ABACADABRAS
A rather obvious first selection but I do rate Gordon Elliott’s gelding quite highly and believe he could develop into a live Champion Hurdle contender, if he isn’t already.
All the talk before Cheltenham was that he would probably prefer a sound surface in the Supreme so when it came up soft I discounted him. But, as he came swinging into the straight on the bridle, it was clear that I had made a mistake and he was indeed a highclass animal. The machine that is Shishkin was the only rival able to get close to him and eventually pass him but had it been good ground, I’m pretty confident Shishkin would not have caught him.
I think the 2020 Supreme was the best renewal since the Altior/Min/Buveur D’Air in 2016 and I fully expect the front two to turn out to be quite special. Shishkin is heading over fences so Abacadabras could easily mop up over hurdles much like Buveur D’Air did in 2017 and 2018 as Altior took to chasing.
If Simon Claisse allows the Cheltenham 2021 Festival to kick off on genuine good ground then I advise you to look no further than this lad.
HIGHWAY ONE O TWO
Chris Gordon has built himself a very nice team for the winter ahead which includes novice hurdler Lord Baddesley and improving chaser On The Slopes. I gave both consideration as to whether or not to put them in this list but I think Highway One O Two could mop up some 2m novice chases through the winter if able to avoid Shishkin.
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