TimeformBlog

Keith Melrose gives his thoughts on this weekend's Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, just don't ask him whether he thinks the meeting will beat the weather!


There are seemingly countless trials for the Champion Hurdle these days, but the Fighting Fifth is the first British Grade 1 for two-mile hurdlers and as such often the first proper indicator of how the division is shaping up. It's fitting, then, that reigning champion Binocular should make his reappearance in the race. Nicky Henderson's six-year-old suffered a disjointed campaign last season, which kicked off with defeat at odds on in this race, before finally getting it right in March when storming to success at Cheltenham. That win belatedly proved Binocular a top-class performer, a rare commodity among hurdlers over the minimum trip since the days of Istabraq, and there's no reason to believe he won't enjoy a flawless prep for his main target this time around.

If there's going to be a hiccup on the champion's road back to Cheltenham this Saturday, then it's surely going to be brought about by the exciting Peddlers Cross, who only made his racecourse debut at the Betfair Chase meeting last season but went unbeaten in five starts during that campaign, which incorporated Cheltenham Festival success in the Baring Bingham. An impeccable jumper, Peddlers Cross has demonstrated plenty of speed thus far (winner of a Grade 2 novice over the trip at Haydock in January) and could well develop into a Champion Hurdle contender this term, even though he's sure to make a chaser in time and almost certainly isn't an out-and-out two-miler.

Another who's very much on the up is Philip Hobbs' Nearby, who has seemingly been a staple of Saturday afternoons so far this autumn, racking up a hat-trick of victories in competitive handicaps, including the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last time. The step up to graded class is the next logical stage in Nearby's development, and he has the form to get in the shake-up in a Grade 1 which lacks depth, but he's looked all about speed to date and as such may not be able to show his very best under the much more demanding stamina test this poses.

Two more established names among Binocular's rivals are Starluck and Sublimity. The first-named is a strong traveller who can flatter to deceive with his finishing effort, as he has done at the last two Cheltenham Festivals (fifth in last year's Champion Hurdle). There is no doubt that he is a very smart hurdler on his day, but the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, in which he was runner-up last year, is likely to be Starluck's ultimate aim this side of a return to Cheltenham. Sublimity has usually found one or two too good at the highest level since taking the Champion Hurdle in 2007, including when finishing runner-up in the last two renewals of this (behind Punjabi and Go Native respectively). With the current champion and a couple of up-and-comers in opposition this time, he's likely to come up short again.

Surely no one's expecting anything earth-shattering in the conclusion to a tipping piece on a seven-runner Grade 1, so for all there are some anomalies in the current market (Sublimity really shouldn't be almost five times the price of Starluck for starters) the bottom line is that a fit Binocular should make a winning reappearance. The exploits of Silviniaco Conti may have weakened his position at the top of the hurdling tree, but there's no doubt surrounding the Champion's superiority over last year's crop and the improvers he faces here have a significant gap to bridge.

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Timeform look back at the weekend's action...


Saturday saw the reappearance of both Master Minded and last year's Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, and neither disappointed. Paul Nicholls' charge went with all his old fluency under the excellent Noel Fehily, jumping particularly boldly, and he was going better than Albertas Run before that one gave Tony McCoy his third fall of a truncated afternoon. Over at Haydock, Imperial Commander produced a gritty display to hold off the enigmatic Tidal Bay in the Betfair Chase, and Nigel Twiston-Davies' runner will surely improve for the outing, though a cut to his leg may leave his intended next outing in the King George Chase on Boxing Day in some jeopardy.

The Ascot Hurdle threw up a potential superstar as Silviniaco Conti completed a hat-trick of British successes by easily beating the in-form Alan King's Karabak. The favourite, Zaynar, who had been teetering on the brink temperamentally prior to this, was never travelling, trailing home fourth, and is one to be wary of now. It's hard to know quite where the winner will go from this considering the stable have Big Buck's for the World Hurdle, but he looks to have the ability to make his mark at the top level.

