Five Horses To Follow This Weekend - 26/02/2019

The first horse from the weekend that if he races has a great chance to boost his case for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is Getaway Trump for trainer Paul Nicholls, who looks to be heading into the Grade 2 Hurdle contest at Kelso.

This exciting hurdler was disappointing on his latest run at Ascot in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle that saw him outclassed by the Supreme Novices Hurdle favourite Al Dancer.

Before that he had ran really nicely in defeat behind the J P McManus owned Champ and winning novice events before that on his first two starts of the season and if reproducing that form will be the one to beat on Saturday.

In the same race on Saturday is the exciting Emitom for trainer Warren Greatrex who this season has just been a class above the rest in lesser events than this Grade 2 on the weekend and if stepping up will give his trainer a good headache of what to do next.

Emitom started this season in bumpers and looked overly impressive in both starts at Warwick and Ascot beating some large fields in both contest.

He then moved on to hurdles and on his first time over obstacles he beat Lisnagar Oscar who has since gone on to frank that form and win a Grade 2 hurdles contest.

If progressing like the other horses in the races that he has won, he really will be one to watch and could be an exciting contender this weekend at 5/1.

What looks to be the star name at this stage of declarations for the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday is the Paul Nicholls trained Black Corton, who is just adored by her jockey on board Bryony Frost.

This eight year old consistently runs well and has been put into far better races than this contest on the weekend and if running to his true potential should land the contest.

His two latest seconds have come behind the Nicky Henderson Top Notch in a Listed Chase at Kempton and then his latest at Ascot in another Listed contest, just falling short behind the progressive Venetia Williams trained Calipto.

Black Corton is a fan favourite in the sport and should put in another gritty performance if running in this Listed contest on Saturday in Scotland.

Another horse who could run in that Listed Chase is Captain Redbeard for trainer Stuart Coltherd who after his latest win has really started to take some interest from punters.

He has been raced frequently this season in handicap races but also Grade 2 chase contests over three miles that really have not bought the best out of him.

Last time out against just one opponent he flourished at Kelso, dropping back in trip to three miles and going on to win a Class 2 against a far better horse on ratings in Definitely Red.

This performance has allowed him to be progressive in harder contests now and it would not be a surprise to see him back that performance up with another strong challenge on Saturday.

The last horse of the weekend to follow comes from the most competitive flat race of the day at Lingfield on the all weather in the Ladbrokes Listed Spring Cup Stakes and Watan is a very exciting three year old.

This Richard Hannon trained three year old made an explosive start to life as a racehorse when coming home late to land the Class 2 Maiden Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on debut.

From there sky was the limit but he has never seemed to really stretch on live up to that potential. He finished second on his next start in the Grade 3 Acomb Stakes at York and was then outclassed by Too Darn Hot in the Group 3 Solario Stakes.

He was then but back in a Class 4 for his last race of the season and went on to win it easily, but now this is his first run back since October and his first ever on the all weather, he is a really interesting runner.