Horse racing tips: Five more National Hunt horses to follow

With four Irish-based horses and one in the UK, we finish with a final overall split of seven to three in Ireland’s favour, which is probably a fair reflection of the Irish domination of the jumps season over the last decade or so.

So, in no particular order, let’s examine this shortlist a little more closely:

Marine Nationale

• Age: 6 years old
• Trainer: Barry Connell
• Owner: Barry Connell

Marine Nationale took me by surprise last season and would be the banker among this top ten to follow. He remains unbeaten in five starts and has superb speed across the turf between obstacles and that gains him several lengths. 

His owner/trainer Barry Connell stated after his horse won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle that he was thinking about sending Marine Nationale over fences this season with the Arkle at Cheltenham his main aim. 

No entries are posted at present, but how interesting would it be if he stayed hurdling and took on Constitution Hill!

Maskada

• Age: 7 years old
• Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
• Owner: M K Mariga

Maskada won the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at Cheltenham impressively by over six lengths, but she does seem to be ground dependent and needs good-to-soft through to heavy to show her best. 

Her new rating probably means that Maskada will need to move out of handicap company, but she should cope if there is cut on the ground. Best conditions are two miles up to two and a half miles on soft or heavy going. 

Teahupoo

• Age: 6 years old
• Trainer: Gordon Elliott
• Owner: Robcour

Teahupoo burst on to the staying hurdle scene last season as a six-year-old and finished third in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, losing out by less than a length. 

He should be stronger as a seven-year-old and will be competitive in any of the Graded hurdles on soft or heavy ground.

If he continues to progress as I expect he could dominate the staying hurdle division for the next two to three years.

Hereditary Rule

• Age: 8 years old
• Trainer: John C McConnell
• Owner: CF Syndicate

Hereditary Rule won an A-class handicap chase at Punchestown, which was his best performance to date.

He has run this season over a trip which was too short, as he needs two and a half miles or just over that.

Presumably that race was being used as a sharpener as Hereditary Rule holds an entry at Punchestown on Wednesday 11^th October.

His best trip is over two and a half miles up to three miles on good ground or with some cut.  

Bo Zenith

• Age: 4 years old
• Trainer: Gary Moore
• Owner: O S Harris

Bo Zenith moved from low-class hurdles into the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree, where he lost on the bob of a head to Zenta. 

Bo Zenith has massive scope to improve, and it will be interesting to see if he stays over hurdles or switches to fences, as his owner believes that he will make a great chaser over two and a half miles in time. 

I am looking forward to seeing what Bo Zenith can achieve this season and his best trip is around two and a half miles on ground with soft as part of the going. 

 

READ MORE: Five horses to follow during the National Hunt season