Paul Ferguson – Jumpers To Follow

Faugheen ()

Willie Mullins has a plethora of talent at his disposal in the hurdle division this season, with winner Briar Hill and Goffs Land Rover Bumper winner Moyle Park both exciting prospects, but looked something special when winning a Punchestown bumper by 22 lengths in May.

That race has worked out extremely well since, with runner-up Josses Hill winning for at Ascot on Saturday and the third scoring for Donald McCain the week before.

Faugheen made a winning debut over timber recently, scoring in effortless fashion at prohibitive odds under , and he looks destined for Graded success this term; he holds an entry in the Royal Bond on Sunday and the Navan Novice Hurdle a fortnight later, though I believe Briar Hill is expected to represent the stable in that contest.

Trying to select a Cheltenham target is difficult at this stage as, though he kicked off his campaign over 2m6f, he doesn’t look short of speed and could easily drop back in distance.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up contesting the Neptune Investment, for which he is currently a 14/1 shot with most firms.

Since the time of writing, the unbeaten Faugheen has stretched his 100% record to three from three, when winning at prohibitive odds at Navan on Saturday.

In beating Empire Of Dirt by an easy 4¼ lengths, he hardly enhanced his reputation, but once again showed he is a youngster full of potential and, while there is still room for improvement in the hurdling department, he certainly deserves a crack at something bigger next time.

Expect to see him in Graded company over Christmas. (Nicky Henderson)

Nicky Henderson’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up featured among the 40 ‘Leading Prospects’ in last year’s edition of Jumpers To Follow and retained his place as I thoroughly expect him to develop in to a leading contender for the in March. In fact, I backed him to win the race before winning at Aintree in April, where he slammed Forgotten Voice, who went on to win at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.

Clearly at home on a speed track, My Tent Or Yours saw out the race well enough in the Supreme (despite many people saying otherwise) and, with another year strengthening up under his belt, it is hoped that he learns to settle better this term. With his keenness in mind, the freshness he displayed at Ascot on reappearance last year tempers enthusiasm to take really short odds on ground softer than ideal in the at Newcastle on Saturday.

The six-year-old does, however, appeal as the obvious contender for the on Boxing Day and I thoroughly expect an impressive success at Kempton; hopefully will win the during December and help set the market. Currently 6/1 for the Champion, there isn’t too much mileage in his price at present, though I do expect him to be favourite after the Christmas Hurdle.

As you will already know, My Tent Or Yours has also scored since I first penned this feature, when taking the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. With chief market rival Melodic Rendezvous failing to run to form, he was left with a much more straightforward task on his reappearance, but he was visually very impressive. The most pleasing part of the performance was the ease with which he travelled through the race and he appeared to settle a little better in the early part of the contest.

Given that plenty of Nicky Henderson’s horses have come on for their first start of the campaign, it is probably that the son of will step forward next time and, as long as the ground isn’t too soft, everything should be right for him at Kempton on Boxing Day – as stated above, hopefully The New One wins well at Cheltenham on Saturday and helps form the market for the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. Oscar Rock (Malcolm Jefferson)

Another who should be on display at Newcastle on Saturday, Oscar Rock boasts the strongest bumper form away from Cheltenham and Aintree last season and he made the perfect start to his hurdling career at Wetherby last month, beating a subsequent winner by 19 lengths.

Trained by Harry Fry last term, the five-year-old won a couple of Newbury bumpers, latterly in Listed company when he had the first three from the Grade 2 at Aintree in behind.

Switched to Malcolm Jefferson’s yard ahead of the new season, the son of Oscar relishes soft ground and should be very difficult to beat on Saturday, despite the five-day entries looking relatively strong. If all goes to plan, he is another for the ‘Christmas Wish List’ as the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury appeals as the obvious race for him, given his bumper form at the Berkshire track and the fact he ought to get his ground.

If connections opt to stay closer to home until the spring, Doncaster’s River Don or the Prestige at Haydock appeal as options over 3m, before he is considered for either the Neptune or Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.

While My Tent Or Yours was successful at Newcastle the weekend before last, Oscar Rock failed to make it two from two in the French Furze Novices’ Hurdle, beaten by another potentially smart sort in Ballyalton, who actually featured as a Leading Prospect in last year’s Jumpers To Follow.

Both horses will probably make better chasers next season, but are capable of winning at a decent level over smaller obstacles and Oscar Rock will appreciate returning to a softer surface.

Therefore, his main targets this season may come during the depths of the winter (if the bad weather finally arrives), with the Challow at Newbury and the River Don or the Prestige still viable objectives. Despite his recent reversal, he remains a high-class prospect and one to stick with long-term. Padge (Evan Williams)

A winning Irish pointer, yet to make his debut under rules.

Padge just got the narrow verdict over Very Wood in a 2m4f point at Punchestown in February and the runner-up went on to win a bumper at the same track’s Festival in April. Now trained by , he has already won maiden hurdle and finished runner-up in a Grade 3.

The third home from his success between the flags was Mountain Tunes and he went on to win a point, before making a winning rules debut for Jonjo O’Neill at Towcester, providing AP McCoy with his 4,000th career success in the process. Padge’s form is clearly very strong and he is now in the care of Evan Williams, having been purchased for £160,000 in March.

Reported to have had colic over the summer, he won’t be out until after Christmas so could be kept to bumpers for now. Should he win well on debut, it is not beyond the realms of possibility he could be considered for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Williams has a fine record in such events at Ludlow, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him begin his career at the Shropshire venue.

Padge holds an entry in the bumper at Bangor-On-Dee on Friday in what looks a potentially warm event. Haydock winner Desoto County (also engaged over hurdles on the same card) looks a nice prospect for Donald McCain, who also has expensive purchase Master Dee entered. Stellar Notion (Tom George) is another expensive purchase from the point-to-point ranks to note, while Rebecca Curtis reportedly holds the JP McManus-owned Imagine The Cat in high regard, and champion trainer Nicky Henderson has a couple engaged, one of which being Moel Famua, who I saw in a paddock at Goldford Stud in September.

Even if Padge fails to line up and the fact that most people will be focused on Cheltenham, keep a close eye on this race, as it could be a source for plenty of future winners. ‘Dark Horse’

Clean Sheet who impressively won his point-to-point for Edna Bolger, but has since been snapped up by JP McManus and is now in training with Nicky Henderson, as was his full-brother, Nelsons Bridge.

Having seen the video on more than one occasion, the son of Oscar created a big impression on me, quickening up stylishly to beat Kilcooley (a recent bumper winner for Charlie Longsdon) by four lengths. An exciting recruit to Seven Barrows, he is set to head straight over hurdles.

Clean Sheet holds no entries… but watch out for this one.