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TEN TO FOLLOW
Welcome to the BHA Ten to Follow, where we pick ten promising horses to keep your eyes out for throughout the 2009/10 Jumps season.
You can also follow our selection's progress here throughout the year!
Races: 22
Won: 11
Placed: 3
£1 Level Stakes Profit: -£2.52
CHASERS
Kauto Star
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Usual Jockey: Ruby Walsh
Owner: Clive Smith
What we said: Three King Georges, two Gold Cups, two Tingle Creek Chases, two Betfair Chases...Kauto Star is undoubtedly the superstar of jump racing. No horse has captured the imagination and hearts of the British public like Kauto for many years.
In a typically classy performance at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival Kauto became the first horse ever to regain a Gold Cup title after having been victorious in 2007 but then beaten when under par by Denman in 2008. This time Kauto demolished the field to end another vintage season, which had already seen him win his third consecutive King George VI chase on a high.
Kauto may be raced more sparingly this year as connections attempt to maximise the mileage they can get out of the nation’s favourite, but expect to see him at least defending his King George VI and Gold Cup titles. If he takes the former then he will join Desert Orchid as the only horse to win the prize 4 times, and the only ever to win it 4 consecutive times. If he wins another Gold Cup he will simply go down in history as one of, if not the, all time great.
The story so far:
- Won an absolutely thrilling Betfair Chase on 21st November, beating fellow Ten to Follow pick Imperial Commander by the thinnest of noses in a driving finish
- Followed up by making history by becoming the first horse ever to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 4 consecutive years, when he demolished a top class field by a record-breaking distance and achieving a rating of 195. A staggering performance, one of the all time greats.
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
+£1.20
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Master Minded
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Usual Jockey: Ruby Walsh
Owner: Clive Smith
What we said: “He is better than a machine, he is an aeroplane...He beat real good horses last year, proper championship horses, and he annihilated them. To me he is a one in a million horse. What I go racing for is horses like this”. This is how Ruby Walsh described the practically invincible Master Minded after one of his 4 Grade One victories last season.
Master Minded has reached the top of his game now and over his optimum trip of around 2 miles he has not been beaten since unseating Sam Thomas in 2007, and it would be no surprise if that record extended to the end of the 2010 campaign. Combining a scintillating turn of foot with inch perfect jumping this horse has everything and has proved too good for everything set in his path, including some legendary beatings to the likes of Voy Por Ustedes who he ran 19 lengths of in the 2008 Queen Mother Champion Chase, before going on to retain that title in 2009 after having already won the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chase.
He met stiffer resistance at the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown, seeing off Big Zeb by only a head, but that came at the end of a long year so it would be no surprise to see him back to his best in a campaign which may follow a similar route to last season. The most remarkable thing about this horse is that he is only 6 going on 7 at the time of writing, meaning he probably has his best years ahead of him.
The story so far:
- A hugely disappointing reappearance in the Connaugh Chase at Cheltenham on November 15th when he never looked comfortable, pulled badly to the right and was beaten soundly by Well Chief
- Back with a bang after a long lay off for a broken rib, which was the reason for his poor run at Cheltenham. Took a decent field, including the likes of Voy Por Ustedes, to pieces despite a big error at the last in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on 13th February when 8/13 favourite
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
-£0.35
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Imperial Commander
Trainer: N A Twiston-Davies
Regular Jockey: Paddy Brennan
Owner: Our Friends in the North
What we said: Cheltenham specialist Imperial Commander fulfilled his early promise in 2008 when he saw off 19 challengers to claim the Paddy Power Gold Cup in ready fashion. His undoubted quality was then franked by a career highlight success in the Ryanair Chase at the festival, seeing off Voy Por Ustedes to claim his first Grade 1 success.
A game stayer and generally sound jumper who runs prominently and loves the Cheltenham hill, Imperial Commander could well be in with a shout of major honours throughout the year, particularly at his favoured Cheltenham. What will be interesting to follow however is his form away from the Gloucestershire course.
His successes last year were punctuated by an uncomfortable 6th in the King George VI when he never looked happy, and pulling up when well beaten in the Irish Gold Cup at Punchestown. 9 of his 13 career races have been run at Cheltenham, and all but one of his 6 wins have been at this course.
