DOM BRADSHAW'S Six to follow in THE MIDLANDS

COOLEFIND
8-year-old bay gelding by Phardante
Trained by Bill Warner
A talented performer, he delighted his astute trainer last season winning a Guilsborough mens open (after a ding-dong battle with Nautical Lad) and a Huntingdon hunter chase.
Has been regularly hunted and schooled in the close season and still looks to have plenty more improvement in him.
Will follow a similar path again this season and if he can put it all together on the day, he’ll be tough to beat.

BALLARDS BOY
7-year-old bay gelding by Sleeping Car
Trained by Laura Pomfret
Had a handful of runs under rules for Nick Pomfret without showing too much, but has switched to Laura Pomfret’s pointing string and good things are expected. Has worked well at home and will start off early in maiden company and is a dark horse worth following.

BEDTIME BOYS
9-year-old grey gelding by Gran Alba
Trained by Holly Campbell
Lost his way in his previous yard, but back to his best since moving to Holly Campbell and was unbeaten in 2005, running up a four timer.
Will follow a similar route in 2006 and if all goes well, may be aimed at hunter chases. Appears to prefer decent, good ground and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t add to his tally this season.

DENVALE
8-year-old bag gelding by Denel
Trained by Caroline Bailey
Was impressive when winning at Horseheath on his seasonal reappearance last year and also when taking a Towcester hunter chase. Connections do not yet look to have got to the bottom of him and gives the impression that there is further improvement still to come and should be capable of holding his own in hunter chase company this season.

HI UP BRENKLEY
8-year-old bay gelding by Dancing High
Trained by Tim Tarratt
Bought cheaply at Doncaster, he proved to be a real bargain, scoring three times last season with Richard Armson aboard, but wasn’t himself when pulling up on his final start. He looks to have further improvement in him and will be campaigned between the flags with a view to perhaps running in novice hunter chases later in the season.

RAMIREZ
8-year-old chestnut gelding by Royal Abjar
Trained by Nick Kent
A talented but fragile individual, Ramirez only appeared twice last season, running out a good winner on his second start, a Welbeck Mens Open in March, notably clocking the same time as the Ladies Open but carrying a stone more, but did not reappear afterwards.
Is held in high regard by his trainer and will be aiming for success in novice hunter chase company this season, with either a three-mile or a sub three-mile trip being suitable.

JOHN BULMAN'S Six to follow in THE NORTH

BENBEOCH
7-year-old Hatim – Phantom Singer
Recorded good wins at Corbridge and Alnwick under Kevin Anderson. Third in the Heart on his first start in a Hunter Chase and hopes must be high that this 7 year old can progress in that sphere this season.

COOMAKISTA
9-year-old Primitive Rising – Miss Eros
Didn’t see the race course until 7 but this Primitive Rising mare was on a 5 timer until finding Benbeoch too good at Alnwick. Rounded off her season with an excellent second to Martin Ossie in a Huntingdon Hunter Chase. Should go well in Ladies and Hunter Chase company.

EIGHTY DAYS
7-year-old Air Quest – Valley Hope
Slightly disappointing last season when some of Morag Neill’s horses didn’t really fire I am hopeful this talented 7 year old will go well again for the ever improving Rose Davidson.

MYSTICAL FEELINGS
6-year-old Feelings – Mystical Madam
Sprang a bit of a surprise when winning on his debut in a reasonable Haydon Maiden under Andrew Richardson. A dark horse compared to the more exposed selections but the manner of her victory at Hexham suggested she has the gears to progress this season.

ANSHAN SPIRIT
8-year-old Anshan – Saffron Spirit
Progressed out of all recognition to record wins at Corbridge and Aspatria in impressive fashion. This mare is clearly on the up grade and can win in Open and Hunter Chase company. Roger Green has handled her very well to make sure she reaches her potential.

OLD ROLLA
8-year-old Old Vic – Criswood
This Clive Story trained gelding progressed throughout the season and remained unbeaten in points when winning a Mens Open at Aspatria in May. This Old Vic gelding was unsold at Doncaster in August and will hopefully be returning between the flags in 2006. Although disappointing in a Kelso Hunter Chase in April he is better than that form and is worth another try.

Other, less exposed types worth keeping an eye on include Solway Sunset – a game winner of a Dalston maiden (under an inspired Dale Jewett ride) and Aspatria members. Stray Raven – some sound performances before winning at Corbridge under Jimmy Walton in April. Mays Delight came up against some good performers when behind the likes of Benbeoch, Anshan Spirit and Coomakista at various times. She is a useful mare in her own right.

