Today begins the jumps season for many, and for me it is one of the best early season meetings and has some really interesting questions being posed.
So lets have a look at those questions
Champion Bumper - Form to follow?
The first race of the meeting is the Persian War graded novice hurdle, and with its position in the calendar it is more of a mix of second season hurdlers against summer jumpers. However this season it is different, we have a really interesting angle in which the third home in the Champion Bumper is competing for the first time over hurdles.
Not since Fingal Bay won this race back in 2011 (same trainer and jockey) have we seen a horse win this race on hurdles debut. Thyme Hill is the horse today, and is potentially a very special horse, given that he has finished third in the Champion Bumper and he hasn't been rushed into a hurdles campaign. His form from both Cheltenham runs is strong, beating future winners in both races.
So today is about whether he can run to something like 140+ on hurdles debut, and I for one think that is well within his capabilities. Take the form from his listed second, he beat Hold The Note by 2 1/2 lengths and that horse is already rated 130 over hurdles. The form is strong and does he have a vintage field to beat?
Second season versus summer form
The next point I want to make about the Persian War is the mixture of the field. This is because the race is run prior to the November switch of novices into non-novice, so we have some of last seasons novice hurdlers taking on new recruits to the sphere. Add in many of these are race fit from summer jumping and you get a very interesting mixture of horses.
The 'second' season horses are probably led by Harambe and Trevelyn's Corn, who have both shown form to be rated in the 130s. Harambe has been more exposed but does have a high handicap mark, and one that probably is fair for what he has shown (given he has run in a handicap to a good standard) whilst Trevelyn's Corn has been impressive in snatches in his fledgling career and is rated 7lbs lower but probably would have at least the little p on Timeform.
I like Trevelyn's Corn, but the form of his maiden win isn't working out, and then he disappointed behind Champ at Aintree (is held by Champagne Well on that form) but he has looked a project horse and with another summer on his back I expect him to make a large step forward this year, probably over fences after this run.
Harambe has always shown potential but he was a disappointing horse for most of last season. However things have clicked and he has gone on to show that potential. Today he doesn't have anything to find on form, his run behind Getaway Trump off a mark of 133 shows that he can be competitive in this sort of field. The question on Harambe is, will he progress as much as some of this field.
Then we have the solid form of Champagne Well for the in form Fergal O'Brien, yet he is somehow is still a maiden hurdler. His form from Aintree would put him in the contest here, and I think he will continue to improve for racing for this yard. It is interesting that they are putting the tongue tie on, and that might bring further improvement from him. I expect him to run well here, but does he have the star potential of Thyme Hill?
Then we have the current form of Some Day Soon and Win My Wings, both have made hay this year and both should be race fit and ready to go here. The question mark over these two is whether they have the ability of those prior mentioned, and that is probably going to find at least one of them out. Some Day Soon is probably the most likely of the pair to continue an upwards curve, and could make the frame here.
You then have an interesting hurdles debutant from the Tizzard yard, a highly rated chaser for NTD and a potential improver from the Skeltons.
A very interesting race, and one that should prove informative for the season.
I really like Thyme Hill and Trevelyn's Corn, whilst I do think Harambe can continue to progress. I've backed the first two to small stakes here.
Lisnagar Oscar - Is Chasing his game?
I have followed this horse over hurdles and I thought he was probably the best UK staying novice hurdler last season, and whilst he came up short at the festivals, I think he can make into a better chaser in time. He isn't the biggest horse, but he seems to have scope to jump a fence and I think he can make into a nice staying chaser.
Today he faces a hot heat, and it might be that he gets found out, but for an inform trainer I think we should expect a really good debut over fences. Hopefully they will ride him prominently as you often get found out over these fences if you get too far behind.
I had a tiny bet on him for the RSA at the festival in the summer, and I've had a bet on him today to win his novice chase.
Silver shining in the rain?
The other horse to flag and the one that i've backed with the most money is Silver Forever who runs in the closing mares novice hurdle. She impressed me last season in bumpers and I think she will outclass this field. I think she could go on to win the final of this series and provide Nicholls with some ammunition for the spring festivals, but first of all she can win this novice heat and prove she is as good over hurdles as she was in bumpers.
I backed her at odds against, which has gone, and I think we will see something to whet the appetite for the rest of the National Hunt Season.