Racing
The best jumps horses to follow in 2020
With the jumps season now back in full swing and 2020 on the doorstep, we’ve asked several trainers, jockeys and racing personalities for their nominations for the best jumps horses to follow in 2020. Make sure you keep an eye out for them in our racing pools this year.
Tom Lacey
Occupation: Trainer
Nomination: Thais Toir
Verdict: Despite an inauspicious start with a 5th and a 7th from his first two races, Tom believes the 4yo gelding from his own stable will be one to watch in 2020. Rated at 99 after his second run, we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on him as the season unfolds.
Trainer @tflacey has nominated un-raced four-year-old THAIS TOIR from his yard as a horse to follow this season! pic.twitter.com/QnG1rIUHcK
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) September 23, 2019
Noel Hayes
Occupation: Business owner, horse owner, betting industry professional
Nomination: Minella Indo & Dallas Des Pictons
Verdict: Unable to decide between them, Noel opted for a pair of 6yo geldings, Minella Indo and Dallas Des Pictons. A surprise 50/1 winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle back in March, Minella Indo followed it up with victory at Punchestown to complete a festival double to underline his chasing potential. Gordon Elliott-trained Dallas Des Pictons already has three wins to his names from 8 starts and a second in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, Elliott will have high hopes for further improvement in 2020.
We asked him for one but @BigCityBanker couldn’t split two staying Novice Chase prospects for his horses to follow for the new season ? pic.twitter.com/IbbeigiGe8
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) September 23, 2019
Martin Smith
Occupation: Trainer
Nomination: Friend’s Don’t Ask
Verdict: Despite not having many jumpers in his stable, Martin Smith does have one that he is very keen on in 4yo gelding Friend’s Don’t Ask. With a fifth in his debut at Southwell in July, he followed up with a respectable third at Worcester in November. Both of those outings were in flat races so what can he do over the hurdles in 2020? He is certainly a horse to follow.
He hasn’t got many jumpers in the yard but trainer @MartinPBSmith is very sweet on the once-raced FRIENDS DON’T ASK as a horse to follow this season ? pic.twitter.com/Al047Bwmzs
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) September 24, 2019
Josh Stacey
Occupation: Racing broadcaster
Nomination: Thyme Hill
Verdict: Three wins in five starts for the 5yo plus a hugely credible third in the Champion Bumber, Thyme Hill finished the year with back to back wins at Chepstow and Cheltenham. If the PJ Hobbs trained gelding can continue his electric form into the new year they he could be in for a very exciting campaign.
We asked @TheRacingJosh for his horse to follow and he nominated one from the Phillip Hobbs yard.
“THYME HILL had a very smart bumper campaign culminating by placing 3rd in the Champion Bumper. He will relish a step up in trip and will play a big part in the top Novice Hurdles”. pic.twitter.com/gouQ0fYokt
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) September 24, 2019
Nick Alexander
Occupation: Trainer
Nomination: Dubai Days
Verdict: Opting for one of his own stable, Nick Alexander plumps for Dubai Days as his horse to follow in 2020. The 5yo had a promising start to his career in 2019, ending with a second and two third-places to his name including in his hurdles debut at Sedgefield in December. Will we see further improvements in 2020?
We head to Scotland for our next horse to follow with leading trainer @kinneston nominating DUBAI DAYS as one to keep a close eye on this season ? pic.twitter.com/eScOPOC3Rh
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) September 26, 2019
Luke Elder
Occupation: Racing broadcaster
Nomination: Faustinovick
Verdict: Luke Elder is a big fan of 5yo gelding Faustinobick, a novice hurdler from the Colin Tizzard stable. In three starts he is yet to finish outside the top three and ran an impressive second place in his hurdles debut at Carlisle in November from a 17 runner race.
Racing broadcaster @Lukeelder13 has nominated a novice hurdler from the Colin Tizzard stable as his horse to follow throughout the new jumps season! pic.twitter.com/JfE5NhaJQI
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) September 27, 2019
Brian Ellison
Occupation: Trainer
Nomination: The King Of May
Verdict: When asked for a horse to follow in 2020, Brian Ellison needed to look no further than his own stable. He things it could be a great year for The King Of May who followed up a second place over the hurdles at Market Rasen in April with his maiden win in a chase at Carlisle six moths later.
One of the leading dual-purpose trainers @BERacingLtd has nominated The King Of May from his stable as a horse to follow for the new season. pic.twitter.com/DeAInFXuCX
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) October 1, 2019
Craig Forsyth
Occupation: Broadcaster
Nomination: Umbrigado
Verdict: “
Find out why broadcaster and regular Syndicate Captain @CraigForsyth_ is tipping a David Pipe hurdler to have a big season ? https://t.co/8VPshYDDgC pic.twitter.com/j8wmsUJCWo
— Colossus Racing (@ColossusRacing) October 1, 2019