The Jump Season is already into its stride and we have seen some eye-catching performances already. Here, The Wine Tipster shares his top 10 horses to follow this Jump Season. Some of these have already had their seasonal debut, others to race very soon.

Hurdlers

Hillcrest (Henry Daly)

Hillcrest is such an impressive looking individual and this highly regarded type surely has plenty of improvement to come this season. In his two bumpers he finished second first time out to Wiseguy and then beat Armand De Brignac, with Harper’s Brook in third, who won at Carlisle on seasonal debut. There is no doubt that Hillcrest is seen as having a very bright future by his trainer and it would be great to see him do so well for the late Trevor Hemmings. He is entered at Aintree on Saturday.

Soaring Glory (Jonjo O’Neill)

Soaring Glory looked the real deal when winning Newbury’s big February handicap and then didn’t quite hit the level in the Supreme at Cheltenham when fourth to the top class Appreciate It. However, he bounced right back at Ascot on Saturday when winning the London Handicap Hurdle Listed Race when tipped up in my Unibet column. This six-year-old looked very visually impressive after his Summer break and beat a good field with something in hand after looking the winner someway out. Jonjo O’Neill might run Soaring Glory at the Cheltenham November Meeting, although more likely at Newbury at the end of the month.

Nightboattoclyro (Sam Drinkwater)

Very well backed on seasonal reappearance last year and beat Hooper fair and square with form that looks very good now and after two more wins at Chepstow and Wetherby before he lost his form (although still running respectably) in the Spring. Only had the nine hurdles starts – winning four of them – and gives the impression there’s still more to come when stepped up in trip slightly. Watch for him first time up, especially if the ground is on the soft side. 

Bear Ghylls (Nicky Martin)

It’s possible, given his size, that he might go chasing this year but his jumping, to an extent, held him back a bit last year and if that can be tidied up a bit there’s still some good races to be won with him over hurdles this season. Ready winner of first three starts before his jumping again cost him a place in the Ballymore but he kept trying all the way to the line regardless, and it would be no surprise if he stepped up in trip this year. Exciting prospect, whatever discipline connections decide to go for. 

Peking Rose (Fergal O’Brien)

Unusually for them, connections have taken their time with him (presumably because he’s a bit weak) and that could pay off this season. Good fourth in an Ascot bumper and then better still when second to Knappers Hill at Aintree, doing a lot of good late work under patient tactics and looked very much like 2m4f+ will suit him as a novice this year. Peking Rose was third on seasonal debut at Ascot to Kandoo Kid and will step up from that performance as he has loads to come as he strengthens up. 

---

Chasers

Beatthebullett (Rebecca Curtis)

Lovely, big gelding that made a good impression when successful at Hereford over hurdles last November and, when given time to get over that, ran better than finishing position suggested at Haydock showing up well for a long way before getting tired. Thrown in at deep end in the Albert Bartlett, unsurprisingly tailed off but I’d expect him to improve a lot for fences this year (has won two Irish points) and can see him making up into one of the better novice chasers. 

Quinta Do Mar (Ben Pauling)

Scopey, good-looking gelding that stood out in the paddock at both Market Rasen and Ludlow last year, successful in the latter and should have won at Market Rasen but maybe jockey kicked on too soon and he was caught late on. Not disgraced on handicap debut at Cheltenham, fell last when still in touch and, as unexposed as he is, has plenty of potential for fences this season. Quinta Do Mar won a Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on seasonal reappearance in October going away from Onehundredpercent when ridden very confidently. There is plenty more to come here.

Third Time Lucki (Dan Skelton)

Third Time Lucki was so eye-catching at The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham on ground that was definitely on the quick side. He pulled himself to the front and won so comfortably after jumping in great style on chasing debut. Last season he had seven starts and will be campaigned differently this term with the Arkle in March the target.

Onchan (Nigel Twiston-Davies)

Lovely, lengthy sort that’s made for fences (is a full brother to Lord Windermere, amongst others); in truth, disappointing that he couldn’t get off the mark over hurdles but had issues (treated for post-race ataxia on one occasion) and maybe final Ludlow run was one too many for the year, but you’d expect him to do a lot better over fences, given that pedigree and his size, so too soon to be giving up on him yet. He is entered at Aintree on Saturday.

Any News (Neil Mulholland)

Looked very useful in bumpers/novice hurdles early in career but things didn’t go his way last year. However, the fact that he was thrown in at the deep end shows what they thought he was capable of and he travelled as well as anything in the Swinton and he lost nothing in defeat to a race-fit rival at Warwick last week with things again not going his way. He remains with the potential to make up into a very useful chaser if he can keep his exuberance in check (wore red hood at Warwick, keen). On seasonal debut Any News was third at Cheltenham behind Third Time Lucki, who is Arkle bound, when running on and can build on that performance.

---

Keep up to date with The Wine Tipster’s tips throughout Jump Season with his Unibet Racing blog and across his Social Media. For more racing, wine and hospitality content, subscribe to get the next blog straight to your inbox.

