Mark Nelson Article

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Mark Nelson Article

The wraps will soon be coming off the stars of the winter game and, for the first time in many a season, the mighty KAUTO STAR is no longer the dominant staying chaser.

Although not disgraced in last season’s Gold Cup, the speed figures I calculate for the Racing & Football Outlook suggest he was a long way below his very best. So the dawn of a new era beckons in this division and current Gold Cup Hero LONG RUN leads the way.

Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old really came of age last season. Despite being beaten on his seasonal return, it was a clear signal of intent. His third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup was a significant improvement on what he had achieved the season before and he continued to progress in both subsequent starts.

If we are critical, he’s yet to achieve what Kauto Star managed at the top of his game, but he’ll only be seven come this season’s festival, so there’s the likelihood of better to come.

It was surprising that connections let PANDORAMA take his chance in the Gold Cup as his very best form was on ground with plenty of give.

Under the right conditions Noel Meade’s chaser could give any rival a run for his money, and he remains an exciting prospect for the season ahead. Targets this term will surely be ground dependent, so the likelihood of a rematch with Long Run at the Festival is slim, unless we have a particularly wet spring.

The 2010 Gold Cup Winner IMPERIAL COMMANDER had a curtailed season due to in injury and misfortune has struck again, with injury ruling him out of the season ahead.

TIME FOR RUPERT is an interesting second-season chaser that could make an impact at the top level. He looked a smart novice last term before disappointing at the Cheltenham Festival and he could really begin to excel this season.

The two-mile division is very tight with SIZING EUROPE possibly top of the rank, thanks to his Queen Mother success at the Festival.

His ability to stay further than two miles is a big advantage in the championship races and it’s worth noting he’s only been beaten once in four starts at Cheltenham.

He was too strong at the finish for BIG ZEB at Prestbury Park, but roles were reversed when the pair met again at Punchestown. The latter is extremely consistent and his ability to handle most types of ground will stand him in good stead again this term.

Conditions were probably too quick for GOLDEN SILVER, both at Cheltenham and Punchestown, and he’s better judged on his defeat of Big Zeb in the Tied Cottage Chase. He can make his mark again this winter when conditions should be more favourable.

Former two-mile champion, MASTER MINDED had a poor time last season until scooting up at Aintree in the Melling Chase over 2m4f. Some juice in the ground looks the key to his ability and although he may no longer have the pace to mix it with the best over the minimum trip, he’ll be a very intriguing runner over farther this term, with the King George at Kempton a possible target at Christmas.

An intriguing newcomer to watch out for this season is Kauto Star’s half-brother who is due to start his British career for Paul Nicholls.

KAUTO STONE won the top four-year-old steeplechase in France, following in the footsteps of Long Run, who took the same race the year before. It will be interesting to see how good he is as the season unfolds.

The new wave of novice chasers is always something to look forward to and Nicholls is also responsible for SILVINIACO CONTI who is a bright prospect for fences this term.

Although beaten on his chase debut at Chepstow, his jumping was sound and it will be no surprise to see him pick up a decent prize when tackling longer trips.

CUE CARD inflicted his defeat at the Welsh venue and showed a decent turn of foot to win the slowly run race with authority. Sterner tests will await, but there’s no reason to doubt he’ll be in the mix for one of the top novice events at this season’s Festival.

I’m also looking forward to the return of PERE BLANC who was a progressive type over hurdles last season. There should be more to come if he takes to birch as anticipated later this year.

TAZBAR is an interesting second-season chaser, due to return from an injury which occurred immediately after I flagged him up as a possible Grand National type last year.

His only defeat over birch came at the hands of Long Run and he seems particularly suited by a test of stamina on a flat circuit. If retaining all his ability, he may yet develop into a serious player for the Aintree showpiece.

After highlighting HURRICANE FLY as the potential number one hurdler last year, the Willie Mullins trained gelding proceeded to win all five starts, including the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, plus the Leopardstown and Punchestown equivalents.

His leopardstown success was the best effort in my book and he has the potential to improve again this season.

It’s difficult to see where the challenge to Hurricane Fly will come from this term, as PEDDLERS CROSS was only second best at Cheltenham without any obvious excuse. There’s also the chance he’ll head over fences this term, with the Arkle the most obvious target if he does.

BINOCULAR missed Cheltenham, but with his previous success in the Christmas Hurdle suggesting he retained all of his ability, it was disappointing he didn’t put up more of a fight at Punchestown. The 2010 Champion Hurdle winner looks to have his quirks and it will be interesting to see which way he goes as the new season develops.

Former novices SPIRIT SON and AL FEROF may step up to the plate, although the latter may be destined for the bigger obstacles this year and may prove to be an Arkle contender for the Nicholls yard.

The pair filled the first two places in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at last year’s Festival and Spirit Son subsequently went on to destroy a decent field at Aintree. With just four outings under his belt, Spirit Son has plenty of room for further progress and could be the one most likely to bustle up Hurricane Fly.

BIG BUCK’S dominated the staying division and extended his unbeaten run to twelve when easily accounting for Grands Crus in the Liverpool Hurdle on his final start of last season.

I fancy he’ll face some sterner tests this coming season with THOUSAND STARS likely to take him on following his Grade 1 success over 3m1f in Auteuil over the summer.

There are also options for OSCAR WHISKY who was a creditable third in the 2011 Champion Hurdle.

He posted an improved time when stepped up to 2m4f at Aintree where he finished ahead of Thousand Stars and it would be no surprise to see him have a crack over farther this term.

It would certainly breathe some life into what has become a very uncompetitive division and I fancy the pair could give Big Buck’s something to think about if they take up the mantle.