National Hunt horses to follow. A title and topic that spreads like wildfire across Racing media outlets, social media and other platforms at this time of year. At the time of writing, I am also reflecting on the inaugural Big Welsh Racing weekend and its overall success. National Hunt fans were treated to a feast of quality action that annually welcomes in the new jumps campaign.
Sam Ewing. A name unfamiliar to many before the weekend yet a name that will be at the forefront of many peoples minds after delivering battle hardened veteran Peregrine Run beautifully to reel in Tea Clipper and land The Native River Handicap Chase on Saturday before setting the fractions perfectly aboard the ultra tough Effernock Fizz, repelling all challengers to land Sunday's feature The Welsh Champion Hurdle. If Carlsberg did weekends, you would find it hard to top that.
A Horses To Follow piece is something that I'm usually reluctant to get involved in, but this year I thought I'd highlight a small handful of horses from my ATR tracker who are definitely worth following throughout the duration of the season.
Twinjets: Jetaway-Shenamar
Trainer: Milton Harris
Age: 5
Career Starts: 2
I was at Hereford in early April when this physically imposing son of Jet Away turned a fairly ordinary bumper into an absolute procession. He was probably one of the very tidy Mitch Bastyan's easiest winners of the season. The runner up Bobby Socks went out and won next time up.
After his Hereford demolition job, the aptly named Twinjets went into a Pertemps Network Bumper at Haydock a well fancied 15-8 favourite and just like on debut, he took off to win by six and a half lengths under one of my conditionals to follow Bradley Harris.
Twinjets is a horse who looks every inch a smart hurdler and possibly an even better chaser later on down the line. His ability to accelerate away from rivals at such an early stage of his career is extremely impressive. I wouldn't rule out a step up in trip to two and a half or maybe further in time as well. Milton has some exciting novices yet to come out and Twinjets appears to be right at the top of that tree.
Queens Gamble: Getaway-Gambling Girl
Trainer: Oliver Sherwood
Age: 4
Career Starts: 1
I think it's safe to say, from the outside looking in anyway that Queen's Gamble taking a strongly competitive fifteen thousand pound Cheltenham bumper on racecourse debut in such taking fashion was a slight surprise.
What impressed me the most about this talented filly was how comfortably she travelled through the race from off the pace and easily picked off Mullenbeg, a horse who in her own right is very smart and by no means a back number at all before bounding up the Cheltenham Hill as if she was gliding up the gallops at home.
I went along to Oliver Sherwood's during The Lambourn Open Day (a highly recommended family day out) to visit Queens Gamble. I'm no horse whisperer or equine equivalent to Caesar Milan but her intelligence, awareness and overall immaculate look stood out.
I'm extremely excited to follow Queen's Gamble over the course of the season as she progresses into a hurdling campaign. The way in which this beautiful Getaway filly finished at Cheltenham was very taking. In a similar breath to Twinjets, you couldn't rule her out of getting further in time either.
Straw Fan Jack: Geordieland-Callerlilly
Trainer: Sheila Lewis
Age: 7
Career Starts: 17
I went along to Ffos Las yesterday and I was eargerly anticipating Straw Fan Jack's chasing debut. His hurdling form was consistent last season, running in The Greatwood Hurdle before being consistent in handicap hurdles. It was a shame to see Harry Fry withdraw Boothill as I believe racegoers would have been in for an early season treat had he ran.
Racegoers of yesteryear will definitely remember Straw Fan Jack's sire, Geordieland. A talented, yet mercurial stayer when trained by Jamie Osborne. The Ascot Gold Cup of 2007 springs to mind when Jamie Spencer menacingly cruised up in behind the great Yeats seemingly ready to swiftly go on by effortlessly, only to meet an outcome like so many previously had done from a staying great.
Straw Fan Jack was given a lovely, educational ride from regular partner Sean Houlihan to take The Norton's Coin Novice Chase very comfortably. I was pleased to see the form with Black Poppy reversed from Newbury in early March. Jack's jumping was very measured as well as accurate along with a nice bouncy stride. I am hopeful that one of Sheila Lewis' stable stars can use yesterdays impressive victory as a platform for more tougher assignments this season.