Last weekend, The Wine Tipster, continued his magnificent form with another 4 winners. There were 3 winners at Cheltenham with Taquin Du Seuil, winning The Bet Victor feature race on Saturday Moon Racer and Fox Norton on Sunday in addition to Wells du Lune at Wetherby.
It was also a significant and emotional weekend for trainer Nicky Henderson. On the positive side, Sprinter Sacre was paraded at the racecourse on his retirement. This finest of all two-mile chasers has achieved the unthinkable, with Henderson planning it all every step of the way, nurturing him back to fitness. The 10-year-old banked more than £1.1m from 18 wins, nine at the Grade 1 level which includes a rare hat trick of success at all three of the major spring festivals – Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown in 2013. With Nicky Henderson as a patron, let’s hope that Sprinter Sacre will soon be playing a role at horse racing charity, Greatwood.
Sadly, Remembrance Sunday this year will probably remain in Nicky Henderson’s memory as the day that Simonsig had to be put down after breaking his leg. The 10 year old grey sustained the injury as he fell at the third fence during the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday. Simonsig won 8 races from 13 starts despite being plagued with injury throughout his career.
The Wine Tipster will be at Haydock this Saturday at the Betfair Chase, a fascinating clash between Coneygree and Cue Card.

There’s a massive rollover on today’s Scoop 6 with a potential £2.1 million win fund plus a huge bonus fund. For a £2 bet all you have to do is select the winner of each of the six Scoop 6 races and if you are the only winner then you will be collect the total win fund.  Also, all winners of the Scoop 6 then have the opportunity to win more money by selecting the winner of the bonus race a week today. The  bonus fund currently stands at £1.5 million and will probably reach near to £2 million so another incentive for having a go at today’s Scoop 6.

The races in today’s Scoop 6 with my two selections for each race are:

2.05 Sandown Leg 1  selections: No 3: Raven’s Tower and No 13: Dolores Delightful.

2.20 Haydock Leg 2 selections: No 5: Big Johnny D and No 13: Sir Reginald.

2.50 Ripon Leg 3 selections: No 2: Body and Soul and No 17: Hillbilly Boy.

3.25 Haydock Leg 4 selections: No 1: Gabrial’s Kaka and No 6: Brae Hill.

3.30 Ripon Leg 5 selections: No 3: Sizzler and No 13: Bayan.

3.50 Sandown Leg 6 selections: No 2 Bury Parade and No 17: Ardkilly Witness.

Good luck!.

The popular Shergar Cup day takes place at Ascot today and this year there are four teams battling it out over a six race card starting at 12.55.

Ascot 12.55 Les Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile The main question here is how Nine Realms will perform after a slightly lacklustre first run of the season. The Wine Tipster thinks that Nine Realms has too much to do and his siding with Andrew Balding’s Roserrow, who is certainly progressive.Selection: Roserrow win 8/1.

Ascot 1.30 Redcentric Shergar Cup Stayers 2m Sir Mark Prescott is renowned for the placement of his horses and his Mutual Respect, a winner last time at Ffos Las over this distance, looks open to improvement against some tough opposition including Broxbourne and Brockwell. Selection: Mutual Regard win 5/1.

Ascot 2.05 Barclays Shergar Cup Dash  5f Ahtoug looks well handicapped and his trainer Charlie Appleby’s stable is in good form so with a pull in the weights Ahtoug can reverse the form with joint favourite Steps when they last met on July 28^th at Ascot. Selection: Ahtoug win 9/2.

Ascot 2.40 Keltbray Shergar Cup Classic 1m 4f Chesterfield, despite a six pound penalty after his determined victory over Lady Pimpernel over 1m 2f, looks sure to benefit from the longer trip of 1m 4f and give trainer Charlie Appleby a double, whilst Cathy Gannon’s mount Cardinal Palace looks good for some place money.  Selections: Chesterfield win 11/4 and Cardinal Palace each way 12/1. 

Ascot 3.15  Pagegroup Shergar Cup Challenge 1m 4f Star Lahib will relish the return to 1m 4f and his two wins this season have both been over this trip. Ustura is the main danger and if runs to his Royal meeting form then he is a big threat, although The Wine Tipster still takes Mark Johnston’s Star Lahib to just edge this tight handicap. Selection: Star Lahib win 7/2.

Ascot 3.50 Dubal Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint 6f Trainer William Haggas continues in cracking form and look set for another successful Saturday in televised races with favourite Noble Deed’s three wins all coming at this distance of 6f, this looks the horse to be punting your pounds on.Selection: Noble Deed win  5/2

Channel 4’s is also featuring these races with my The Wine Tipster’s tips:

2.20 Haydock: Educate 9/1 each way.

2.55 Haydock: Telescope 4/5 win.

3.35 Newmarket: Wedding Ring  7/2 win. 

To celebrate a successful afternoon The Wine Tipster suggests some wonderful fizz from Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque NV, £25, Great Western Wines or Laurent-Perrier’s delicious and expressive Laurent-Perrier Millésime 2004,Champagne, France £43.99. Stockists: Sainsbury’s, Oddbins

Cheers!

Read more

See The Wine Tipster Live

View dates and locations >