Our winter warmers

The skysports.com team have been busy - finding you THE horses to follow for the jumps season.

The skysports.com team have been busy - finding you THE horses to follow for the jumps season ahead. Here are the horses that Ben Linfoot, Ian Ogg, Nic Doggett, Rob Plumbridge and Ian Brindle have highlighted for the 2011/12 season.

Novice Chaser

Ben Linfoot: TORNADO BOB
Tornado Bob looked like a chaser running over hurdles last season and I'd expect him to excel over the larger obstacles this campaign. Donald McCain's horse ran poorly at the Cheltenham Festival on his last start but that clearly wasn't his running and he's better judged on his earlier form, which was smart. His best effort came at Ascot behind Sonofvic when he would've won but for a mistake at the final obstacle. He could start off over shorter distances but he'll get three miles and is a possible for the RSA Chase. Whether he's good enough to win that is a question to ask in the spring but he looks likely to make his mark in lesser events on the road to the Festival. Ian Ogg: SIRE COLLONGES
Won over hurdles at Auteuil on his sole start before joining current connections and was quite highly tried in handicap hurdles. Still has that discipline as an option but more likely to be seen over fences and this son of outstanding French sire Dom Alco has the scope to make his mark over the larger obstacles. Not one of the stable stars but could pick up a valuable handicap before the end of the season. Nic Doggett: CEDRE BLEU
Had his derriere handed to him by Spirit Son at Exeter last season but he always looked like a horse who will excel when sent over fences and that will happen this autumn. He's only four so we perhaps shouldn't expect too much too soon, but trainer Paul Nicholls is an expert with his young French recruits, with two outstanding examples being Kauto Star and Master Minded who both won at the Festival as five-year-old's (although both had prior chasing experience in France). This fine big young horse showed a good turn of foot when successful on his UK debut at Newbury and he looks a very exciting prospect over anything from two to two and a half miles. Rob Plumbridge: MENORAH
Philip Hobbs' star went over hurdles last year but is bred to be a chaser and has every chance to be a top-class prospect over fences if taking to it. The fact that connections were slightly disappointed with him last year even though he was one of the best hurdlers in Britain and Ireland shows how highly he's thought of. Has a very high rating of 162 and could be something special given time. Should stay further than two miles and would prefer ground on the good side. Class prospect who I believe will go well in his first season chasing. He will be first seen out in November. Ian Brindle: SPRINTER SACRE
This season looks to be potentially a golden one for novice chasing and Nicky Henderson's charge caught my eye last term. The term 'embryonic chaser' is often overused but this tag accompanied any discussion of the five-year-old last season. He was far from disgraced in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle where he finished third having raced close to the pace and whilst he seems capable of showing his ability on any ground - a genuinely good surface should see him at his best.

Novice Hurdler

BL: MONTBAZON
The horse I am most excited about seeing jump a hurdle this year is Alan King's Montbazon. He first caught my attention when winning a Doncaster bumper in March, his high-cruising speed evident against lesser rivals and he certainly looked one to keep on the right side of. He must've gone in plenty of notebooks after that as he was sent off the 5/2 favourite for the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting and once again he travelled with ease throughout. This time he was picked up by Gordon Elliott's Steps To Freedom - incidentally one to keep an eye on as well (already won two hurdle races) - but it's King's charge I'm most interested in this campaign. He looks to be blessed with speed - two mile hurdles all the way for him - and the vibes from King's yard are that he's pretty slick over timber. IO: ZHAKIERA SPIRIT
A full-sister to useful performers Megastar and Megasue, she was hugely impressive in winning her first two starts over hurdles before proving slightly disappointing in a Listed bumper at Sandown and flopping at Aintree. Has since joined Paul Nicholls and it will be disappointing if she can't mop up a few races over obstacles before her sights are raised and she has the scope to be top-class if resuming her upward curve. ND: DESTROYER DEPLOYED
Like Cue Card, he won a Fontwell bumper and looks an exciting prospect for 2012. He picked up an injury after finishing second to Cheltenian in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham so may not be seen until the start of the year but he looks an exciting prospect for staying races. He's the first foal of a dam who is from the family of Whitbread winner Topsham Bay and he has looked in all of his runs to date as if a step up in trip will bring about even more improvement; the Albert Bartlett over three miles looks a realistic long-term aim. RP: POLISKY
He didn't win any of his three starts last year as a novice having been bought by Paul Nicholls but he did run creditably in a graded race at Aintree, with his trainer preferring to keep him in high company. He has kept his novice status this year and his trainer reports him to be much stronger, having come on through the summer, making him a much smarter prospect and the Ditcheat handler is very confident about winning a few novice nurdles this season. IB: GO ALL THE WAY
Having finished second on debut in a hot Punchestown bumper for John Kiely he then realised £310 000 at the Doncaster Sales. Knocked down to Philip Hobbs - he was to curiously make his first British appearance under the care of Nigel Twiston-Davies. It is his run behind Cheltenian in the Champion bumper is one that lives in the mind. Held up in rear, he made stealthy headway from an unpromising position before being predictably outpaced by the more precocious sorts close home. He could be the sort to be making his mark in the big staying events for novices.

