More Horses To Follow for Cheltenham 2012 – November 17th

The jumps season is now fully underway and starting to take shape. Much more sculpting will be done, but the month of November has already given us some fantastic performances. The Cheltenham Open Meeting usually throws up one or two horses to strongly note and this year’s three day meet was no different, so let’s look ahead to the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and see if there’s any value to be gained in the Ante Post markets.

Fingal Bay (Philip Hobbs)

The five-year-old son of King’s Theatre was arguably the most impressive novice hurdler to run this month. Trained by Philip Hobbs, The Bay, from the same family as Classic Cliché, was massively impressive in winning on the Sunday of the Open meeting. After tanking along nicely throughout the early part of the race, Richard Johnson allowed his mount to take-up the running someway from home – his superb jumping probably not helping his jockey to hold him up any longer. Once hitting the front you always felt he would take catching. After taking up the mantle his jumping continued to impress, but a shuddering mistake two out (his jockeys fault) cost him to forfeit all momentum. Immediately however, he was picked up by his jockey and came back on the bridle. Turning for home he was nicely clear and a good jump at the last sealed the race. It’s hard to know what the form stacks-up to but it already looks above average. This was only Fingal Bay’s third career start so improvement is guaranteed. He is a horse with massive potential; Philip Hobbs saying “he could be the best I’ve ever trained”. Soft ground will pose no problems; in fact cut will be welcomed by connections. In terms of trip, two-and-a-half-miles to three will be perfect. A really exciting horse.

Ericht (Nicky Henderson)

The Grade Two Sharps Novice Hurdle run on the Friday of Cheltenham could prove to be one of the most informative races of the year. The first three home look to be high-class recruits to hurdling. The winner, Steps To Freedom, is currently the Supreme Novice Hurdle favourite. The second, Prospect Wells, from the Paul Nicholls yard, was just touched off by the winner and is another above average type. The horse that interests me most however, is the third horse, Ericht. Sent off favourite for last year’s Cheltenham Bumper when failing to get competitive, he made a bright start to his hurdling career behind the aforementioned pair. They look to be decent animals and to finish within two-and-a-half lengths of those, on debut, shows the potential he has. He did get weight from the front two which does take a little gloss of the performance, but he jumped nicely considering it was his debut and I’d have no worries on this front as the season progresses. Soft and good ground seems to come a like to the son of Alderbrook as will the trip, in due course. Two miles may well suit for now depending on the ground, but a step up to two-and-a-half in time may well suit. A nice horse to look forward to.

Mount Benbulben (Gordon Elliot)

By Beneficial from smart family of In Compliance and One Cool Cookie, Mount Benbulben was certainly bred to be a nice horse. His performances on the track thus far have him earmarked as a decent sort. Strictly on form he was the best bumper horse in Ireland last year, but didn’t run at any of the major festivals. His hurdle career got off to a disastrous start when he slipped-up at Galway, but he quickly put matters straight with a facile maiden hurdle win at Thurles. He looks a horse with a bright future, connections saying “A very exciting new recruit to the yard and he’s almost certainly going to be best over longer trips – he is a good horse and he´ll be a proper stayer.” The Neptune and the Albert Bartlett look to be the main long term goals.