Horse to look out for in 2024 and beyond

2024, looks set to be another capitivating and exciting year for both horse enthusiasts and bettors alike For those seeking to place a wager, remember that a little insight goes a long way. Our resident tipster ‘The Stanimal’ offers some insight into who he thinks is hot this year..

Impaire Et Passe owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Sonede although beaten twice this year is still one to watch as its last defeat was by stable mate Statesman in December but take into account out of seven races he has won five with two seconds as a 6 year-old and lightly raced only losing by 3¼ lengths to 7 year-old Statesman is fantastic form. I believe the best hurdling form considering Statemans only loses came from a fall on his UK debut when 8/13 favourite and a second place to the undisputed hurdle king Constitution Hill now 7 years-old and still unbeated over hurdles and getting better and better especially after seeing his last run over Xmas at Kempton where he basically won in a canter.

If you look back at all horses Constituition Hill and Stateman have beaten over the years, its like a who’s who of hurdlers and chasers:

• Sharjah the 11 year-old eleven times winner trained by W.P Mullins with earnings of £958,654
• The 10-year old Epatante trained by Nicky Henderson with 12 wins and earnings of £997,915
• Honeysuckle the 10-year old trained by Henry de Bromhead with 17 wins and only 2 loses to Stateman and the 7-year old Teanhupoo
• Teanhupoo who is trained by Gordon Elliott with 9 wins and earnings of £286,688 who in his last race beat Impaire Et Passe.

So as you can see this form line is getting stronger and stronger actually the strongest other line I’d like to add is the Constituition Hill’s wide margin win over Jonbon, 22 lengths in a grade 1 at Cheltenham in 2022 which ended Jonbon’s unbeaten record.

I love Jonbon and his record spoke volumes; 15 runs in all, point-to-point, hurdles, novice chses and now a world class chaser with 13 wins in 15 runs in total beating everything apart from Constituition Hill and the very well regarded El Fabiolo who I will come back to later, but Jonbon trained by Nicky Henderson has earned £504,003 and is only 8 years-old raced three times over the larger obsticles as an experienced chaser and I think there is a lot to come from him in 2024 and beyond.

It’s a funny thing to say and I am no Aiden O’Brien when it comes to horses but I always thought the great Frankel should have ran over a mile and half (still do), I said this once to the late great Henry Cecil and whilst he didn’t answer me and why should he after all what do I know? I do believe he would have won the Arc and the greater the distance he ran the better in my opinion he bacame, I feel exactly the same about Jonbon the question is could he be held up to half way of a 3-miler then woken up to get him back into the race for the last six furlongs, I don’t think he ever will so it remains my dream and before you laugh me off the planet remember back in 2020 he ran his first race admittedly a P-T-P but it was a 3-mile P-T-P which he won by 15 lengths where he was chased and challenged 4 out, led 3 out before going clear. I just see greatness in this fine horse as I’m sure his owner Mr John P Mcmanus does as well.

Back to the form, Jonbon enhances Constituition Hill’s form greatly, El Fabiolo the only other horse to beat Jonbon which was in the Grade 1 Arkle at Cheltenham last year, although Jonbon has beaten El Fabiolo back in 2022 at Aintree. So, El Fabiolo apart from Jonbon remains unbeated and is owned once again by the double green of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and trained like others here by Mr W.P Mullins.

El Fabiolo’s race record in the UK under rules is one you have to look twice at, winning 7 from 8 this French horse was gelded in France as a 2 year-old and trained by Mme P Butel and J-L Beaunez for two races where he finished 7th and 3rd before being brought by William Mullins in November 2021 taking 472 days break in Ireland. El Fabiolo finally went on to race on 1st January 2022 at the 2mile hurdle with fifteen runners. Coming in as a 2/7 fav he won readily by 13 lengths on heavy ground putting him immediately in everyones little black book as one to watch ( if he wasn’t already in there!).

His next race, missing Cheltenham went straight to Aintree on the 8th April 2022 at the good-soft Grade 1 Novice Hurdle 2 miles ½ furlong worth £56,000 ridden by first jockey M Paul Townsend his second race under rules with 9 runners against some very hot novice hurdlers including the favourite Jonbon who was second to Constitution Hill in the supreme Novic hurdle at Cheltenham. El Fabiolo would take a keen hold in midfield, headway and prominent when hampered 3-out, riden 2-out, jockey Townsend working hard made a strong challenge approaching the last but a mistake and a challenge from Jonbon approaching the last meant Jonbon held by a neck (nk) for what was a really exciting race and I couldn’t believe how well they both ran especially El Fabiolo on only his 2nd run. El Fabiolo has gone on to win 6 further races in 2022-23.

There are a few more horses I have spotted to follow along with those here mentioned but expect 4 year-old hurdler Storm Heart (Gigginstown) trainer W.P Mullins who triumphed in his maiden race at Punchtown and Sir Gino trained by Nicky Henderson to join the top table.

FLAT Horse to follow: