MY TOP TEN JUMPERS TO FOLLOW

Paul Ferguson with his list of horses that can pay their way through the winter and beyond

- Paul Ferguson

BOB OLINGER (Henry de Bromhead)

The colours of Brian Acheson (Robcour) are becoming increasingly familiar on tracks in Ireland these days and he looks to have an exciting bunch of youngsters to unleash this winter. Possibly the pick of the bunch is this five-year-old by Sholokhov (sire of Don Cossack and Shishkin) who won his Point-to-Point by 15 lengths, before winning the Point-to-Point bumper at Gowran, by an impressive 10 lengths. That contest has gone the way of First Lieutenant, Yorkhill and Minella Melody in recent years, and Bob Olinger could well develop into a highclass novice over hurdles.

CHANTRY HOUSE (Nicky Henderson)

Shishkin would be the obvious selection when asked for a novice chaser to follow from the Nicky Henderson stable, but Chantry House – who finished 11 lengths behind his stable-mate in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – is another very exciting recruit. A former Irish Points winner, the six-year-old beat the smart Edwardstone in his sole start in the bumper division the season before last, and won both starts over hurdles prior to the festival. His form stacks up well, whilst he gave the distinct impression that he would improve for going up in distance last term, and I suspect that he would have headed to Aintree for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle had the Grand National meeting not been cancelled. The son of Yeats has the physique to improve for fences, and it will be disappointing if he can’t make his mark at the highest level this season, perhaps over an intermediate trip.

FLIGHT DECK (Jonjo O’Neill)