If he can crack that particular conundrum then we could see a stellar year from the Twiston-Davies trained star, but either way you can guarantee some big runs from Imperial Commander at the home of jumps this season.
The story so far:
- Beaten by the great Kauto Star (also one of our Ten to Follow) by an agonisingly small margin in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on 21st November when 9/1. A fine run though and pushing Kauto this close shows the signs of delivering on all his promise this year.
- Came up against Kauto Star once more in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, and this time found the going much tougher as he struggled on the right-handed track and eventually finished 5th.
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
-£2
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Master Medic
Trainer: R H & Mrs S Alner
Regular Jockey: Robert Walford
Owner: Pell Mell Partnership
What we said: For those who like a heart-warming story to supplement their winnings, Master Medic will be a key horse for the 2009/10 season. Robert and Sally Alner were dealt a vicious blow when, on the morning of 8th November 2007, Robert was involved in a car crash that left him fighting for his life.
Just how serious the situation had been was brought home later that December when Miko De Beauchene, in front of BBC cameras, landed a Welsh National that sparked emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure and softened many a hard soul in the process.
Thankfully Robert is now out of hospital and convalescing at home but the pool of goodwill remains plentiful as the search for another flagship horse continues. They may have already found one in Master Medic.
The Pell-Mell Partners’ lightly-raced gelding slipped under a few radars last season despite showing significant improvement once sent chasing, as many from the yard have done down the years. On his first run in a handicap chase he gave Atouchbetweenacara 15lbs and a beating before following up in a very competitive Class 2 Handicap at Ascot. A tilt at the Arkle or Jewson was being considered until a blood disorder forced Sally to draw stumps for the term.
Now fully recovered and still capable of improvement, Master Medic is one to pay close attention to on decent ground between two and two and a half miles. He may also get further in time but will stick to those sort or trips for now and should be a contender for the big Festival handicaps, and might even be a dark one for the Ryanair Chase.
The story so far:
- A cracking start to the season as he takes the Listed Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot on 31st October, cutting down the leader from the second-last and staying on well. 9/2F.
- Followed up with another creditable run, but this time must settle for 2nd place behind an impressive Fix the Rib on 21st November, again at Ascot when 4/1 third favourite.
- Was disappointing next time out as he found the King George VI Chase too much to handle and was eventually pulled up.
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
+£2.50
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Crack Away Jack
Trainer: Miss E C Lavelle
Regular Jockey: Noel Fehily
Owner: Gdm Partnership
What we said: Crack Away Jack is a horse who has been seen by many as not quite fulfilling his immense potential to date.
Since winning the Fred Winter Juvenile Novice’s Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2008 he has been successful on only one occasion, a limited handicap at Chepstow, and has also been involved in some disappointing reverses when beaten out of sight at Ascot by Binocular and 4 others in December, after being thwarted by a since modestly successful Chomba Womba in November.
However, there were real glimmers of this horse’s potential returning when he ran a creditable, and very strong finishing, fourth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out.
Chasing was always going to be the ultimate goal for Jack, and so it is with eager anticipation that we see how he copes in his Novice year. Noises coming from the yard suggest that he is loving the larger obstacles, and if all falls into place for him then we could see his star rising once again in 2009/10.
The story so far:
- A comfortable start to his Chasing career, scoring by 17 lengths from Calusa Caldera in a beginners' chase at Sandown on 7th November at odds of 1/5.
- Slightly disappointing on reappearance when beaten by the very impressive Somersby in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown on 5th December
- Ran creditably in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on 27th December when finishing 4th in a high class field of experienced Chasers
- Suffered an unfortunate season ending tendon injury at the end of December which will see him out for 12 months at least
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
-£1.80
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HURDLERS
Big Buck's
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Usual Jockey: Ruby Walsh
Owner: The Stewart Family
What we said: Big Buck’s proved to be one of the undoubted stars of the 2008/09 jumps season, but not in the way that many expected...
29th November 2008 and Big Buck’s sets off as 5/1 second favourite for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury after a promising 07/08 campaign which culminated in success in the Grade 2 John Smith’s Mildmay Novices Chase. Prominent but heavily under pressure approaching the last Sam Thomas asks him for a huge leap to be in with any chance of success, a move which resulted in Thomas being unseated, and changing the face of this young star’s career forever.
