Betting Strategy / Rory Delargy / 06 January 2010 / Leave a comment

Our Five To Follow over the bigger obstacles are proving profitable to follow - only Ere Alfie managed a run before the cold snap hit hard and he has provided us with a perfect one from one record. Hopefully the following list of hurdlers will be equally profitable and rather more prolific!

"Celestial Halo has gone hard in front in the Triumph and the Champion Hurdle in successive years and has run on stoutly both times - should he set off up the hill with Go Native on his heels, I know who I'd be backing to crack last."

Tell Massini (Tom George) - twice a winner at Cheltenham this season, Tell Massini looks a top notch chaser in the making, and trainer Tom George has mooted the possibility of missing the Cheltenham Festival unless conditions are ideal, such is the esteem he holds him in. In saying that, I'd be surprised if he doesn't turn up, as he looks in a class of his own at the Albert Bartlett trip of three miles. He was arguably less impressive when winning at the Boylesports International meeting than a month earlier, but the horse he beat that day, Kennel Hill, has boosted the form by running a close fourt in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

Kennel Hill (Keith Goldsworthy) - I'm more than happy to include Kennel Hill in my list despite the fact that he is likely to be aimed at the same race as Tell Massini come March. He will be underrated as many from this yard are, despite two cracking runs in graded company when allowed to start at 100/1 and 22/1 respectively (260 and 40 on Betfair). He was purchased as a chaser but has serious jumping frailties and will excel over the smaller obstacles. A lively outsider for the 3m Novice Hurdle in March, he will be of even more interest if his shrewd handler can get him qualified for the Pertemps Final.

George Nympton (Nick Williams) - any list of horses to follow would look wrong without a Nick Williams inmate and I fully expect George Nympton to pay his way despite still being a maiden. He's in specifically on his merits (his second to Olofi at Cheltenham in December is a promising effort) but also as an example of Williams' talent with 4yo hurdlers. None of the horses earmarked for the sphere by Nick and his wife/assistant Jane have raced on the flat and for that reason will have a steeper learning curve to the typical juvenile. This has been shown already by the likes of Reve De Sivola and current crop hurdlers such as Me Voici and Pistolet Noir. Expect George Nympton to develop into a leading Fred Winter candidate if not aimed higher.

Wolf Moon (Martin Keighley) - another to have won twice at Prestbury Park this season and Martin Keighley's strapping gelding hasn't stopped winning yet, giving the impression over 2m5f at the Open meeting and again over the 3m trip on New Year's Day that he was idling in front. He's been raised just 4lb for his latest win and remains on a winnable mark and while he will most likely be back again for the Pertemps Final, he must find a qualifier for that contest first.

Celestial Halo (Paul Nicholls) - no mystique about this one, but this year's Champion Hurdle is shaping up into a carbon copy of the 2009 renewal and I believe Celestial Halo is perfectly equipped to improve on his second in last year's race. He's a horse who is ideally suited by an attritional race and a recent reviewing of his brave defeat last year served to remind me of the depths of both his stamina and courage. It's been suggested that he may be forced to go too fast and soften himself up for the speed horses, but I don't see that happening. He has gone hard in front in the Triumph and the Champion Hurdle in successive years and has run on stoutly both times - should he set off up the hill with Go Native on his heels, I know who I'd be backing to crack last.

Tags: Celestial Halo, George Nympton, Hurdlers To Follow, Kennel Hill, Tell Massini, Wolf Moon.