John Morris provides extracts from the Jumping Prospects Autumn Trainer Interview book.
JUMPING PROSPECTS TRAINER INTERVIEW BOOK 2016
The 25th edition of the Jumping Prospects Autumn Trainer Interview book contains the results of twenty face to face visits to talk personally with those individual trainers at their stables.
I always maintain that the autumn and early winter months produce the best results from the fresh information gathered during the annual stable tour.
The Trainer gives their comments and I then provide a short view concerning my own thoughts on the prospects of each featured horse in the book.
The following selection of four horses from the stable tour will provide you with a small sample of what the individual write ups on each horse look like in the book.
The interviews have a selection of ‘Eyecatchers’ to help those who prefer a smaller list of horses to follow from each of the twenty featured trainers.
The book is an informative and an entertaining read. Details: jumpingprospects.co.uk
BUSTER THOMAS (Emma Lavelle)
5, b. g. Westerner–Awesome Miracle //Distance: 2m 4f+ //Ground: good-soft
TRAINER COMMENTS: He finished second on his only outing on good to yielding ground at Ballyarthur in April. He and the eventual winner pulled well clear of their rivals and he looks sure to have come on for that initial experience. I will probably give him an outing in a bumper and then send him over hurdles in two and half mile races on genuine good to soft ground later in the year. He looks to have a bright future.
JOHN MORRIS' VIEW: Following his promising run between the Flags, he was given a rating of 90. Another aspect to note was that his debut Point had a big field of 17 runners and the first and second in the race pulled 22 lengths clear of the third horse.
CHARMIX R145h (Harry Fry)
6, b/br. g. Laveron – Open Up //Distance: 2m+ //Ground: good -soft
TRAINER COMMENTS: He stayed on well to win a class 3 novices’ hurdle on soft ground at Wetherby in October. On his next outing at Newbury at the Hennessy meeting in November he again showed promise when finishing second to Modus. We then sent him back to Newbury in December and he won comfortably by 17 lengths over two miles and three furlongs on soft ground. We ran him at Cheltenham in January, but he did not enjoy the testing conditions. After this run he was not right and we decided to give him the remainder of the season off. He has since enjoyed a good summer break and will return in the autumn to start his novice chasing campaign. He definitely has a bright future over fences.
JM View: Although he missed the second half of the season, his reputation was improving with every run over hurdles. His future now lies over fences and he has the scope and the ability to maintain his progress when he returns in the autumn.
HESTER FLEMEN R132h (Nicky Richards)
8, ch. m. Flemensfirth – Hester Hall // Distance: 3m+//Ground: soft-heavy
TRAINER COMMENTS: She is a big filly, with lots of scope and ability to continue to improve when she returns in the autumn over fences when there is cut in the ground. Unfortunately she had an issue after her Catterick success, but she has since enjoyed a very good summer. I’m hopeful she will continue to improve.
JM View: She made an impressive winning debut for the stable in a three mile one furlong, soft ground Beginners’ Chase at Catterick in December, where she jumped and travelled well to win by 6 lengths. Although not given a mark over fences, she will probably be a 140+chaser. Handicaps might be off the agenda, but there will be opportunities for her in other types of mares’ races. She looks to have a bright future providing luck is on her side. Personally I rate this mare very highly.
WISHING AND HOPING R128h (Alan King)
6, b. g. Beneficial – Desperately Hoping //Distance: 2m – 2m 4f //Ground: good-soft
TRAINER COMMENTS: Last season he won on his first two outings during his novice hurdling campaign, at Plumpton in October and at Ascot in November. During the summer he looks to have matured both physically and mentally. We have schooled him over fences and he jumps well. I will probably start him over two miles, but he should be suited by two and a half miles over fences.
JM View: He has always been a big, rangy horse and should be suited by a chasing career.
