As the heavens begin to open across the country, the quality of National Hunt action has ramped up over the last week, with the jumping yards unearthing some smart candidates for the season ahead.
Matthew Sutcliffe picks out his top five jumps performances of the week, counting down to his standout run and giving each a score out of 10.
5. Derryhassen Paddy – 16:05 Cheltenham, Saturday 24 October
A slight curveball here, as Derryhassen Paddy wasn’t a winner of his novices’ chase, but I thought he emerged with plenty of credit following his absence.
The Arctic Cosmos gelding was a smart hurdler two seasons ago, finishing third in the Albert Bartlett. His highly anticipated chase debut didn’t go to plan, but the form has worked out well, with the winner Sixmilebridge a Grade 1 winner since.
He was ridden well off the pace on his return on Saturday, and while he jumped lethargically at times, I thought he warmed to the task and might have got closer had he not slipped briefly on the home turn.
He stayed on well for third under tender handling, and I suspect all roads will lead to either the Ultima or the National Hunt Chase in March, with a preference for the latter.
Rating: 7/10
4. Watery Borren – 13:17 Carlisle, Thursday 22 October
Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore have started the season well, and I think they’ve unearthed a smart type in Watery Borren for Old Gold Racing.
All the focus was on the 4/5 favourite Push The Limit, trained by Dan Skelton, who was bought for 580,000gns at the Horses In Training Sale after finishing his Flat career rated 103. I don’t think he ran particularly poorly, finishing a length behind the runner-up.
But this was all about Watery Borren, who jumped his rivals into submission from the off. There was a brief moment two out when he looked like he might come back to the field, but after a solid jump at the last he kicked on again to win by 12 lengths.
He didn’t look short of speed, and his jumping was solid throughout, so I don’t think they’ll be in any rush to step up in trip. The yard tends to run its nice ones under a penalty next time out, but they have won the Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock, which takes place next month, in the past and have targeted it a few times of late, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this galloping sort line up there.
A slight caveat would be that he was given a very easy time of things in front, and his market rivals failed to perform.
Rating: 7.5/10
3. The Walk – 14:01 Ffos Las, Thursday 22 October
Joe Tizzard enjoyed a fantastic four-timer at Ffos Las on Thursday, including winning the first three races on the card, but it was The Walk who caught my eye the most.
He headed the main group behind the runaway leader Common Sense and jumped well on the whole. It looked as if that one had escaped them, and The Walk was going to settle for third with Oatsoeasy coming upsides two out, but Brendan Powell saw a good stride, and The Walk flew the last to run out a comfortable winner.
He beat the right two horses in the market, and he’s bred to be very smart, given his dam is a half-sister to the yard’s Gold Cup winner Native River. He’s bred to come into his own over further and shapes like it too, so for him to win like that over two miles was a well above-average performance.
I suspect we’ll see him in another novice hurdle under a penalty next time out, and I’d suggest he’ll be minded over hurdles this season, as he’s a smashing chaser in the making.
Rating: 8/10
2. Kingofthefrontier – 15:00 Cheltenham, Friday 23 October
Back in March 2024, John Dawson rode a Cheltenham Festival winner on Sine Nomine, and now he’s a winning trainer at Prestbury Park, as Kingofthefrontier took the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle.
He attracted late support under Conor O’Farrell, who settled him well in rear and bravely came through the middle of the pack to jump his way to the front after the last, striding clear of Planters Punch.
He beat the right two in the market and did so impressively. He didn’t look short of speed, so I suspect they’ll stick to the minimum trip, and connections will likely campaign him ambitiously.
Rating: 8.5/10
1. Talk To The Man – 13:40 Worcester, Wednesday 21 October
Dan Skelton hit the £1 million prize-money mark this weekend following a whole host of winners across the week, and he’s already unearthed some Festival chasing candidates in Sinnatra and Kabral Du Mathan.
Both of those were former inmates of his old boss Paul Nicholls, and another ex-Ditcheat lodger, Talk To The Man, also made a successful chase and yard debut at Worcester. A dual novice hurdle winner last season, he couldn’t quite step up to Grade 1 company at Aintree, but a return to that level over fences doesn’t look out of the question following this performance.
The contest featured some smart hurdlers from last season, such as the 143-rated Klimt Madrik, who was second to No Drama This End in the Challow, and the 137-rated Scorpio Rising, who took the EBF Final at Sandown.
Talk To The Man was rated lower than those over hurdles, but he travelled very strongly throughout and jumped fluently on his chase debut. He displayed a smart turn of foot in the latter stages to pull clear of Klimt Madrik and was close to foot-perfect.
The John Francome Novices’ Chase next month looks a likely stepping stone, perhaps with a view to the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
Rating: 10/10