After the success of my flat 10 to follow which showed a profit of over 12pts (67 runs) it’s time for my NH version. If you want to check how those flat runners fared then simply click the Horses to Follow link on the left hand menu.

Here goes, starting off with some obvious (Irish) ones….

1) DUNGUIB6yo (Trainer: P. Fenton)
Not very inspiring I know but after a incredibly successful bumper campaign he made the transition to hurdling very nicely and looks set to go to the very top of the novice division. We probably won’t get rich backing him in novice hurdles but I can see him running up a nice sequence of wins hopefully culminating in Cheltenham glory.

2) HURRICANE FLY 5yo (Trainer W. Mullins)
A very exciting novice last season who missed the Cheltenham Festival due to injury. The form of his 10 length slamming of Go Native at Christmas and 7 length defeat of Kempes at the Punchestown Festival would surely have seen him win the novice hurdling crown last March. The Champion Hurdle will be his main objective this season but he’s another who could run up a string of victories on his way to Cheltenham.

3) MIKAEL D’ HAGUENET 5yo (Trainer: W. Mullins)
He’s won all his 6 starts since coming over from France and won 3 Grade 1’s including Cheltenham’s Ballymore Novice Hurdle. He then went on to defeat Cousin Vinny by 4 lengths at the Punchestown Festival and if he picks up where he left off last season he should prove a major player in all races at around 2 1/2 miles.

Next is an unraced novice recruit….

4) THE BETCHWORTH KID 4yo (Trainer: Alan King)
A 103 rated flat horse who had a fair season for Michael Bell this year. It could have been a lot better for him but for some dubious riding tactics that kept getting him boxed it, none more so than when beaten just 2 lengths in the Ebor. He’s supposed to have schooled well and looks an exciting recruit to the novice hurdle ranks.

Some handicap chasers…..

5) I’M SO LUCKY 7yo (Trainer: David Pipe)
At the start of last season he looked like making up into a very nice novice chaser and was only 7 lengths behind Planet of Sound (giving him 10lb!) at Newbury over Christmas. His form tailed off after that run and he ended the season with two very disappointing runs at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. If Pipe has got him back to his earlier form he is very well treated off a rating of 139 and a very big race awaits. Paddy Power maybe?

6) MALJIMAR 9yo (Trainer: Nick Williams)
Make no mistake, this is a very talented handicap chaser who should be able to pick up a nice prize this season. He loves Cheltenham and though the hill has found him out on his last two visits there, he has won a Grade 3 chase at the track before. Ideally he needs a bit of cut in the ground and about 3 miles.

7) HOLD EM7yo (Trainer: W. Goldsworthy)
A very smart hurdler who looked like making a very smart chaser in his first few runs over fences. He managed a fine 4th in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton before pulling up in the Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. After an easy win in a poor novice chase at Uttoxter he spent the Summer racing in the big Market Rasen handicaps but didn’t seem to appreciate the firm ground. His last two runs have been more encouraging and he should bag a handicap or two this season on soft ground.

8] VINMIX DE BESSY 8yo (Trainer: G. Moore)
This horse is in the list because I am convinced he will win a 2 mile handicap at Sandown this season. After nearly a year off the track he made his reappearance in January off a rating of 130 but a bad run then and a few subsequent poor efforts have seen his rating drop to 123. His last run showed signs of encouragement and I’ll be scanning the entries for Sandown’s forthcoming meetings to make sure I don’t miss him.

A second season chaser….

9) STRAW BEAR 8yo (Trainer: N. Gifford)
He was a serial disappointer (is that a word? probably not) over hurdles and his chase career hasn’t got off to a great start but there was a lot ot like about his run in the Cheltenham Novice Handicap, won by Chapoturgeon, when he didn’t quite see out the 2m5f trip. It makes me think that he is well handicapped and he should be able to pick up a few races over fences this year. 2 miles on a flat track in softish conditions would be ideal. Oh, and one final thing is that he remains a novice for this season.

And of course, last but not least….

10) MAMLOOK 5yo (Trainer: D. Pipe)
Regular readers will know my affection for this horse and after his gallant second in the Cesarewitch I’m going to stick with him and hope he can bag the big race he deserves. At Cheltenham last March when racing in the Martin Pipe handicap he came there to win the race only to be nearly brought down by another runner turning for home. He never seems to have any luck but always runs his heart out. I’m not sure what trip he needs over hurdles, and apparently neither does his trainer, but I’ll be backing him every time he runs in the hope his luck can change.

And there you have them, my 10 to follow for the National Hunt Season. Good luck if you decide to back any of them.

Gavin.