With the Silver Trophy run at Chepstow in the middle of October and the Charlie Hall Chase come and gone at Wetherby by the time you read this column, I thought I would put into play a group of horses worth following in the 2023/24 National Hunt season and some further long range ante-post suggestions as well.
1: AURORA VEGA When you are bred as well as this filly is, then results will be expected, but that blood potential has already turned into racing reality following just the three runs under rules in bumpers for Willie Mullins.
Those wins in came at odds of 1/5, 1/7 and 2/13 suggest that all three victories were straightforward, the last of them in a Listed race at Gowran Park. That day she beat no less than five previous winners and did it in wonderfully fluent style under Patrick Mullins, merely nudged out when taking command just inside the quarter mile pole. By Walk In The Park out of the mighty Quevega, this athletic mare is already priced up as low as 14/1 for the Dawn Run Mares Novices Hurdle at the festival with only Dysart Enos (brilliant winner of the mares bumper at Aintree and also three from three) and Brighterdaysahead (unbeaten in two starts for Gordon Elliott) ahead of her in the ante-post listings.
She certainly has a huge engine judged on her initial season on the level and if she manages to handle a hurdle as well as her mum and dad did we could be in for a real treat this season.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2023 de Racing Ahead.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton