Paul Ferguson's Jumpers to Follow Mini Guide

JUMPERS TO FOLLOW

Mini Guide

Including interviews with

JAMIE CODD | AIDAN COLEMAN | ADRIAN HESKIN | BRIAN HUGHES BEN JONES | JEREMIAH McGRATH | PATRICK MULLINS | JONJO O’NEILL JNR NICK SCHOLFIELD | HARRY SKELTON

2021-2022

PAUL FERGUSON’S

Welcome

PAUL FERGUSON

SPORT without fans is something we have become Hughes, Ben Jones, Jerry McGrath, Jonjo O’Neill accustomed to over the past year or more, and the Jnr and Nick Scholfield – for their time and effort. lack of spectators at the 2021 Cheltenham FestiThis year’s edition of Jumpers To Follow – which val and Grand National meeting at Aintree were is the 15th (where has the time gone?) and the sixth particularly noticeable. I didn’t attend the former to be produced in association with Weatherbys – and as the horses milled around at the start ahead kicks off, as usual, with my 40 Leading Prospects of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, it had a feel of for the upcoming campaign. Of the 40, 25 are likely an early-season meeting watching on TV. Luckily, to be contesting novice hurdles and 39 are aged the brilliant performances of Appreciate It, Shish- between four and six, with the one exception being kin and Honeysuckle soon changed the mood, French-import Matterhorn, who is only three. As and I felt privileged to be on course at Aintree to ever, the section is full of horses who have yet to witness history being made, as Rachael Blackmore reach their full potential, and although 15 of them rode Minella Times to success in this year’s Grand are trained in Ireland, another 20 horses feature in National. Again, National day had an unusual feel a larger-than-normal Across The Sea section. Much to it, but there were a small number of owners on has been made of the domination of the Irish at course and Blackmore certainly received a worthy Cheltenham this year and this again highlights the welcome upon returning to the winners’ enclosure. fact that there is enormous strength-in-depth over Hopefully, full crowds will be back at Aintree – and in Ireland at present. everywhere else – throughout the upcoming season.

Other regular sections – such as Around Before looking at what lies ahead, congratu- The Yards, Point-to-Point Graduates, Top-Class lations to regular Jumpers To Follow contributor Performers and Big-Race Trends – appear once Harry Skelton on winning the Championship for again, as does News From France, a section which the first time. His victory aboard My Drogo (also highlighted the likes of Quilixios and Monmiral last on Grand National day) is illustrated on this year’s year. In addition, the Pundits’ Selections has been front cover and that was his fifth Grade 1 success added. Again, thanks to all eight contributors to of a memorable season. Another regular contribu- that particular section of the book. tor to the popular A View From The Saddle section I would also like to thank trainer Olly Murphy, for Jamie Codd also deserves a mention, as he hung kindly taking the time to write this year’s Foreword. up his boots at the end of last season, but only And, thanks to all at Weatherbys, most notably from Point-to-Points and will continue to ride in Paul Wright, for his work on the design of this year’s bumpers on the track for Gordon Elliott. Talking of publication. Thanks to the photographers whose Elliott, he is due to get his license back shortly after brilliant work helps break up my endless ramblings, publication date, so his name – rather than that of and to all of the owners and trainers (or their repreDenise Foster – appears alongside the horses from sentatives) for answering my calls, texts and emails.

Cullentra House.

As ever, your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Back to the A View From The Saddle section Finally, thank you to everyone who has purchased and I am delighted that Patrick Mullins has joined a copy of Jumpers To Follow. Whether this is your the team this year. He has mainly focused on the first time reading or you are now a stalwart of many bumper horses from last season and I am sure that editions, your support is greatly appreciated. you will find his contribution to be a welcome addiBest of luck for an enjoyable – and, hopefully, tion. At this point, I would like to thank Harry, Jamie profitable – season. and Patrick, as well as the other seven contribut- Paul. ing jockeys – Aidan Coleman, Adrian Heskin, Brian

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

Foreword OLLY MURPHY

I’VE been an avid reader of Jumpers To Follow for many a year. Given Paul’s firm understanding of National Hunt racing – from pedigrees, to Point-toPoint form, to the handicapping system – I’ve found him the most interesting man to keep tabs with.

This book has produced Graded winners year upon year, and many a horse has been put up as a potential star, from a very early stage in their career.

I first came across Paul while I served my time working in Cullentra House stables, quickly learning, what Paul didn’t know wasn’t worth knowing.

