04 January 2011 Arthur Shone's North Western Area 10 To Follow
by Arthur Shone
MY FLORA: well thought of by Trainer Sheila Crow
photo: Phil Britt
Arthur Shone puts forward his idea of the 10 most promising horses crowds can expect to see in the North Western Area this season.
This season's 10 To Follow come with comments from their respective Trainers (with the exception of the dark horse selection from Sheila Crow's yard - comments for That's Ben will be by her son Alistair Crow, who has taken over the dark horse selections from his late father Edward, who had an amazing strike rate of 15 winners from 18 selections).
This season's 10 have plenty of variety between them, with some familiar names and a few young dark horses as well.
Last season Sian McCain tipped Ice Tea as the likely winner of the Bangor Final, the Glacial Storm gelding duly obliged in the well known colours of Derek Malam; the Owner also enjoyed success with Vicario, another horse trained by McCain. Malam could have three for the Bangor Final in 2011 with Idle Talk having joined his string.
Both of Gary Hanmer's selections, Ballyeightra Cross and Fairymount, won two races last season and are very highly thought of by Hanmer; the former will be aimed at the John Corbett this season according to his Trainer.
BILLYVODDAN - 12YR GELDING
"I am very hopefull that he will have another good season. He won his Point-to-Point at Bangor by a long distance, and was just touched off by a nose by Coolefind in Hunter Chase at Southwell - the judge took almost twenty minutes to announce the result. He seems as good as ever and I am looking forward to the new season with him." (Trainer Phillip Rowley)
BALLYEIGHTRA CROSS - 7YR GELDING
"He ran four times last season, he won well at Tabley in both his wins. Tom Greenall rode him when he was third at Bangor and said he hated the heavy ground.I was going to run him in the John Corbett Cup at Stratford last season, but Tom Greenall advised going there this season, which he will be doing, the Bangor Final is also a possibility." (Trainer Gary Hanmer)
IDLE TALK - 12YR GELDING
"He will have a run first in a Point-to-Point race, and then we will look towards the Walrus Hunter Chase at Haydock. I would like to win that race as we were second in it last year with Vicario. The Owner Derek Malam likes to have runners in the Bangor Final. He is working well at home and has been enjoying his hunting, a nice prospect for the new season." (Trainer Sian McCain)
MAD VICTOR - 10YR GELDING
"I love this horse, he is so consistent. He will start off in a Ladies Open and then we will go Hunter Chasing with him. He needs cut in the ground, the Bangor Final is a possibility, and if the conditions are right the Foxhunter at the Cheltenham Festival could be a possibility as well." (Trainer Sue Taylor)
MY FLORA - 7YR MARE
"She is a progressive mare by Alflora who won three races last season by a very wide margin. I plan to run her in one Point-to-Point, probably a Mens Open and then she will go Hunter Chasing. It will be a case of seeing how far she can go, I can honestly see her winning a big Hunter Chase. I wouldn't be frightened of going to the John Corbett Cup at Stratford with her." (Trainer Sheila Crow)
PADDY'S TERN - 9YR GELDING
"I bought the horse in the summer for one of my long standing Owners, Derek Pugh. He is by Fraam and won at Towcester last season when he used to be trained by Kim Bailey. He has enjoyed himself hunting and is working well at home. He will probably be our first runner of the season, he needs soft ground." (Trainer Gordy Edwards)
PERSIAN ARROW - 6YR GELDING
"He has come on leaps and bounds and is a nice young horse to have in the yard. I am hoping to run him at Chaddesley Corbett at the end of the month. I think he is definitely a nice dark horse in the yard." (Trainer Phillip Rowley)
QUANTUM THEORY - 7YR GELDING
"He is a still a Maiden Point-to-Pointer by Luso, who finished third in his first race at Ballydurn in Ireland when trained by Elizabeth Doyle. He has also finished runner-up in a 25-runner Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown. I think he would benefit from a step up in trip, and he has pleased me with his preparation for the new season and hopefully will do well, a nice dark horse from our yard." (Trainer Gary Hanmer)
STRIKE FAST - 6YR GELDING
"I have always thought an awful lot of this horse, he is by Portrait Gallery and was placed in a decent Maiden at Dromahane in Ireland two seasons ago. I thought he would be one of our main hopes last season, but he was dogged by niggling injuries. He seems better than ever this time and hopefully will have a good campaign." (Trainer Will Kinsey)
THAT'S BEN - 6YR GELDING
"He is a nice big strong horse by Beneficial, who looks like a good old fashioned chaser. He was brought down in his first race in Ireland and then was beaten only a couple of lengths by the very useful Kilcrea Kim, who is rated 132, unfortunately the rider forgot to weigh in and the horse was disqualified. He is flying at home and he will win his fair share of races this season. He was always going to be my dark horse selection from the yard and Richard(Burton) is very keen on him." (Trainer Sheila Crow - comments by Alistair Crow)