Handicap Chaser

BL: WILLIAM'S WISHES
The canny Evan Williams placed this horse to win three novice chases over two miles last season and he won each small-field event with ease. He can't have been easy to rate as he could be anything but a mark of 139 doesn't look harsh for this classy Oscar gelding who has jumped very well on each start over fences. He's been off since January because of a minor problem that kept him out of the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival but that could be a blessing in disguise. I'm convinced he can win races off this mark and higher and he could make an impression over further than two miles as well. IO: PEARLYSTEPS
Fair hurdler who was steadily progressive in his novice season over fences, winning once and only finishing out of the places in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. That was despite his yard struggling for form all term in a campaign which realised just eight winners but they have more than half that number on the board already this season suggesting that the problems are behind them and this individual is open to further progress.ND: AITEEN THIRTYTHREE
I hope I can get away with him in this category as I'm hoping that he starts his season off in the Hennessey at Newbury. He is a big horse but impressed with his jumping at the track last season, until flopping at Cheltenham when the race passed him by; his jumping was rushed and part-owner Paul Barber, who had voiced fears about the suitability of the race, was proved correct. Whilst the Hennessy wouldn't exactly be a stroll in the park, we know he loves the fences and the track and it's worth remembering that the fellow Barber-owned Denman went straight from RSA Chase to Hennessy. The son of Old Vic's mark of 152 would guarantee him a run but also wouldn't hold him back and although holes can be picked in his novice form (notable fallers amongst his rivals on both occasions) he looks a fine prospect for this year. RP: QUINZ
Was jumping well before he unfortunately had to be pulled up in the Grand National after bursting a blood vessel. Will return handicap chasing this year and the plan is to go for the Hennessy Gold Cup this year and possibly the King George as he likes Kempton as proved in last season's Racing Post Trophy. One concern will be that he is off a higher mark of 153 this year but as a young horse there should still be plenty of improvement to come. IB: KEKI BUKU
Philip Hobbs has made a habit of turning geese into swans and the well regarded eight-year-old could be a likely candidate in this regard. Soft ground seems to suit him best and whilst he is 0 from 5 over the larger obstacles - a handicap mark of 130 for Diana Whateley's charge gives him plenty of room for manoeuvre in the early part of the campaign.

