It’s that time of year again everyone where we switch the starting stalls for the starting tape and get stuck right into the winter’s jumps action.
We’ve already got the ball well and truly rolling with the Chepstow two day meeting but in the coming weeks there’s plenty more going on which will warm us up all the way to the King George on Boxing Day.
As always I try to put together a comprehensive guide on some of the horses, jockeys, and trainers to follow over the coming season, but there’s a change to the concept this year with a bigger emphasis being based on the horses themselves and splitting them into their areas, such as novice hurdlers to watch and novice chasers.
They’ll also be the usual sprinkling of horses that have a handicap mark which I think they’ll be more than capable of exploiting, as well as some ante-post picks for the place that shouldn’t usually be mentioned this early on in the season but it just casually gets thrown around anyways so.
With all of these pieces it’s important to keep in mind that these are just my views, and yes you may sit back at some picks and think how and why has he gone for that horse but I’m just throwing my opinion out there in the open, ready to look back and laugh at it all by the end of April.
Before starting with the new format then, I’ll just keep you in suspense a while longer sorry, and brush over briefly some of the topics flying around in the sport at the moment.
The big one of course is the reduction in field size for the Grand National, the move seeing it being cut down to 34 runners in a bid to make it safer for the horses.
There’s been a lot of talk since the announcement, as expected a mix of both positive and negative, but from my point of view if we want to keep the sport going then the people who are in charge of it all need to be seen to making changes in a bid to keep things as safe as possible.
Alongside the field size reduction we will also see the start time move forward so that the horses are running what could be recognised as much safer ground, the first fence be brought forward by 60 yards to stop the horses building up too much speed, and the other noticeable one being the raise in grade for horses to be able to enter the contest.
Quite a lot to unpick, but this move is a clear attempt to try and make racing as appealing as possible to a wider audience by ultimately trying to lower the amount of danger that goes with the sport of horse racing.
For me, while I welcome the changes, because as always the safety of these animals are absolutely the most important thing, does anyone seriously think that we can just remove the risk factor just like that?
No matter what you do, it doesn’t even have to be sport, there’s an element of risk to everything that we do, whether that be driving to work or doing a bungee jump, the risk is always there somewhere.
Horse Racing is a sport that has changed drastically in recent years, the new whip rules that came into effect, the colours of the fences moving to white so that horses can possibly see them more, all you have to do is watch Red Rum win any of his three Grand Nationals to see how the fences at Aintree have already been made smaller to reduce the chances of any fatalities, but the worry for me is how much more can the sport change?
Credit to all the people involved in making these changes by the way, because the practicality of them are just brilliant.
Jumping on safer ground, and clearly allowing for a smaller field of horses to line-up in a safer manner at the start and not have a long run to the fence are both really smart moves I feel, but the one for me that stands out is the closer analysis of how a horse has jumped previously before the race and the stepping up in grade.
Any horse can make a mistake, I get that, but by making sure these horses coming into the race have now displayed clear signs that they can jump accurately and safely enough has to reduce the risk.
On a whole, it’s largely positive I feel, it should make the race safer, but deep down everyone knows that sport is sport and anything can happen, it’s unpredictable.
No-one can say for certain that doing this will solve the issues, in fact, the only way that you take the risk out of horse racing altogether is by stopping the sport, and that’s not what we’re aiming for.
That’s why by showing the sport is willing to hold conversations and try to adapt is so important, not just for the safety of the animals but to show to everyone that the sport wants to change to a point where it can be as safe as possible.
I wouldn’t say that there’s been an overreaction on Twitter or X as it’s now known by people saying that the sport is dying because that’s simply not true, everyone who’s involved wants this sport to continue and to be safe, like I’ve constantly said, the horses are always the priority no matter what.
People also feel by making these changes it’s a case of give them a yard they’ll take a mile, signalling this could only be the start of more changes, but I really don’t see it as that at all.
