I’ve been out and about as part of the Trackside team over the last week or so, taking in the delights that both Uttoxeter and Wetherby have to offer, with National Hunt Horses to Follow from both tracks. There’s a few I want onside over the coming weeks, starting with one that I think is going to be a useful mare in that division this year.
National Hunt Horses to Follow: November 2024
Read on for Dave’s ‘trackside’ thoughts, with first-hand views of the runners from last week’s jumps meetings.
National Hunt Horses to Follow: Sunset Marquesa (Uttoxeter)
Joe Tizzard has his team in good form at present , so I was looking forward to seeing SUNSET MARQUESA in action here. I’d seen her in the flesh a couple of times last year when contesting good bumpers and she’d impressed me with her physique, and did so again here.
Of the front three in the market, I thought she was the one that might come on for a run the most, so in finishing third to Walkadina, a more compact type and fitter on the day, she’s lost nothing in defeat in my eyes. She’ll be winning races once she polishes her hurdling technique up a bit, and should get a bit further on her pedigree too. A very likeable individual.
National Hunt Horses to Follow: Now Then Wendy (Uttoxeter)
The second division of the maiden hurdle looked the weaker of the two on paper, but it wasn’t without interest. Whilst most of the focus from this will be on Railway Bell and Star Walking (not the biggest) it was one at a whopping price, Steph Cameron’s NOW THEN WENDY that kept catching my eye.
She has size, is pleasing on the eye and wasn’t unfit after a couple of recent efforts in novice hurdles. She’s tanked her way through the race and two out looked like landing me the each-way money but having pulled quite hard in the early stages, she couldn’t keep it going and faded away after the last to finish sixth.
She’s now a mark to work with, and it’s worth a mention that she was rated in the 70s at one point on the Flat when with Hughie Morrison, so an opening mark of 88 ought to be well within her capabilities. One to watch out for in Northern handicaps over the next few weeks whilst the ground remains good.
National Hunt Horses to Follow: Western Knight (Uttoxeter)
A nice result for my pocket as I was quite keen on the huge WESTERN KNIGHT in the paddock – he must be almost 17 hands high – and although, with the rug on, he looked like he might need the run, once that was removed it was clear he was more forward than I thought he was.
Despite Western Knight’s greenness and numerous mistakes on the way around, he’s of such size that the errors simply didn’t stop him, and he tanked his way through the race. He ran green again when asked to win it after the last but did enough, and connections patience is now being rewarded.
As with the yard’s Sunset Marquesa earlier on, you’d like to think that as he picks up more hurdling experience he’s only going to improve. Ought to be capable of better again, and once he sees a fence next year, who knows how far he could go?
National Hunt Horses to Follow: Choosethenews (Wetherby)
I really liked Choosethenews here, a really attractive-looking, old-fashioned chasing sort who really took the eye beforehand. He’s put in an exhibition round of jumping here and even when tired at the last, still found a leap to keep him in it. The fitter Tedley has had too many guns for him late, but he’s going to win plenty of races if he jumps like that that. He’ll go up in trip, you’d imagine, and is going to take some beating next time out.
By Dave Massey
Please note that the information provided in this National Hunt Horse to Follow article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org
