What an exciting time of year with the jump season stepping up a gear.

Don’t get me wrong I thought this year’s flat season was a vintage

one, with the likes of the Epsom Derby winner New Approach, and who can

forget Aiden O’Briens memorable term with Henrythenavigator, Duke Of

Marmalade and Yeats winning his third Ascot Gold Cup spring straight to

mind.The British trained racehorses also covered themselves in glory at the Breeders Cup meeting, with no less than four individual winners, the highlight being Frankie Dettori teaming up with John Gosden to create history when Ravens Pass became the first English trained horse to win the Breeders Cup Classic.

But I’m a jumping man at heart and the memories of Denman and Kauto Star still get the pulse racing, Master Minded beating Voy Por Ustedes exhilarating, and Comply Or Die winning the most prestigious race of them all ,the Grand National, was more than the icing on the cake on a great season. That was last year; the question is what’s going to win the big ones this year?

 1- The Gold Cup: Can Kauto Star turn the tables with Denman?

Who knows, I just hope we can see both of them turn up healthy on the day, Denman has already suffered a little set back with an irregular heartbeat and we wont see him on the racecourse till February. If the ground came up good I think Kauto Star could turn the tables, for me he looked flat at Cheltenham so don’t write him off just yet, after making a very pleasing reappearance at Down Royal the 8year-old looked as class as ever, and he will go to the festival lighter raced than previous seasons as he is going to be rested after the King George.

But I don’t think its just a two horse race ,with last years Sun Alliance winner Albertas Run, entering calculations, even though he looked very ring rusty on his first run of this term at Carlisle and what about DPRPS very own Aces Four, now that  would be a story! Aces Four didn’t have luck on his side last season, but if you go back to that sensational win at Aintree where he gave weight and an 8 length beating to Faasel he definitely deserves his place in the line up.

 2- Will anything get near Master Minded this season? For me the 2 mile chase division looks a two horse race, but what a fascinating match it is between the champion Master Minded and last years Arkle winner Tidal Bay. Even though Voy Por Ustedes lowered the champions colours at Aintree, I think that was at the end of a very long season, and trainer Alan King has said he would step his horse up in distance in order to avoid Master Minded.Tidal Bay might be the only one to give him a race, after initially suffering from jumping problems, he really got his act together at the festival and many people thought his finest hour last term was at Aintree when he won the Maghull Novice Chase.Tidal Bay looked super making his reappearance at Carlisle recently, and if he and Master Minded arrive at Prestbury Park next March it could well be the clash of the week. 

3- Champion Hurdle, As wide open as it gets?

I think both the Gold Cup and Queen Mother Champion Chase have been vintage renewals over the last couple of years, but I’m not sure you could use the same cliché about the Champion Hurdle.Now take nothing away from the tough Katchit but I can’t envisage him winning the Champion Hurdle two years in a row, also the likes of Sublimity and Harchibald look like they have had their best days I think its best to concentrate on last seasons novices.The first one that comes to mind in Nicky Hendersons Binocular, runner up in last years Supreme Novice to Captain Cee Bee who is unfortunately out for the season.Reportedly to have summered very well, Binocular's form looks very strong, with Snap Tie who was nearly five lengths behind him at Cheltenham beating Katchit at Kempton a couple of weeks ago.Snap Tie is trained by Philip Hobbs who knows what it takes to win the Hurdling Crown after success with Rooster Booster back in 2003, but for me Snap Tie has improved in the jumping department.Champion trainer Paul Nicholls however has not won this great race albeit he’s never had many fancied runners in it.This year could be different as he could be doubly represented with Celestial Hero and Pierrot Lunaire.Both of them have to improve to really hassle the principals and even though they are in the right hands I think Binocular could be J P McManus replacement for the great Istabraq.

So they are my early thoughts on some of the major races, no doubt there will be plenty of changes between now and then in our great but unpredictable sport!    

Below I’m going to list three horses that are worth following in the coming weeks: 

1 Pakineo Des Pictons: Nothing to do with being a DPRP horse! Ive really been taken by this horse since I saw him walking around the sales ring in France,he showed he had got an engine by winning a decent bumper last season, I would be surprised if he didn't trouble the judge next time we see him.

2 Cape Tribulation: Held in high regard by his trainer Malcolm Jefferson, this son of Hernando has already been successful on the flat and in bumpers, has schooled nicely and should be in the winners enclosure again, sooner rather than later.

3 Laterly trained by Tom Tate whose better known as a flat trainer, but has had a few decent jumpers through his hands in recent years. This horse has size and scope to be very good over hurdles and has shown a willing attitude in his three wins on the level.