Seconds Out: Oli Bell's Monthly Blog

Hello Racesharers! Greetings from LA where I am enjoying some down time after the 2023 Breeders’ Cup. Lots going on in the RaceShare world though with not one but two new horses for the new syndicate term, launching soon so keep your eyes peeled!

Whilst the Flat racing fun was taking place in California the Jumps racing has started to get into full swing back home when the weather has allowed. It’s this time of year that I love because all the dreams are alive and everyone has a shot at big race victories. In this month's blog I have used my phone book to touch base with some of the leading NH trainers to get a list of their horses to follow for the season. Hopefully this can be a fruitful list to follow. I’m sure many of you will be well versed in this but if not then a useful tool to keep a close eye on horses you like for the year ahead is the ‘Tracker’ or ‘My Stable’ function on the Racing Post/Sporting Life websites. This will notify you when a horse is entered/declared and means that you won't miss its next race.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

CAPTAIN TEAGUE – Paul Nicholls
This horse has already won the Persian War on debut over hurdles. He was really impressive that day and according to Nicholls will head to Cheltenham for their November meeting before Newbury’s Challow Hurdle – a race Nicholls seemingly always targets his top novices at. He finished best of the Brits in the bumper at the Festival in March in 3rd spot, only beaten just over 2 lengths and I think it's right to assume Nicholls has another very smart horse on his hands here.

DIAMOND RI – Joe Tizzard
Another West Country trainer is Joe Tizzard who has also picked out an exciting novice hurdler for us. Diamond Ri won his bumper at Warwick last spring very stylishly by 13 lengths under Brendan Powell looking like a proper horse. Tizzard had hoped to run this horse last week at Wetherby but the weather scuppered that plan, instead he’s off to Exeter this Friday where I’m sure he will go close. In Tizzard’s words, he thinks this horse can “go right to the top”.

MONVIEL – Harry Derham
Harry was thrilled with this horse's run behind JPR One at Newton Abbot first time out over fences and he is sure to improve for a step up in trip as the season progresses. Harry had a brilliant breakthrough season and is sure to continue to make a big name for himself in the training ranks.

CLASSIC ANTHEM – Jim Boyle
I’m sure some will be surprised to see Jim Boyle’s name on a NH horses to follow list but he is due to have a fair few runners over the obstacles in the Taylor & O’Dwyer colours this season. Classic Anthem was last seen finishing second to Father of Jazz in a Novice Hurdle at Kempton in May and that form has worked out well. This horse seems to have a bit of speed, jumps well and will stay 3m in time so seemingly has plenty of attributes to stand him in good stead going forward.

ALL THE FEELS – Noel Williams
Another trainer I rate very highly is Noel Williams who has flagged up All The Feels as his horse to follow. He says “she was an impressive winner of her point and ran really well in her bumper in the spring in bad ground that wouldn’t have been to her liking. I think she’s got a bit of class and she’ll run in a novice hurdle mid-November.”

GEEZER ROCKSTAR – Harry Fry
This horse is well bred from a staying chase family and he won nicely on his racecourse debut at Taunton in the spring. He looks to have improved again over the summer according to his trainer and will start out over hurdles in the next few weeks. Fry had a terrific day at Ascot last Saturday with Boothill winning under Johnny Burke and has proven throughout his career that given the ammunition he can deliver on the biggest stage.

KATEIRA – Dan Skelton
This horse ran recently at Wetherby behind the talented You Wear It Well and whilst I think on the face of it that might have been slightly below par it is still right to assume that Kateira can cut the mustard in big races this year. She was 2nd in a Grade 1 at Aintree on her final start of last season and we know how good Skelton is at plotting the right races for his horses, therefore I expect her to get a confidence boosting assignment next time and build from there.

CHIANTI CLASSICO – Kim Bailey
This is a horse who knows how to win having saluted on 4 of his last 5 starts including on his chase debut at Chepstow at the start of this season. His only defeat last year came in the Albert Bartlett where he pulled up with heat stress so it’s fair to put a line through that. I have had horses myself with Kim Bailey for many years and not only is he a top man he is also a superb trainer and I am excited to see how far Chianti Classico can go this season.

MIRAZUR WEST – Willie Mullins
Obviously there are about 1000 horses I could pick out from Mullins’ stable for the upcoming year and some very obvious ones but a horse I know he thinks a lot of is Mirazur West who is fairly prominent in the betting for the Sky Bet Supreme. According to Mullins this horse is showing all the right signs on the gallops and is worth following this campaign. I should also give a shout out to Ross Brierley, my fellow RaceShare contributor, who is extremely confident that El Fabiolo will win the Champion Chase and to be honest it is hard to see much strength in depth in that division so perhaps the price of evens on offer now does actually represent a bit of value!