Gats And Co: Dr Massini-Vineuil
Trainer: David Brace
Age: 7
Career Starts: 13
Gats And Co is a young, staying chaser on an upward trajectory. This bold front runner completed a hat trick last season with a pair of wins at Chepstow and a win at fellow Welsh course Ffos Las.
I was at Chepstow at the back end of February when Gats And Co turned a competitive three mile two furlong handicap chase into an absolute route. He went straight into my tracker off the back of that performance.
Gats And Co's run in The Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in June was not his regular showing at all with a line put swiftly through that effort. His usually fluent jumping never materialised and this talented seven year old never got into his regular, exuberant rhythm.
A break throughout The Summer followed before David Brace geared his star towards Saturdays Native River Chase. The performance was extremely encouraging. Connor benefitted from a soft lead which allowed Gats And Co to really enjoy himself out in front, bowling along, jumping well. In the end Gats And Co was beaten nine lengths and probably looked after with the fourth Jacamar eighteen lengths behind.
I'm not too sure what connections will aim for but I firmly believe we could be seeing a plan slowly coming together culminating with The Welsh National in December. Gats And Co thrives around Chepstow and will definitely come on for Saturday's run. Keep on the right side of him ahead of Chepstow over Christmas.
Party Business: Shantou-Marias Dream
Trainer: Ian Williams
Age: 6
Career Starts: 10
Party Business was one of the most progressive horses throughout last season in my opinion. The upward curve started at Ascot in December of last year when the son of Shantou forged clear to turn over the well fancied Nicky Henderson trained City Chief at odds of 22-1. A turn up it seemed.
I was at Newbury just after Christmas when Party Business crashed out two from home in The Challow Hurdle when seemingly cruising. A huge run was well and truly on the cards. A below par run followed in the Grade two Leamington Novice Hurdle in behind Stag Horn before going on to The Martin Pipe at The Cheltenham Festival where Party Business endured a torrid trip.
The well fancied Langer Dan departed early, with Charlie Todd hampered at both the second and fourth flights shuffling the pair back to near last as a result. Party Business stormed home to finish a fast finishing fifth, had the inconveniences not happened along the way then who knows what might have been.
However, compensation was duly gained at Aintree on Grand National day when the talented six year old gamely fended off the late challenge of Ilikedwayurthinkin to land a seventy five thousand pound Grade Three handicap hurdle under a superb, power packed Charlie Todd drive.
A gallant fourth upped to three miles in The Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock in May followed. At the time of writing, Party Business is coming back into full training with Chasing looking the likely plan. I have every faith that Party Business can smoothly transition into a good chaser and keep on the upward curve from last season.
Sophosc is another from the Ian Williams yard to definitively track this season. The six year old son of former top sprinter Society Rock has been a multiple winner on the flat, including in this years Racing League. He is currently two from two over hurdles and was a ready winner of a Class four Maiden Hurdle at Warwick at the back end of September.
Gentle Slopes: Gentlewave-Dalriath
Trainer: Milton Harris
Age: 5
Career Starts: 1
As far as a debut goes, Gentle Slopes was very impressive. Sent off a red hot 4/6 favourite, this beast of a horse slammed his rivals pulling twelve lengths clear of the runner up, making all and powering up the Sedgefield hill. Milton Harris sent his Grade One winner Knight Salute to Sedgefield as part of his development last season, so the track seems an ideal stepping stone for further.
It's evidently clear just from looking at the size of this son of Gentlewave that jumping an obstacle is a case of when not if. The engine this five year old has is frightening and one that mirrors fellow horse to follow Twinjets.
Milton has the talented Racing League winner Postmark to come over hurdles as well, with Milton himself speaking highly of the three year old. However, Gentle Slopes looks a type who can really progress over the course of the season, especially when he jumps a hurdle and hopefully a fence later down the line.
Thank you for reading.
Imagery courtesy of JTW Equine Images.
@JTWEquineimage on Twitter.
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