Andy Holding's National Hunt 2018 Horses To Follow

SPEAK EASY – Joseph O’Brien

Without doubt one of the nicest novices seen out so far this season in Ireland, and he looks just the type to improve significantly with more experience. An easy winner of his only point-to-point outing, the five-year-old was surprisingly easy to back on his hurdling debut at Naas back in December, but in defying his market weakness, he ran out a supremely impressive winner. Noted going well in behind the pace after two out, the Beneficial gelding took up the running with a good jump at the last and once in full flow on the run-in, he readily pulled clear up the hill. Although it’s only a small sample size, those in behind him that day such as Play The Game (fifth in a big field at Leopardstown), Riders On The Storm (narrow runner-up at Limerick) and Dortmund Park (winner at Fairyhouse) have all backed up the top quality speed figure he generated at the Co Kildare track and given that he won with plenty in hand that day, it’s easy to come to the conclusion he could have run a good deal faster. Interestingly, entered up in The Tolworth Hurdle over 2m at Sandown, and the Navan Novices’ Hurdle over 2m 4f at Naas the day after, connections clearly feel their charge is up to Grade 1 standard even at this early stage of his career and depending on how he gets on in either engagement will determine what route he goes down, trip-wise, for the remainder of the season.

A smart performance from Speak Easy who lengthens away nicely in the opener at @NavanRacecourse: pic.twitter.com/mE74xadMGD

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 9, 2017

SAM BROWN – Anthony Honeyball

Having enjoyed a fruitful first season in bumpers, winning both starts, big things were expected of the Black Sam Bellamy gelding on hurdling debut at Wincanton so it was a bit disappointing to see him fall short of what was required when only finishing fourth of 11 in what seemed just an ordinary affair. Whether it was the fast ground or he just badly needed the run that day, the six-year-old was a totally different proposition on his next outing at Plumpton, as he ran his rivals ragged with a display of relentless galloping from the front. Clocking a big speed figure into the bargain, he performed to the kind of levels previously associated with his progressive profile and with stamina clearly his main attribute, some of the better quality staying novice hurdles in the second half of the season – including The Albert Bartlett - would have to be a major consideration for connections.

STORMY IRELAND – Willie Mullins

Although the master of Muine Beag has captured the Triumph Hurdle in the past with Scolardy (2002), he’s failed to back it up with some high-profile names since, but there’s a decent chance things might change this season in the shape of this Motivator filly. Although she probably didn’t beat much on her debut at Fairyhouse, the manner of her wide-margin victory (58 lengths) and speed figure she posted suggested she a very fast juvenile and it would come as no surprise to see her raised significantly in grade to quickly find out whether she’s a fully-fledged Triumph Hurdle horse or not. Whether she’ll be equally effective on quicker surfaces in the Spring is open to question (only race on very soft or heavy so far) but either way, she’s already a four-year-old of some potential and one worth keeping on side for the remainder of the season.

PAISLEY PARK – Emma Lavelle

Promising on his only start in a bumper at Warwick last season, Emma Lavelle’s inmate made the perfect start to his life over hurdles with a smart effort at Hereford 11 months on. In a well-run affair at the Midland track, the five-year-old took advantage of a costly error by the favourite, Vision Des Flos, at the last, and he strode out nicely in the closing stages to win by a comfortable seven lengths. Moreover, the time figure he posted indicated it was a pretty smart effort for a novice on debut and something like the EBF Final at Sandown later on in the season would seem a suitable option for this potentially nice staying type (stable always tend to run one of their nicer types in this race).

INVITATION ONLY – Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins has unleashed some pretty smart novice chasers so far this season, most notably Footpad, and this chap looks another cab off the rank based on his latest performance at Navan. An early faller on his chase debut at Punchestown, the son of Flemensfirth clearly felt no ill effects from that tumble as he jumped with great verve and accuracy at the Co Kildare venue and in beating the likes of smart pair Any Second Now (second to Footpad since) and Moulin A Vent (won since), he clocked a fair winning time. Indeed, his final circuit time came in a full six seconds better than stable mate Polidam, who took the 2m 4f handicap on the same card, and with a good combination of speed and stamina under his bonnet based on these findings, the six-year-old will have plenty of options distance-wise for the remainder of the campaign.

A much talked about novice hurdler last season - Invitation Only easily accounts for Any Second Now over fences at @NavanRacecourse: pic.twitter.com/OxnC4Z1eQn

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 9, 2017