Leonna Mayor’s Five To Follow for the 2022/23 National Hunt season

Collectors Item

A horse that really caught my eye last time out. Was placed in a Point-to-Point and a Bumper, then back from a break looked a star in the making when winning at Chepstow back in October. He beat a decent horse of Paul Nicholls’ that day after a slowly run race over two miles. I think he did really well to show a decent turn of foot to win, especially considering that he is bred for three miles. I’m looking forward to watching how they progress with him this year.

Pikar

I, of course, had to give a Dan Skelton inmate with the way they have been gathering winners over the last few years. Pikar of theirs, I saw out of the back of the TV on debut, only just beaten by Knappers Hill – that’s good form, and then fell when going well at Cheltenham the next time. They then pitched this horse in a Grade 2 at Haydock when, again, probably given too much to do, out the back and ran on really well at 100/1. I think Pikar is going to clean up in Novice races, which he can still run in, and handicaps over two miles before going into those bigger races this year.

Pearly Island

Been doing quite well over two miles to place when he wants three miles, got in very light – I think – with an official mark of 113, couldn’t be much better than that. The jumping is improving with every run, and he’s probably ridden with too much restraint to my eye at times. I think this horse has loads more improvement to come over hurdles and will make a decent chaser in time. You heard it here first!

Helenn Clermont

I’ve asked the racing fairies to give us some behind the scenes clues, and Harry Derham is the secret spy for this one. He’s set up training on his own after being at Paul Nicholls’ for a long time. Now they’ve got a horse from the Point-to-Point sphere – Helenn Clermont. He said to me that her form isn’t stand-out, but she’s a very good looking mare, they really like her. She looked very much in control of her first Point-to-Point when she tipped up and gave herself a nasty spill. Now, they ran her two weeks later and they feel that run came a little too soon. She’s developing into a beautiful big mare, they’re very excited for her to have her first run and hopefully a good season, and so am I.

Poetic Music

Poetic Music is a nicely bred filly with speed and stamina. She was three from three in bumpers before running just okay in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham just behind Facile Vega. The ground was awful that day and she ran okay on long odds, considering that I think she’s probably still growing and needing to fill out. Now I’ve spoken to connections, and they’ve absolutely backed that up, that she was just a bit weak. Paddy [Brennan] said she was a bit week. They say she has massively strengthened up, and they are excited for her this coming season, as am I. Get her in your trackers for a hurdles campaign!