Like I said, my issue isn’t with the changes, it’s just whether they will work, because no-one is going to know that until the end of the Grand National next year, and my worry then is if it doesn’t work what else will they do?
On paper though, a great idea, we will soon see come April whether it holds as much practicality.
I’ll briefly mention Frankie’s farewell tour as well being extended for another year, we’re just going to see a more global side to it this time around.
You could clearly tell from early on Frankie Dettori was having thoughts about sticking around, I mean, why wouldn’t he when he was riding that well?
It’s frustrating in one sense because we’ve had the full publicity for something that now isn’t going to happen, and I agree with a tweet I saw the other day that said a retirement such as Richard Johnson or Tom O’Brien where there was nothing said until they had their last ride is a far better way to bow out.
It’s Frankie though you’ve got to remember, and he’s now all set to take on America, the show must go on.
Right, that’s the two main talking points sorted, now into my horses to follow for the jumps season, hopefully plenty of winners buried in there, hopefully…
Either click the links below here to take you to the four separate categories individually, read it in full, or do whatever you like, I'm not the boss.
Novice Hurdlers - ‘Living the dream’
A Dream to Share Age: 5 Sex: Gelding Trainer: John and Thomas Kiely Owner: JP McManus
There’s only one place that I can kick off the novice hurdle division this year and that’s with the 2023 Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner A Dream to Share.
Everything about this horse last season was just great to watch, giving 86-year-old trainer John Kiely his first Cheltenham Festival winner since he started training, and providing teenage jockey John Gleeson with his first ride and winner at the Festival.
This horse started out his winning streak by taking a bumper at Tipperary back in May 2022 when he was owned by Gleeson’s parents Brian and Claire, before following up at Roscommon at cramped odds.
He then went on to land Grade 2 success in February 2023 at Leopardstown, putting him right for Cheltenham in March, where he bumped into his old rival from that win a month earlier in Fact to File, who was trained by none other than the man who knows a thing or two about winning this race in Willie Mullins.
DREAM START: A Dream to Share wins the Grade 2 Leopardstown bumper. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
After making it 2-2 over in Ireland, the horse was sold to JP McManus, and his debut in the famous green, yellow and white silks couldn’t have gone any better.
The 7/2 second favourite was dropped out most of the journey by his young jockey before passing everyone up the straight to land the spoils, and if that wasn’t enough winning for one season he then went to the Punchestown Festival a month later and landed another Grade 1, unbeaten run intact.
Now the winner from the 2022 running of the bumper Facile Vega didn’t exactly live up to expectations last season, but I feel this horse will.
My only worry so far about him is the fact he missed his first entry at Punchestown due to a stone bruise, but all being well I think he should take all the stopping this year, if he can jump an obstacle of course.
He’s shown plenty with the way he travels and works hard throughout his races so there’s no problems there, I just hope he can pop a hurdle.
‘Tough as Teague’
Captain Teague Age: 5 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Paul Nicholls Owner: Mrs Johnny de la Hey
It’s very rare to put the form of one race under such a microscope like this, but the way he ran in the Cheltenham Festival Bumper to finish third at odds of 40/1 was mightily impressive, and very hard to ignore.
So far in his career under rules he’s only had three starts, landing the odds at Plumpton in December 2022 to take a bumper, doing it easily, before then heading to the Festival in March, subsequently finishing behind the winner A Dream to Share and the second Fact to File.
Paul Nicholls clearly wasn’t bothered about throwing him in at the deep end on hurdles debut either, heading straight for the Grade 2 Persian War over 2m 3f at Chepstow without giving him a prep run, and boy did he deliver.
THE CAPTAIN: Captain Teague makes a winning hurdles debut at Chepstow. Credit: At The Races YouTube
Despite making novicey mistakes throughout the contest, he soon cruised into contention at the top of the long straight, he wasn’t fluent out three out, then edged left going down to the second last, but was always travelling smoothly, and powered clear to win by 9 ½ lengths.