ARTHUR SHONE'S TEN to follow in THE NORTH WEST

This year’s selections are a bit of a mixed bag. There are some proven campaigners and some nice young horses too. For the first time this season I have included two up and coming trainers, Kelda Wood and Steve Wynne, both who can make their presence felt in this neck of the woods this season. The form man in this area is Edward Crow, the husband of Hadnall trainer Sheila Crow. When High Chimes and Miss Sallyfield won last season they kept up his amazing 100% strike rate; over 9 seasons every single one of his 11 dark horse selections have found the winners enclosure. All comments are by their respective trainers with the exception of the dark horses from the Sheila Crow yard, which are by her husband Edward.

WHICH WAY NOW
6-year old Bay Gelding by Anshan
Trained by Sheila Crow
“This is not a serious horse; this is a very serious horse. He has been placed in Ireland and the form of that race has worked out well. He has been flying at home and I tell you this, he really takes some holding on the gallops, as he has plenty of strength. I have no hesitation in nominating him as one of my dark horse selections and it will take a good one to beat him.”
Comments by Edward Crow

TENGRAND
6-year old Bay Gelding by Grand Plaisir
Trained by Sheila Crow
“My second dark horse selection won his Maiden well in Ireland and I liked him as soon as I saw him. He is a natural over fences at home and I know that Richard ( Burton) is excited about riding him this season. He could turn out to be a bit special and I think this one has the potential to make the top grade, I really do.”
Comments by Edward Crow

REBEL ARMY
7-year old Chestnut Gelding by Mister Lord
Trained by Caroline Robinson
“I consider him to be a very progressive type. He bolted up at Eaton Hall and Flagg Moor and was then runner up in his Intermediate at Heslaker and that’s good form from just three races. He is going well at home and I will run him in an Intermediate first and then an Open, but I feel he will make a nice hunter chaser.”

HONEST YER HONOUR
10-year-old Bay Gelding by Witness Box
Trained by Caroline Robinson
“He has so much class. He was not beaten far when runner up to Brave Inca and he did well last year winning Opens at Barbury Castle and Tabley and I was pleased when he rounded his season off by winning a hunter chase at Aintree in good style. Despite winning at Aintree, I have always regarded him as a Cheltenham Foxhunter type and that will be the plan with him. He is working well at home and he will probably be out at the first meeting at Cottenham.”

GUTHRIE
8-year-old Chestnut Gelding by Mister Lord
Trained by Steve Wynne
“Potentially the best horse that I have ever had in the yard. He was rated 108 when he was trained by Alan King and he has been placed in all types of races under rules. He is a very exciting prospect in the yard and I can see him going through the season unbeaten; his best ground is good to soft.”

FARRANFORE
8-YEAR-OLD Bay Gelding by Be My Native
Trained by Kelda Wood
“He was placed over hurdles in Ireland when trained by Edward O’Grady and his owners, Coolmore, paid 150,000gns for him as a 4-year-old. He should be something special in the yard and it’s great having one like him here. When he came to me he had a bit of a leg problem but he is sound now and working well. We will run him in early February.”

CORNISH GALE
12-year-old Brown Gelding by Strong Gale
Trained by Donald McCain Junior
“A very consistent type to have in the yard and he’ll always win his fair share of races. He won a decent hunter chase at Towcester and then finished runner up in the Bangor Final. I think he would make an ideal Aintree Foxhunters horse; the trip and the flat course would be ideal for him.”

BORDER FUSION
7-year-old Bay Gelding by Scallywag
Trained by Gary Hanmer
“He has so much quality and ability. He will run in a couple of point-to-points to start with and he will then go hunter chasing, which I think will be the making of him. He needs a good gallop on a good galloping track on decent ground.”

FLYING THROUGH
8-year-old Bay Mare by Thowra
Trained by Gary Hanmer
“She has a bit of a wayward streak in her being by Thowra; they all seem to be a bit temperamental. There is no question in my mind that she has ability and she proved it when she hacked up in a two and a half mile Maiden at Alpraham. She then ran in a Restricted at Heslaker where she was brought down when cantering all over the opposition. She will win races this season and is one from the yard to follow for the season.”

JACKIE JARVIS
9-year-old Bay Mare by Alphabatim
Trained by John Swindells
“She started the season off well winning at Weston Park and Eaton Hall. We then ran her at Eyton but she came back with some heat in her leg. We then decided to have her fired early on and give her plenty of time to recover. She’s working well at home and all being well should hopefully pick up a few races.”

DOM BRADSHAW's Six to follow in Yorkshire

MISTER FRIDAY
9-year-old bay\brown gelding by Mister Lord
Trained by Martina Mulhall
Proved to be one of the top performers of 2005, running up an impressive five-timer, including back-to-back hunter chase victories at Cheltenham on his final two starts. Handled with confidence by Clive Mulhall, his main target this season is the Cheltenham Foxhunter and a reproduction of last seasons form would see him go close.

COME ASHORE
8-year-old bay gelding by Supreme Leader
Trained by Peter Foster
Ran out an impressive winner of an Irish point-to-point last season, where both the runner-up and third have scored since. Has worked impressively at home since joining the Foster yard, he will start off in restricted company and with a bit of luck should progress further.