Time and again, well-handicapped horses are put up, and most impressively, Point-to-Pointers that subsequently may be well-beaten when starting off between the flags, are marked up as horses that will flourish further down the line. And, no surprise, more do than don’t.

Since starting training myself, I have got to know Paul quite well, as he is a fairly regular visitor to Warren Chase and I am pleased to see that several of my horses are highlighted in this year’s edition.

Jumpers To Follow is a great book to have in the car, sat on the coffee table or even great for bedtime reading. It gives a great insight in to so much – from French-imports to statistics and trends relating to many a big race – plus, there’s also in-depth additional content from some of the most well-respected names in racing. My own stable jockey Aidan Coleman once again features among 10 jockeys who nominate their horses to follow and he is joined by some of the leading names from the

weighing room, including newly-crowned Champion Jockey, Harry Skelton, as well as Irish input from Jamie Codd and Patrick Mullins, no less.

It is a mouth-watering read for any keen National Hunt racing fan to get their hands on, whether you are an avid follower of the form yourself, or you simply like to watch the weekend’s racing on TV. As for the season ahead from a personal perspective, I’ve had a fairly quiet summer and we have been doing plenty of developing in the yard at home. Additional facilities have been added and there are plenty of youngsters to look forward to.

I think we have a lovely team to go to war with this season, but if I had to nominate just one to follow, it would be Go Dante, who I know Paul is also excited about seeing over hurdles in the months ahead. Of the more established horses, Thomas Darby proved he stayed 3m when a good third at Aintree and it would be nice to think that he will be competitive in the Graded races in that division.

Enjoy the read.

Best of luck, OM.

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

Leading PROSPECTS Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

AHOY SENOR WINS THE SEFTON NOVICES' HURDLE

SHALLWEHAVEONEMORE 4yo Authorized – Princess Roseburg (Johannesburg) Trainer Gary Moore Owner Steven Packham

Optimum Conditions 2m on decent ground Career Form Figures 1-

2007 Derby winner Authorized has enjoyed plenty of success as a National Hunt sire, with dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll being the most obvious. He also produced high-class hurdlers such as Nichols Canyon and Goshen, and connections of the last-named introduced another promising four-year-old by the same sire at Kempton in March.

In a race which often throws up a smart winner (Mister Fisher and Shishkin won the race for Nicky Henderson in 2018 and 2019, respectively), Shallwehaveonemore was sent off third in the market. Having initially settled quite well in the rear, he raced enthusiastically down the back straight, tracking market leader Walking On Air throughout. Hugging the inside rail, he cornered well into the home straight and smoothly joined issue with a couple of furlongs to run. Shaken up by Joshua Moore, he picked up well and looked full of running as he powered through the line.

The form wasn’t really tested before the end of the season, with the runner-up a non-runner (due to the ground) during April, and indeed Shallwehaveonemore was entered on a couple of occasions, but wasn’t declared. Visually, however, it was a likeable debut. Given how he quickened on good ground, it might be that he is at his best when the emphasis is on speed (related to a couple of Flat winners).

SKYTASTIC 5yo Way Of Light – Verzasca (Sadler’s Wells) Trainer Sam Thomas Owner Walters Plant Hire Ltd

Optimum Conditions 2m+ on decent ground Career Form Figures 11-

SAM THOMAS enjoyed much his best season to date during the 2020-2021 campaign, saddling 26 winners from 92 runners (28%), having had just 21 winners during the previous five seasons. Much of that improved success is down to the increased support from leading owner Dai Walters, with Good Risk At All one of the stable’s leading money earners, winning Listed bumpers at both Cheltenham and Newbury.

He is clearly a bright prospect for novice hurdling, as is Skytastic, who also won a brace of bumpers, at Newbury and Doncaster. Making his debut in early-November, he was well-positioned in a slowly-run race, and quickened up well to beat several subsequent winners. The second (twice), third (twice), fourth, fifth and sixth all won races thereafter, so the form has a strong look to it.

Rather than pitching him into one of the spring bumpers, Thomas sent Skytastic to Doncaster, where he readily defied a 7lbs penalty. He again made all, and despite showing signs of greenness, still won with ears pricked. Although he wouldn’t look to have an obvious jumping pedigree, he appears to possess bags of size and scope, so can be expected to make his mark as a novice hurdler. Clearly at home on decent ground, he isn’t short of speed, and he appeals as the type to have improved (mentally) for his summer break.

