Andy Holding's 20 Bumper Horses to Follow

FERNY HOLLOW – Willie Mullins

It’s only right that I start my look back at some of the best performances in bumpers from last season by dealing with the Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival, and it once again proved another benefit for the Willie Mullins stable. Having previously trained an unprecedented nine winners of the Champion Bumper, the Closutton handler had a strong hand in what appeared another above-average renewal – including red-hot favourite Appreciate It – but it was his supposed second-string who took the honours. Previously fitted with a first-time hood at Fairyhouse to good effect, the son of Westerner was given a similarly patient ride to the one he received at the Co Meath track and those hold-up tactics once again worked a treat. Produced with a well-timed challenge in between the wings of the last hurdle, the five-year-old stayed on with great determination to leave his stable mate in his wake up the hill and with the pair pulling nicely clear of the rest, its form that should end up standing the test. Clearly a much better all-round performer now he has learnt to settle, Ferny Hollow has stamina and speed in equal measures and it would be a surprise if he was not battling for top honours over hurdles next season.

 

 

THIRD TIME LUCKI – Dan Skelton

Impressive in a decent time figure the run before at Huntingdon, a big performance was expected from the son of Arcadio in the Champion Bumper and he did not disappoint by running out the best of the home contingent in fourth. Noted going well on the heels of the leaders coming down the hill, the five-year-old momentarily got done for tactical speed as the pace increased significantly off the home turn, but he rallied well to the cause and ended up staying on strongly again to finish on the coat tails of the main players. On this evidence, maybe a step up in trip might turn out to be the order of the day for Dan Skelton’s gelding when tackling the very best, although he is certainly not devoid of speed and will probably start his campaign over two miles.

ESKYLANE – Gordon Elliott

Fairly unheralded among a three-pronged attack by his handler in the Champion Bumper, the son of Flemensfirth only narrowly failed to come away with the yard bragging rights finishing a close-up fifth, just behind stable mate and the more strongly-fancied, Queens Brook. The way he went through the race and kept in well up the hill strongly suggests he has plenty of ability to match his frame and he is likely to come into his own when tackling more extremely tests over jumps in years to come.

BALLYADAM – Gordon Elliot

The son of Fame And Glory was muted as a possible runner for the Champion Bumper prior to his debut at Navan, but unfortunately that project had to be scrapped after he failed to deliver the goods as a red-hot 1-4 poke. Despite travelling like his odds suggested, the five-year-old didn’t find as much as anticipated at the Co Meath venue and ended up finishing a respectable third, but it was still an encouraging run all the same. Sent off even shorter at 1-6 at Downpatrick, Gordon Elliott’s gelding made no mistake second time around, travelling strongly throughout before pulling readily clear in the closing stages. Having won over three miles on his sole start in a point-to-point, one would imagine he will end up as a chaser in time, but for now, a bright hurdling career beckons and, being as he doesn’t look devoid of speed, he is likely to start over the minimum trip before being asked to move his way up in distance as the season progresses.

 

DELVINO – Dermot McLoughlin

Caught the eye on her very first start in an above-average bumper won by Julies Stowaway at Navan (Ballyadam back in third) and she wasted no time in getting off the mark by scoring on her second outing at Down Royal. Sent off odds-on at the Co Down venue, the daughter of Dylan Thomas moved through the race equally well as she did on debut and once asked to put her seal on matters late on, she stayed on in convincing style to the tune of four lengths. Despite her stylish success, the five-year-old mare left the impression she wasn’t entirely in love with the filthy conditions the track was left in by race seven and the reason she came through the test can largely be put down to her undoubted class. A big, rangy mare with tons of scope, Dermot McLoughlin’s inmate has all the right tools to make in to a quality performer over hurdles next season and it would not come as the biggest shock in the world if she were to gain some all-important black type for the breeding sheds along the way.

CAPTAIN KANGAROO – Willie Mullins

The Mastercraftsman gelding has the distinction of being the last winner before the enforced break due to Coronavirus and he is a name that we will no doubt be hearing plenty about next season and beyond too. Not your typical Willie Mullins-trained bumper horse, in the sense he wasn’t shouted from the rooftops prior to his debut at Clonmel, but that did not stop him turning in a very eye-catching winning performance. In what turned out to be a very strongly-run affair thanks to the exploits of the well-touted Yousayitbest, the five-year-old was always travelling well within himself towards the rear and then once asked to go about his work in the latter stages, he found plenty for minimal driving to come readily clear of his rivals. A big scopey unit with a round action, one can see this chestnut relishing tests of stamina in the depths of winter and it would come as little surprise if he were tacking Graded events sooner rather than later. Exciting prospect.