Other notable performances from the weekend include the effortless victories of the Paul Nicholls-trained Toubab in the Listed hurdle and David Pipe's Grands Crus in the valuable 'Fixed Brush' handicap, both at Haydock. Also on Saturday the admirable pair of chasers, Mister McGoldrick and Golan Way, recorded impressive successes at Huntingdon, and Pam Sly's Risaala created a good impression when landing the novice hurdle under Gina Andrews at the same course.

The main meeting on Sunday was at Aintree and it saw several horses enhance their Grand National claims with impressive displays of jumping, notably Frankie Figg and Hello Bud, who won the Grand Sefton and the Becher Chase respectively.

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Timeform look at the week ahead's racing...


Sunday November 21

There are four National Hunt meetings in Britain and Ireland on Sunday, undoubtedly the best of which comes at Aintree. The classy Notre Pere heads the weights in this year's renewal of the Becher Chase and that is the highlight of an interesting card which also features Jim Goldie's progressive chaser Stormin Exit in the Grand Sefton earlier in the afternoon.


Monday November 22

Kempton, Ludlow and Ffos Las all stage National Hunt cards on Monday and it's a rare day without all-weather racing.


Tuesday November 23

Tuesday sees All-Weather racing from Southwell and Lingfield and they go over the sticks at Sedgefield.


Wednesday November 24

Chepstow and Wetherby play host to a couple of run-of-the-mill jumps meetings on Wednesday and there is also afternoon Flat action from Lingfield and a twilight card at Kempton.


Thursday November 25

Newbury is the main meeting on Thursday and it's the first day of their three-day Hennessy meeting. The highlight of the card may well prove to be the Grade 2 Novices' Chase which was won by Michel Le Bon last year.

The day's other meetings are at Taunton, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.


Friday November 26

Again Newbury takes centre stage and last year's corresponding meeting saw victories for Punchestowns, Royal Mix and Lie Forrit, so it's likely to prove an informative fixture for the remainder of the season.

They also race over the jumps at Musselburgh and on the level at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.


Saturday November 27

Denman makes his reappearance in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup, a race that Paul Nicholls' chaser has won twice in the last three years, and he'll be well fancied to secure a third success this time around. The rest of the card is well up to scratch, too, and last year saw Big Buck's in action.

Elsewhere on the day, Newcastle stages the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth hurdle, due to mark the return of champion hurdler Binocular, and Kempton plays host to a pair of listed races on the Flat, while Towcester and Wolverhampton also race, so it's a day of action to savour.

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Timeform look ahead to a top-class weekend of National Hunt racing, with Imperial Commander's return to action in the Betfair Chase the highlight...


On a weekend of top-quality National Hunt action, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock takes centre stage, with Cheltenham Gold Cup-winner Imperial Commander heading the seven-runner field. The Nigel Twiston Davies-trained nine-year-old was beaten a nose in a thrilling duel with none other than Kauto Star in last year's Betfair Chase, and is unsurprisingly a very strong favourite 1.74 this time round. Imperial Commander of course has an extremely good record when fresh, and is likely to prove difficult to beat on the back of a seven-month break. Paul Nicholls' dual Grade 1-winner What A Friend, behind whom a well-below-form Imperial Commander finished at Aintree in April, currently holds second spot in the market. Among the supporting races at Haydock is the eighteen-runner "Fixed Brush" handicap hurdle which precedes the main event. The clear favourite for the fixed brush is Grand Crus, who took his form to a new level when readily winning a strong handicap at Cheltenham on his reappearance.

Top-notch fare also takes place at Ascot on Saturday, with the Coral Hurdle and the Amlin Chase the highlights. The Amlin revolves around dual Champion Chase winner Masterminded, who has the capacity to win the race easily at his best, but has a bit to prove after a disappointing campaign last season. Last year's winner Albertas Run, who ought to be better for his reappearance at Aintree, is likely to be the closest rival to Masterminded in the market. The Coral Hurdle features the re-opposal of the first and second from last year's renewal Zaynar and Zarabak, while the fast-improving Silviniaco Conti is also among the contenders.

