Must read update and Cheltenham review 2015 from Chris Days Ten To Follow this National Hunt season 2014/15

Must read update from Chris Days Ten To Follow this National Hunt season 2014/15

Update report and Cheltenham 2015  review from our ten to follow analyst click to follow @Chrisday100 on twitter.  

On balance, it ended up as a festival of what might have been for our Ten To Follow selections.


From a personal point of view it was average, ending roughly all square but, just as with season as a whole, could have been a cracker. Having taken 40-1 Uxizandre for The Queen Mother Chase before his Schloer Chase victory in November and backed Ma Filleule at 14-1 for The Ryanair Chase, that race alone would have sent me into major profit had Uxizandre’s trainer kept faith in his original opinion of the horse on decent ground and to hear McCoy say afterwards he’d like to ride the horse in a Champion Chase really did rub salt into the wounds.

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First up was Sgt Reckless, who didn’t jump well enough to trouble the principal’s in Tuesday’s Arkle Chase but nevertheless stayed on into a creditable sixth place in front of some well touted rivals. The fact he’d only run in one novice chase probably counted against him and he may well be able to put this experience to good use possibly in the next few weeks. Personally, I feel he needs a longer trip to show his best and the race I originally had in mind last Autumn was The JLT  and he may only fulfill his potential once faced with a stiffer test. Hopefully profits await.


Brother Brian appeared to have been kept back for his chosen festival target since a decent close up third to Rock On Ruby at Cheltenham and went into the race very fresh. Whether this counted against him, as he traveled a little keenly is open to debate but, having looked sure to be placed when leading off the turn, he faded into sixth place. His earlier Cheltenham run appeared to indicate he’s reasonably handicapped so a trip to Aintree or even Punchestown may be on the cards before he begins the job he’s bred for over fences next season.


Taquin Du Seuil has been a major disappointment, no doubt and never really looked likely to get into contention in The Ryanair Chase. Presumably he’ll be roughed off and dropped a few lbs so could be worth checking in the market for The Paddy Power in November which may be his chosen comeback target once he’s had a summer’s rest. As I’ve said before, he has a lot of questions to answer now and won’t be a serious betting proposition before we see him do it on the track.


Finally, Saphir Du Rheu, tipped up at 12-1, ran a solid enough staying on second in The World Hurdle without ever looking likely to be successful behind Cole Harden. It’s possible the ground was fast enough and a feature of the festival was just how many horses were successful from the front so he may well have been better off ridden up with the pace. Anyway, he’s had very little racing and the Grade 1 over 3 miles at Aintree will probably be his next target.


Our other Ante Post tip, at 14-1, Ma Filleule, has already been covered and she will likely now go for The Martell Cup and I can’t think of anything I’d rather be on there given how well she came out of the festival last year and her subsequent facile victory in The Topham. Hopefully the extra distance will enable her to gain a much deserved victory.


Finally, anybody who took the advice from the Trials’ Day review will have backed The Druids Nephew, a comfortable winner of the 3 mile handicap chase on Tuesday and also have backed Carole’s Destrier (3-1 into 5-4) at Ascot a few weeks ago. He runs at Wetherby tomorrow but is surely not a backable proposition at likely odds.