KILCRUIT – Anthony Mullins

Well-fancied to make a winning debut in the same race at the Powerstown Park venue, the son of Stowaway certainly travelled as strongly as his reputation indicated, but in the end, he had to play second fiddle to what should turn out to be a very smart horse in the shape of Captain Kangaroo. The five-year-old, however, did pull nicely clear of the rest, and with time figure strongly suggesting it was a very smart race of its kind, his performance deserves extra merit. Likely to tackle one more bumper before being sent over hurdles, Anthony Mullins’ gelding is one to keep on side during the whole of next season.

ON EAGLES WINGS – Tom Hyde

Off the mark at the fifth attempt, that victory at Limerick in March was only more than he deserved after a series of useful efforts against some of the best bumper horses around in Ireland and he should go on to make into a smart hurdler next season. His runner-up spot to subsequent Champion Bumper winner, Ferny Hollow, was a precursor to what happened at the Greenmount Park track a month later and that success came at the expense of another useful recruit in the shape of the Willie-Mullins-trained, Stattler. Making all, the son of Flemensfirth, stayed on too strongly for his main market rival and his never-say-die attitude is likely to serve him well in the future – especially when there is an emphasis on stamina.

FAIVOIR – Dan Skelton

While Third Time Lucki was acquitting himself with great credit in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, on the very same afternoon, Dan Skelton’s gelding was adding to his own personal story with another notable victory. A smooth winner at Bangor previous, the five-year-old was well-backed to defy the penalty, and he did so in some style. Given a confident ride by Bridget Andrews, the son of Coastal Path loomed up travelling all over his rivals turning for home and then for minimum pressure, he asserted his superiority without being fully extended. Talented and classy with a good cruising speed, he looks an exciting hurdling recruit for next season.

BEAR GHYLLS – Nicky Martin

On the eve of the Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Martin’s gelding produced a 33-1 shock in a bumper at Warwick but, as the time figure indicated it was a performance of some merit, there is no reason to regard the winning effort as a fluke. Noted still travelling over all his rivals going down the back straight, the son of Arcadio eased his way to the front rounding the home turn and from that point onwards he strode majestically clear of his toiling rivals to score by a wide-looking 19 lengths. Without being resorted to maximum pressure, the imposing five-year-old managed to run the last circuit significantly faster than every other horse on the card – despite the ground being at its worst by race seven – and that marks him down as a seriously useful tool. It is also worth pointing out that he showed distinct signs of greenness in the latter stages at the Midland venue, which lends itself even more favourably to the overall depth of the display. Built in the mould of a proper chasing type, Bear Ghylls is clearly not short of pace, but ultimately he is going to be seen to best advantage over further and it will be fascinating to watch his career progress, whether with current connections or pastures new. Potentially very smart.

SMURPHY ENKI – Chris Gordon

There always has to be a degree of suspicion attached to any wide-margin bumper winner, but in the case of Chris Gordon’s gelding, the numbers stack heavily in favour of his performance at Wincanton on rules debut being totally believable. Placed in three Irish points for old connections, the son of Blue Bresil wasn’t particularly fancied for his rules debut at the West Country venue in early March, but that lack of market confidence could not have been any more displaced as he turned what looked a competitive contest on paper beforehand into a procession. Setting out to make all the running, the five-year-old soon had his rivals at full stretch coming out of the back straight and by the time he had set sail for home, the race was as good as over. Bounding further and further clear with every stride, he stopped the clock in an eye-poppingly fast time, made even more impressive when you add into the mix his final circuit sectionals compared to the rest of the card (nearest was 40 lengths slower). Whether he would have taken on board something more substantial, such as the Graded bumper at Aintree, is all conjecture, but either way, he remains an extremely promising prospect for next season and he could end up being the best his up-and-coming handler has ever trained.

ANIMAL – Suzy Smith

Could not have been more impressive when making a winning debut in a fair bumper at Market Rasen in February and he has the potential to develop into a useful hurdler next season. Quietly fancied to go well at the Lincolnshire track, the son of Arcadio moved with plenty of panache throughout the early exchanges and then when put through his paces towards the backend he readily opened up to record a facile success. Considering he was up against a couple of well-touted rivals from powerful stables, mainly the 11-10 favourite, Across The Line, from the Dan Skelton barn, there looks to be plenty of substance attached to the overall form, and the speed figure also added some clout to the performance, too. Although he only cost 3000 euros and hails from a relatively small outfit, time may tell that he will leave his inferiority complex well behind.

FAROUK D’ALENE – Gordon Elliott

We only saw the son of Racinger twice last season, but there was enough in each display to know he has a bright future. A comfortable winner on his seasonal debut at Down Royal when making all the running, the bay gelding was upped in class for his next and final start of the campaign at Naas, and this time he had to do it the hard way. Picking up the running from the fading Vinnie Is Busy over two furlongs out, Gordon Elliott’s gelding then got headed by Fire Attack from the same Gigginstown ownership and from that point the pair went hard all the way to the line. Showing tremendous battling qualities, he managed to get back up in the shadows of the post and it is that sort of tenacity and willingness not to lie down which should stand him in good stead when he is sent over hurdles next season.