Handicap Hurdler

BL: Third Intention
This Azamour gelding improved with experience last season and though he was only seventh in the Triumph I liked his run. He made a mistake at the first and got outpaced but he finished his race really well and was only beaten nine lengths by the classy Zarkandar (another cracking prospect by Azamour) in the end. Colin Tizzard's charge hacked up next time at Cheltenham when hurdling with fluency in a small field and with another summer on his back he could well improve again this season. A handicap mark of 143 hardly screams 'well in, get on!' but he's a horse who could improve again when stepped up in trip to something around two-and-a-half miles - though he shouldn't be underestimated over a strongly-run two. IO: HORATIO CAINE
Beaten by at least 24 lengths on all four career starts but showed definite signs of ability in two runs at Cheltenham behind Sam Winner before finishing down the field at Auteuil in the spring. Plenty has to be taken on trust as a result but he's related to winners in France and did enough in those two runs at Prestbury Park to believe that he's capable of winning races this season from his initial mark. ND: NOTUS DE LA TOUR
Although he has been unable to add to a UK debut win at Plumpton back in January 2010, he's run some very good races in defeat including when placed in the Fred Winter and the Totesport Trophy. It seems that (at this stage of his career at least) two miles suits best, and races such as the Elite or Kingwell Hurdle would appear tailor-made for this enthusiastic front-runner, although more patient tactics may bring about more improvement in bigger fields. He is only five, and although there is a chance his might go over fences, his mark of 141 doesn't look to be insurmountable with another year under his belt; he still looks one to follow. RP: KUMBESHWAR
Alan King's hurdler was very impressive last year as a juvenile coming second in two Grade One juvenile hurdles. He was a close second at Aintree in his last start in Britain to Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar before being narrowly beaten by Grandouet at Punchestown. A very tough, consistent type who is more than capable, and he should take a few handicaps given his form as a juvenile. King will be aiming him for the Grade Two Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham next month. IB: ALWAYS WAINING
It will be interesting to see whether the Topham winner attempts to step up for the Grand National, but with a chase rating of 140 - the protection of it will be a priority for Peter Bowen. In previous years one always had the feeling that there was an element of "prep" about the ten-year-old's efforts over hurdles and as a consequence this has seen him allocated a figure of 117. The big handicaps over chase fences appear out for him this season so it would be no surprise to see the Pembrokes handler attempting to exploit that hurdling mark with considerably more vigour.

Grade One Breakthrough Horse

BL: JESSIES DREAM
Gordon Elliott's Jessies Dream has already won the Grade One Drinmore Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse but I'll cheat a little bit as he can have a say in top-level events outside of novice company this season. Elliott says we won't see him until Christmas but races like the Lexus and Irish Hennessy could be on his raider before a possible crack at Long Run in March. Perhaps he isn't quite up to that level, but he can win top prizes when avoiding Long Run as he looked the horse to take out of the RSA Chase. He was keen early on and hung right under pressure but still only lost to Bostons Angel by a quarter-of-a-length. An exciting prospect. IO: SAMAIN
Three out of four in bumpers, winning with increasing authority since suffering a narrow defeat on debut in 2010. Reportedly a good ground horse (yet to race on better than soft) who is better going left-handed, the form of his latest win at the Curragh is working out well and it will be surprising if he doesn't make the grade over hurdles and he can be expected to contest all of the top novice contests. ND: WISHFULL THINKING
His win off 159 at the Punchestown Festival was a performance of real class and this bold-jumping eight-year-old looks set to really hit the heights this season. After that win in Ireland Philip Hobbs nominated the King George as a target (for which the 14/1 on offer looks huge) and he should stay the trip round there easily, giving Hobbs the option of the Ryanair or Gold Cup as Cheltenham Festival targets. His stablemate Captain Chris has more pace and should end up in the Champion Chase, and to be honest the Ryanair looks tailor-made for this son of Alflora. RP: GRANDS CRUS
Described by David Pipe as one of the best horses he has ever trained. Having twice been second to the unrivalled Big Bucks, Pipe has decided to take him novice chasing this year. He gave Big Bucks as close a scare as any other had done before in the World Hurdle proving he is a class act and if taking to the bigger obstacles is sure to take a Grade One before the season is out. Pipe has declared the RSA Chase at the festival as his main aim for the season. IB: SIR DES CHAMPS
He was always thought of as "next year's horse" by the Gigginstown Stud but try telling that to those who backed him successfully in the Conditionals event at the Cheltenham festival! Willie Mullins had been schooling him over the larger obstacles for some time before that run and the fact that the legendary Irish handler hasn't dismissed the Arkle as a target suggests that he may possess plenty of speed as well as the prerequisite stamina for the job.