Tom Thurgood’s ten novice hurdlers to follow for the jumps season

The evenings are drawing in and it’s getting chillier out there, but for National Hunt aficionados this is a glowing time of year.

Even those world-weary trainers used to the swaying ups and down of this great game readily admit to dreams being very much alive for their promising youngsters, a sense of anticipation heightened looking back at last season’s impressive bumper performers.

Several have already made a mark over timber this term and plenty more are now set for bigger things after a summer break, with obstacles and a step-up in trip further pointers for potential progress this time.

Below are ten exciting performers from last term set to make an impression in the novice hurdle ranks this winter and into the spring.

Age: 4 Form: 12 Trainer: Willie Mullins

“When I gave him a squeeze I couldn’t believe how quickly he picked up. Derek O’Connor [in second] was gobsmacked. In two strides my fella left him for dead.”

Patrick Mullins raved about Blue Sari on Luck On Sunday last January after a sparkling debut on Thyestes day at Gowran Park. Exuberant early and not ideally placed, he then ran a blinder when runner-up in the Champion Bumper and was reported lame after the race.

That looked the best performance by a four-year-old in the Festival contest since Cue Card’s demolition job back in 2010 (one winner and three placed from 24 runners in the last 10 years) and he fared better than The New One and Jezki in this race at the same age.

He has the option of either the Supreme or Ballymore as a fast horse who should get 2m4f. The latter can often prove a test of speed among exciting future chasing types.

Age: 5. Form: 1. Trainer: Henry de Bromhead.

The Oscar gelding made all on the tight right-handed circuit at Limerick and had all his rivals off the bridle around three furlongs out.

Cobbler’s Way moved clear in the style of a nice horse, but the way he then shot further clear at the furlong marker when asked for a bit more marked him out as potentially a very smart one.

He looks more of a staying sort on softer ground and a likely Graded performer in novice hurdles this term for his excellent trainer. His chasing career is one to particularly anticipate.

Age: 5. Form: 2. Trainer: Colin Tizzard

A big and imposing type for fences down the line, Faustinovick finished second on his sole start in points behind top prospect Andy Dufresne before placing second on Rules debut at Newbury.

The winner, McFabulous, conceded 7lb but had the benefit of two previous bumper runs and the Paul Nicholls runner landed Grade 2 honours at Aintree next time.

Unlike the winner, Faustinovick was settled right at the back of the field and came with a lovely run under a sympathetic, nursing ride by Robbie Power before suffering interference two furlongs out.

That was a nice start and bodes well for a novice hurdling career over two and a half miles. He’s quoted at 50-1 for the Ballymore but those odds will vanish if he hits the ground running.

Age: 5. Form: 11. Trainer: Harry Fry

Harry Fry unleashed the brilliant but ill-fated Neon Wolf at Uttoxeter in December 2016 and two years later King Rowland made a mighty impression there with a 22-length success in testing ground, striding further and further clear after his rivals had cried enough.

A point winner subsequently described as “exceptional” by Tom Lacey, he is ultimately a very good three-mile chaser in the making but could go to the Ballymore with a view to his ultimate game next season.

If he proves more tractable this term after a summer break, 33-1 quotes for the Ballymore look more than fair given the debut impression.

Age: 4. Form: R11 Trainer: Tom Lacey

“Not many four-year-olds follow up with a penalty. He’s very, very exciting and I think the world’s his oyster.”

Tom Lacey was highly effusive in a recent Racing TV visit to Cottage Field Stables and the form of this two-time bumper winner is working out pretty nicely. He ran with promise before running out late on debut and has settled nicely at the back of the field in two subsequent runs, learning to race while picking up the winning habit.

He looked an imposing specimen last season and a staying type in both victories, despite being by 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi. The trainer recently told Racing TV that Lossiemouth has done plenty of schooling over hurdles and jumps nicely.

The Cheltenham Festival is not a certainty given connections but good staying races in the spring at Aintree, Ayr and Sandown could come into play by the season’s end.

Age: 5. Form: 11. Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliott often starts a good one at Down Royal and there’s no doubt Malone Road is certainly that. He looked pretty special on his Rules debut before brushing aside Mt Leinster, a horse with a big reputation at the time, at Punchestown in November on what proved his final start of the campaign.

The trainer thought Malone Road was a likelier sort for the Champion Bumper than eventual Cheltenham hero Envoi Allen and he was favourite for that race before his setback.

Malone Road went nicely after racing at Punchestown last week and this horse is all speed. Quotes of 16-1 for the Supreme Novices’ are far from unreasonable.

Age: 5. Form: 212. Trainer: Kim Bailey

The Schiaparelli gelding is a very big lad and a powerful chasing type over a trip, so his achievements in bumpers last season are even more laudable than the superficial reading.

On his first day out at the races, he made lovely late progress for second at Ascot behind a winner who was favourite for Listed honours next time and made all the running to get off the mark at Wetherby when showing a fine attitude.

The exciting Get In The Queue beat him in the valuable sales bumper at Newbury on his final start, but again he impressed with his resolution and this looks a relentless galloper.

Good quality, staying novice hurdles are likely to be his bag and he’s a lovely prospect for his trainer before heading over fences.

Age: 5. Form: 51. Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill

The Getaway mare will not hit the heights of several of these in this list but she’s certainly bred for the job as a half-sister to Grade 1 scorer Coney Island with Wichita Lineman and Rhinestone Cowboy further relations.

She looked like dropping out of picture on debut at Warwick, but the 20-1 chance stayed on nicely for fifth and confirmed that impression with subsequent success at Wetherby and looking better the further she went.

Seaton Carew is likely to be kept to her own sex and could be up to defying a penalty in novice hurdles within an expanding mares’ programme that can lack depth. She looks a likely improver up in trip and should operate at a minimum of two and a half miles.

Age: 5. Form: 1. Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson is traditionally strong in bumpers, but none from Seven Barrows made a deeper impression in the division last season.

By Sholokhov out of a three-mile winner, he’s bred to stay and was ridden accordingly in an all-the-way win at Kempton, not something you’d readily associate from the yard. Henderson has won the same race with Mister Fisher and William Henry in recent years.

This time the contest was won two furlongs out, but when given a second flick by Nico de Boinville at around the furlong marker Shiskin switched legs, lowered his shoulders and powered forward with tremendous speed for an eased-down eight-length success.

You wouldn’t worry about races over two and half miles but his speed suggests a potent weapon for either the Supreme or Ballymore. On pedigree, perhaps the longer race might prove the more appealing option. You can back him at 33-1.

Age: 4. Form: 1. Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Dlauro is perhaps the headline horse from Owning Hill set for the novice hurdle ranks this season, but don’t ignore Uhtred.

The four-year-old was tightened up early, suffered interference on the second circuit and was tenth turning into the straight in the valuable sales bumper at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival but came through to winl.

Acquired by Gigginstown House Stud a few days before that racecourse debut, that purchase looks notable in addition to going off at 4-1 in a valuable contest. While the Joseph O’Brien yard is a top-class operation, the stable’s youngsters tend to improve with racing early in their careers.

The trainer recently said in a Betfair blog that Uhtred has impressed with his schooling and this one should get two and a half miles. He’s exciting and can make his mark in Graded company.