The horse in second of Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey won his first two starts under hurdles in the Spring, and brought experience into the race, and the horse back in third Rock House won a bumper at Huntingdon back in April, before cruising clear on hurdling debut at Worcester to win by 13 lengths without even coming off the bridle.
Having won the way he did over rivals who had that bit more experience than him says a lot I think about how nice of a horse he is, to travel the way he did after making some errors and still have enough in the tank to pull clear like he did at the end in tricky conditions suggests there’s still way more to come from him.
‘Hill ready to scale new heights’
Tullyhill Age: 5 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Willie Mullins Owner: Cheveley Park
My final pick then in the selection of novice hurdlers still ties in with the A Dream to Share form, but this horse is a bit more of an unknown quantity I feel.
Tullyhill has only had two starts under rules so far, winning a bumper on debut in March at Gowran Park, beating a Gordon Elliott horse called Will Do, who managed to win next time up at Cork.
ON THE UP: Tullyhill cruises clear on his bumper debut. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
This grey then ran in the Punchestown Champion Bumper, clashing with A Dream to Share, who like we’ve already mentioned could be really smart this season, and he finished in second, 3 ¾ lengths behind him.
The only issue of course by saying that both him and Captain Teague are my horses to follow could pose a problem as they could all meet again come March, but I’m hoping they do take a different route or two, and if not, it just makes that clash even better.
Novice Chasers – ‘Plain sailing for Marine’
Marine Nationale Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer/Owner: Barry Connell
There’s only one horse that I had in mind when coming on to start this section, and that’s Marine Nationale.
For me, this horse has a certain swagger about him which isn’t anything flashy, he just goes about the job like a proper professional and gets the job done.
The way he jumped and travelled in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival was superb, simply breezing into the contest off the final bend, and drawing alongside the 2022 Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner Facile Vega like he wasn’t even there.
PLAIN SAILING: Marine Nationale cruises clear up the Cheltenham hill. Credit: ITV Racing
He only started out a year previous before this success as well, taking a Punchestown bumper in May 2022, beating Demandrivingdouvan.
After opening his hurdling account back at that venue in October, he was soon tasting Grade 1 glory at Fairyhouse in December, leading on the line to beat Irish Point by a neck, who subsequently went on to land the Grade 1 Mersey Hurdle at Aintree in April.
How he travels over 2m is impressive, and he seems like he’s a horse with a few more gears, so stepping him up in trip could well be the focus I would think.
Despite that though he’s still only six so there’s no real rush to crack on with that, so he has plenty of options and plenty of time, which makes him very dangerous indeed when he steps over a fence.
‘Straight Inthepocket’
Inthepocket Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Owner: JP McManus
I’m keeping with that form from the Supreme here, because this horse was a prime example of the saying, ‘anything he does over a hurdle is a bonus’.
A real big horse who will quite easily jump a fence I feel, he comfortably won his first start over hurdles back in October 2022 at Wexford by 6 lengths, before stepping up in trip to 2m 4f in a Grade 2 at Naas to just hold on by a neck to beat Three Card Brag.
It suggested that day that he maybe wasn’t quite ready yet for such a trip, and that he was still doing his best work over 2 mile, and despite finishing a distant second in the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in February to Il Etait Temps, he was still keeping his consistency all the time.
His run in the Supreme was still a real positive, finishing fourth, six lengths behind Marine Nationale, and finished the season on a high when he took the Grade 1 at Aintree, staying on well to the line which did then start to hint that when he does start over a fence, that step up in trip which he didn’t seem ready for earlier on in the season could well be on the cards.
AINTREE SUCCESS: Inthepocket digs deep to win at Aintree. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
Of course there’s the fact that he could bump back into Marine Nationale, but I’m hoping this season they might just miss each other, one trainer hopefully wanting to dive straight in with a step up in trip while the other just holds on a bit longer, hopefully anyways.
Either way this horse should really improve a great deal once sent chasing, and there’s no reason why he can’t put himself at the front of that top novice chasing division this season.
