GAVIN CROMWELL: With the return of the National Hunt season just around the corner, we asked Brand Ambassador Gavin Cromwell to pick out his yard’s “Five to Follow”.
We’ve already had plenty of our Jumps horses out over the summer, but it’s not too long before some of the big guns will have their seasonal reappearances. It’s obviously a very exciting time as the new season really gets going and here are the five horses I think you should keep an eye on in the coming months.
Darver Star
He put in a fantastic performance to finish third in the Champion Hurdle last year and we’re really excited to send him novice chasing this season. He may or may not be out in time for Listowel but he’s one we’re holding a lot of hope out for and he’s a very exciting prospect over fences. We’ve always seen him as a chaser in the making, so to do what he did over hurdles last year was brilliant and with any luck he’ll show that over the bigger obstacles this campaign.
There are no long-term targets for him at this stage, but we do hope he’ll be contesting Grade Ones as we hold him in very high regard. He’s one we’re very excited about going forward.
Jeremys Flame
She’s another we’re really looking forward to going novice chasing with. She ran a great race to be second in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown at the start of the year and she had a slight issue since then, but she’s back and in great form now which bodes very well for this season. She’ll get all the mares’ allowances which could make her dangerous and she’s one we’re hoping will go very well.
Peaches And Cream
He won a beginners chase nicely at Wexford at the start of August and although that was his third attempt we think he’s a nice one for fences this season. His jumping is a real asset and we’re hoping he turns out to be a solid novice handicapper for the season ahead.
Gabynako
He’s perhaps one few would have heard of but he ran a good race when third on his debut for us in a bumper at Fairyhouse at the beginning of the year. He’s shown us quite a lot at home to suggest he’s a really nice type and could be a decent novice hurdling as the season progresses.
Wolf Prince
We haven’t seen him since he finished second in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown where a setback meant he missed Cheltenham and the rest of the season. He’s back in with us now and we’re aiming him at the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel. He’s in good form at home and we’d like to think he’ll be a contender for the big handicap hurdles. He was very progressive last season and hopefully he can keep improving for us this year.