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

Across THE SEA

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

APPRECIATE IT WINS THE SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE

JAMES DU BERLAIS 5yo Muhtathir – King’s Daughter (King’s Theatre) Trainer W P Mullins Owner Simon Munir & Isaac Souede

Optimum Conditions 2m4f+ on soft ground Career Form Figures F996212/12121292-

A HIGH-CLASS hurdler in France, James du Berlais was bought, primarily, with chasing in mind. Denied narrowly twice in Grade 1 company, he beat Galleo Conti (a smart novice chaser last season) and Moises Has in Grade 3s at Auteuil last season, before the latter reversed the form in the Prix Renaud du Vivier on his final start before joining Willie Mullins.

Having looked a stayer in his native France, I found it slightly surprising that he was aimed at the Champion Hurdle, and he struggled to make an impact behind Honeysuckle, on what was his first start in four months. Upped in distance by a mile at the Punchestown Festival, he ran a stormer to chase home stable-mate Klassical Dream in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle. Dropped right out, he scythed through rivals in the final half-mile and beat the remainder of the field comfortably.

Still only five, James du Berlais will now embark on a novice chase campaign, and there will be few (if any) higher-rated hurdlers making the switch this winter. He looks to have the size to take to the larger obstacles, and although he clearly saw the three miles out at Punchestown, it could be that an intermediate trip – particularly on testing ground – proves to be ideal. The Flogas could be a suitable target in the New Year.

JUMPING JET 5yo Getaway – Little Mili (Milan) Trainer Gordon Elliott Owner Robcour

Optimum Conditions 2m4f+ on soft ground Career Form Figures 1-

A 29-LENGTH winner of a Gowran Park bumper when trained by County Carlow’s Barry Fitzgerald, Jumping Jet was bought privately by Robcour and is now in training at Cullentra House.

Racing a little freely in the early part of the race, the winner was settled in fourth with a circuit to run and started to make inroads down the far side, as the long-time leader came back to the field. Hitting the front with around five furlongs to race, she looked to be going appreciably better than those in behind and galloped on strongly up the home straight, drawing further and further clear. The 16-strong field was strung out all over Kilkenny by the time she reached the line.

It was pleasing to see the form subsequently advertised, with runner-up Choice Of Words winning at Punchestown before chasing home Grangee in a Grade 3 at the same track, whilst Eyre Square (3rd) and Letthetruthbeknown (9 th) were also both successful on their next start.

Clearly at home under testing conditions, there is plenty of stamina on the dam’s side of Jumping Jet’s pedigree, so she should stay well in time. However, she might start off over the minimum trip and the past two winners of that bumper won a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in October (for Gordon Elliott) before being aimed at Down Royal’s Grade 3.

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

Around

THE YARDS Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

LESSER - A NICE PROSPECT FOR THE RICHARD PHILLIPS STABLE

fences, so it will be interesting to see which route is taken. If he goes novice chasing and takes to it, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him win a couple and end up contesting something like the Grand Annual or Red Rum come the spring.

and ran right through the line to record a comfortable 10-length success. The five-year-old looks quite a buzzy individual (hence the hood, I guess) so it is hoped that he settles down with racing, as he has looked highly promising in both starts to date.

Laura Morgan

SOCIALIST AGENDA

THE winner of three bumpers last summer, he was given an entry in the Grade 2 at Aintree but was forced to miss the race having met with a small BOLD ENDEAVOUR THE 2020-2021 season was the best so far for setback. Back in training now, he will head straight trainer Laura Morgan, who saddled 25 winners over hurdles and given his liking for a decent as well as seeing the quality of stock in her yard surface, is likely to be out fairly early. He travrise. Active at the sales, she paid £190,000 for this elled like a dream on debut last July, when he had son of Fame And Glory, who had looked an excit- Courtandbould (won three times over hurdles and ing prospect when winning his Irish Point by 11 more recently, over fences) back in third, and he lengths. He put up a fine front-running display at also had The Bees Knees (won twice over hurdles) Necarne, jumping well and showing a good turn of back in third on his second start. He completed foot, and he made the perfect start under Rules, his hat-trick at Sedgefield in late-September, after when winning a bumper at Sedgefield. Wearing a which he was deliberately given a lengthy break. hood (slightly concerning for a young horse in a With that in mind, he will probably once again miss bumper), he tracked the pace under Adam Wedge, the middle of the winter, and he looks a speedy until easing to the front on the rise at the top of the individual who will be campaigned over the minicourse. He quickly slipped a couple of lengths clear mum trip.

