TWE's Five Novice Chasers To Follow During The 2021/22 Jumps Season

The first horse we are putting up to follow this term going over fences is the Gavin Cromwell trained Vanillier, who was a smart hurdler last term but has always shaped that the step up to the bigger obstacles would suit him perfectly.

The six year old gelding was seen frequently over staying trips last term and looked to be set up all season for the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

On his first try at three miles in the Cheltenham festival event he travelled effortlessly, jumped well and went on to take the event by 11 lengths.

Looking to back it up at the Punchestown festival he was below par, being well beaten by the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Gentlemansgame and Stattler.

Now stepping over fences this term, with three miles being his trip he looks a big player for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, currently being a 10/1 shot for the event.

The second horse is the Colin and soon to be Joe Tizzard trained Killer Kane who looks to have a big future in jumps racing having been smart over hurdles so far and costing £300,000 they obviously see a lot in him.

Having won a three mile point to point back in March 2020, he was then snapped up and given to the Tizzard's where he has since been seen three times.

Finishing second on hurdles debut and making a good impression he then went to Exeter and could only finish fourth with excuses on the day.

Finally living up to his potential at the third time of asking the gelding got off the mark in taking style and his jockey that day Harry Cobden explained that going forward, going up in trip and over fences could bring out a serious animal.

The Tizzard's have been looking for a new horse to lead the way for the yard with the likes of Cue Card and Native River now retired or past their best and this gelding could well be.

Another horse that has took the eye over hurdles for the Tizzard's and same owners, Romans & Taylor and O'Dwyer, is Amarillo Sky.

The son of Westerner looks a very smart type and another nice new horse that can start to propel the yard back to where it used to be after a few bad seasons.

Amarillo Sky in March 2020 won a nice point to point and from there has been seen six times for the yard, being up and down over hurdles and has truly been waiting for his time over fences.

His best performances so far have seen him finish fourth behind the smart Dusart and Soaring Glory on hurdles debut, winning on his fourth start at Exeter and then when last seen in May bolting up at Newton Abbot in a decent four runner event.

Looks a type to progress over a further trip of two miles and also larger obstacles this season.

The penultimate horse we are putting up as a novice chaser to follow this term is the Mouse Morris trained Gentlemansgame, who was a bright spark last term over hurdles, but has always said to be a better performer over the larger obstacles.

A point to point recruit for Mouse Morris, Gentlemansgame made his rules debut this year and showed bags of talent to dismantle a big field by 21 lengths.

Rachael Blackmore had an easy day in the saddle as her mount cruised to victory over two miles and the further he went the better he looked.

He was then thrown into the deep end at the Dublin Racing Festival when upped 6f from his debut run in the Grade One Nathaniel Lacy Novice Hurdle.

He ran to a superb standard collaring Stattler late on to grab second, finishing in behind the impressive Gaillard Du Mesnil and showing staying trips will suit during his career.

Morris decided to save him and skipped both the Cheltenham and Aintree festival's and instead took him to Fairyhouse in the Grade Two Novice Hurdle over 2m4f.

He was unfortunately way back in third behind Ashdale Bob, with the run not going to plan.

Not dwelling on that run, Morris put him out one more time this term and he was a good second behind the smart Galopin Des Champs at the Punchestown festival on his first try at three miles.

Certain to go over hurdles and having been nurtured last term for this campaign he is worth taking note of with a big season pending.

The final horse of the blog is the Fergal O'Brien trained Imperial Alcazar who was a key player in the betting for the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last season and this term could be a smart horse over fences.

Having always hold bundles of ability for a thriving yard, stepping up over fences this term could be what he has been waiting for all of his career, with staying chases certain to suit.

Having made his hurdles debut in October 2019 he has not looked back, finishing a narrow second behind the smart Protektorat at Cheltenham and then also winning another event at Leicester.

This term the hurdler was aimed at the Pertemps at the festival, starting in a tough Grade Three Handicap Stayer's Hurdle at Haydock, but using that to get off the mark in a qualifier race for the Cheltenham event.

Backed well for the three miles event at Prestbury Park, he was disappointing with obvious excuses throughout the race.

He looks to be one of the most promising horses for a yard that hold plenty of potential and winners.