‘Ice in his veins’
Iceo Age: 5 : Sex: Gelding Trainer: Paul Nicholls Owner: Chris Giles
There’s going to be two horses rolled into one for this pick, but I’ll focus on the main one first of all, mainly because I’ve already seen him jump a fence this season.
Iceo managed to land the Imperial Cup at Sandown last season off a handicap mark of 132, and on a whole he has been largely impressive over hurdles.
IMPERIAL VICTORY: Iceo takes the Imperial Cup at Sandown. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
He won on debut in December 2021 around Kempton as a three-year-old, pulling clear to win by 17 lengths, before finishing fourth in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in January, well supported in the market but racing too keenly to stand a chance, finishing 18 lengths behind the winner and this year’s Cesarewitch second Pied Piper.
A switch to handicaps at the start of 2023 around Sandown in a class two off a mark of 131 brought out some improvement, running on to end up second, three lengths behind the 124 rated Hardy Du Seuil.
The handicapper clearly felt they still had him on the right enough mark and only nudged him up a pound for that good run, and he took full advantage to land the Imperial Cup by 3 ¾ lengths, settling slightly better than he had been doing and seeing his race out.
Despite not following up next time, he opened his chasing account in style, cruising clear over two mile to win by 12 lengths.
What I found impressive that day was his ability to get himself out of trouble, which I felt for a five-year-old who was having his first start over larger obstacles was worth noting.
Going back to racing keenly didn’t make it easy for Harry Cobden to keep a hold on him at times, and that put him in tight to a couple or without a stride, but he fiddled his way out of any danger like a real pro, and the fact he was also giving 17lbs to the horse in second who’s no mug himself in Mount Tempest, rated 121 and should be winning soon enough, made him throw a real marker down.
The other horse I wanted to mention in this bit briefly was his stablemate Hermes Allen. This six-year-old is still very lightly raced, only had five starts under rules, and he really took off to land three wins on the spin, winning at Stratford on debut before bagging a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on route to his Grade 1 Challow Hurdle success in the mud around Newbury.
Back at Cheltenham in March though he was very underwhelming in the Ballymore, seemingly looking as though the Challow had evidently left a mark on him for his win that day, and finishing third in the Mersey Hurdle Grade 1 at Aintree was a more positive showing behind the winner Irish Point and the second horse Kateira.
Over fences at two-and-a-half mile he could be a different beast altogether, and I’m very excited for when he eventually makes his chasing debut this season.
‘Ready to Roll’
Snake Roll Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Lucinda Russell Owner: The Ornello Way
Time to switch it up a bit now, I’m going to dive into the staying chasers division with this one, because he almost looks like another Corach Rambler in the making, I’ll come onto him a little later on.
The way he won on hurdles debut at Kelso over two miles was eye-catching, quickening clear to win by 15 lengths, and he went in again two runs later at Newcastle when stepped up in trip to 2m 4f.
He didn’t give his true running in the Ballymore Leamington Grade 2 Hurdle around Warwick, finishing fifth out of seven in a race eventually won by another exciting chaser this season in Grey Dawning for the Skeltons, but ran much more like it in a Grade 2 back around Kelso, finishing third behind the 2023 Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Nemean Lion, (won off 135).
His handicap debut up at Perth over 2m 4f wasn’t a bad one, despite the fact he was the beaten 4/7 favourite.
Running off 126, he got collared on the line by the old boy Caius Marcius, a 17-time winner in his career, and I think this season should be really interesting for him because he could really take off over fences like his stable’s star. Makes his chasing debut at Carlisle.
‘The Fire is burning’
Chasing Fire Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Olly Murphy Owner: Mrs Diana Whateley
The final pick in my novice chasers division is this one from the ever improving Olly Murphy yard, and I really thought this horse had an excellent season last campaign.
His bumper win at Wetherby, where he won readily, beating a horse of John Quinn’s called Imperial Merlin who was last seen winning off a handicap mark of 121, was a performance that set a standard for this horse, one that he continued to win his next three runs over hurdles, including a class three at Sandown.
