NORTHERN LIGHTS
TOOK some time to find his feet last season after arriving at Russell’s yard from Guillaime Macaire in France but has been in top form recently with three wins.
He has risen in the ratings from 112 to 133 but looks up to plundering a good prize.
AS WELL as being one of the most commonly misspelt horses in training, Definitly Red must also go down as one of the unluckiest Grand National runners.
Danny Cook was forced to pull him up at Aintree in April when the tack slipped following a melee at Becher’s Brook. The National in 2018 is a possibility but his recent victory at Aintree in the Many Clouds Chase marked him out as a realistic Gold Cup contender.
THIS horse looked like a Rolls-Royce of a novice chaser last season and the form of his victory over Politologue at Haydock now looks rock solid.
He has had some niggles but connections say he should be out before the end of January. The Ryanair Chase looks an obvious target but the Grade One Melling Chase at Aintree could be more suitable if he gets soft ground. A CLASSY novice hurdler, he won well at Newcastle over three miles on Fighting Fifth day. That was only his fourth race over fences but he jumped like an old hand.
He ran well to be third in the Tommy Whittle although he is capable of better. He loves soft ground and could make hay over the next couple of months.
AT ASCOT in the Long Walk Hurdle on December 23, Sam Spinner emerged as a genuine candidate for the Stayers’ Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival.
Based at Jedd O Keeffe’s yard on near Middleham, Sam Spinner is tough and highly progressive.
The fact both his trainer and regular rider Joe Colliver have fought back from adversity only adds to the potential fairytale.
UNBEATEN in a point-to-point and two bumpers, he made a winning debut over hurdles in October.
He has not been seen since as trainer Brian Ellison is waiting for some decent ground.
He has called him a “machine” and thinks he will make a top-class chaser next season. Although he has entries at Cheltenham, he could be more of an Aintree horse.
WORTH THE WAIT: Brian Hughes on Waiting Patiently