WHERES MAUD GONE

ANOTHER really promising purchase from Ireland, she had bolted up in a bumper at Thurles (placed horses both won subsequently) for trainer Sam Curling before joining current connections. The daughter of Yeats travelled very well that day and it looked like being a similar story at Ayr on her debut for Laura Morgan. Carrying a 7lbs penalty, she breezed upsides Condessa on the home bend, looking like she would win by a wide margin for most of the home straight. Once let down, she picked up but so did the runner-up, who would frank the form by finishing placed in a Listed race at Fairyhouse. Wheres Maud Gone went on to take her chance in the Grade 2 at Aintree, where she ran with huge credit in fifth. Wearing a tongue-tie for the first time (suggesting there might be a slight issue with her breathing) she stumbled on the home-bend, but still ran on well to finish just behind Eileendover. Her dam is a half-sister to useful dual-purpose performer Sesenta and Coral Cup winner William Henry, so she ought to stay further once sent hurdling and seems versatile in terms of ground. She’s a bright prospect for the mares’ novice hurdle division.

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

JAMIE CODD

BRIAN HUGHES

JONJO O’NEILL Jnr

AIDAN COLEMAN

BEN JONES

A View

ADRIAN HESKIN

JEREMIAH McGRATH

NICK SCHOLFIELD

PATRICK MULLINS

HARRY SKELTON

FROM THE SADDLE

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

NONBINDING Gordon Elliott

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD half-brother to Ferny Hollow, he disappointed in the Land Rover Bumper in Punchestown, but he scoped badly afterwards and was under a bit of a cloud, so there were valid excuses for that run. His work had been quite good ahead of that and I would be very surprised if he didn’t come back and make a winning return in a bumper in the autumn.

JAMIE CODD

WOLFSPEAR Olly Murphy

ANOTHER big horse with a lovely attitude. Very straightforward, he actually caught us by surprise a little in the manner of his win at Huntingdon, as he picked up a lot quicker than we thought he might.

Very easy to deal with, he is a horse with a lot of quality about him.

At this stage, any of these bumper winners could be top-class, we simply don’t know how good they could be, but that makes this time of year so exciting.

AIDAN COLEMAN

MASACCIO Alan King

WON nicely in Doncaster the first day when Tom rode him, then he ran a great race in Ayr, when on another day we might have beaten the winner. He hit the line very strong and schooled well before going out on his summer break. Despite having a Flat pedigree, I don’t think that winter ground will be a problem for him and he has a great temperament. He is a very exciting horse to be sending over hurdles and is one who I am particularly looking forward to.

ADRIAN HESKIN

HILLCREST Henry Daly

HE’S a fine, big, strong horse who could be anything. Still very raw, his connections have been very patient with him, but he ran well when just touched off at Doncaster on debut, before winning for me at Wetherby. They got racing quite early and he really found his stride up the long home straight. An out-and-out galloper, I’d have thought that he would want a trip in time, but he’s a horse with a very nice pedigree and is full of potential.

BRIAN HUGHES

FEDELTA Emma Lavelle

BEN JONES

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

A HORSE owned by Trevor Hemmings who has had a few problems, but I rode him at Kempton in January when he ran well against Barbados Buck’s. Still on the weak side last year, he was still learning on the track and he has only had the three starts under Rules. A Point-to-Point winner for Francesca Nimmo, I think he will win over hurdles before they think about chasing, but I’m expecting him to improve this season. A big horse, he was probably still growing into himself last year and he just needs a little more experience in terms of jumping.

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

FIRESTEP Nicky Henderson

JEREMIAH McGRATH

IT wouldn’t actually have surprised me had he not been able to win a bumper, as he really wants 2m4f and I felt something might do him for a bit of speed, but his class prevailed and he won both starts last season.

Green on both occasions, he’s a big chasing type and he wouldn’t have been out of place in a novice chase last year, on looks. His dam Springinherstep was a sharp filly and also trained by Nicky, and he’s very exciting going forward. We think the world of him at home and hopefully, he will be one of the novice hurdlers who flies the flag for us this season.

DARK RAVEN W P Mullins

A SMALLER, shorter type than the likes of Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard, and he doesn’t show an awful lot at home, so we were pleasantly surprised the first day. We thought he might not be quite ready and was quite green during the first half of the race, but he finished out his race very strongly and did the same in Fairyhouse. A lazy, laidback individual, the way he races would make you think that going up in trip would be no problem over hurdles.