Aintree hosts a very good card on Sunday, with the National fences in use for the Becher Chase, which is sure to provide plenty of excitement.

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Timeform have identified a couple of jumpers worth following this season, as well as one who looks well ahead of her mark on all-weather.


The first horse to note from last week is the winner of Bangor's Beginners' Chase on Wednesday, the Donald McCain-trained Wymott (Timeform Rating h137+ c128p). Having signed off last season with victory over subsequent Sefton Hurdle winner Wayward Prince in a Grade 2 novice at Haydock, Wymott left the impression he could well take high rank among the staying novice chasers in 2010/11 judging by the manner of his four-length chasing debut success, impressing with how he jumped in front and putting a seal on matters from two out.

The third and fourth were at least useful over hurdles, too, giving substance to the form, and Wymott's excellent impression suggests he could well emulate his owner Trevor Hemmings' Burton Port (trained by Nicky Henderson), who developed into one of the leading staying novices of last season after winning the same race, winning the Grade 2 Mildmay at the Grand National meeting at Aintree. Wymott stays an extended three miles and handles testing ground really well, so there are plenty of options for him in the coming weeks.

Our second horse is a filly who should have won on the Flat at Wolverhampton on Friday, namely Marco Botti's Taurakina. One of the yard's many imports from her trainer's homeland of Italy, Taurakina won a handicap at Kempton on her British debut in November (by four lengths) and should have made it two out of two when a short price at Wolverhampton. Her failure to do so under a penalty was solely down to being rushed up after a slow start, as the exertions of getting clear told late on as she faded into fourth behind Desert Strike. She will be a further 5 lb higher next time (BHA mark of 66) but that isn't going to be enough to stop her, as she's Timeform rated 82+ and is almost certainly capable of running to that level again, remembering how strongly she travelled at Kempton.

The following day, at Cheltenham, there were a number of eye-catching performances, though most of them will hardly have gone unnoticed. One who might have slipped under the radar, however, is John Quinn's Ballybriggan (h127p), who looked short of pace when third to Devil To Pay in the two-mile novice handicap hurdle. In a race that's almost always worth viewing positively, Ballybriggan, who had won over the same trip at Aintree on his reappearance, again left the impression that his long-term future lies over further, sticking to his task really well in the straight without ever looking like getting there. He remains with plenty of potential for two and a half miles plus, and could be the type to win a valuable handicap or two this season.

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Harry Bowles, editor of Timeform Horses To Follow Extra, gives his take on Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock...


Let's face it. The latest renewal of the Betfair Chase will do well to match last season's epic battle (see the video below to relive the memories) between a reigning Gold Cup winner and a future one, but what is for sure is that, as ever, it will still be an extremely interesting and informative race. Kauto Star edged the issue twelve months ago, but hit the deck when Imperial Commander cemented his place amongst the pantheon of modern greats at Cheltenham four months later, and that one again starts off his campaign at Haydock Park.

182 gives him upwards of 18 lb to spare over his rivals. Whilst he wasn't in anything like the same form when last seen at Aintree, that came just three weeks after his huge effort at Cheltenham and, just as pertinently, his record fresh is a very good one. With the Twiston-Davies yard continuing in top form and his ability to handle the track confirmed, it's nigh-on impossible to look past Imperial Commander.

One of the 'dangers' may prove to be Nacarat after he proved himself a top-class chaser with a valiant second to Razor Royale in the Racing Post Trophy last season and returned with a convincing success in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. The three-week turnaround possibly isn't ideal, whilst connections will presumably have the King George as the major target, but they're the only real concerns and it's difficult to see Tom George's chaser finishing out of the first three. Paul Nicholls has long since thought a lot of What A Friend, and he went a long way to showing why last season with a second to stablemate Denman in the Hennessy before landing Grade 1s at Leopardstown and Aintree (where a below-form Imperial Commander unseated), those successes going a long way to assuaging fears that his quirks would get the better of him.