MAJOR SHARK
8-year-old bay gelding by Saint Preuil
Trained by Mary Sowersby
A winner of five hurdle races on a variety of ground, from good-to-firm to soft, he was bought at the Doncaster Aug 2005 sales for 12,500gns. Will be partnered in points by his owner, Chris Cundall, and should go well in Confined\Open company.

MR TEE PEE
6-year-old bay gelding by Norwich
Trained by Ben Woodhouse
Ran out a good winner of a 2m4f Whitwell-On-The-Hill maiden last season (four of the five which finished behind have won since), but was then switched to the Martin Pipe yard, for whom he had one start, finishing 5 th of 12 in a Stratford bumper. He has now returned back to the Ben Woodhouse yard and good things are expected from his young trainer. Looks an exciting prospect.

SKEW WHIP
8-year-old bay gelding by Primitive Rising
Trained by Charles Brader
Home bred by the Braders, Skew Whip didn’t appear on the course until last season as a 7-year-old and improved with each start last season, running up a hat-trick of wins in maiden, restricted and intermediate company and was staying on when unseating Richard Wakeham in the Hiscox Intermediate Final hunter chase at Huntingdon on his final start. He’ll start off in points again this season and, if all goes well, he could run in novice hunter chases. Would prefer a bit of cut in the ground and looks a real stayer in the making.

WELHAM
6-year-old bay gelding by Executive Perk
Trained by David Easterby
Bought for 18,000gns at Doncaster in 2004, he only appeared once last season when given an introductory run at Charm Park. Has a nice pedigree and is held in high regard by his trainer. Will start in maidens and looks the type who could run up a sequence.

Ian Marshall's Six to follow in Yorkshire

ASK BOBBY
7-year-old Bay Gelding by Primitive Rising
Trained by Mary Sowersby
Looked a nice sort last spring and his two visits to Brocklesby Park brought a brace of fourth places, then filled the runner-up berth at Whitwell-on-the-Hill. He'll have learnt a lot from the experiences and suggested that in time he would be able to exhibit his ability. Well-regarded, being out of the notable mare Ask Jean and a half-brother to the stable's ultra game campaigner Purple Jean, Ask Bobby ought to have a maiden in him.

BULMER BANK
7-year-old Bay Gelding by Makbul
Trained by Trish Russell
Injuries have frustratingly hindered the seven-year-old, restricting him to just the one lifetime appearance. It was a notable effort though at Market Rasen in January when Bulmer Bank created a favourable impression to collect a maiden, a race that has thrown up three future winners. Pulled muscles have kept him out since, but if shrugging off these setbacks, there should be a reward for patience. With help from the saddle in the shape of Simon Walker, one of Yorkshire's leading pilots, Bulmer Bank can go on to better things.

MISTER FRIDAY
9-year-old Bay\Brown Gelding by Mister Lord
Trained by Martina Mulhall
Having been sold out of Peter Niven's yard following a career under Rules that yielded a novice chase, the Mulhalls have worked the oracle. A winner of his only two open point-to-points, the first of which was undoubtedly the strongest event of the entire Yorkshire season, marked him out as something special. In hunter chases, a confident pipe opener at Market Rasen preceded back-to-back victories at Cheltenham of all places. Races at the latter venue are highly competitive and the calibre of the opposition was good. Mister Friday will be Yorkshire's finest prospect for years for the Cheltenham Foxhunters.

MISTERMAGICMAN
6-year-old Grey Gelding by Daar Alzamaan
Trained by Alison Pocklington
A livewire youngster earlier this year, the likeable grey put in some decent performances for one so inexperienced. The raw talent can hopefully be honed now that he has grown more into himself. With the assistance of Guy Brewer in the plate, Mistermagicman has the potential to be useful with a more assured fencing technique. He has matured over the summer and holds a solid chance of landing a maiden during his 2006 campaign.

SKEW WHIP
8-year-old Bay Gelding by Primitive Rising
Trained by Charles Brader
Didn't visit a racecourse until the age of seven in 2005 and, after a couple of educational outings, he put in a hugely impressive display to take a maiden at Charm Park. A Whitwell-on-the-Hill restricted and a Heslaker intermediate soon followed, before he was far from disgraced in the Hiscox Final at Huntingdon. This striking gelding can only have progressed from his first season and there must be a lot more to come.

TOP PACK
7-year-old Bay Gelding by Top Of The World
Trained by Martina Mulhall
Formerly with Nicky Richards, Top Pack didn't seem to achieve all that much in a spell hurdling. However, a change of surroundings can work wonders for horses and he is just the type to be a different kettle of fish between the flags. With an astute team behind him, Top Pack should be able to hold his own at this level. A maiden at least appears to be well within his capabilities.