Mark Howard with six jumpers to follow this National Hunt Season
By Mark Howard, author of One Jump Ahead & Racing UK pundit
Last Updated: 29/09/14 3:18pm
One Jump Ahead author and Racing UK pundit Mark Howard has six dark horses to follow for the new National Hunt season. Keep a close eye on the sextet, as in the same feature last year he put up subsequent Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Vautour.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has done tremendously well with his recruits from across the Channel with household names Big Buck’s, Kauto Star and Master Minded winning 34 Grade 1 races between them.
LE MERCUREY has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath as that trio but hopes are high the four year old will make a big splash over hurdles this winter. A dual winner for Augustin Adeline De Boisbrunet in France, the Nickname gelding registered two victories at Auteuil towards the backend of last year.
Another trip to the Parisian track in November for a Grade 1 hurdle could be on his agenda before being aimed at conditions hurdles over here. Long-term, chasing will ultimately bring out the best in the Chris Giles and Colm Donlon owned Le Mercurey.
It is early days to be thinking about the Triumph Hurdle but Nicky Henderson will be seeking to win it for a record sixth time next March. The head of Seven Barrows has taken charge of the lightly raced HARGAM, who won over 12 furlongs at Longchamp in May for Alain de Royer-Dupre in France.
Beaten half a length by Group One-placed Teletext on his debut at the same track on his debut, he was almost certainly inconvenienced by the drop back in trip at Maisons-Laffitte last time in Listed company. With Champion Hurdler Binocular now enjoying his retirement, Henderson and JP McManus may have found a ready-made replacement. His jumping bow is eagerly anticipated.
Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Vautour was trained in France by Guillaume Macaire. Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins returned to the Les Mathes based handler in the summer and purchased the once-raced KALKIR.
A well-bred gelding by Montmartre, he finished three lengths fourth behind a stablemate on his sole outing over hurdles at Auteuil in April. The form looks sound, too, with the third Bonito Du Berlais winning three Listed hurdles since. He could emerge as one of Ireland’s leading juvenile hurdlers this campaign.
The Irish pointing scene has been a good source for Andrea and Graham Wylie over the years with Back In Focus, Briar Hill and Shaneshill all winning Grade One events in recent seasons. The co-founder of the Sage Group has purchased the twice-raced UP FOR REVIEW during the spring/summer and the gelded son of Presenting looks set to develop into a smart staying novice hurdler for Willie Mullins.
Previously handled by John Costello in County Clare, the hobdayed five-year-old won by six lengths at Knockanard in February. From the family of Turpin Green, he could be very good indeed over fences one day.
Donald McCain is another big supporter of Irish point-to-points and he has acquired a plethora of high-class recruits over the years, most notably the recently-retired Peddlers Cross. The Cheshire-based trainer has been active during the ‘off season’ buying fresh talent and arguably one of his most interesting acquisitions is the unbeaten MAHLER LAD. A length-and-a-half winner between the flags at Maralin in March, he beat a couple of Willie Mullins-bound opponents when in the care of Colin Bowe. Expect him to contest a bumper before being sent hurdling.
Finally, Jonjo O’Neill was also heavily involved in the spring and summer sales and he also purchased a number of former pointers privately. They included 10-lengths Tallow winner MONBEG GOLD, who will sport Martin Broughton’s green and red silks, which were carried to Festival glory last March by Taquin Du Seuil.
Formerly trained by Sean Doyle, he powered clear of his rivals and was snapped up soon afterwards by the master of Jackdaws Castle. Unfortunately, his sire Gold Well is no longer with us, having died following a bout of colic last November, but not before he produced Holywell and Johns Spirit for the same yard.
One Jump Ahead, which includes exclusive interviews with leading owners Rich Ricci and Graham Wylie, plus Harry Fry, Warren Greatrex, Nicky Henderson, Philip Hobbs, Alan King, Charlie Longsdon, Donald McCain, Paul Nicholls, David Pipe, John Quinn and Lucinda Russell, can be purchased for £8.99 (including postage) from www.mhpublications.co.uk