ON FIRE: Olly Murphy's charge lands the class three at Sandown. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
He got found out in the Supreme, before finishing the season third in a class two at Cheltenham, with all eyes turning towards a 2023/24 jumps campaign.
Despite being the outsider of the three for his chasing debut at Uttoxeter in early October, he managed to stay on well to land the spoils, beating Pembroke by one length, a horse that was rated 136 over hurdles and is also expected to have a really good season over the larger obstacles.
As with all of these novices they aren’t always going to be perfect first time out, so if he improves as naturally as he should do then he could be a real contender in the two mile/ two-and-a-half mile novice chaser division.
Hurdlers - ‘The Champion’
Constitution Hill Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Nicky Henderson Owner: Michael Buckley
I think this will be the shortest preview out of the full lot, because what can I say about this horse that hasn’t been said already?
I’m not bothered he’s sticking to hurdles for another season, he’s only six, so there’s no rush to put him over a fence when you can just quite simply stay put where you are and rack up another Champion Hurdle to your name.
Everything about this horse is just so impressive, the way he jumps and travels is just as close to perfection as you can get I think, and he’s now a perfect seven from seven.
You could see from his debut he was special, but to then go on and win six Grade 1’s in a row now like he has is still an unbelievable achievement.
That Champion Hurdle win was like poetry in motion, pulling clear of State Man in second to win by nine lengths, and when he stepped up in trip at Aintree a month later, you could then confirm that distance is also never going to be an issue.
CHAMPION: Constitution Hill storms clear to land the Champion Hurdle. Credit: ITV Racing
To already say he will win a Gold Cup is something that is far from set in stone, after all, he hasn’t gone chasing just yet, but once he’s got this year out of the way, all being well, he will soon have that target in his sight.
‘A true Warrior’
Gaelic Warrior Age: 5 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Willie Mullins Owner: Mrs S Ricci
One who could literally end up anywhere this season, just because I still don’t think people have worked him out yet as to where his best trip is, but I think we possibly did see it on his last start.
He was the handicap plot job it seemed at Cheltenham in 2022 when running in the Boodles off 129, but he failed to land the gamble, travelling smoothly before being seen off by a higher rated horse in Brazil, rated 137 at the time.
That was only a minor blip though in the book, he then went on to win his next three starts, ending it with Grade B success in February at Leopardstown off 143.
A return back to Cheltenham beckoned a month later to try and seal his revenge, this time in the Ballymore, but he was no match for his stable mate Impaire Et Passe, finishing second again.
Time for a step up in trip then, his Boodles run over two mile, and his Ballymore effort over 2m 5f quite possibly was never enough for him, and when moving up to three mile in April he sauntered clear at Punchestown to land the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle by 10 lengths.
STRONG STAYER: Gaelic Warrior steps up to three mile with no issues. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
The fact he’s only young is also a real plus, and it’s exciting now that this horse could finally end his Cheltenham run of seconds with a win in the Stayers Hurdle.
‘All you need is Love’
Love Envoi Age: 7 Sex: Mare Trainer: Harry Fry Owners: Noel Fehily Racing
When it comes to this mare I like to use the word consistent, because that’s exactly what she is for her owners and trainer.
She managed to win her first five starts over hurdles, landing the Ryanair Mares Grade 1 Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2022, but she lost that record a month later at Fairyhouse to the smart Brandy Love.
They stepped her back down in trip to two mile again for her reappearance run at Sandown, which was a winning one, before she won again when moved back up to 2m 4f.
Building on that she then finished second in the Mares’ at Cheltenham behind Honeysuckle, battling hard before eventually going down by 1 ½ lengths, and her last run over in Punchestown you can forget about because it’s nothing like her best, and all being well this year she can have a good crack at the Mares’ again hopefully.
