Everybody wants to be on the next big thing before they become ‘the next big thing’
With that in mind we’ve had a look into our crystal-ball and put our money down to win on these five horses set to make a big impression in 2015.
Faugheen
How does Willie Mullins sleep at night trying to juggle the talent at Closutton.
Faugheen is hardly an unknown but we expect 2015 to be his year at Cheltenham. His Christmas form was incredible and he absolutely blitzed the field at Kempton in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle.
Faugheen is the natural successor to Hurricane Fly and as the four time Ryanair Hurdle winner approaches 11 years of age, Faugheen at just seven holds a huge amount of hope for Irish punters in March.
The Champion Hurdle is always a tough race to predict and where he arrives at for a Spring trip before the Cotswolds should tell us a lot about his form.
For sheer class in 2015 it will be hard to beat the Ruby Walsh mount.
Peace and Co
Coming into the Christmas period and everyone has their own special indicator of form and who might be a hot tip for 2015. Doncaster is as good a test as any and a horse that impressed massively was the Nicky Henderson trained Peace and Co when he claimed the bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle.
He’s one for the future but you can be sure as well he’s one for now and definitely one for March and Cheltenham after a 19 length victory in his last outing.
He’s should be decent odds for the JCB Triumph Hurdle and has bags of pace. The man aboard, Daryl Jacob, is a very clever rider and has described the horse as very smooth. He hasn’t had much to do aboard the French import yet but there is a feeling that the horse needs very little to overcome his rivals.
Jacob has also drawn a comparison to the great Zarkander which in our books rates very highly.
More of That
If this horse does not make you money in 2015 then you can come after us Roy Keane-Tom Cleverly style
The World Hurdle title holder is one of the finest horses ever to pass through the hands of Jonjo O’Neill. That’s just a statement of fact and he can only get better.
He’s going to sweep up all the opposition over 3 miles if he wishes and we hope that we see the six-year old in another battle with Annie Power at some stage in 2015.
He has the potential to progress to a tilt at a Gold Cup if managed properly and he comes through an early trip.
John F Kennedy
Well with a name like that expectations will be high, but we’re confident that racing commentators will be crying out his name coming up the final furling more than once in 2015.
The Aidan O’Brien trained mount is already an early favourite for the Epsom Derby more than six months out but the hype is more than justified.
He may only have had three runs in Ireland,including an impressive showing at the Curragh, but pedigree he has in spades by Galileo out of Rumplestiltskin.
O’Brien is going for four Derby’s in a row in June. This horse should secure another piece of history for Coolmore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3he0C8zdUk
Silver Concorde
This Dermot Weld mount has class both on the flat and over jumps and the Chamion Bumper winner should claim plenty of success in 2015.
He came home second at Leopardstown over Christmas in the Paddy Power Maiden hurdle and perhaps could have given a little more early on.
It really is upto his trainer as to where and when we see this magnificent horse but surely the Supreme Novices Hurdle will be the key tilt in March at Cheltenham.
A Champion Bumper winner already at Cheltenham, a split campaign will test his stamina and there is no doubt that heavy ground does not suit his style.
Weld is wise enough to know how to handle the impressive mount and he should provide plenty of joy in 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3r6vISaqbk
