In the first instalment of our National Hunt season preview, the two horse racing broadcasters pick out the Novice Hurdlers they will be keeping an eye on.
GARY O’BRIEN
Kopek Des Bordes
The opposition might not have been all that hot, but it was the manner of his victory in Fairyhouse’s Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial bumper that marked Kopek Des Bordes down as one to look forward to over hurdles. He was particularly strong through the line after travelling powerfully through that contest and should have a bright future.
Fleur Au Fusil
Though she often made life difficult for herself in bumpers by racing over-enthusiastically, Fleur Au Fusil was nevertheless able to land a Grade 2 confined to her own sex at Leopardstown before running very creditably at Cheltenham. Expect this mare to go a long way over hurdles if she learns to relax a bit more.
Minella Sixo
This horse coped well with a sharp rise in class when second to the smart Potters Charm at Cheltenham recently, sticking to the task to be beaten just 2 1/4 lengths. He had impressed in winning a point-to-point and maiden hurdle prior to that and there should be plenty more to come when he steps up to three miles.
NICK LIGHTFOOT
Miami Magic
This five-year-old made a superb start to life for Stuart Edmunds when winning at Fakenham at the end of October. I liked the way he brushed aside his rivals even after getting into a bit of a speed duel earlier in the race. That race was run over two miles, but Miami Magic’s trainer believes the son of Leading Light will prove better over even further. He is a half brother of the talented Pobbles Bay and looks to have an exciting long-term future.
East India Dock
I wanted to include a juvenile hurdler in this list and East India Dock is the first name to spring to mind. His trainer, James Owen, is fast becoming the go-to trainer in the juvenile division – in Britain, at least – and East India Dock, rated 89 on the flat, really impressed me when winning at Wincanton in late October. The trainer has a number of cards to shuffle in the juvenile division over the coming months, but I hope that this horse will end up near the top of the pack.
Teeshan
It is very, very early days but I firmly believe Teeshan is going to make up into a very strong performer over obstacles. His success in an Exeter bumper was probably just about in keeping with the reputation he garnered when winning a Loughanmore point by 41 lengths. Connections then had a crack at the champion bumper at Cheltenham, but keenness stopped him showing his best. A slight setback prevented Teeshan making his hurdles debut at Chepstow in the Persian War, but I’m sure he’ll prove worth the wait.
Romeo Coolio
What does £420,000 even stretch to these days? Well, a horse called Romeo Coolio, for starters. When you cost as much as that there are always going to be lofty expectations, but I believe his run in the champion bumper suggests the son of Kayf Tara can go a long way to justifying it. On compiling this list, I didn’t want to focus solely on those bound for the Cheltenham Festival, giving some lesser lights due attention, but I think Romeo Coolio is impossible to leave out. He is set for a very big career over the jumps and it all starts at Down Royal on the first Saturday in November.
Thistle Be The One
This horse created more than enough of an impression in bumpers to make this list going forward as a novice hurdler. I liked his win at Kempton and believe he raised his game even in defeat when looking a likely winner at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting, only to be cut back in the final strides. That was a big effort under a penalty and hes got a profile to follow going over hurdles.
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