Harry Cobden: "He's our smartest bumper horse going novice hurdling"

It was fantastic to become Champion Jockey on Saturday at Sandown, but such is the nature of this game, attention turns straight away to what next season holds. Paul Nicholls is always on the lookout for the next stable star, so I’m expecting plenty of new stock to arrive in the yard over the summer to go to war with next term. Of the ones we have at Ditcheat already, there’s a host of promising horses to look forward to.

If I had to put my money where my mouth is, I’d say Regent’s Stroll is the smartest of our bumper horses to go novice hurdling next season. He was very good in his two bumper wins at Ascot and Newbury, and he’s a cracking horse to look forward to. I’ve already schooled him; he jumps well, and he could be our Gallaghers (Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival) horse for next year.

Blueking D’Oroux was really progressive this season, winning the Ascot Hurdle in November, and is one I’m excited about going down the staying hurdling route come the winter. He’s still only a five-year-old, has been running to a very high level already this term and is bound to keep improving. He was probably a bit unlucky when fourth to Impaire Et Passe on Saturday, and we like him a lot at Ditcheat, so keep an eye out for him.

It’s fair to say that things didn’t go right for Bravemansgame last season. He disappointed at Haydock but ran a mighty race in the King George where I think he was a touch unlucky. He ran well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup despite not getting his ground, but again, Aintree didn’t go to plan after that. He will have a wind-op this summer which I think will help him and he’s a horse I certainly haven’t lost faith in. He’s one of my favourites in the yard and he will be back.

I was really impressed by Kalif Du Berlais’ attitude when he won the Adonis at Kempton, and I probably didn’t give him the best ride next time out in the Grade 1 at Aintree behind Sir Gino. I presume the plan will be to send him straight novice chasing next season, which he looks made for. However, he does have an interesting mark over hurdles, so keep an eye out for him once the season kicks off in earnest.

Tutti Quanti is a lovely horse to follow. We haven’t run him since he picked up a small issue after his first spin around Taunton in January, but we’re full of confidence about him for next season. He’s far from the finished article and the team at Ditcheat are big fans of him. I think he could be quite good, so he’s one for your trackers.

Kabral Du Mathan was really smart on his UK debut at Huntingdon, but we couldn’t quite keep him right after then. I thought he was the one for the Boodles and was frustrated he couldn’t make the Festival. He’s another smashing horse to look forward to for the season ahead. I’m already thinking about where we can go with him, which says a lot about the kind of esteem we hold him in!