Thursday, 16th October 2025
In ATC today….
I’m putting four more horses onto my Watch List ahead of the new jumps season getting underway in earnest….
…. one ran at Chepstow last weekend….
…. the other three caught my eye last term….
Oh…. and I expect each of that last trio to make good on their promise this time around….
Read on….
-----
There was plenty of promise in Royal Infantry’s run at Chepstow last weekend….
…. where he finished 3/14 and beaten 4l in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle….
…. so much so, I’m adding him to my Watch List….
It was his first go of the new campaign….
…. just his sixth assignment over timber….
…. his first go in a handicap….
…. and the race was contested over 2m3½f – a trip I suspect will prove inadequate over time….
Nevertheless, he equaled his career-best RPR….
All his best work was being done in the later stages of the race….
…. sticking to his task, keeping on well, and hitting the line strong under Harry Skelton – who chose to ride him over the other four horses in the race trained by his brother, Dan….
The 6yo produced his best effort on the RPR scale – equaled on Saturday – when stepped up to 3m at Perth last April….
…. and while all his winning to date has been done at 2m and 2m1f….
…. he’s surely going to improve a stack when stepped up to staying trips this term….
…. at least that’s the impression he gives me….
He seems pretty versatile in terms of ground – winning on good, good to soft, soft & heavy….
…. but his trainer has expressed the view that he’s a bit better on better ground than softer….
I think he’ll be winning something this term off his mark of 136….
-----
There’s a couple of horses that caught my eye last season that I want to stick on my Watch List at the outset of this campaign….
…. mainly because they never got the chance to do what I hoped – and did little or nothing to change my view of them….
The first of these is Madara – another Dan Skelton horse….
He went on to my list when a never-nearer 4/15 in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last November….
…. but he was having his first go for Skelton – who only got hold of him a few days before the race and who said this ahead of the race: “I think he will step forward from this….”
He was also having his first go at a trip beyond 2m1f – and didn’t look out of place….
…. making up loads of ground in the closing stages – having travelled much further back in the field than the principal finishers….
At the turn for home – heading for the hill – he was still towards the back of the field….
…. but as the winner passed the post he’d made up plenty on the second horse and the third….
He was only seen once more last term – in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham – where he was 2/11 and beaten just a length….
Clearly, he had some issue that prevented him running again….
…. but at just 6 years of age, on a mark of 144, you’d think he’s a project that his (still) new trainer will win a big handicap pot with at some stage this term….
…. always assuming the horse is right….
-----
Whistle Stop Tour is another one going on to my Watch List….
Derek Fox chose to ride him over Myretown – the deeply impressive winner – in last season’s Ultima at the Festival….
…. a horse connections knew was really well-handicapped ahead of the race….
…. and – before you say it – I reckon Fox could have done the 10-3 on Myretown if he’d really wanted to ride the horse….
I wonder what Fox’s choice says about the potential in Whistle Stop Tour’s handicap mark….
The 7yo goes into this new campaign rated just 133 over fences….
…. having pulled up at Cheltenham, disappointed at Perth the time after, and then disappointed again at Perth last month in first time blinkers….
His progress hasn’t been what would have been hoped for from connections….
…. who were talking about him in January as a serious candidate for the Scottish Grand National….
…. and it could be that the horse is on some kind of recovery mission….
But with Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore (with Peter Scudamore in the background), he’s in very capable hands….
…. and he’s a proper candidate at 7 years of age – a bit of forgotten horse – to bounce back as the season progresses….
-----
Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel has more to come….
I took an interest in him after he finished 3/10 in last season’s Lavazza at Ascot….
The time after that he fell when fancied in the Ladbrokes at the same venue….
…. then he won the Fitzdares at Windsor – sent off the 11/4 favourite….
…. before falling again – when fancied again and running big – in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury….
He’s still only rated 133 and – if he can stay on his feet in races – he remains a big player in all the big 2m handicap hurdles as and when he reappears….
-----
That’s all for today….
Back tomorrow….
Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk
Stay tuned….
Operated by Spa Publishing Group Ltd (Company No. 15830286) 
