In this 1xBet review Emmet Kennedy names five young horses it could pay to keep onside this jumps season.

The Fairyhouse bumper on Hatton’s Grace day has a habit of throwing up serious prospects, especially for Gordon Elliott. Last year’s winner Koktail Brut is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, including the Grade 2 Royal Bond on the same card. Better Days Ahead won at the Cheltenham Festival and placed in three Grade 1s, while Envoi Allen became a ten-time Grade 1 winner after taking this race earlier in his career. Even Ferney Hollow, beaten two and a half lengths here, went on to win the Champion Bumper for Willie Mullins.

With that in mind, it would be no surprise if this year’s third, Grangeclare Park, beaten three and a half lengths by Young Rebel, develops into a high-class performer for Gordon Elliott.

He bolted up by eighteen lengths in his point to point, travelled best of those who raced handy on debut, and showed enough raw ability to suggest he will make his mark under rules. He is a sizeable, scopey horse with two winning siblings, and his dam is a sister to a Welsh Grand National winner. By Walk In The Park, he should win plenty of races and a bumper success over Christmas looks a strong possibility.

Martin Brassil might have an exciting prospect in the four-year-old gelding It’s Only A Game. His dam was a Grade 3 winner over 2m2f on heavy ground, and his sire Goliath Du Berlais won at Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 level over 2m6f, all on very soft going.

Well backed on his seasonal debut, he was confidently ridden by Champion Bumper-winning jockey John Gleeson and showed a smart turn of foot to thread the needle on the rail and win at 11/8. If he gets similar conditions at Christmas he should take a lot of beating in another bumper, and if he handles better ground, he could take high rank for his shrewd connections.

Gleeson also partnered the Emmet Mullins-trained Soldier In Milan to win a bumper at the Punchestown Festival in May, pulling clear by four and three quarter lengths from a strongly supported Willie Mullins favourite.

A sibling to two winners, he is by Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune and out of a mare who is a sister to Becher Chase winner Oscar Time. He is bred for stamina and class and showed both in abundance on debut. Sent off a well-backed 5/2 shot, he travelled like the best horse throughout. The 2m4f bumper at Leopardstown over Christmas looks ideal, but if he jumps a hurdle, he should stay at least 2m5f. He is well worth following.

Harry Derham has made a striking start to his training career, and he did not hesitate to go big at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale, paying £400,000 for Cristal d’Estruval. By Group 1 winner Crystal Ocean and out of a dual Listed winner over 2m and 2m4f, he was sent straight over hurdles rather than taking the bumper route.

His Warwick maiden hurdle was a strong contest, featuring Grade 1 Punchestown bumper winner Baron Noir, once-raced bumper winner Bossman Jack, and Loaded And Locked, an odds-on bumper winner. Cristal d’Estruval, sent off second favourite, made all the running, jumped soundly, and powered clear to win by three lengths. He looks an exciting recruit and could easily make his mark at the spring festivals. A major prospect.

Gordon Elliott paid £220,000 for Keep Him Company after he won his point to point by four lengths, his jumping described as slick and polished by point-to-point expert Declan Phelan. He then made a winning debut in the Fairyhouse bumper at the weekend, leading home a 1-2-3 for Elliott.

He looked the least likely winner two furlongs out, but once switched to the rail he showed class and tenacity to pull clear by three lengths. His sire was a Group 2 winner in France over 14f, and his dam, lightly raced over hurdles, is a sister to bet365 Gold Cup winner Quentin Collonges. He shapes as a smart staying prospect and looks an Albert Bartlett type for next season.

The analytical piece was prepared by Emmet Kennedy — Presenter, Producer, and Owner of The Final Furlong Podcast, Broadcaster with TalkSPORT, and Broadcast Consultant —  with the support of 1xBet Ireland.

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