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1 - BLACK BAMBOO – Trained by John Joseph Murphy

It was a relatively light season for this talented seven-year-old, with four runs from the middle of February. However, that doesn’t mask the fact that he ran at all three big spring festivals, making progress on each occasion. But for me, it was the big one that got away, the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Given exaggerated hold up tactics, the son of Fame and Glory made stealthy headway down the hill and was gaining on the leaders hand over fist when he totally missed out the second last. Back on an even keel, he still ran on well to finish 6th of the 21 runners, beaten 11 lengths. I reckon that mistake cost him at least half a dozen lengths, if not more.

Sixth of 21 over three miles at Aintree and then third of 17 at Punchestown, back at two-and-a-half miles in the Hurdle Series Final he reappeared at Killarney in July, back over three miles and was just edged out by Zeeband. A trip is no problem, which is no surprise given his breeding, but I fancy a drop back to a fast run two-and-a-half on a stiff track will suit, and any further improvement could bring a graded event within reach.

2 - QUAI DE BOURBON – Willie Mullins 

It is interesting how some sires go from their racing days to becoming sires in specific areas, and Ivanhowe’s is a long road. Winner of two Group One events over 12f in Germany, including the Grosser Preis Von Baden, he then went off at 25/1 in the Arc when he finished down the field to Treve.

Sent to Anthony Freedman down under, he won the Group One Doomben Cup before ending his career in the Group One Ranvet Stakes over 10 furlongs. His success at stud has been moderate to say the least, with only Just A Princess winning one race from 10 and winning £87,000 his best offspring, but that could be about to change with this striking five-year-old.

QDB looked pretty ordinary on two runs over hurdles in France and was then sent to Willie Mullins. But we know what the maestro can do and on his Irish debut he waltzed home to the tune of 4.5 lengths in a Naas maiden hurdle and followed up dropped down to the minimum trip at Clonmel.

That second win though showed Mullins that he was more of a galloper than a speed merchant, and sent off at only 4/1 for the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. He stayed on dourly in the closing stages after being badly outpaced down at the second last before running the smart Better Days Ahead to two lengths. The gelding didn’t need to run to that kind of level to get back to winning ways when landing a novice hurdle at Ayr on fast ground.

However, his hurdling career is only the start of this story, as he has the perfect physique for jumping a fence. I suspect even before he has jumped an obstacle in public, the Brown Advisory could well be his long term aim and really put his sire on the breeding map.

3 - PATRIOTIK – Evan Williams 

The most recent entry to run in the 10, this grey gelding was a huge eye-catcher in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 12th. Quite extensively raced as a novice, his campaign last year included a soft ground point-to-point success and a two and a half mile novice hurdle win at Ffos Las. He ran well under his penalty twice back at the West Wales track, including on a quicker surface, before being put away.

Backed from 25/1 to 14/1 for this valuable two-and-a-half mile event, the five-year-old travelled really well through the race, making stealthy headway on the bridle from the middle of the back straight until turning for home. The pace then noticeably quickened, and on the drying ground it was no surprise to see that he was badly outpaced.

It took him time to get back on an even keel under pressure, but he rallied to an extent that he was only beaten 15 lengths and closing at the line. It doesn’t take an oracle to guess he needs further in a well run race, and probably on deeper ground. Unlikely to go up for this run, I suspect a mark in the low 120’s can be readily excavated on testing ground.

4 - REGENTS’ STROLL – Paul Nicholls

A well-made and tall individual, I was really taken by this stoutly bred gelding when I saw him in the parade ring for his second start at Newbury, having won on his debut at Ascot despite a slowly run race being against him.

Still looking a shade green going to post, Cobden had him in the first three all the way around, until he was clearly outpaced at around three-and-a-half furlongs out, and for a moment looking in trouble.

The first of the leading bunch to come under pressure, he responded well and hitting the front a furlong and a half out, he fairly bounded clear inside the final 200 yards. Those two runs were merely an education and starting point for him, and he clearly has a big engine inside. You fancy that two-and-a-half miles may well be a minimum for him over timber, and this strong galloper is an exciting prospect.

5 - ROYAL INFANTRY – Dan Skelton

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott provided the first seven home in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and it was this son of Soldier of Fortune that was the first British entry home, staying on at the one pace, finding the race an insufficient test of stamina which was no surprise based on his breeding and previous wins.

Those wins came at Doncaster and then a Listed event at Newbury. In the latter race, he came from way off the pace to win very readily. And although none of his nine rivals won again following that event, visually he looks a real galloper. Novice hurdles await, and I think a minimum of two-and-a-half miles will be his calling.

6 - SALVATOR MUNDI – Willie Mullins

It was no hidden secret that this son of No Risk At All was being touted as something special well before he landed at Closutton, after he ran another of our 10 Sir Gino to a length-and-three-quarters as a three-year-old in France.

However, it was a full 11 months further down the line before we would see him again. Pushed in at the deep end for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, he was a relatively weak 17/2 shot and ran as if he needed the run, both from a fitness and experience point of view, briefly making a dangerous move between the third and second last before his effort petered out.

His sights were duly lowered when he made all to win an ordinary Tipperary maiden hurdle by a distance. I have it on good authority that his work has been of the highest order, and he has strengthened up since last year. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle could well be his season aim.