Ogg's five winter warmers

With the National Hunt season getting into top gear, Ian Ogg has five dark horses to follow through the winter months.

With the National Hunt season getting into top gear, Ian Ogg has five dark horses to follow through the winter months. Court In Motion - Miss E C Lavelle: Showed promise on debut when fourth on testing ground behind Spinal Research Supreme Novices' fourth Oscar Whisky before stumbling after jumping the last at Exeter with the race won. Narrowly beaten by Peveril at Warwick on his final start when not finding as much as looked likely but he had raced keenly and may still have been on the weak side as he is a big scopey, individual whilst the winner went on to finish fourth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Festival to further boost the form. A surefire winner over hurdles who should take high rank. Quentin Collonges - H D Daly Won three of his seven starts in his second season which ended with a respectable sixth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and a heavy defeat in a 3m handicap hurdle at Aintree. This thorough stayer may have reached his ceiling over hurdles but he's from a good jumping family and could well progress as a novice chaser before making his mark in handicaps rather like Possol who represents the same connections. Open Day - Jonjo O'Neill Rather surprisingly had the speed and balance to win a polytrack bumper at Lingfield before being found out in a stronger race at Cheltenham. Quickly had his attention switched to hurdling where he shaped as though he wouldn't come into his own until being sent over a trip but came from the clouds to win at Market Rasen (they may have gone too fast) and again did his best work in the closing stages at Sandown before finding the company in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle too hot. He should have developed physically and can continue to progress through the ranks as he is stepped up in trip. Carpincho - Mrs S J Humphrey Justified market support to win a Catterick bumper on debut from a fair sort. Proved that was no flash in the pan with a creditable third behind Cheltenham runner-up Al Ferof in a Grade 2 NHF race at Newbury before struggling at the Festival in March. There was little disgrace in that though and this Irish point winner has plenty of scope and should have little trouble making his mark over hurdles and could run up a sequence before being stepped up in class. Grands Crus - D E Pipe Beaten favourite in an average bumper on debut and fared no better next time but quickly proved more at home over obstacles, finishing a respectable 7 length second to Wishfull Thinking on his hurdling bow at 66-1. Scored a comfy success next time before finding the concession of 16lbs to Festival winner Sanctuaire beyond him. He has to have soft ground so wasn't seen after February last season as conditions went against him in the spring but he ended the campaign on a very workable handicap mark and should prove capable of picking up a decent prize over hurdles this winter when the mud is flying.