PATRICK MULLINS

TIME TO GET UP Jonjo O’Neill

JONJO O’NEILL JNR

HE kind of surprised us a little at Wincanton when winning on heavy ground, as I always thought he wanted better ground, but then he obviously put up a good performance to win the Midlands National, and he looks like the type who might develop into a National horse this season. He’s a grand horse, a big fine chaser who is very easy to deal with, and still being very lightly-raced, it is hard to know what his ceiling is at this stage. He looks to be improving in the right direction and the form of the Midlands National obviously worked out well with the second winning the Scottish National.

ONEUPMANSHIP Jack Barber

NICK SCHOLFIELD

A LOVELY big horse, who I have always held in high regard. A big, raw chasing type who was never going to be a hurdler, he still had a good season, being just touched off by Sizable Sam at Wincanton and winning a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las with ease in the spring. He is going to make a proper staying chaser and I would expect him to progress nicely from a mark of 123. A horse who doesn’t have many miles on the clock, he didn’t enjoy the heavy ground on his penultimate start, but I expect him to improve no end for meeting a fence.

GET A TONIC Dan Skelton

ALTHOUGH she ran twice in bumpers last season without winning, she had always shown us a lot at home and – physically – has improved plenty from when she first arrived. A five-year-old by Getaway, she won her Point-to-Point impressively, and from what we see of her at home, we like her a lot. She was probably a bit green in her bumpers, but I would expect her to leave that form behind and I think she could be a talented mare.

HARRY SKELTON

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

COPPERLESS - A LIKELY CONTENDER FOR THE GREATWOOD HURDLE

Big-Race TRENDS

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

BETFAIR HURDLE Newbury – 2m 69y (Grade 3 handicap)

SATURDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2022 OVERVIEW

FORMERLY known as the ‘Schweppes’ then the Tote Gold Trophy, the Betfair Hurdle has been run under its current sponsor since 2012, and is – arguably – the most prestigious handicap hurdle of the season, outside of the Cheltenham Festival. Make A Stand won this race in 1997 en route to Champion Hurdle glory and it is a race in which novices – as Martin Pipe’s winner was – have a fine record. Indeed, four of the front six home last season were novices, including the winner Soaring Glory. Ideally, you want to look for a strong-travelling horse who can hold their position throughout.

NOVICE DOMINATION

LIGHTLY-RACED HURDLERS

I LED with this subsection last year and following THE three recent non-novice winners of the Betfair the victory of Soaring Glory, it is now nine winning – Zarkandar, Violet Dancer and Pic d’Orhy – were all novices during the past 12 years. Jonjo O’Neill in their second season over hurdles and were still trained this year’s winner and also Get Me Out Of lightly-raced. The first-named was having his first Here, who started the tremendous run of novices, start since winning the Grade 1 Anniversary Juvein 2010. Darlan was still travelling well when fall- nile Hurdle at Aintree the previous spring (and his ing in 2012 and beaten-favourite Ciel de Niege was fourth start in total over hurdles), whilst the other beaten less than a length in 2020, so the record pair had run 10 and nine times, respectively, over might have been even stronger. hurdles. You have to go back to 2004 and Geos Interestingly, six of the nine novice winners to find the last ‘exposed’ winner of the race, as had run just three times over hurdles, which is the he had run 23 times prior to his second win in the number required for a novice to qualify to run in race, although had won it on his ninth hurdles start these feature handicaps. Last year’s winner had run back in 2000. four times and as touched upon in the Overview, The likes of Sharpical (8 runs), Decoupage (6), led home a 1-2 for novices, with the fourth and sixth Landing Light (3) and Essex (4) are other good also novices. All four of them had run four times examples of lightly-raced winners since 1998, over hurdles earlier in the season. whilst the Gary Moore-trained pairing of HeathSoaring Glory was the only one of the quartet to cote and Wingman won back-to-back renewals have been tested at Graded level, however, and in (2007 and 2008) on the back of 10 and eight doing so, became the fifth winner in eight years to starts, respectively. In total, since 1997 when subsehave contested a Grade 1 or Grade 2 novice hurdle quent Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand was on their previous start. All five of them finished successful, 20 of the past 23 winners had run no second or third, so pay healthy respect to a novice more than 10 times over hurdles, with 11 of them who arrives at Newbury on the back of a placed having had three or four runs. effort in Graded company.

Jumpers To Follow 2021-2022

JUMPERS TO FOLLOW

2021-2022

PAUL FERGUSON’S

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