Timeform Horses in Focus: Sunnyhillboy likely to win more this winter

Horses In Focus / Timeform / 18 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Timeform cast a discerning eye over the horses to watch over the fences and hurdles this winter.

Andytown continued the flying form of his stable and created a very good impression when justifying strong support in a conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday. He was always in touch and could be named the winner some way out, asserting in good style on the home turn and eased right down near the line. Although the handicapper is unlikely to be fooled and Andytown faces a rise in the weights he looks one to follow this winter, either over hurdles or fences.

Jonjo O'Neill's Sunnyhillboy had looked ahead of the handicapper when winning at Exeter in October, and so it proved again at Cheltenham on Saturday. Despite being his owner's second string and racing off a 10 lb higher mark, he was always travelling well held up, and soon pressing the leader when asked for his effort after two out, drawing away and kept up to his work after the last. He looks likely to win more races.

Very Cool started favourite for the Southern National at Fontwell on Sunday and is worth another chance to show his true colours. He is still very well handicapped on his hurdles form and looked ready to take advantage of that when all but brought down at the twelfth fence having travelled strongly. He did well to threaten at all after that, and should stay the three and a half mile trip granted another chance.

Paul Nicholls has several contenders for the Arkle in March and Tatenen followed up his Aintree win in fine style, impressing with his fluent jumping and making all to win unchallenged. He recorded a time that compared favourably with the handicap chase on the card in the process and is likely to continue to take plenty of beating, although his current odds for the Arkle look short at this stage of the season.