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Jumps Eye-Catchers

This season i've introduced a more regular 'eye-catchers/to follow' post for Members, looking back at the previous week's action. I've pulled together two posts so far and around x40 horses for the notebook. I've posted some of them below for you to flick through.

Before that, don't forget to grab your Free 10 to Follow Jumps report from the guys at Cleeve...

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Jumps Eye-Catchers

Do Note: The intention is not necessarily to just ‘back them blind’ but to add some brief notes as context, and that may save time analysing future races. There are some last-time-out winners who may not be ‘value’ anytime soon as such, but still I think useful, and most of them ran well in the races highlighted. However, they are included with the view that they have more wins in them, whether that over hurdles or chasing down the line – that could be next season, or the season after!

Ffos Las

MT Fugi Park – a £290k ex Irish Pointer for Jonjo, and evidently a future chaser in the making. He may not see a fence for a year or two, but on this evidence on hurdle/yard/seasonal debut, he has stacks of ability. This was the 2nd run of his life, green, raw, but with an engine and attitude to match. The front two pulled well clear here and he beat a well fancied Nicholls horse – Wrappedupinmay – himself a Point and NHF winner, who clearly has ability and had a bit more experience on his side. I doubt either of these will be much of a price anytime soon, but both are certainly worth noting for the ‘future chaser’ notebook, whenever that may be. Jonjo could have a semi-decent one in the making here, time will tell. His yard have started the season well and he appears to have plenty of exciting youngsters to go to war with, who he’ll no doubt mind, and with an eye on their future chase careers.

Cruz Control – a NHF and x2 hurdle winner for Lacey, making chasing debut here at Ffos Las on his first run of the season. They all bumped into one of Twister’s here, but I’m not sure Stan Sheppard wanted to get any closer to him on this lad, an educational ride that will do the horse no harm moving forward. He may one bad error on the way round but generally jumped well, and made up ground from 4 out without really being asked a serious question. It’s early days for him but he may want further, and even softer. They pitched him into the G2 bumper at Aintree’s Grand National meeting a couple of seasons ago, and I always think when connections do that, they must think something of them. (obv some owners just want a day out!). His dam was a 2m5f listed chase winner in France, who herself was a half sister to Voy Por Ustedes. Now, he won’t be that good of course, but he’s got ability, knows how to win, and you’d think has at least one handicap chase in him at some stage.

Chepstow

French Paradoxe – made a pleasing return at Chepstow I thought, moving well on the front end, (better than most) jumping well and running as if badly needing the run, his finishing position not indicative of his effort through this race. They did leave the hood off for this seasonal return and it will be interesting if it’s reapplied in future. It was also reported that he was lame in front post race. I hope that’s nothing serious as on this evidence, he could progress again over fences this season when the mud is flying. He’s been best in small fields previously.

Worcester

Inspiratrice – she ran a cracker here on seasonal return, in a mares Novice Chase, up against mares rated 10-20lb superior. However, she cruised into this race 3 out, jumping well, before tiring. She’s only a 4YO and this was her first start in 210 days, sent off 16/1 unfancied. She’s entitled to run in much weaker Mares handicaps. She’s still a bit headstrong and benefits from a strong pace to sit off (unless one day they just unleash her upfront), but on this evidence she’s got chase wins in her.

Huntingdon

Magistrato – ran an extraordinary race in this chase really, going a mad gallop through the whole race, taking on one other, looking like the winner before tiring/jumping left, but somehow still holding his position for 2nd, once the winner swooped past. It was a stupid ride and the jockey really should have got a breather in at some stage, and he may have won. He’s ex Paul Nicholls and is a bit of a head-case, but on this evidence would have a small handicap chase in him, on decent ground. He won easily over fences for Paul at Warwick, and it could be he’s best LH. He likes to get on with it and make all, and with a slightly more patient ride, could well do so. Again, no world beater, and he wouldn’t live with decent ‘winter horses’, but on this evidence he should pop up somewhere, one day. Maybe next summer. This was only his 6th chase.

Fontwell

Impression Chic – a 5YO having the 4th run of his life under rules, but having run in two points. He cost £26k and won this rated just 87, and they’ll be hoping for further improvement. Just shows you though that spending 25k+ doesn’t guarantee a 120+ chaser either! This form may be tosh but I did just want to note that he jumped so much better than a C5 animal. Shoddy jumping (as well as attitude and their legs being only so fast) is one reason why horses get stuck at this level, but this lad looked a natural, fast, slick, knew what he was doing. He could be underestimated, at his level, but you’d think another 0-100 in him. He’s been kept to good ground, so again, may not have many chances left before the spring. He could rate higher. Who knows, maybe his form will take off!

Southwell

Butch – butch by name, butch by nature. Another one of these Olly Murphy hurdlers that I just want to note as a chaser in the making. This lad could relish a fence and step up again, for all he decimated this field and won as he liked. He’s got plenty of staying chase blood in his pedigree and looks a big horse, who travels well, jumps well and has a winning attitude. He could be fairly smart when seeing a fence and I don’t want to underestimate him. He jumped these fixed brush hurdles as if he wouldn’t have a problem with a regulation fence.

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Thanks for reading, and hopefully something of use there moving forwards,

All the best,

Josh

p.s don't forget you can access those Eye-catcher posts, all daily qualifiers from my Trainer Track Profiles report, my daily notes/thoughts, big race trends & previews, the private Telegram Group and much more, with my 21 Day Trial, just CLICK HERE >>>