The National Hunt season has been underway for some time now but, what has gone before hasn't added up to a hill of beans and the real start is The Paddy Power meeting which has just got underway at the mecca that is Cheltenham and as ever all roads lead to The Festival back there in March. The Totesport Ten To follow kicked off too, which tells you the significance of this meeting,and now the real big guns come out to play. As per usual there are hundreds of lists of ten flying about and as I have entered this comp every single National Hunt season the following ten are the ones all dreams are pinned on. With a guaranteed prize of a cool quarter of a million quid up for grabs and the ten grand prizes along the way, enjoy the ride to all who have entered and please leave your comments.
So here goes, hopefully this ten, some not original but guaranteed heavy points scorers will lead to a healthy profit as well as Cheltenham 2012 Festival Glory.
AL FEROF(left); 6yo Paul Nicholls. This horse has been to the last two Cheltenham festivals finishing 2nd in the Bumper and 1st in the Supreme Novices. All he did in that win in March was stay, and with the switch to fences can come back next year to have a crack at the Arkle.The ability to stay further than the bare 2 miles has always been handy in races like the Arkle and the fact that championship pace suits, he will develop into a strong contender.Will be intriguing to see how he fares on Sunday and has the likes of Peddlers Cross and Menorah to deal with, but I reckon he'll prove best of the lot.
HURRICANE FLY(above); 7yo Willie Mullins. The reigning Champion Hurdler and though there will be plenty of new challengers like Spirit Son, Oscars Wells and The Real Article, they will all have to improve massively to trouble "The Fly". Won with something in hand last March and can mop up the bonus races in Ireland before coming back and defending his title.
DIVERS (left); 7yo Ferdy Murphy. I saw this one win the Centenary at The Festival back in March and with his connections thought straight away, plot up Paddy Power Chase.Trainer Ferdy Murphy produced L'Antartique to do the same double and has a good chance to do it again with Divers. Is a 7yo second season chaser, a course and distance winner with a low weight and looks the ideal sort for the race. Travelled well off the pace back in March before winning, in my opinion, with a bit in hand. Ran a poor race on his seasonal debut at Carlisle, but surely will come on a ton for that and on better ground has a cracking each way chance in The Paddy Power Chase, despite drifting in the market.FIRST LIEUTENANT;6yo Mouse Morris. Won the Neptune at The Festival and all he did was stay on strongly up the Cheltenham hill. I had backed Rock On Ruby in that race and thought he had it won, but this one, after looking in trouble, roared up the stiff finish and nabbed the prize on the line. Will be the right age in March to be a strong contender for the 3m RSA Chase. Trainer is getting plenty of experience into him and he definitely looks a chaser to follow.
HIDDEN CYCLONE;6yo J.Hanlon. Was only beaten once as a hurdler, finishing a close 3rd in a Grade 1 in Ireland behind First Lieutenant and Zaidpour, and that is smart form. Trainer reckons this one could be a Gold Cup horse of the future and the switch to chasing will surely bring out more improvement. To me, he too could develop into a RSA Chase horse himself.
AITEEN THIRTYTHREE; 7yo Paul Nicholls. This one has Hennessy Gold Cup written all over him and have already backed him at 10-1 for that race. Loves Newbury and with a satisfactory comeback run under his belt behind the smart Somersby, looks to have a big shout back at that track in a couple of weeks. Didn't like Cheltenham in last season's RSA and a flatter track seems to suit better. Could run well at Aintree too.
CAPTAIN CHRIS; 7yo Philip Hobbs. The world is this ones oyster and he has so many options, tripwise. He can go anywhere and win. Seems to prefer right handed tracks and a trip, but still managed to win the Arkle last season and can build on that this year to become a major presence within the chasing division. Could develop into a Gold Cup horse and a run in the King George at Kempton will tell us more. Could even take the Ryanair over 2m5f if connections don't fancy a crack at the big one this season. Should have won on seasonal debut at Exeter this season, but unluckily jockey Richard Johnson unseated, however the leap he made at the last told you he had loads left in the tank.
FINIANS RAINBOW;8yo Nicky Henderson. Lovely big scopy chaser and chased home Captain Chris in last season's Arkle after looking all over the winner at one point. Looks to be a real star in the 2mile Championship races this year and can go well in races like The Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The last two, pick themselves as they surely have no peers.
LONG RUN;6yo Nicky Henderson. Won the King George and the greatest Gold Cup I can remember last season and all this as such a young horse. Can win both again this year as his main rivals Kauto Star and Denman are too long in the tooth to trouble him now. If he stays clear of injury he will be at the top of the tree for a long time to come and will end up a "Legend".
BIG BUCKS; 8yo Paul Nicholls. Legendary status already hangs around this one's neck and all roads lead back to Cheltenham for a crack at The World Hurdle. Will surely win that for the fourth time before either going chasing or coming back for a fifth one. One of my favourites of all time, it is unbelievable to think he is only eight and if he stays sweet will again prove himself unbeatable.
There you have it a fine list of horses and one that will take some beating. Enjoy the season and happy punting.
Randy.
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