Elsewhere, Silver By Nature and Planet of Sound were both also progressive in 2009/10, albeit in different arenas. The former improved rapidly in staying handicap chases, splitting wins at Carlisle and in the Blue Square Gold Cup at this track with a good second to Dream Alliance in the Welsh National. He needs to find even more to feature upped in grade but would make some each-way appeal if the ground became very testing (all wins on soft/heavy). Planet of Sound book-ended last season with wins in the Haldon Gold Cup and Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup, on the latter occasion confirming his stamina for twenty-five furlongs with a three-and-a-half length defeat of War of Attrition.

Albertas Run put some problems behind him to win a couple of noteworthy end-of-term prizes in the Ryanair and the Melling Chase last term. He's still prone to a bad run now and then, as when a well-held fourth to Monet's Garden in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on his return, but those successes at Cheltenham and Aintree show he's still capable of form bordering on top class when everything clicks.

There's borderline top-class form and then there's truly outstanding form, however, and only Imperial Commander, who should arguably be much shorter than the 1.86 at which he currently trades, can lay claim to holding a place amongst the all-time greats. He's easily the likeliest winner and will surely gain compensation for that agonising defeat on a rain-sodden afternoon twelve months ago.


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For the first time in five years, this weekend's feature race, the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, does not feature Kauto Star amongst the line-up. With Paul Nicholls' ten-year-old being saved for a potential landmark fifth King George VI Chase win on Boxing Day, it is instead last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander who assumes star billing.


Should the Nigel Twiston Davies-trained chaser return at his best, he should take a considerable amount of beating, as, according to Timeform ratings, he has some 17lb to play with if he can run to the same level of form he showed in winning at the Festival in March.

Imperial Commander's record after a break also adds weight to his chance on Saturday, as his form figures when fresh from a ten-week absence or longer read 121111, the 2 being his narrow second to Kauto Star in last year's renewal of this race.

Of his potential rivals, Timeform identify Nacarat and Albertas Run as the most likely to challenge the favourite. Nacarat landed the Charlie Hall at Wetherby fairly comfortably on his seasonal reappearance and faces similar variables again, whilst Albertas Run made his now customary slow start to a campaign when only fourth in the Old Roan at Aintree. He was as good as ever last term when twice returning a Timeform rating of 165, when winning the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival and the Melling at Aintree.


Master Timeform ratings, not weight-adjusted

IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) 182
NACARAT (FR) 165
ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 165
WHAT A FRIEND 160
PLANET OF SOUND 160

Imperial Commander is currently as short as 1.86 for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, while he can be backed at 6.4 to retain his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.

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Timeform share their Perspective entries for the principals in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham...


Invariably one of the best-quality handicaps of the season and this renewal lacked nothing in those terms, with the proven class of the likes of Long Run, Poquelin and Mad Max as well as several up-and-comers further down the weights, a pair of whom came to the fore, Little Josh and Dancing Tornado both second-season chasers showing progress. The winner dominated from the off, setting a good pace (eased briefly mid-race), but still seeming to benefit from his position as little got involved, Dancing Tornado worth more credit with that in mind.

Little Josh is transformed since last season, his jumping now an asset, and that's the key factor to the big progress he's making, defying a stiff-looking mark with a smart performance in this competitive affair, and there is some scope to do even better if he can hold it together. Admittedly, his position at the head of affairs seemed an advantage, even though he went fairly hard for the most part, as little made an impact from off the pace, or threatened to for that matter, but his promising rider is worth praise for easing things slightly mid-race before piling it on again from around four out, Little Josh showing a most willing response and beginning to tire only in the last 150 yards. He'll reportedly bid for a big-handicap double in the ****.com Gold Cup here next month, which will clearly require further improvement even allowing for the fact that race tends to be rather less competitive than this one.

Dancing Tornado isn't the most fluent of jumpers as a rule (made no notable mistakes here), so he's no banker to repeat this big effort next time, but it was an excellent run on the day, particularly as he came from so far back, still with loads to do approaching three out and staying on strongly. If his jumping does hold up, he will
remain potentially well treated.

