FERGIE’S CHOICE
Paul Ferguson picks 15 mares to follow over the jumps
Although the final Classic of the season is still to be staged, I am very much in National Hunt mode (thanks to having been immersed in writing Jumpers To Follow throughout the summer).
As usual, I will provide a list of horses to follow in the October edition of Racing Ahead magazine, but for this month I thought I would opt for something a little different. Given the programme available to mares these days, there seem to be a lot more quality mares in training.
We have seen the likes of Honeysuckle and Epatante beat the boys, and here are a host of mares to keep tabs on throughout the autumn/winter (I actually think the season might get going a little earlier this year, due to the enforced prolonged break, so you might even see some during September):
BRANDY LOVE Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins boasts a record with mares which is second to none. The majority of his high-class mares have come from France, but he might just have found an exciting one from the Point-to-Point sphere, in the shape of Brandy Love. A four-year-old by Jet Away, the filly was a stylish winner on debut for Colin Bowe, and should be more than capable of winning a mares’ bumper before she goes hurdling.
CHOSEN PORT Olly Murphy
Another who has yet to race under Rules, Chosen Port was another Pointto-Point winner for Colin Bowe, and she has since been purchased by Olly Murphy. Now in the ownership of Noel and Valerie Moran, the four-year-old Well Chosen filly is a half-sister to Burtons Well and Burton Port, so might need a trip in time, but will likely start off in a bumper. She is bred to appreciate soft ground.
CLONDAW CAITLIN Ruth Jefferson
A Grade 2 winner over hurdles, Clondaw Caitlin is now set to embark on a novice chase campaign, and Ruth Jefferson’s five-year-old remains one of the brighter prospects in the North. Having won a bumper at the second time of asking, she was unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, culminating in success in the Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso. Runner-up on her final start in Irish Points, she will appreciate stepping up in distance.
COLOURS OF MY LIFE Alan King
Alan King ran three mares in the same bumper at Newbury in late-February, and although all three finished in the first six, it was Colours Of My Life (the biggest price of the trio) who really caught the eye. She travelled up really well and probably got to the front too soon, before fading in the closing stages. Given that her pedigree suggests that she will need a trip, it was a hugely encouraging start, and she could easily win a mares’ bumper before going hurdling.
DELVINO Dermot McLoughlin
Runner-up in a strong bumper against the boys on debut at Navan (winner finished seventh in the Champion Bumper and the third bolted up next time), Delvino comfortably justified her short price in a mares’ event at Down Royal on her second start, and clearly has no problem coping with testing ground. The Listed Muckelmeg Bumper could be a good starting point (Gowran Park) before she goes hurdling.
FASHION NOVA Fergal O’Brien
A five-year-old grey by Flemensfirth, Fashion Nova dead-heated at the second attempt in Irish Points, having looked all over the winner when kicking clear two out. Collared on the line, she will have no problem in coming back in distance (despite her pedigree), so is one to note in a mares’ bumper before she goes hurdling. She cost just £42,000 out of Donnchadh Doyle’s yard and could prove to be well bought.
GRAN LUNA Nicky Henderson
Following her debut success at
Newbury, Gran Luna was being aimed at the valuable sales bumper back at the Berkshire track, before racing was suspended. The Spanish Moon filly travelled really well and wasn’t hard pressed to beat what looked an above-average field (two of the beaten mares also feature in this list). She looks to possess plenty of pace, and could reappear in the Listed mares’ bumper at Cheltenham in November, or head straight over hurdles.
GYPSY ISLAND Peter Fahey
One of the horses I was most looking forward to seeing last winter, Gypsy Island sadly missed the whole season, but could return this autumn and her form continued to work out extremely well whilst she was side-lined. A highclass bumper mare the season before last, the daughter of Jeremy was an impressive Grade 3 winner when last seen at Punchestown, and she has the class to take on the geldings if retaining all of that ability.
NADA TO PRADA Michael Scudamore
A Points winner in January, Nada To Prada was sold just 20 days later, and made a winning debut for her new connections, in a Warwick bumper the following month. The daughter of
Kayf Tara travelled really well to lead on that occasion and the form was advertised when the runner-up filled the same spot in a Listed event in March. She is bred to relish a longer distance once sent hurdling.
MARIE’S ROCK Nicky Henderson
A bumper winner the season before last, Marie’s Rock showed a smart turn of foot to win an introductory hurdle on her debut at Haydock last December, and she maintained her 100% record in a Listed event at Taunton. Her speed was again evident on that occasion and it was unfortunate that she was then ruled out for the rest of the season with injury. Expected to return in the coming months, she could be difficult to beat in mares’ only events over the minimum trip.
POLITESSE Lorna Fowler
Third behind Longhouse Poet and Monkfish at the 2019 Punchestown Festival, Politesse finished runner-up in a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, before winning comfortably at Thurles when dropped in class. She returned to the same track to make a winning debut over hurdles, and being a half-sister to Don Poli, she ought to flourish once stepped up in distance this winter.
QUEENS BROOK Gordon Elliott
Perhaps the pick of the bunch,
Queens Brook looked a very exciting prospect when ploughing through the mud to win a Gowran Park bumper, and she backed that up by finishing a fine third in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. A Point-to-Point winner for Aidan Fitzgerald, she boasts a stamina-laden pedigree, so should relish going up in distance over hurdles, and she could develop into a very smart novice.
ROSE OF ARCADIA Colin Tizzard
Currently the only National Hunt horse that Cheveley Park Stud having in training in England, Rose Of Arcadia made a winning debut in the red, white and blue on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival, when making all to win a Taunton bumper with any amount in hand. Another Point-to
Point winner (runner-up won next time and has also joined the Tizzard stable for big money), she looks to possess plenty of size and scope for jumping, and is another to note in the novice hurdle division.
SILVER FOREVER Paul Nicholls
Probably the most familiar name in this list, Silver Forever won three times from four starts over hurdles last season, appreciating the step up in distance when winning at Sandown in early-January. Kept off the track since, she is set to return in the autumn, and although this ex-Irish Points winner would be of significant interest as a novice chaser, I suspect that she might stay over hurdles for now. Already a Listed winner, stepping up to 3m should bring about further improvement and she could be Graded material this winter.
WHISKEY LULLABY Paul Nicholls
Runner-up to Gran Luna at Newbury, this imposing Stowaway mare would have appreciated a stronger gallop, as she stayed on in taking fashion. She had also filled the same spot in her sole start in an Irish Point, and she could be one for the mares’ novices’ hurdle at Chepstow in October, a race which Paul Nicholls has won in each of the past three seasons. Stepping up to 2m4f (or thereabouts) will certainly be a positive move.