12 horses that start the season in flying form…

The New One; unbeaten in five 90+ day October/November starts…

Not all horses start the season like Mike Tyson in his pomp, bang ready to fire and knocking their opponents through the ropes with a flurry of pinpoint haymakers, leaving the opposition reeling and wondering ‘what the hell happened there?!‘.

No, some are a bit like me in the mornings, blearily searching for my phone to snooze that blasted alarm, taking a spin or two to get the wheels moving at full speed and to get the eye in for the day/season ahead.

In today’s post it’s those early career Mike Tyson-alikes I want to concentrate on (rather than the early morning Ben Aitken types!!), the ones that have shown time after time that they are ready to hit the ground running when returning from their summer holidays.

Fitness is very much the key in the early skirmishes of the National Hunt season and the following 12 horses have shown excellent previous form when running first time out (break of 90 days or more) in the October/November period…

THOMAS BROWN (H Fry)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 4-1-1-1

Harry fry’s 8yo is very much a lover of the early stages of the season and to date he has shown rock solid form when returning off his summer jollies.

Look out form him under the following…

Class 2 or less Handicap chases with 11 or less runners

THE NEW ONE (N Twiston-Davies)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 1-1-1-1-1

We all know this boy but his record first time up is well worth highlighting given that it shown a 5 from 5 form line.

Question this year is what distance are they aiming him at as he approaches his twilight years?

Look out form him under the following…

Conditions hurdles

UPBEAT COBBLER (H Daly)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: F-1-2-1-1

Possibly not one that is on too many radars but there is no denying the fact the mare generally starts the season in bouncing form.

She fizzled out a bit last term after her flying start but that has seen her handicap mark slip back down again so she should be all set for another strong start.

Look out form her under the following…

C4 or less Handicap chases

NICHOLS CANYON (W Mullins)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 1-1-1

Finished off last season in the staying ranks and has always started the season in winning form.

One assumes they will be sticking with the staying trips this season.

Look out form him under the following…

2m5f+ Conditions hurdles

GARDE LA VICTOIRE (P Hobbs)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 1-1-3-1-1

Another that starts with his motor fully running and in all fairness he just seems to be an October/November lover in general (form of 1131111123).

Look out form him under the following…

G2 or lower races in October & November

*Garde La Victoire actually ran 2 days ago in France, finishing 2nd of 10, but he’s worth keeping on this list just for his October & November form alone

CAULFIELDS VENTURE (E Lavelle)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 4-5-1-1-1-3

He’s getting on a bit now being an 11yo but he starts the season only 1lb above his last and highest winning mark and you wouldn’t put it past him to add to his fine first time out autumn record.

Look out form him under the following…

Class 3 or below Handicap chases on decent ground

SILSOL (P NICHOLLS)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 4-1-1-1

Paul Nicholls 8yo has not been seen since landing the West Yorkshire Hurdle last season by a comfortable 2.75L from Native River but should return again this term don’t be surprised if he wins or goes very close first time up again.

Look out form him under the following…

3m+ Hurdles/Handicap Chases

THIRD INTENTION (C Tizzard)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 6-2-1-1-2-1

This one is such a force first time up in the autumn that he even managed to capture the valuable Old Roan Chase at Aintree on seasonal return last term.

He did precious little after that but don’t be surprised to see him run well again this season on return.

Look out form him under the following…

2m4f/5f Handicap Chases

YANWORTH (A King)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 1-1-1

He made up for his Champion Hurdle ‘flop’ when closing out his season with a G1 victory over 3m last season and based on previous form it’s safe to assume he’ll start this season off in similar bouncing form, where he is likely to be seen over fences.

Look out form him under the following…

2m5f+ Novice Chases

FERGAL MAEL DUIN (C Tizzard)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 3-2-1-1

No superstar this one but if he is to win races it’s highly likely to be first time out in the autumn, where both his previous victories have come.

Look out form him under the following…

C4 or less handicaps over or around 2m5f

SHIMLA DAWN (M Walford)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: F-3-2-1-2

Only one win on seasonal debut but he does consistently run into a place and he pretty much bang on race fitness first time up in the autumn.

Look out form him under the following…

2m4f/5f Handicap Chases

SELDOM INN (S Thompson)

90+ day Oct/Nov form: 1-2-1 (Also won on racecourse debut in December 2013)

Very much a horse that’s worth catching fresh as he is 11211 off a break of 90 days or more and 4 of his 5 career wins have come off such a break (1/14 off shorter breaks).

Look out form him under the following…

3m or shorter Handicaps | Left-Handed tracks

As always there are no guarantees in horse racing but based on previous form it would be disappointing should this batch of horses not again prove fit and ready fire on their season debuts this year.

Ben (NTF)

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