Horses to Follow 2015 National Hunt Season

Moon Racer

Moon Racer was a very impressive winner of the Champion Bumper last year at the Cheltenham Festival. Despite jumping slowly and being caught out of position he picked up really nicely before slipping down the inside off the bend. He quickened up nicely and ran away stylishly at the finish and connections stated he would be started over 2m over hurdles indicating that he’ll be stepped up in the future which based on his Cheltenham win looks very likely. We think he can win a couple of novice hurdles before turning up at the Cheltenham Festival in the Neptune Novices Hurdle as the favourite.

No More Heroes

No More Heroes was a big fancy of ours for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle last year and turning for home we were still confident however after getting the door closed on him by Milsean and stopping all his momentum he rallied again but was only to get 3rd. He was disappointing at Punchestown but he may have been over the top. We believe he will be sent chasing and being out of Presenting this would be a very good idea (10.1% strike rate over hurdles compared to 14.55% strike rate over fences). Again he’s another that is likely to win a few Novice events in Ireland before coming over for the Cheltenham Festival as the big Irish hope in the RSA Chase.

L’Ami Serge

L’Ami Serge was really impressive up to the Supreme Novices Hurdle where he was always on the back foot and twice got hampered before finishing 4th in a race that connections must have been thinking what could have been. We quickly identified this horse as a future chaser particularly with his owners also having Peace and Co and Top Notch who are likely to be kept hurdling. Out of King’s Theatre chasing should bring out some improvement (15.85% strike rate compared to 17.45% over fences).

Barters Hill

Barters Hill is a horse whose form can’t be knocked after winning 4 bumpers last season including at Aintree and Newbury. The form from the Newbury race has already been franked over hurdles with Oh Land Abloom winning twice over hurdles and Altior impressively at Chepstow at the weekend. Similarly the form from the Aintree race has also been well franked with Belshill winning the Irish Champion Bumper and Potters Corner winning over hurdles at Chepstow. Barters Hill looks like he may end up being aimed at the staying races as his front running style and strength at the finish was very apparent in his bumper runs.

Beat That

Beat That only had the 1 run last season when finishing 6th of 7 behind Rock on Ruby at Cheltenham over 2m4f. This was a very good run as unlike his rivals he was having his first run in over 240 days and travelled well into the race before getting tired/outpaced. His previous 2 victories at the end of the 2013/2014 season were at Aintree and Punchestown where he beat Cole Harden at Aintree and Don Poli at Punchestown. They went on last season to win the World Hurdle and RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. If Beat That can return this season and be anywhere near his best then he has the ability to be a World Hurdle contender.

Taquin Du Seuil

Taquin Du Seuil had a very good 2013/2014 season before a bit of a disappointing one last season. His best run came when 2nd to Menorah at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall Chase. Taquin Du Seuil is now rated 152 which means he could potentially end up in one of the handicaps at the festival this year. The race won by Darna last season could well be a more winnable race and if Taquin Du Seuil continues to take on races that he may struggle to win he may dropped a few more lb in the handicap.

See The World

See The World only had 1 run all season last year and that was when winning a bumper in incredible fashion. After travelling into the race well he hung badly left handed and nigh on pulled up before Aidan Coleman got him to start again and he sprouted wings to recover and catch Lincoln County ridden by Tony McCoy. On the back of this win See The World could well be anything as without pulling up he could have won by 20 lengths and could be very talented.

Si Cetait Vrai

Si C’Etait Vrai moved in the summer from the late Dessie Hughes to Neil Mulholland and he may have a real live contender for a big handicap on his hands here. After some good runs over hurdles he was sent chasing in October 2013 and finished 2nd to Morning Assembly who went on to finish 3rd in the RSA Chase of 2014 before filling the same place at Punchestown. Si C’Etait Vrai then finished 4th of 4 in the Florida Pearl but proved that was a blip when finishing 2nd to Djakadam at Leopardstown. Djakadam has since gone and finished 2nd in a Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup. Si C’Etait Vrai then finished 2nd behind a decent sort, fell when appearing in control against Suntiep. After this mishap he was found a winnable beginner chase at Fairyhouse in February of 2014. He has not been seen since but if he can come back anywhere near his best for Neil Mulholland his mark of 132 looks very workable and the race that The Druids Nephew won at Cheltenham last year for Neil Mulholland could well be the target.

Goonyella

Goonyella could well be aimed at this year’s Grand National after last year winning the Midlands National at Uttoxeter before then finishing 2nd in the Scottish National behind Wayward Prince who was bouncing back to form. He has attempted the Grand National fences once when unseating at the 1st. Currently rated 146 would see him (based on previous years) get into the Grand National at around the 11 stone mark and this would be ideal. He’s a horse that looks as if he needs as far as far can go as both his win and 2nd in the last 2 runs have been when he was staying on and now only an 8 year old he could be aimed at this race for a couple of years.

Merry King

Merry King was due to run in the Grand National last year after finishing 3rd at Newbury in the Hennessy behind eventual Grand National winner Many Clouds. After this effort he was sent hurdling to preserve his handicap mark and pulled up which was disappointing but weeks before the Grand National he was ruled out. With a 4th to his name in a Scottish National, a 3rd in a Hennessy and a 3rd in a United House Gold Cup and a 5th in a Welsh National he has the class to win a Grand National and could well be aimed at this race over the Hennessy this year. His current mark of 138 would see him get in towards the bottom of the handicap and connections may get a small win into him to raise his mark to guarantee him a place.

Green Flag

Green Flag was one of our horses we were really keen on watching last year after his good 6th in the Scottish National when he appeared to be going to win jumping 2 out. With that race under his belt he looked to have a big future in staying handicap chases including Nationals and this appeared the plan when he was sent to Aintree to run in the Becher Chase to gain experience over the national fences but he ran poorly and finished 12th over 60 lengths behind Oscar Time. He had one subsequent run in the Peter Marsh Chase and was always pushed along and never got involved and was pulled up. A mark of 137 looks lenient on his best form and he could well be aimed at the Festival Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival where he was previously 4th in 2014 off a mark of 143. He looks a horse that can certainly win a big staying handicap chase.

Barrakilla
Barrakilla is our thought of the next Mr and Mrs Rucker horse that is to be aimed at the Grand National. Having just had 11 runs in his career he has always shown signs that he needs further as he demonstrated at Cheltenham when 2nd to Niceonefrankie. He looks to be a real plodder and doesn’t appear to have any turn of foot. His jumping has been impressive so far as well and a National tilt would certainly be a long term target. He’s only 8 now and with just 11 runs under his belt he may get more experience before being entered in the Grand National and this may be 2017 instead of 2016 but in the meantime he can certainly be a force in a big staying handicap chase.