"ONE TO JUMP!!" 

"_O^{ne to jump 2003"}

Horses to follow for the 2002/2003 National Hunt Season by

  .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. 

HURDLERS - 

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS?

( 246 )¯¯ BAGNI DI PETRIOLO (ITY):¬>-
b, h. Nordance (U.S.A.) - Tanah Lot (ITY)
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- Francesco Contu in Italy
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>- Bagni Di Petriolo is arguably the best hurdler in Italy and remind me a lot of Ardross. He won the Gran Corsa di Siepi di Roma (Hurdle) in February beating Sardoum with Dom Lyphard, (a useful performer in France, who won the race the season before) well behind in third. I expected Bagni DI Petriolo to land Group 1 Premio Gran Corsa DI Siepi Milano He did, but boy was it close!!!. As usual Bagni Di Petriolo attempted to make all, but it became quite evident from early on, that he wasn't happy on this quick surface. He was stalked throughout by Jar; (a seven-year-old son of Niniski, who had been campaigned in Group company in Italy and Germany before embarking on a successful jumping campaign), who never allowed him to build up his customary big lead throughout. With two to jump Bagni Di Petriolo still looked like prevailing, however his apparent dislike of the prevailing fast ground became more pronounced and instead of excelling he decelerated .. to such an extent that Jar whittled away his lead up the run in.... Halfway up the runway... Jar puts his head in front and seems certain to go away and win by a clear margin... however Bagni Di Petriolo wasn't having any of it. He put his head down and battled, in a manner reminiscent to Ardross (who he isn't too dissimilar to). After going at least a neck down Bagni Di Petriolo put his head down and inched his way back as the line grew nearer and near.... Did he make it?....I thought he'd lost.... the commentator was still coming down from one of the most dramatic race commentaries I'd heard in a while (South American football commentators have nothing on this guy!!!)....I had to wait until watching a re-run late last night to find out that he'd just got back up....That's shows me how hard this entire is and he will be a tough nut to crack again this term.

( 247 )¯¯ GALILEO (POL) :¬>-
b, g. Jape (U.S.A.) - Goldika (POL)
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- Tom R George
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>- Galileo looked to be an interesting prospect, as so it proved. This Polish-bred gelding had 21 starts in Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Amongst his best efforts was his win in the 1999 Nagroda Polish St Leger (3yo+), where he beat Almanzor (who has become a decent chaser in eastern Europe) as well as coming second in the 1999 Nagroda Derby, Grosser Tenovis-Preis (LR) at Hamburg, Buchmacher Kottkamp Silbernes Band der Ruhr (LR) at Baden-Baden, and also coming third in races like the '00 Nagroda Polish St Leger (3yo+), Wielka Warszawska (two years running), and the CEBC Classic - Grand Prix Appian Group R (Gd1).I was sure Tom George expected this horse to win over obstacles this term, especially as Cobbet had done so well for him, however I'm certain he didn't expect this horse to sprint away from his rivals, as he did on his debut at Kempton, and more significantly, when sprinting up the Cheltenham hill to land the Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle (gr.1). He will go onto many people's list of horses to follow, however most of them will be looking at him developing into a stayer...Any horse with his change of gears deserves a chance over 2miles and in a weak looking year if he were mine he would be given a chance to prove himself over the minimum distance... Definitely one to follow this winter.

( 248 )¯¯ ILNAMAR (FR) :¬>-
br, g. Officiel (FR) - Quillemare (FR)
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- Martin C. Pipe
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>- One of my favourite horses in training Ilnamar fulfilled a lot of my expectations of him (He was one of my ten to follow from the list)... though admittedly I though he could win a Grade 1 chase , rather than over hurdles. He never really settled into Martin Pipe's yard after he arrived after hectic year in '00. He progressed from wins in the French provinces, to being one of the better young chasers of his generation. He beat Whitenzo in the Prix le Hon (Chase) at Auteuil in October '00, before finishing second to Sleeping Night in the Prix Morgex (Chase) (Gr. 3) over 2m-4½ f. He was purchased by connections after winning the Prix Vanille (Hurdle) again at Auteuil in December. They couldn't get him onto the track that spring, so British racegoers didn't see him until he caught the eye behind stablemate Cyfor Malta in a handicap in December '01. He seemed to loose his confidence over fences and wisely was put back over hurdles. I rather boldly predicted afterwards that he was a horse to watch out for at the Festival and anyone who saw him sprint up the hill in the Coral Cup will know that that can only be done by a good horse. (I hope some of you were on at 92/1 on the Tote!!). There was no way he wasn't going to be the selection for the Martell Aintree Hurdle (Gr. 1) at the National Meeting and again he showed great courage by withholding the challenges of Grimes and stablemate It Takes Time. Connections are in my view the envious position of having a horse that has a good chance of winning a Gr. 1 hurdle this term, however he showed some much speed at Cheltenham that I wonder whether they should give him a go over shorter before commit him to staying trips. (The Bula Hurdle - usually run on soft ground would be well worth a try)

( 249 )¯¯ LAVERON, :¬>-
br, h. Konigsstuhl (GER) - La Virginia (GER)
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- François Doumen in France
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>-Laveron, the 1998 winner of the Grosser Preis Spielbank Hohensyburg - Deutsches St Leger (gr. 2) had a mixed season. He was campaigned initially in this country and whilst he showed promise (behind the likes of Classified and Gallileo) never looked as though he'd win... How things changed when he returned to France. He easily landed his maiden, spread-eagling a field in the Prix Hubert de Navailles (Haies) at Auteuil at the beginning of April. He then stepped up on this when landing the Grande Course de Haies de Printemps (Haies) (Handicap), again at Auteuil at the end of April. On that occasion, Laveron was handy throughout and quickened impressively when asked by Thierry Doumen between the last two obstacles. He stepped up to Group company and passed the test with flying colours stalking Vic Toto before quickening to land the Gras Savoye Hipcover - Prix La Barka Haies (gr.2) before capping his first season in France with a brilliant win in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (Hurdle) (Gr. 1). I'd hope there would more to come this term and he will be very hard to beat in France this winter