Long Run's talent isn't in doubt, capable of better than this in all likelihood, but his jumping has been his Achilles' Heel on both visits here, running a huge race from a high mark this day but likely to have gone close had he not made several mistakes, sloppy at the sixth, seventh and, more crucially, the third last and second last, testament to his ability that he was strong to the finish despite having lost ground and momentum. The King George is his next target and the return to Kempton, where he won the Feltham of course, may be in his favour, but all the same he'll be playing for a place at best if Kauto Star and Imperial Commander are on their game.

Mad Max will have to improve to defy this mark but shaped for much of this as if he may have it in the locker, within himself until approaching two out, looking the main threat to the winner, and the trip perhaps stretched him at a stiff track, the emphasis much more on speed when he was successful in a Grade 2 at Aintree ending last season. He's raced only on good going or softer (acts on heavy).

Poquelin's positive comments after the Old Roan stand firm, still a big player in top races around this trip, and this probably just came too soon after Aintree, clearly primed for that day, and he didn't travel so fluently as usual.

Great Endeavour remains with plenty of mileage from his mark, a 7 lb rise for his impressive win at the Festival when last seen certainly fair, and he'll be all the better for this reappearance, rather fresh, still taking a hold heading to three out, after which he tired under a hand ride. There is another valuable handicap to be won with him this season, especially considering he's totally unexposed at 3m+ (improved over hurdles on his only try).

Sunnyhillboy gradually got to grips with chasing last season, ending on an upward curve (runner-up to Great Endeavour in Festival Plate), and this was an encouraging enough return, poorly placed and not at all knocked about, the run sure to sharpen him up, perhaps for a crack at the valuable ****.com Gold Cup at the next meeting here. He stays 21f and is unraced on going firmer than good (acts on soft).

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There were plenty of Festival clues at Cheltenham over the weekend, with new favourites for two races and shake-ups in the betting for several more. Timeform look back over the action there as well as some of the weekend's other performances of note...


The best winning performance on a weekend of high-class racing at Cheltenham came courtesy of Menorah, who improved markedly on what he showed when winning last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle to defy top-weight in Sunday's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. That form is still about half a stone short of what Binocular achieved when winning the Champion Hurdle in March, but Menorah brings an upwardly mobile profile into his second season of racing. He now has to be considered among the leading contenders for the race, as reflected by the fact he's now the 10.0 third favourite behind Binocular and Hurricane Fly.

Saturday's big race at Cheltenham was the Paddy Power Gold Cup, won by Nigel Twiston-Davies' Little Josh, who produced a performance bordering on very smart to make all by two and three quarter lengths from Irish raider Dancing Tornado. Hot favourite Long Run failed to justify favouritism, but ran creditably all the same to finish third, and he emerges as the best horse in the race at the weights. He reportedly now heads to Kempton at Christmas for the King George, but on what he's done to date he's playing for a place at best if a peak Kauto Star shows up.

The card at Cheltenham on Saturday opened with the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial which was won by Paul Nicholls' French import Sam Winner. In beating Grandouet by fifteen lengths Sam Winner ran to a level of form that isn't far off what is normally produced by a Triumph Hurdle winner, and he is rightly now the ante-post favourite for the race at 7.2.

Nicholls also produced a new favourite for the Arkle on Sunday, Ghizao now a 13.0 shot in the market for that race on the back of his ten-length win in the Grade 2 November Novices' Chase. Though there are plenty of potentially smart novice chasers yet to be seen, Ghizao's slick jumping should stand him in good stead for tougher engagements to come.

Perhaps the training performance of the weekend came from Nick Williams who produced Gauvain to upset Champion Chase contenders Tataniano and Forpadydeplasterer on his return from a nineteen-month absence after leaving Charlie Mann. Gauvain ran to a very smart level of form, and certainly enters the argument for the Champion Chase, now a 14.0 shot for the race having been matched to small money at a high of 270.0. Forpadydeplasterer came second for the tenth time in twelve starts, and is now available at 20.0 for the Champion Chase, while Tataniano can be excused a below-par reappearance, though he has drifted a few points, now a 15.0 shot from a low of 7.0.

