The Neighsayers - Jumps Horses To Follow 23/24

After the resounding success of our flat horses to follow, where all horse that faced the track won a race, Elliot, Swanny and Blackie are back with 3 horses each they like over the sticks this winter. Blackie's will be added to the list in due course, but of the 6 we have here, 2 are entered over this opening weekend of the jumps season, can we get off to a flyer?

Lew and Quinny's forte definitely isn't the jumps, so they have a list of horses to follow coming soon for the all-weather season. Anyway, enough of that and lets get into it. Trackers at the ready...

Swanny

Three Card Brag - Gordon Elliot

Jetaway x Belon Breeze

My first NH horse to follow this season is the Gordon Elliot trained Three Card Brag. A scopey type, this horse finished 5th & 6th at the big festivals last season. Elliot was quoted last year to be excited as to what this horse could achieve over larger obstacles, and I am too. He looks set to suit chasing massively and I’d have a long term aim as the Brown Advisory next march, or even the NH Chase. 

Collectors Item - Jonjo O’Neill

Fleminsfirth x Leading Lady

I was really impressed with Collectors Items first season hurdling, he showed to be very game on debut at Chepstow after doing all the wrong things, and went from strength to strength, picking up 2 wins and a 2nd in a G2 novice hurdle at Kempton last season. A mark of 132 looks workable and I can see this horse picking up some decent races this season. The option to potentially go novice chasing is also there having ran in a PTP previous to his hurdling bow.

Go To War - Fergal O’Brien 

Soldier of Fortune x Rate of Knots

I’m really looking forward to seeing what this horse has to offer over hurdles this year. He won a shade cosy on debut, with the form being franked by the 2nd coming out and winning its next start by 18L, against some well fancied horses for the top yards. His last run in the G2 Aintree Bumper, Go To War was ridden wrong that day with nothing coming off the pace, and being short of room, he finished 8th. I’m hoping a good summer has brought this horse forward and with the introduction of hurdles I expect Go To War to pick up a few races.

Elliot

Diamond Ri - Joe Tizzard

Diamond Boy x Quaspia

Sent off 11/4F for a Warwick Bumper at the end of March this son of Diamond Boy hosed up by 13 lengths without being asked too many questions. He looked to really relish the soft ground just like his half brothers Pencilfulloflead and Rare Edition.

The Tizzards have never really been prolific in Bumpers so hopefully the best is yet to come for Diamond Ri. He didn’t look slow by any means so I’d imagine we’ll see him starting out in a 2 mile Novice hurdle soon and see how he gets on trip-wise.

Captain Teague - Paul Nicholls

Doyen x Dancingwithbubbles

My second horse is a bit more obvious, especially now after half of Twitter putting him up recently and him being entered for Fridays Persian War, but I’m going to stick with him as I think he has a big season ahead.

There was a lot of talk about him before his Bumper debut at Plumpton, where he started the 8/11F defeating King William Rufus 2.5 Lengths. But it was his second start where he really showed his class, hitting the front a furlong out in the Champion Bumper before showing his inexperience hanging late on. Not beaten far and the form stood its test at Punchestown with the Cheltenham winner following up.

It’s a punchy move from Nicholls to start him off in the Persian War but aslong as his jumping is up to scratch he should be classy enough to take this Grade 2 on hurdles debut. If he were to win this you’d be fairly certain his mid season target will be the Challow hurdle at Newbury over Christmas before heading back to Cheltenham.

Joueur Masque - Willie Mullins

Masked Marvel x Belardeie

AQPS winner in France back in May 2022 was a bit of a talking horse last year after being purchased by JP but he never made the track last season. This doesn’t worry me as Willie often gives his better French recruits a year off when he gets his hands on them (See State Man). The form of his only start has since been franked with the second home Jet Blue going on to win a grade 2 Aqps race on his next start. Hopefully we see Joueur Masque out this year in a novice hurdle, I’d imagine he’ll start out over 2 miles.

Bowenspark - Henry Daly

Walk In The Park x Bowenscourt

Following the injury disappointment which proceeded the initial promise of stable star Hillcrest, Henry Daly looks to have found another exciting young horse to bear the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings in the shape of Bowenspark. A winner of 2 bumpers in late 2022, dispatching a number of well touted rivals and subsequent winners such as Don’t Tell Su and Masaccio in the process, this son of Walk in the Park caught the eye massively when running a huge race in defeat at Aintree to cap what was an impressive start to life on the track. Just as he had done on his previous start when finishing 4th in a listed bumper at Newbury, the gelding once again found himself outpaced, losing his position and looking almost clueless in how to race before thundering home in a manner which you couldn’t possibly fail to notice. A certainty to improve on what he did in his introductory campaign now tackling hurdles, this hugely talented individual looks sure to get even better the further he goes so the impression he made over two miles would leave you licking your lips at what could be to come as the season progresses. Aiming to join the illustrious list of horses to wear the silks of his legendary owner, connections can look forward to a fruitful novice hurdle campaign before an inevitable switch to larger obstacles in the future.