Horse racing tips: Five horses to follow during the National Hunt season
Cheltenham
As the curtain begins to fall on the Flat season, our horse racing analyst Andrew of Fiosrach examines a few of the horses that have caught his eye ahead of the forthcoming National Hunt campaign.
I have tried with the following list to pick horses that will win races, but are not the most likely to be top of most other like-minded lists.
I have deliberately left out the likes of Constitution Hill, El Fabiolo, Impaire Et Passe and a host of other top performers that the majority of other lists are likely to contain.
Most of those lists will see the majority of runners start odds-on and give very little chance of making a profit following them.
I usually add these to a horse tracker and put in notes about going and distance preference, which you can cut and paste from my summaries below.
Facile Vega
- Age: 6 years old
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Owner: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate
Facile Vega is likely to be on several lists, despite only finishing runner up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, as he then came out and demolished the field in the Champion Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown in April. He won this top novice race in fine style and made good rivals look average.
Willie Mullins his trainer stated that “Facile Vega doesn't have any respect for hurdles, so the sooner we go chasing the better.”
I expect Facile Vega to do very well chasing in novice ranks in the coming season and his trainer thinks he will be able to go further than two miles over fences.
He has already won four Grade 1’s – two over hurdles and two national hunt flat races (bumpers), and this whilst not actually taking to hurdles. I am looking forward to seeing how he adapts to jumping fences in the coming season.
Facile Vega is at his best on going with cut and distance wise I would focus on 2 miles to 2 miles 4 furlongs until he proves he can go further. He is equally at home going right or left handed.
Captain Teague
- Age: 5 years old
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Owner: Mrs Johnny de la Hey
Captain Teague has only had three runs but impressed me with his run in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He finished third that day and was the only British runner in the top eleven finishers, which just emphasises the Irish dominance of National Hunt flat races.
That run should see Captain Teague amongst the leading novices in the coming season and considering he has only had three runs is sure to improve further.
Captain Teague has only run on soft going, so I would suggest backing him when there is cut in the ground and around or just over two miles until evidence shows further will suit.
Pied Piper
- Age: 5 years old
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Owner: Caldwell Construction Ltd
Pied Piper was owned by the Queen when running on the flat and didn’t really shine in that sphere but has impressed over hurdles. He has won at Grade 2 level over hurdles and has placed at Grade 1 and 3. He has had ten runs over hurdles, so you may think he is fully exposed, but I believe given the right circumstances he can continue to win.
Pied Piper seems to be best in fields of less than ten but has performed in fields around twenty runners too. He has run well on ground ranging to heavy through to good going. Pied Piper runs particularly well at Cheltenham.
Ballybawn Belter
- Age: 5 years old
- Trainer: Liz Doyle
- Owner: John P McManus
Ballybawn Belter is not likely to compete in Grade 1’s but was impressive when winning a decent handicap hurdle at Punchestown in April and won again in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe. She is a good looking mare that has filled out since arriving at Liz Doyle’s small stable in County Wexford. His trainer believes that Ballybawn Belter will improve further when switched to fences, but she holds no entries yet.
Ballybawn Belter is best with some cut in the ground and in mares’ only races (despite winning in an open race at Punchestown). She is especially good in big fields and with a claiming jockey on board.
Douglas Talking
- Age: 7 years old
- Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- Owner: The Bristol Boys & Russell
Douglas Talking showed nothing over hurdles with only a third place in four starts; however, when switching to fences he has now run ten times and winning five times, finishing second in another two.
He has won in Class 3 and 4 but impressed me when finishing second in a Grade 3 at Aintree and then was second in a decent handicap at Punchestown. Douglas Talking has so far won in small fields with some cut in the ground at the minimum trip of two miles.
He should be capable of winning a Class 2 handicap with a small field on going from soft through to good. I would stick to around the two mile mark until he proves capable of staying further.