QUEEN BEE: Honeysuckle edges out Love Envoi in the Mares. Credit: ITV Racing
‘The not so happy Camper’
Camprond Age: 7 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Owner: JP McManus
Your first handicapper to follow this season over hurdles, even though he failed to get his head in front last campaign, is Camprond.
That win though did come back in a big handicap hurdle at Punchestown in 2022 off a mark of 137, beating this year’s Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow who was last seen dethroning the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs.
I think his current mark is really fair, running as well as he did in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March off 138, where turning in I thought he was going to be the winner, he just tied up close to home unfortunately and clambered his way over the last which also didn’t help, meaning he did get caught by Langer Dan, rated 141 when winning, and An Epic Song, rated 137, to finish third in the end.
CLOSE CALL: Camprond is headed later on in the Coral Cup. Credit: ITV Racing
He didn’t follow that up at Aintree, but I do fully believe this horse quite easily has another big handicap win in him, and if that mark does get dropped even a little he’s very dangerous when on song.
‘Punching above her weight’
West Balboa Age: 7 Sex: Filly Trainer: Dan Skelton Owners: Bullen-Smith and Faulks
One more handicapper for you, who could potentially find herself in better quality races come the end of the season I feel.
Despite only being lightly raced, she managed to plunder two useful pots for her canny trainer last season, picking up the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January off 130, before last seen at Aintree when being upped in trip to 3m 1f and cruising clear of the field to win by five lengths off 135.
STOP THE COUNT: West Balboa lands the knockout blow at Aintree. Credit: ITV Racing
Her form even before this season was very useful, finishing second behind this season’s Cheltenham Festival Turners Chase winner Stage Star in the 2021 running of the Challow Hurdle around Newbury.
They looked after her for the rest of the season then, and she wasn’t seen again until December 2022 where she ended up second in a class three handicap around Sandown, travelling well but not doing enough to go past the winner who had already ran twice in Coquelicot.
The plan looks as though they might just try her out in a handicap to see if she has quite reached her limit, before taking a look at some graded races possibly at some point during the season as well, either way, she has plenty of potential, especially with only running five times so far as well.
Chasers – ‘Nicky’s quirky Gold Cup contender’
Shishkin Age: 9 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Nicky Henderson Owner: Mrs J Donnelly
Let’s start off the final category with who I think is a real Gold Cup contender now he’s been stepped up in trip, finally some may argue.
Shishkin for me is such a character, yet so talented, winning his first 11 completed starts under rules, landing the Supreme at Cheltenham in 2020, the Arkle in 2021, then beating Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot in a battle for the ages in 2022.
BATTLING HARD: Shishkin digs deep to win the 2022 Clarence House Chase at Ascot. Credit: At The Races YouTube
That battle though clearly left a massive mark in him, he never went a yard in that year’s running of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, pulling up, then failing to bounce back in the Tingle Creek.
A return to Ascot though in February brought out improvement when he was upped to 2m 5f in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, before still looking as though he was crying out for an even longer trip when second in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival.
His win at Aintree in the Bowl was a first attempt at 3m 1f, and it was an impressive one, winning by eight lengths, Ahoy Senor back in second.
Finally I think that means that the Gold Cup is on the cards this season if he can keep himself right and out of any injury trouble, he’ll be an interesting contender.
‘Gordon’s gem’
Gerri Colombe Age: 7 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Gordon Elliott Owner: Robcour
Gerri Colombe is what I would call a really progressive chaser who still has a lot more to come I feel this season.
After opening his chasing account at Fairyhouse in November, he then went on to win back-to-back Grade 1’s, the latter being in the Scilly Isles around Sandown where he beat Balco Coastal, all over 2m 4f.
PROGRESSIVE: Gerri Colombe lands the Scilly Isles at Sandown. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
The he was stepped up to three mile at Cheltenham in the Browns, and despite staying on really well to the line you always felt he was given a little too much to do possibly by his rider, eventually finishing second behind The Real Whacker.
He got back on track in the Mildmay at Aintree though and gained some compensation, and all being well he’ll be turning up at Haydock next month for the Betfair Chase to possibly take on last year’s winner Protektorat and Bravemansgame to name a few.