The best performer on show in Ireland over the weekend was Solwhit, who made it six Grade 1 wins over hurdles in the two-mile Punchestown Hurdle. Solwhit failed to give his running in last season's Champion Hurdle, but reportedly had an interrupted preparation, and certainly shouldn't be left out of calculations this time round. He can be backed at 17.5 for the race at present.

There was also some interesting Flat action over the weekend, notably at Saint-Cloud on Saturday where Aidan O'Brien's two-year-old colt Recital showed himself to be a good middle-distance prospect for 2011 with a five-length win in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. In Japan the following morning, dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy netted a huge pot for her connections in impressively winning the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto.

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In part two of the series, Jamie Lynch examines the pick of the older brigade for 2011.

CANFORD CLIFFS Timeform Rating 131
3-y-o Tagula (Ire) - Mrs Marsh (Marju (Ire)

There was talk of the Breeders' Cup, then there was talk of the Far East, but in the end connections decided that Canford Cliffs had done enough for the season and that 2011 would be the year he goes for global domination. A Group 1 hat-trick comprising the Irish Guineas, St James's Palace and Sussex Stakes established him as the best miler of his generation in Europe, beating a top-class older horse in Rip Van Winkle at Goodwood, though even that isn't sufficient to be champion miler in the era of superstar Goldikova. Nevertheless, Canford Cliffs has youth on his side, not to mention a high cruising speed and electric turn of foot, and those qualities will take him far and wide as he shows to the world what we already know he can do. Richard Hannon


REWILDING Timeform Rating 126
3-y-o Tiger Hill (Ire) - Darara (Top Ville)

Will the real Rewilding please stand up. It wasn't quite a case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but the Rewilding we saw in the trials wasn't the one we saw in the classics themselves. His prep races for the Derby and St Leger couldn't have gone better, winning both by four lengths, looking a potential worldbeater in the Great Voltigeur, but while Epsom was excusable (uncomfortable on the track when third to Workforce), at Doncaster he was plain disappointing. All the same, the high points were high indeed, and what Rewilding achieved and promised at York is the fuel to fire a 2011 campaign in which he'll get the Group 1 honours his talent deserves, provided there's more of the Jekyll and less of the Hyde. Mahmood Al Zarooni


ALAINMAAR Timeform Rating 121p
4-y-o Johar (USA) - Lady Elgar (Ire) (Sadler's Wells (USA))

Alainmaar hasn't had much luck so far. It's often said that luck is when preparation meets opportunity; well, Alainmaar has long been ready for the big time, only for minor setbacks to restrict his opportunities, but, with even luck and a clear run of racing, 2011 will be his coming-of-age season. He's had only five starts in his life, but winning four of them, and he was all set to take on Harbinger in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot before a bruised foot ruled him out, curtailing his whole campaign. He's unbeaten at a mile and a quarter and untried at a mile and a half, which promises to suit him better still. Michael Jarvis


ASTROPHYSICAL JET Timeform Rating 123
3-y-o Dubawi (Ire) - Common Knowledge (Rainbow Quest (USA))

Explaining why he didn't run her in the Prix de l'Abbaye, Ed McMahon said that Astrophysical Jet had been on the go since day one and that he 'didn't want to bottom her', but he might privately be ruing that decision, as the evidence suggests she would have won. In event, the Group 1 was surprisingly won by Gilt Edge Girl, who had been beaten all ends up by Astrophysical Jet at Newbury just two weeks earlier. That was Astrophysical Jet's third success of a landmark season, beaten in a handicap off 94 in early-summer but ending up the most progressive sprinter in Britain. She might have missed out on a Group 1 in 2010, but she won't do in 2011. Ed McMahon


VERDANT Timeform Rating 114p
3-y-o Singspiel (Ire) - Orford Ness (Selkirk (USA))

