Jumps Horses To Follow 2022/23

So, with the return of the jumpers imminent, Dave Stevos has compiled a list of four  jumps horses to follow in 2022/23, all from ‘smaller’ operations. You’ll be more than familiar with one of his picks, whereas the other three might not have been on your radar. Hopefully they can win a big race or two between them this season.

Tommy’s Oscar – Ann Hamilton

Probably my favourite jumps horse in training right now. From the first time I saw him run, a Sedgefield Maiden Hurdle win in December 2020, I knew he was an above average animal. He won four more races over timber that year and he ended the season rated 138. Last year he needed his comeback and then didn’t stay 20f at Carlisle. Things clicked soon after and he ended up winning four in a row, including a Grade 2, before taking his chance in the Champion Hurdle.

Last week was the first time I heard about what happened him at Cheltenham. He got upset and hot on the journey down and the occasion got to him on the day. His race was run before it even began. I really fancied him to make his presence felt but it is good to know now that he had a valid excuse. The Hamiltons have decided to start off Novice Chasing with him this year and I thought he was very impressive at Carlisle last week.

He was conceding 17lbs to the useful, race fit runner up and it looked like Tommy would come on massively for the run physically. His jumping was excellent and he has loads of experience in P2Ps which will stand to him in the Novice Chasing division. I’m convinced this horse has the engine to win a big Grade 1 at some point, either over timber or over the bigger obstacles. Hopefully a big season lies ahead for the son of Oscar and he is my first Jumps Horse to Follow for 2022/23.

The Big Doyen – Peter Fahey

At the start of last season, Peter Fahey’s son of Doyen was a name on everybody’s lips. Owned by the Money For Jam Syndicate, The Big Doyen made his first appearance on a racetrack in a bumper at Roscommon (15.5f gd) in late September. Sent off at 3/1, he beat Ballyglass by 1.5L but the winning margin didn’t tell the whole story. Not only did he take a bit of a false step turning in for home, he also still looked very green in the last 2f. However, Barry O’Neill didn’t have to get overly serious and he just pushed him out to assert in the final furlong.

The first two pulled well clear and the runner up has since won 2/3 (a bumper and a novice) for Toby Lawes in England. You could see that The Big Doyen learnt plenty from his debut when next sighted in a Punchestown bumper (16fd gd/yld). This time there was no messing around when he hit the front and he scooted clear to win by 15L, just pushed out again. The runner up was the highly touted Cool Survivor and he reappeared with an easy maiden hurdle win at Punchestown last week.

Sound Surface Key

Peter Fahey then targeted a big G2 at Leopardstown on his charge’s next outing. Unfortunately, he trailed in well beaten but he is a better horse than that. In my opinion the ground was too soft for him and he’ll be much better when he gets back onto a sounder surface. Seemingly schooling has gone very well with this horse and I don’t think there is any doubt that he has a serious engine.

There is loads of stamina on the dam side of his pedigree so he’ll probably step up in trip at some stage over hurdles this term. Nice ground is key and he’s well worth keeping onside when conditions are in his favour. He is more than up to winning a maiden hurdle and hopefully he gets another shot in Graded company, this time on more suitable ground. The Big Doyen remains an exciting prospect and I look forward to seeing how high he can fly this season.

Rexem – John McConnell

This is another horse that is most effective on nice ground. Rexem, owned by Derek Kierans, is a 5yo son of Leading Light who has won 2 of his 3 hurdle starts to date. He ran a big race on his first start over timber on heavy ground at Galway over 16f. That trip and ground combination was never likely to suit him, so to finish 3rd was a fine effort.

When he has had good ground at 19f or further, this horse is unbeaten. He won his sole P2P start on good (24f), he won his first start at 19f on good in a Downpatrick bumper and after that Galway run, he has landed successive hurdles at Downpatrick (22f gd) and Killarney (23f gd), making all in both to win by a combined distance of 16L. Obviously, good ground is important to this fella and that bodes well for his hopes at the Spring Festivals.

Ballymore?

On what we have seen so far, Rexem has the potential to be a force to be reckoned with. John McConnell is never afraid to send horses over to Cheltenham and you’d imagine that the Ballymore would be the most likely target for this fella. Maybe Aintree might suit him better but he did run well at Galway over an inadequate trip on the wrong ground so that bodes well for him handling Cheltenham.

The form of his last win at Killarney has since been boosted by the 5L runner up Toss Again. He hacked up in a Novice over the same C&D by 8L next time and the 3rd, Esperti, had previously won a maiden by 3L. I’d imagine Rexem will be stepping up in class on his next start and it would be no surprise to see him making a big impact at a high level in the staying novice hurdle division this year.

Might I – Harry Fry

The last of our jumps horses to follow for 2022/23 is the Harry Fry trained Might I. This fella is by the late Fame And Glory and he ran some excellent races in defeat behind some top class horses last season. He has had six starts under rules and so far just two wins, a bumper on soft at Warwick (16f) and an 18f heavy ground novice at Newton Abbott.

His second start over hurdles came in another novice at Sandown (16f gd/sft). In hindsight he faced a hopeless task conceding weight to the winner Constitution Hill but he still managed to finish 2nd, beat 14L. It was another 17L back to the now 130 rated 3rd, to whom Might I was also conceding weight, so it was a really solid effort.

Grade 2 Form

Next time out Harry Fry stepped his charge into G2 company. Might I didn’t let him down, running a cracker in 3rd behind Jonbon, beat just over 4L for the win and finishing 4L in front of the very useful Nells Son. Then, on his final start of the season, he ran a huge race in a G1 at Aintree over 20f, finding just Three Stripe Life too good.

This horse is extremely stoutly bred. His half brother Stattler has won over 30f and as I mentioned earlier, Fame And Glory has produced some very talented stayers. Commander Of Fleet is by him and he won the Stayers’ at Cheltenham last season. I’d imagine that’ll be the ultimate aim for this fella (currently 40/1). He has form with all the top novices and with a rating of 142, Fry might try to plunder a big staying handicap pot before moving back up in class. He is definitely one to watch this season.

-DaveStevos