Connections held crisis talks to discuss the future of one of their prize assets, with the result being a decision made to send him back over hurdles as concerns grew about his jumping ability over the larger obstacles. He never looked back and went on to win all 4 of his remaining races over timber, and became a nation’s favourite and one of the stories of the season.
After Unicoin Homes Handicap and Grade 2 Cleve Hurdle successes at Cheltenham Big Buck’s propelled himself to superstardom by destroying a high quality World Hurdle field at the Festival, including short priced French favourite Kasbah Bliss and a classy staying hurdler in Punchestowns. In doing so he recorded an official rating of a staggering 170, which placed him higher than World Hurdle legend Inglis Drever.
He then went on to rubberstamp his credentials as the top staying hurdler in Britain with another convincing success this time in the Liverpool Hurdle at the Aintree Festival and cap a magnificent and headline grabbing season.
Big Buck’s is a terrific stayer with the heart of a lion, his style is to leave his challenge until late, often well after the last flight has been cleared, and just outstay his rivals through sheer determination and grit, and it is this which has earned him his place in the nation’s affections. Another big season can be expected from him this year, probably culminating in another tilt at the World Hurdle, but history has shown that with Big Buck’s you just never know what he’ll do next!
The story so far:
- An immaculate return, crushing a top class field in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on 28th November when 2/5 favourite. It looks like there is nothing out there to live with him this year!
- Was pitted against his two main rivals Diamond Harry and Karabak in the rearranged Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on 28th December and, despite looking under slightly more pressure this time, still ran out a comfortable winner and confirmed himself as the undisputed best staying hurdler around.
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
+£0.90
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Hurricane Fly
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Usual Jockey: Ruby Walsh
Owner: George Creighton
What we said: With three Grade 1 successes already under his belt at the tender age of 5, one of the biggest disappointments of the 2008/09 season was when this potential superstar hurdler was forced to miss his Cheltenham Festival after being found to be lame, following his 10 length Grade 1 Future Champion Novice Hurdle win over soon-to-be Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Go Native in December.
The Fly did hold an entry for the Champion Hurdle but trainer Willie Mullins would probably have steered him towards the Supreme Novices, and his contemptuous dismissal of the future winner in that race at Leopardstown suggests that he would have taken all the beating on the day if not for his unfortunate injury.
He did recover in time to take the Irish Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown festival, again with a scintillating 7 length victory showing the Cheltenham crowds just what they missed out on.
Comfortable over 2 to 2 ½ furlongs and with success already in varying ground conditions the Fly will race close behind the leaders before blowing them away with a blistering turn of foot. The only fear for Hurricane Fly is that he has already reached the limit of his abilities, but with trainer Mullins suggesting his work this year is better than ever it could just be that we have yet another Irish trained superstar on our hands if he can stay fit.
At the time of writing he is 3/1 favourite for the 2010 Champion Hurdle without even having set foot on a racecourse this season.
The story so far:
- Beaten comfortably by the impressive Solwhit in the heavy ground at Punchestown on 15th November. Solwhit now takes his place at the head of the Champion Hurdle market
- Suffered an injury in December which could see him missing out on the Cheltenham Festival once more
- Confirmed that he will not be going to the festival this season
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
-£1
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Dunguib
Trainer: Philip Fenton
Usual Jockey: Mr B T O'Connell
Owner: Daniel Harnett
What we said: Dunguib staked his claim as potentially the most exciting novice hurdler for 2009/10 when he annihilated all comers in the 2009 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. Quickening clear up the hill from 2 furlongs out he left 23 challengers toiling in his wake as he went on to score by 10 lengths in one of the most emphatic and eye-catching successes of the 4 day event.
He then went on to follow this up with a 9 length success in the Irish Champion Bumper, against what was possibly a stronger field, before having the event taken off him as the result of an unfortunate mistaken dose of worming medication leading to a drug sample coming back positive.
With the world seemingly at his feet the only concern was whether he would take to hurdles or not, but early noises from his yard and an emphatic maiden hurdle success suggest that this is not an issue, and what this horse could achieve is limitless if he fulfils his potential.
Dunguib may stay in Ireland for many of his initial hurdle appearances, but expect to see him as a solid favourite for the Supreme Novices at the Cheltenham festival at least over on these shores.
