Harry Allwood’s ten to follow for the 2018-19 National Hunt season

The 2018-19 jumps season has notched up a gear over the past few days and Harry Allwood has selected ten horses who he believes will be profitable to follow over the months ahead.

Horse: Mercy Mercy Me

Trainer: Fergal O’Brien

Age: 6

Mercy Mercy Me made a striking impression on his debut in a bumper at Sandown in November last year where he overcame greenness to post a decent time, before he finished a creditable eighth in the Champion Bumper.

He was slightly disappointing when going just one place better in what has turned out to be a hot bumper at Aintree, but he stumbled badly turning for home and I’m willing to forgive him that run.

His pedigree suggests he will be suited by further and he has certainly shaped as if that’s the case.

Obstacles are sure to be the making of him and he can be a force to be reckoned with in staying novice hurdles.

The Malcolm Denmark-owned gelding holds an entry in a 2m4f Novices’ Hurdle at Uttoxeter on Friday.

Horse: Western Ryder

Trainer: Warren Greatrex

Age: 6

A horse who has always been held in high regard, Western Ryder is yet to win a big prize over hurdles but has, on more than one occasion, looked capable of doing so.

Things didn’t go to plan for him after he won a novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham in December last year where he beat Lalor, who went on to win a Grade One at Aintree, and Summerville Boy, who went on to scoop the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Heavy ground was to blame for his defeat in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and I don’t think he stayed 2m4f at Huntingdon or Aintree.

In between those runs he finished sixth in the Supreme Novices’ after being hampered.

He has a rating of 145 and in a recent stable tour on Racinguk.com, Greatrex said: “Off 145, from what I’ve seen, he should be better than that.”

His trainer also nominated the Greatwood Hurdle as his main aim and he looks overpriced at 20-1 with Bet365 for that two-mile contest at Cheltenham on November 18.

Horse: Ms Parfois

Trainer: Anthony Honeyball

Age: 7

Connections have high hopes for Ms Parfois who improved enormously last season and ended her campaign with a rating of 146 having won a handicap chase off 123 in December.

She posted a career best on her final start when second to Terrefort in the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, but it is her second in the National Hunt Chase over four miles at the Festival which makes me believe she is a genuine Grand National contender.

I expect her to land a nice prize before then, however, with the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27 being an obvious target.

She has a great attitude, jumps well and being only seven there should be more to come from her this season.

The mare also was also a frequent choice when Racing UK asked Twitter for its ten to follow.

Horse: Brewin’Upastorm

Trainer: Olly Murphy

Age: 5

Landed his only start in a point-to-point which has produced numerous winners, Brewin’Upastorm made a huge impression when winning a bumper at Hereford in January.

Despite racing keenly early on, Olly Murphy’s charge soon brushed aside Portrush Ted, who won a Grade Two bumper on his next start.

Brewin’Upastorm lost his unbeaten record at Newbury next time out, where he was held up and made up plenty of ground before he was unable to get home in the conditions.

He looks to have a bright future and is fancied to reach a high level in novice hurdles this season.

The son of Milan holds entries at Ascot and Wetherby on Saturday.

Horse: Gold Present

Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Age: 8

This sound jumper began last season winning a competitive handicap chase before producing a career best to win the Listed Silver Cup at Ascot off a rating of 147.

However, things didn’t go right for him after that as he broke blood vessels when pulled up in the Ultima Chase at the Festival and was never going to stay the trip when he raced keenly in the Scottish National.

He remains on a rating 5lb higher than his Ascot success and the form has been given numerous boosts since, most recently when Frodon, who finished runner-up that day, landed the Old Roan Chase at the weekend.

Gold Present is seen to best effect on ground no worse than good to soft and can land another big prize this season.

Horse: Didtheyleaveuoutto

Trainer: Nick Gifford

Age: 5

Didtheyleaveuoutto looked a horse with a huge future when he quickened clear in impressive fashion to win a bumper at Lingfield on debut last season and again proved he is a smart horse in the making when winning a Listed bumper at Ascot the following month.

The form of his Ascot success has worked out extremely well and he quickly put the race to bed without being asked for maximum effort.

It is probably best to forgive his tenth-place finish in the Champion Bumper as he needs good ground and connections made that clear before he ran in that race.

He clearly has lots of speed and a turn of foot but, being from the same family as Denman, he is likely to stay further than two miles in time.

The son of presenting is declared to run in a 2m maiden hurdle at Fakenham on Wednesday.

Horse: Magic Dancer

Trainer: Kerry Lee

Age: 6

Magic Dancer caught the eye in the 2m handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday, where he was held up a long way off the pace and stayed on nicely to snatch second.

A mistake on the far side also hindered his chance and, although he was never going to beat the easy winner Storm Rising, it was a sign he can remain competitive in handicaps this season.

It was also his first run of the season after a wind operation, so he ought to come on for the run as well.

He holds three entries on Friday and Saturday and, having won twice at Cheltenham last season, I would not be surprised if he was aimed at one of the handicaps at that track in November.

Horse: Benatar

Trainer: Gary Moore

Age: 6

Benatar ran disappointingly on his seasonal debut at Newton Abbot this month but it is best to draw a line through that run as he raced far too keenly and was never going to get home in the conditions.

A useful hurdler, he quickly reached a high level over fences last season and impressed winning his first three starts over the larger obstacles before finishing a respectable third behind Shattered Love in the JLT Novices’ Chase.

With a rating of 149, a big-field handicap run at a strong pace will be ideal for him and he looks a good each-way bet at a general 20-1 for the Bet Victor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 17, which he is on course for.

Horse: Mr Antolini

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Age: 8

Last season’s Imperial Cup winner travelled well for a long way in the 2m5f handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday before failing to stay the trip on ground that was faster than ideal.

Although he has won on good ground in the past, he seemed to relish softer conditions last season.

It was also his first run since April, so he should come on for it and is likely to be dropped a pound or two by the handicapper.

Mr Antolini can remain competitive in handicaps throughout the season and will relish winter ground.

Horse: Ch’Tibello

Trainer: Dan Skelton

Age: 7

Ch’Tibello did not manage to get his head in front last season but ran some respectable races in defeat in Graded contests.

He has suffered a couple of setbacks from injury during his career but I’m certain there is more to come provided he does not endure any hiccups this season.

He is likely to be campaigned in handicaps over the coming months and the handicapper has dropped his rating to 148 after he finished sixth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las this month.

He will have improved for the run and the former Scottish Champion Hurdle winner is entered in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Carlisle on Sunday.