( 250 )¯¯ MAILLE PISTOL (FR):¬>-
ch, h. Pistolet Bleu - Bric Mamaille (FR)
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- Marc Rolland in France.
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>-I have high expectations of '01 Prix du Jockey-Club Favourite Maille Pistol. We know how much he disappointed in that race, however Marcel Rolland purchased Maille Pistol with a hurdles career in mind, and he duly got his opportunity at the end of April at Auteuil. Despite being favourite, Maille Pistol wasn't really ever placed with a winning chance, jumping around the outside of the field hesitating before the hurdles. Connections clearly took the view that more schooling was required before trying their luck again, and he made his next appearance in the Prix de Royan (Hurdle) again at Auteuil at the beginning of June. Although he didn't win, Maille Pistol was far more competitive and lost nothing in defeat finishing behind Dark Steel and Kefir D'Angron (beaten 7lengths). Better was to come when he made his most recent appearance in the Prix Vatelys (Hurdle) at the beginning of July. Jumping with far more fluency than in his most recent starts - Maille Pistol made all, eventually finishing 20lengths in front of useful chaser Malhado Island in a decent time. This is a good platform on which this colt can build, and hopefully this former Group 2 winner on the level can match that sort of grade over obstacles in the coming months.

( 251 )¯¯ NEGRO (POL) :¬>-
br, g. Don Corleone - Nemezia (POL),
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- Stefan Bigus in Italy
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>- One of my favourite horses of the moment. This black son of Don Corleone was probably the best four-year-old during the early part of this year, however he has always been a bit headstrong and that became more prevalent by the time the championship races came around at the beginning of May. I expected him to go close in the Premio Corsa Siepi Dei 4 Anni (Gruppo II) over 3600 m (especially as he'd beaten several of his rivals), however he pulled far to hard behind extravagant front runner Plinksy (who eventually won the race) and had nothing left for the business end of the race. He attempted to make all in a conditions event in May over 3300m however again did too much early on and was pipped on the line by Gold Generator (another horse he'd beaten earlier in the season). He was given a break and came here three weeks ago fro a conditions event over 3500m. He showed a bit more of that old fizz and gave weight and a thrashing to Ice Dancer (btn 6 lengths) and Windlight (another 10lengths behind in third). I've always believed that he was good enough to compete at the highest level and a staying on fifth in the to Valgano in the XLVIII C. Siepi DI Merano (Hurdle) (gr.1) (after losing his position at halfway lends weight to that view.

( 252 )¯¯ SAINT DES SAINTS (FR),:¬>-
b, c. Cadoudal (FR) - Chamisene (FR)
¦ The Trainer ¦:¬>- trained by G. Macaire in France
¦ c.o.m.m.e.n.t.s. ¦:¬>-Saint Des Saints was without a doubt the best juvenile hurdler of last term. He showed plenty of aptitude for fences as well and had already won a chase when running over hurdles with devastating effect; 25.11.'01 - Gives weight all round in landing the Prix Fifrelet (Haies) (Handicap); 10.03.2002 - wins the Prix Jacques d'Indy (Haies) (gr. 3)giving Cybergenic 7lbs (who reopposes here today) and beats him by 7lengths, with the hitherto "unbeatable" Kotkita well behind in fourth; 01.04.2002 - wins the Prix de Pepinvast (Haies) easily giving Kotkita 5lbs, with Grand Match (receiving 9lbs) behind in third; 27.04.2002 - wins the Prix Amadou (Haies) (gr. 2) by 8 lengths (heavily eased on the run in- value for double the distance) - gives Great Love 7lbs into second place, with Grand Match (receives 10lbs) another length behind in third, with Cybergenic and Orphee Du Berlais well behind in fourth and fifth; 26.05.2002 - wins the Prix Sageris - Prix de Longchamp (Haies) (gr. 3) by 4 lengths - gives Great Love 4lbs who finished second , with Cybergenic Abyce, and Grand Match well behind; He was expected to win the Prix Alain Du Breil - Haies D'ete Des Quatre Ans Haies (gr.1), at the end however the effect of a hard season appeared to take their tole, and he could only finished second to Great Love (btn 2lengths). A career at Stud awaits this good horse .. it would be nice for British racegoers to get the opportunity to see him at least once .

This page was updated on Wednesday October 16, 2002 at 03:22:14 PM..

"ONE TO JUMP 2003"
 The list of horses will be categorized as follows

	One To Jump 2003 (An A-Z of those horses included)
	Bumper Horses
	Hurdlers - 3-Year-Olds
	Hurdlers - Novices 4-Year-Olds +
	Hurdlers - Handicappers
	Hurdlers - Championship Class?
	Steeplechasers - 3-Year-Olds
	Steeplechasers - Novices 4-Year-Olds +
	Steeplechasers - Handicappers
	Steeplechasers - Championship Class?
	Point-To-Pointers & Hunter Chasers
	One To Jump 2003 Stats

"ONE TO JUMP 2003" - PDF VERSION.
 click here to download a PDF version of this year's list.