The story so far:
- Just what the doctor ordered as he takes to hurdling like a dream and wins his maiden by an easy 4 lengths, justifying odds of 1/7.
- Followed this up with another emphatic 4 length + victory at Punchestown on 14th November when 2/13 favourite.
- Continued his inexorable rise with comfortable success in the Fairyhouse Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle when 3/10 favourite on 2nd December.
- Even more impressive again in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on 7th February when seeing off a decent field with absolute contemptuous ease without breaking sweat for another 3/10 victory
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
+ £0.92
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Binocular
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Usual Jockey: AP McCoy
Owner: JP McManus
What we said: First appearing over timber in January 2008, Binocular became one of the most talked about hurdlers in Britain over the course of that calendar year. 5 wins out of 6 including two Grade 2s and a Grade 1 saw him priced down to 6/4 favourite for the 2009 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Of those five victories in 2008 some were so exhilarating and emphatic that many were describing him as a “machine”, and as one of the most exciting hurdlers seen for some time. However, since that first appearance in Jan 2008 there have been only two blots on his otherwise immaculate copybook, and both have come at Cheltenham, in the Supreme Novices Hurdle in 2008 and, eventually, that Champion Hurdle for which he was such a strong favourite in 2009.
On both occasions he far from disappointed, his 2008 Supreme Novices saw him claim 2nd spot while the Champion Hurdle defeat was a more than creditable run in 3rd. Most owners would kill for those sort of figures, but it is still a millstone around Binocular’s neck approaching the 2009/10 season.
Does he get the Cheltenham hill? Is he a flat track bully? Does he perform over the undulating Cheltenham course, compared to the likes of Ascot and Aintree where he has massacred high class opposition on more than one occasion? Will he be able to improve and raise his game to match the challenge from the likes of Hurricane Fly this year?
This is a crucial season for Binocular, there can be no doubt that he has it in his locker to answer all of the above and become a true superstar, but no one will know until the action unfolds.
The story so far:
- A worrying start for the season when failing to deliver on the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on 28th December, failed to show his usual turn of foot when 4/5 favourite and left connections bemused as to the reason for the lacklustre showing.
- It was Go native who beat him at Newcastle and he once again had the measure of Binocular in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Binocular ran well but was beaten into 3rd by Go Native and Starluck
- Finally cracked his first victory of the season when justifying odds of 1/7 in the Listed Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on 6th February
- Disaster struck when he was ruled out for the season with a muscle problem
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
- £1.86
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Cesare
Trainer: J R Fanshawe
Usual Jockey: TBC
Owner: Cheveley Park Stud
What we said: Kempton, Boxing Day 1991, and the runners are being washed down after the first. An expectant crowd will shortly see The Fellow win his first King George and Desert Orchid run in his last, while James Fanshawe has just introduced Royal Gait, at the age of 8, to hurdling. The 1988 Gold Cup “winner” was switching codes quite late in life but showed plenty of promise, finishing second to Travado in the opening novices’ hurdle.
Quite how many people envisaged him storming up the hill to claim the Champion Hurdle less than three months later is something else all together.
Fast forward the best part of two decades and another high-profile Fanshawe inmate, himself a Royal Ascot winner and also aged 8, looks to tread a similar path…step forward Cesare.
The Cheveley Park stalwart has been beaten, agonisingly, less than 2 lengths in the last three renewals of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes but his Ascot win CV is also worth reprising with a Royal Hunt Cup, Summer Mile and Paradise Stakes (twice) all showing he can get the job done.
Uncertainty surrounds any horse in their first season’s hurdling but we can be clear on two things - this great old favourite of Pegasus Stables would not be risked unless everything was going to plan and, more importantly, the horse is having fun.
Early reports suggest he’s doing just that so, with his engine and a hurdler or two close up in his pedigree, Cesare will, for many, be the most fascinating of this season’s Flat recruits.
The story so far:
- Beaten into third but running with merit on his first ever attempt over obstacles in a Novices hurdle at Doncaster on 12th December. Will come on for the run and if he can prove he stays the 2m trip then could kick on from this first outing
- A U-turn was then made which saw the plan to continue over jumps aborted and retirement mooted
£1 Level Stakes Profit:
- £1
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