durham National at Sedgefield on Sunday but I don’t think we will go there. However, he will be in action shortly and is a nice staying prospect who was bought cheaply having run in four Irish point-to-points.
ELF DE RE (FR) 6 ch g Anabaa Blue – Ninon De Re (FR)
Enjoyed a good season over hurdles winning by a wide margin at Kelso in December before finishing second twice at the same track. He ran very well in a Grade 2 novice hurdle last time and we are looking forward to sending him chasing. He has schooled well and he will start off over two miles at Carlisle (22nd October) next week. Versatile in terms of trip, he stays well but isn’t short of speed either.
EMPIRE STEEL (IRE) 6 gr g Aizavoski (IRE) – Talk of Rain (FR)
Placed in two of his three Irish points, he won well on hurdles debut at Carlisle before finding the ground too soft at Ayr last time. A few of ours weren’t at their best at that time either and he has had a good break since. He looks well and has filled out since last season. He is another who is going over fences and will start off in a 0-135 novices’ handicap chase at Ayr at the end of the month.
FANTASTIC ROCK (FR) 5 ch g Konig Turf (GER) – Rock Treasure (FR)
A bumper winner in France, he was also second a couple of times over hurdles last year. A big strong horse, he has needed time and will have his first run for us in a novice hurdle at Ayr (26th October) later this month.
FLOWER OF SCOTLAND (FR) 5 gr m Lord Du Sud (FR) – Theme Song (FR)
Yet to run for us, I am delighted with her and, although she is still a maiden over hurdles and fences, she had some good form in France. Not the biggest, she jumps very well and is like a little rubber ball. She has chilled out since arriving and we will start her off in a novices’ hurdle at Carlisle on Thursday. Rated 125, she is an interesting prospect.
GERONIMO 9 ch g Kadastrof (FR) – Triggers Ginger
Won on his reappearance at Newcastle in December before finishing third in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock the following month. Pulled up in the Grand National Trial at the same track, we were aiming him at the Scottish National once again. He will return in a two and a half miles handicap chase at Ayr (31st October) and we have operated on his wind since his last run, which will hopefully bring about further improvement. He will then contest the decent staying handicap chases.
MCGOWAN’S PASS 9 b g Central Park (IRE) – Function Dreamer
Consistent in three starts last season, he won at Ayr before filling second position at Kelso and Wetherby. He will reappear in the Scottish Champion Hurdle Trial at Ayr (31st October). It is possible two and a half miles is more of his trip nowadays but he has plenty of good form over two miles. We may send him over fences in the spring.
MILVALE (IRE) 6 b g Ask – House-Of-Hearts (IRE)
Won over hurdles at Kelso in late February but then had an issue and we weren’t happy with him. He has come back in looking stronger, although he isn’t the biggest of horses, and the intention is to send him chasing. He wants soft ground and we will start him off at either Ayr (31st October) or Carlisle (1st November). Runner-up in an Irish point, I am expecting him to stay three miles this season.
OFF THE BEAT 6 ch g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) – Off By Heart
Has only raced three times for us and I was delighted with his win at Newcastle early in the New Year. Not at his best at the same track last time, he will remain over hurdles and we will aim him at two and a half miles handicaps. We are going to step him up in trip this season.
OVERCOURT 6 b g Court Cave (IRE) – Overlady
Progressive over hurdles, he won at Musselburgh and Newcastle and is tough. We have been schooling him over fences and the plan is for him to make his chasing debut at Sedgefield on Sunday (18th October). His dam stayed all day and I hope he will develop into a nice chaser.
SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT 12 b g Midnight Legend – Morsky Baloo
A Grade 2 winner over hurdles and fences, and placed in the Scottish National, he has been a fantastic horse for us over the year. It was brilliant to see him win at Carlisle last spring having spent nearly two years on the sidelines. We were going to aim him at the Scottish National once again but the season got cut short. He is in good order at home but I don’t know whether he is going to be ready in time for a veterans’ chase at Aintree (25th October). The final at Sandown early in the New Year is likely to be his main target this season.
SIRWILLIAMWALLACE (IRE) 7 b g Getaway (GER) – Mrs Milan (IRE)
We have some lovely young horses to go chasing this season and we are looking forward to sending this one over fences. He hasn’t stopped growing for the last couple of years and, having finished runner-up at Ayr in Ayr in January, he won well next time at Kelso. He had had enough by the time he ran at Newcastle last time. He will make his chasing debut at Wetherby on Wednesday and his schooling has been good.
SOPHIE FATALE 8 b m Robin Des Champs (FR) – Buffy
She had leg problems prior to joining us but I was pleased with her last season finishing second twice at Kelso and Newcastle and also third at Hexham. Despite the fact she is still a maiden over hurdles, I think she will be suited by fences and will run in mares’ event over two and a half to three miles. I am expecting her to stay well this season.
THE FERRY MASTER (IRE) 7 b g Elusive Pimpernel (USA) – Dinghy (IRE)
Progressive over hurdles last season, we threw him in the deep end in Graded company at Haydock in February before he was awarded a race at Carlisle the following month. We operated on his wind during the summer and I thought he ran very well on his chasing debut at Hexham on Saturday finishing second. His schooling had gone well and his jumping was good. He will appreciate stepping up to three miles in time and ought to make a lovely chaser.
Others in the series:
Mark Howard, author of One Jump Ahead & Racing TV
One Jump Ahead, which includes interviews with Kim Bailey, Harry Fry, Chris Gordon, Philip Hobbs, Anthony Honeyball, Alan King, Tom Lacey, Olly Murphy, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O’Neill, David Pipe and Nicky Richards, plus leading owner Rich Ricci and three times Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Henrietta Knight, can be purchased for £10.99 (including postage) from www.mhpublications.co.uk