‘Skelton’s star who’s back in action’
My Drogo Age: 8 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Dan Skelton Owner: Mr & Mrs Kelvin Hughes
I feel luck is something you definitely can’t associate with My Drogo over the last two seasons.
Slipping on his chasing debut after jumping the fence too well in a two horse race, before suffering a serious injury which has kept him out since he managed to make amends for that mistake back at Cheltenham the next time.
But he has shown too much class just to ignore now we know he’s back, it’s just going to be a case of him hopefully retaining all that ability.
He caught the eye on bumper debut in a hot Cheltenham one in 2020, out running his odds of 50/1 with a close second to this season’s Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus.
Soon switched to hurdles, he won his first two starts over two mile around Newbury then Ascot, before being moved up to 2m 2f for Grade 2 success at Kelso.
Despite bypassing Cheltenham, he headed to Aintree to land Grade 1 glory in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, winning by 9 ½ lengths, before then switching to fences.
BACK ON TRACK: My Drogo returns after a long lay-off. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
It’ll just be great to see him back out on track, but his owners always felt that one day he could be a King George horse or even one for the Gold Cup, for now though it’s all about seeing what he retains when he steps back over fences, but I fully believe he should be none the worse.
‘El Fabulous’
El Fabiolo Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Willie Mullins Owner: Munir and Souede
He’s tried a little bit of everything has El Fabiolo, but chasing is definitely his game.
Starting out in France, he had one run on the flat over 1m 6f, before quickly switching to hurdles in September 2020, where he finished third in a listed race at Auteuil at 40/1.
It took until 2022 for us to see him again, this time though he was being trained by Willie Mullins, and on hurdles debut at Tramore he won by 13 lengths to set out a clear marker.
Missing Cheltenham to take on Aintree almost paid off for him, going down a neck in the Grade 1 to lose to Jonbon, but his chasing debut at Fairyhouse was sparkling over 2m, and he quickly wrapped up the Irish Arkle in February before heading to Cheltenham.
Jonbon couldn’t stop him this time, and he got his revenge on his old adversary, now he looks set to follow in the footsteps of Energumene and take on the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
REVENGE: El Fabiolo gets the better of Jonbon in the Arkle. Credit: ITV Racing
‘One Grand Ramble’
Corach Rambler Age: 9 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Lucinda Russell Owners: The Ramblers
Your final selection from my horses to follow this season comes in the form of none other than the 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler.
LANDED: Corach Rambler takes the 2023 Grand National. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
Staying was always the name of the game for this horse, starting out his hurdling career by springing a 14/1 surprise at Ayr in 2021.
He picked up one more hurdles win before switching to what was always going to be his bread and butter in chasing, though he didn’t exactly set the world alight on debut at Perth.
Managing to put that behind him though, he soon hit top gear, winning his next two starts before taking the 2022 Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 140 with a strong staying performance to say the least.
That was backed up with his fourth in the Newbury Gold Cup, before he went on to land the spoils in the Ultima once more, this time off 146.
With the National well and truly in his sights, he stepped up and delivered again, powering clear with a typical strong staying performance to win at odds of 8/1.
It’s quite simple for him this year really, just do the same again, let’s hope he can.
So there you have it, a bumper guide into this year's jumps season, 19 horses picked out in total, so that means there's time and room for my dark horse of the season to finish this off.
He may have been forgotten about slightly, mainly because he's been injured, but L'Homme Presse could be really exciting when he returns to action.
We last saw the Venetia Williams trained eight-year-old unseating in the King George on Boxing Day, but he had so much ability prior to that showing you just can't write him off.
His win up at Newcastle off a mark of 164 was magnificent, giving 26lbs away to the horse in second, and that type of form will always keep him in my mind that's for sure.
Right, now we're done, I'm off for a lie down, as always lets hope they all make it around safely and give us plenty of excitement like this sport does along the way, good luck!