 

 

BOOTHILL – Harry Fry

Runner-up in both his two Irish point-to-points, the Presenting gelding was nicely backed prior to his debut at Kempton and despite facing a similarly well-fancied sort in the shape of Bothwell Bridge from the Nicky Henderson stable, he justified his position in the market. A little keen early on, Harry Fry’s five-year-old became more amenable to restraint as the tempo increased going down the back straight and by the time the leading pack had set sail for home, it was clear there was only going to be one winner. Pulling clear in the latter stages, he kept up a relentless gallop all the way to the line and in doing so, he posted an extremely smart time figure for a bumper outside of championship level. Due to go to either Aintree or Punchestown rather than Cheltenham according to the post-race chat before Coronavirus intervened, it’s clear that he is held in pretty high regard and although it is disappointing he didn’t get a chance to justify those lofty targets, it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. A three-mile chaser further down the line, Boothill is good enough to make his mark over hurdles before reaching his ultimate destiny.

NADA TO PRADA – Michael Scudamore

There were quite a few strongly-fancied mares’ that faced the starter for a bumper at Warwick on February 21 and in what turned out to be a competitive and well-run affair, Michael Scudamore’s inmate ran out a game and worthy winner. Although there were only seven runners, the pace was honest right from the start and it was noticeable the daughter of Kayf Tara had little trouble handling the sound tempo. Hitting the front over two furlongs out, the five-year-old then had to find more for pressure close home when the rallying Step To The Top tried vainly to sneak up the inside rail, but she did so in pretty convincing fashion to go clear again in the shadows of the post. Winner of an Irish point on her only previous outing, stamina is clearly her number one asset and she looks destined to take fairly high rank in novice hurdles against her own sex, especially when the ground is testing.

EASY AS THAT – Venetia Williams

Impressive when making a winning debut at Ffos Las in December, the son of Sans Frontieres was even more emphatic under a penalty at Musselburgh next time out and it looks like the Brooks’ family have another useful recruit on their hands on the evidence of both displays. The feature of both wins has been the ease at which Venetia Williams’ gelding has been able to travel without seemingly having too many buttons pressed, and hailing from a yard who have an abundance of horses that gallop all day long in bad ground, he looks like another destined to make hay in the depths of winter.

 

 

FLINTEUR SACRE – Nicky Henderson

Being brother to the famous Sprinter Sacre, the pressure was always going to be on Nicky Henderson’s gelding to make the grade and on the evidence of what we saw in his two starts, there is a decent chance he can at least go some way to follow in his ex-stable mate’s illustrious hoof prints. Too green to do himself complete justice on his debut at Newbury, the five-year-old turned out to be a totally different proposition at Kempton next time, and although time may tell he didn’t beat much at the Surrey track, he did it in the style of potentially classy performer. A tall, lengthy type, not dissimilar to his brilliant sibling or to My Tent Or Yours for that matter, it will be interesting to see how he gets on over hurdles next season as the son of Network appears to have many weapons a high-class prospect needs to go to the top.

SOLWARA ONE – Neil Mulholland

Although beaten into second on his debut at Wetherby, the son of Gold Well shaped with a huge amount of promise and is one to follow for next season and beyond. The way he moved up to challenge the useful and more-experience Ask A Honey Bee at the Yorkshire venue suggested he has a naturally high cruising speed and if it wasn’t for the winner’s superior knowhow on the day, the story might have been very different. An 85k son of a sister to a horse placed in Gold Cup, Neil Mulholland’s gelding is likely to come into his own when asked to go over fences in future, but in the meantime, he can make the grade and win plenty of races over hurdles.

RED ROOKIE – Emma Lavelle

The general consensus is a horse who defies a penalty in a bumper must be above-average, so in completing this feat at Uttoxeter on his second start under rules, the son of Black Sam Bellamy automatically added himself into the ‘must-follow’ list. Off the mark at the first time of asking on bad ground at Exeter, Emma Lavelle’s gelding was sent in search of similar conditions at the Midland venue two months later and he proved equally at home under such a demanding surface. Always in control, the five-year-old had little trouble cruising clear of his main rival, Unohu, who had some fair form next to his name, and although you would be hard pressed to file him among the top echelon based on these two efforts, the potential is most definitely there to scale greater heights further down the line.

THE EDGAR WALLACE – Kim Bailey

Having caught the eye with his effort the time before at Doncaster, the son of Flemensfirth looked to have been gifted a golden opportunity to get off the mark at Hereford a month later, and he duly made no mistake. In-keeping with many incumbents from his stable, Kim Bailey’s gelding made just about all the running at the Midland venue to score with plenty up his sleeve and in doing so, he clocked a very smart speed figure. Seemingly a relentless galloper on the evidence of this display, the five-year-old should really come into his own when granted a test of stamina over hurdles next season and he looks one to keep on side.

Top three to follow: 

SMURPHY ENKI

 

BEAR GHYLLS

 

CAPTAIN KANGAROO