Main Aim and Home Affairs hit their Group-race heights as four-year-olds, and now it's the turn of their half-brother Verdant. Likewise trained by Sir Micheal Stoute and owned by Khalid Abdulla, Verdant is a different type in terms of requirements, stamina over speed, but encouragingly he achieved more than either Main Aim or Home Affairs did as a three-year-olds, winning three handicaps and saving his best for last, relishing his first crack at a mile and a half at 'Glorious' Goodwood. That was just the grounding, though, and Verdant will be making a much bigger name for himself next year. Sir Michael Stoute


AFSARE Timeform Rating 114p
3-y-o Dubawi (Ire) - Jumaireyah (Fairy King (USA))

Many of you will be aware of Wigmore Hall's work, winner of the John Smith's Cup before finishing second in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington and a close fifth in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket; basically one of Britain's leading three-year-olds, rated 120 by Timeform. He did all that in the second half of the season, while Afsare was on the sidelines, but he'd twice defeated Wigmore Hall in June. The second occasion was at Royal Ascot, in the fifteen-runner Hampton Court Stakes, and remarkably that was only six weeks after Afsare made his debut. To burst on the scene as he did highlights Afsare's huge potential, protected as he sat out the rest of the year, reportedly on the 'easy list', but he'll be back bigger and better in 2011 with Group races in his sights. Luca Cumani


BATED BREATH Timeform Rating 117p
3-y-o Dansili - Tantina (USA) (Distant View (USA))

If there's another up-and-comer to compete with Astrophysical Jet in the sprint division, then it's Bated Breath. He has some way to go to get into her league, but he's still unexposed in comparison, unraced as a two-year-old and making only five starts in 2010, unstoppable on the first three before the wheels rather came off in higher grade at Newmarket, though there were mitigating circumstances. The ground was on the soft side for one thing, plus his relative inexperience shone through, and his participation in the listed race (in which he still finished fourth) was in doubt due to lameness the night before, nevertheless given his chance, but not seen subsequently. A long break to mature and strengthen should do Bated Breath the world of good. Roger Charlton


FERDOOS Timeform Rating 115p
3-y-o Dansili - Blaze of Colour (Rainbow Quest (USA))

A nose. That was all that prevented Ferdoos maintaining her unbeaten record as she stepped up to listed class for her third start. The nose belonged to Polly's Mark, a hardened campaigner, and their difference in experience was the difference between first and second on the day, Ferdoos shaping like the better horse - by some way - but restricted by greenness, wandering all over when pressured. She'll be all the more street-wise as a four-year-old, and there's a lucrative middle-distance programme for fillies like her; the Lancashire Oaks for one has her name written all over it. Michael Jarvis


HARRIS TWEED Timeform Rating 122
3-y-o Hernando - Frog (Akarad (Fr))

The 'Cup' races in Britain were distributed amongst seven different horses in 2010, telling that the way is open for something to emerge and rule the staying scene. Step forward Harris Tweed. He went from strength to strength this year as his stamina was drawn out, and back-to-back listed wins at Chester (by ten lengths) and Newmarket (by three) in the autumn earned him a Timeform rating of 122 - just 1 lb below St Leger winner Arctic Cosmos. A strong-galloping front runner, seemingly at home on any ground, Harris Tweed still has untapped potential in that he's yet to try two miles, and he'll be hard for the older guard to catch in the Cup events in 2011. William Haggas


FOX HUNT Timeform Rating 108p
3-y-o Dubawi - Kiltubber (Ire) (Sadler's Wells (USA))

It's been Group horses all the way to this point, so how about we finish off with a handicapper to follow, though one who could well develop into a listed or pattern winner in due course. Fox Hunt has very much caught the eye on each start, all at a mile and a quarter, but it will be over a mile and a half and further that he really shows what he can do. After a winning debut (by eight lengths), he was beaten in three handicaps, but doing very well at Chester the final one, when finishing fast and clear with Opera Gal, and that's particularly strong form (third and fourth won next time). Lightly raced, physically imposing and well bred, Fox Hunt has it all ahead of him. Mark Johnston


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