Horse Racing Ten To Follow: Tidal Bay, Alfie Flits, Star Beat, Kalahari King, Tazbar, Drever Route

RUNNING TODAY? : Tuesday, October 6, 2009
None of the horses in the Ten To Follow list are running today

JUMP racing is enjoying an unprecedented period of popularity, due in no small part to some big-spending owners breathing much-needed new life into the sport.

Two of the principals flashing the cash here in the NorthEast during the past few years have been the magnanimous husband and wife team, Graham and Andrea Wylie.

They've sunk millions into Howard Johnson's County Durham stable, huge investment which has produced several Cheltenham Festival winners, including Tidal Bay.

Tidal Bay starred in our Echosport 2007-2008 ten-to-follow National Hunt list, and having done so well, quite rightly takes pride of place in this year's annual renewal.

But the Wylies haven't been the sole sponsors of success, leading trainers Alan Swinbank and Ferdy Murphy also housing high-quality horseflesh in their respective strongholds.

Neither does Keith Reveley deal in slow-coaches, and he too has chipped in with a pair of likely money-spinners to bear in mind over the coming months There's nothing pretty about jump racing, it's an allor-nothing thunder and guts game in which blood is often spilled and no quarter asked or given.

Even on the coldest, wettest, most miserable afternoon imaginable, you can still feel the heat when horses and jockeys commit themselves to acts of unspeakable bravery.

The consequences of getting up-close-and-personal with the combatants can occasionally be too devastating for words, but thankfully tears of joy are the norm, rather than the exception.

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 2, 2008	Carlisle	4/11F	1st
Dec 6, 2008	Sandown	11/4	2nd
Dec 26, 2008	Wetherby	5/2F	2nd (8 ran)
Jan 24, 2009	Cheltenham	9/2	3rd (8 ran)
Mar 12, 2009	Cheltenham	13/2	4th (10 ran)
April 3, 2009	Aintree	4/1	5th (10 ran)

TIDAL BAY hasn't quite recouped his hefty 300,000gns price tag, however he's nearly there having netted £292,273 as a result of winning nine of his 14 races to date.

The bulk of the prize-money was accumulated on his final couple of outings last season, when posting famous victories at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.

Effective between two miles and two-miles-five-furlongs, it doesn't take much blue-sky thinking to envisage him staying an even longer trip.

Tidal Bay's campaign could either kick off at Carlisle or Exeter, depending on the weather and underfoot conditions.

"If I can't run him over the next few days, he'll have to go to the Tingle Creek (Sandown, December 6, 2008) without a prep, " reports Johnson.

The bookies certainly aren't taking any risks, top-priced at a miserly 6-1 ante-post shot for the 2009 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Nor are they particularly prepared to stick their necks on the line should he switch to the Gold Cup, his 20-1 odds reflecting a good deal of respect.

Not since Jodami won the Blue Riband of chasing in 1993 has a horse from these parts taken the crown, but Tidal Bay's prodigious talent might just make him the next in line.

ALFIE FLITS: ALAN SWINBANK

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 22, 2008	Haydock	3/1	1st (5 ran)
Dec 19, 2008	Ascot	12/1	6th (8 ran)
Jan 17, 2009	Haydock	8/1	1st (8 ran)
Feb 21, 2009	Kempton	6/1	4th (8 ran)
Feb 28, 2009	Kelso	4/1	3rd (6 ran)
April 3, 2009	Aintree	20/1	6th (11 ran)

DESPITE failing to set the world on fire with his first two tries over hurdles, there's still time yet for Alfie Flits to make his mark in the jumping sphere.

"He's progressing nicely and we're very excited about him, two-and-a-half-miles on a flat track might be the optimum, " explained his trainer.

A very smart performer on the level, the gelding won six times in all, attaining a lifetime-high rating of 114 in his pomp.

The pinnacle of his Flat career came when winning a 12furlong Listed event at Windsor, form which if transferred to the sticks is going to make him a very potent force.

BEDLAM BOY: FERDY MURPHY

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 2, 2008	Carlisle	4/11F	1st
Dec 6, 2008	Sandown	11/4	2nd
Dec 26, 2008	Wetherby	5/2F	2nd (8 ran)
Jan 24, 2009	Cheltenham	9/2	3rd (8 ran)
Mar 12, 2009	Cheltenham	13/2	4th (10 ran)
April 3, 2009	Aintree	4/1	5th (10 ran)

NO single trainer has done more to help Echosport readers as far as promising jumpers go than Ferdy Murphy, one of the finest longterm judges in the business.

So when Murphy talks about specifics it normally pays to sit up and listen, in Bedlam Boy's case, the aim being the Jewson Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

"We won the race 18 months ago with L'Antartique and this fellow could be an ideal type to follow in his footsteps.

"Although he unseated on his recent Aintree comeback, Graham (Lee) was thrilled with him and he looks a real good chaser in the making, " said Murphy.

