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  • Writer's pictureElliot Burrow

Jumping for Joy! - A look into horse racing and what will be an intriguing winter jumps campaign.

Updated: Oct 28, 2022

The Jumps are finally back and I'm going to have a dive into what is going to be another competitive winter over the sticks and have a look at some horses, trainers and jockeys to follow.


There's only one place to start really after the weekend, The Charlie Hall. Cyrname was a different class to the field and proved why he is the highest rated horse in training in Britain over jumps.


He seemed to be back to the form which saw him tear apart Altior around his beloved Ascot and despite the concerns of Wetherby being left-handed and the trip being at a steep three-mile, he blitzed the field with hardly ever coming off the bridle.


It has to be my first horse to follow through the winter just due to his performance on Saturday. His trainer Paul Nicholls has been flying since the resumption of racing and the young Harry Cobden is sure to have plenty of winners throughout the next few month, and they are definitely a partnership to keep your eye on.


But if its the jockey's championship that we want to talk about, then there is always a couple of names we could throw around for the prize.


The current champ in Brian Hughes resumed in brilliant form and sits on 46 winners for the campaign and also partnered another horse to follow in Ribble Valley at Carlisle a few week back.


Nicky Richards has got a useful sort there for the winter, and I'm sure Brian Hughes will be partnering him again in the very near future.


Hughes won't have it his own way though at the top of the championship and he will face stiff competition from a few jockeys but with Hughes riding for various yards and picking up plenty of winners in the north, he will be a tough man to beat.


So who do I believe could cause Hughes the most problems? Harry Cobden sure has the fire power and he will go close and Paddy Brennan is in a very similar situation. He could go close but it will definitely be a tough task.


Richard Johnson is a name which springs to mind and the former champion jock will be looking to get his title back this season.


Johnson hasn't started the season particularly great but he always picks up the winners and one horse I'm looking forward to seeing him ride is Thyme Hill for Phillip Hobbs.


The six year-old finished fourth in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and Hobbs will definitely have the gelding prepared for another good season.


This leaves me with my final shout for the jockey's championship and also my final two horses to follow for the winter.


Harry Skelton. The son of former showjumper and Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton, rides for his brother Dan and the two have such a formidable partnership.


Usually dominant through the summer, their approach has changed this season to focus on the more higher quality races throughout the winter and they are currently in full flow.


Shan Blue has got his chasing career off to a brilliant start winning twice around Wetherby and looking a real pro whilst doing it.


Alongside another fellow novice chaser in the yard in Protektorat the two could win some valuable prizes through the winter and push Harry towards a crack at the jockey's championship.


That's only a brief overview over what is going to be an exciting campaign and throughout the next few weeks I will delve into the season a bit more to look at many different aspects but for now, keep enjoying your racing!



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