A week early, but it feels a bit like the jump season is beginning. I have five areas of interest for this jumps season, in its day to day form.... one of which is on show today.
1 - Oliver Sherwood has finished, so does that add value to Harry Derham. We see this today with Norn Iron in the first at Uttoxeter, I wonder how many ex Sherwood horses are at Derham's and how will they perform? I expect a good season for the yard and with Sherwood's support it should thrive. The yard have 78 horses in training according to the BHA, so it will be interesting if they can get over 50 winners from that yard this season. Norn Iron is a bet today, its form is pretty tasty in view of this heat.
2 - Changing of the guard. This is all about Fergal's yard and the retirement of Paddy Brennan. How will this impact the yard, and what is the future direction. They have got Jonathan Burke in as stable jockey, and he has 10 winners on the board for the yard this season. However what difference will his arrangement with the yard have for jockeys such as Connor Brace, Liam Harrison and Jack Hogan. Then you throw in that Fern O'Brien is picking up rides, and it could be a stressed yard for jockeys and rides. Add in that Kielan Woods is riding the Megson horses and James Best, Ben Sutton and Max Kendrick all have horses they ride for connections in the yard.
It is remarkable that to this point both Liam and Connor have yet to ride a winner for the yard over jumps. Remarkable.
3 - Skelton's versus Nicholls. I think this is going to be a regular one on racecards this year. The market dominated by these two yards. However who will have the best season? I think Nicholls has had money to spend, but he always does, and is it fair to say that he is underperforming against his average? Then Skelton's yard seems to be thriving, with festival winners and really useful horses coming to the fore. Will they kick on and become the leading force over the master of Ditcheat.
4 - Will Henderson allow his horses to run regularly? Most know that this is an opinion of mine, but the amount of races Henderson gives his horses is concerning to me. Since the 1st October 2023 Nicky has only sent out 5 horses that have raced more than six times in the year. (comparison FOB has had 19) He has had limited running opportunity for his big guns, and then he had injury and illness that impacted on his runners for the festival. He has some of the best horses in training, Jonbon and Con Hill, and a host of talented youngsters. However, will we see them enough?
5 - Jockeys. In the UK we had a golden generation, you could even include Paddy Brennan in that, when Ruby and AP were at their prime, we had brilliance in abundance. However we have had a decline, with jockeys such as Brian Hughes and Harry Skelton winning championships. Are we on the cusp of another change with Sean Bowen and others waiting in the wings? I am hoping this season we see the growth of new jockeys and further development of those younger jockeys like Cobden, Bowen(s) and the likes of Gingell and Freddie Gordon coming through.
So enough of that rambling. Its all about Norn Iron today.