STAR BEAT: KEITH REVELEY

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 1, 2008	Wetherby	8/1	8th (15 ran)
Nov 15, 2008	Wetherby	100/30	4th (10 ran)
Dec 12, 2008	Doncaster	7/1	PU (14 ran)
Jan 16, 2009	Catterick	10/1	8th (16 ran)
Feb 18, 2009	Doncaster	14/1	5th (12 ran)
Feb 28, 2009	Doncaster	10/1	3rd (9 ran)
Mar 14, 2009	Newcastle	9/1	11th (14 ran)
Mar 21, 2009	Haydock	7/1	5th (8 ran)
April 11, 2009	Haydock	18/1	12th (13 ran)

THERE was plenty to like about the way Star Beat maintained his steady rate of progress last term, winning either side of Christmas in an excellent season.

Any form student worth his or her salt couldn't fail to spot the horse he beat at Wetherby, Auroras Encore, went on to scoop a £34,000 pot at the Grand National meeting.

When I spoke to Reveley about today's intended return outing at the same track, he described Star Beat as "healthy and ready to run, although probably not 100 per cent".

"We might even go chasing in the New Year, it just depends how the handicap hurdling goes, " added straighttalking Reveley, careful to keep his options open.

OZONE TRUSTEE: ALAN SWINBANK

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 9, 2008	Hereford	5/2F	5th (14 ran)
Dec 8, 2008	Musselburgh	7/1	10th (14 ran)
May 29, 2009	Hamilton	9/2	3rd (3 ran)
June 20, 2009	Redcar	5/1	7th (12 ran)
July 26, 2009	Newcastle	8/1	6th (10 ran)

DERBY-WINNING sire, Montjeu, churns out high-class Flat horses and gradually some of his progeny are filtering their way through to the National Hunt arena.

Ozone Trustee is one such example, although his journey was less than conventional after starting life in Australia, only to discover the ground down under a tad too firm.

Leading owner Bill Gredley had him shipped back to the UK, a smart move since he bolted up by six lengths in a nine-furlong Hamilton maiden.

"He likes a bit of cut underfoot and will now go novice hurdling, there's plenty of opportunities, so we'll look around for the right races, " said trainer, Alan Swinbank.

KALAHARI KING: FERDY MURPHY

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 17, 2008	Leicester	11/8F	1st (6 ran)
Dec 20, 2008	Haydock	10/11F	2nd (5 ran)
Feb 1, 2009	Musselburgh	4/5F	1st (6 ran)
Mar 10, 2009	Cheltenham	8/1	2nd (17 ran)
April 4, 2009	Aintree	9/4	1st (6 ran)
April 27, 2009	Sandown	5/4	2nd (7 ran)

IT'S absolutely fantastic to disclose even at this early stage of the proceedings that we already boast a live 2009 Arkle contender in the guise of Kalahari King.

Having finished fourth at this year's Cheltenham Festival in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, he was also third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, prior to a thrilling win at Punchestown in April.

"He won nicely on his Kelso chasing debut and we'll just go steady away with him from here, though a tilt at the Arkle is a possibility, " revealed Murphy.

ON RAGLAN ROAD: HOWARD JOHNSON

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Dec 5, 2008	Sandown	11/4	2nd (7 ran)
Jan 24, 2009	Doncaster	11/10F	Fell (10 ran)
Mar 13, 2009	Cheltenham	9/1	4th (17 ran)
April 3, 2009	Aintree	10/1	Fell (15 ran)

WHEN On Raglan Road prevailed by a headline-grabbing 38 lengths on his British bow at Hexham, he immediately dispelled any doubts that the Wylies had bought a pup.

Shelling out £320,000 for potential, rather than a proven track record, is a high-risk strategy, but that's the very nature of the thoroughbred business.

Having won a modest Irish point-to-point, then a Punchestown bumper in workmanlike fashion, it was plenty to pay for such a lightly-raced individual.

"Denis said he was looking round in front, so we'll try a better race next time, " revealed Graham Wylie after that stroll in the park.

Horses are creatures of herd, therefore often get lonely when they don't have company, hence the comments of the Wylie's retained rider, Denis O'Regan.

On Raglan Road's only other start ended in defeat, finishing second to a Paul Nicholls pile-driver at last weekend's Aintree meeting.

For many observers that was no ordinary novices' hurdle, because the first two home are without question genuine championship material.

BLACKPOOL BILLY: FERDY MURPHY

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 10, 2008	Carlisle	7/1	9th (11 ran)

THE business portfolio of near billionaire, Trevor Hemmings, belongs in the business pages, but suffice to say he's equally passionate about racing.

Owner of around 100 horses, the ever-shrewd Hemmings has spread his bets by placing them with a selection of trainers both here, and in Ireland.

"Despite Blackpool Billy winning a couple for us over hurdles last season, three-mile chasing is going to be his bag.

"He might be a premier league performer and we couldn't be more happy with him, if all goes well perhaps a Sun Alliance contender come next March, " said Murphy.

TAZBAR: KEITH REVELEY

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 4, 2008	Catterick	9/4	7th (10 ran)
Dec 20, 2008	Haydock	12/1	3rd (12 ran)
Jan 1, 2009	Cheltenham	7/1	5th (11 ran)
Feb 14, 2009	Haydock	8/1	2nd (14 ran)
Mar 12, 2009	Cheltenham	33/1	12th (14 ran)
April 17, 2009	Cheltenham	7/2	1st (5 ran)

THE look of delight on Keith Reveley's face whenever he greets Tazbar back into the winners' enclosure says it all about his feelings for the spring-heeled six-year-old.

Triumphant between twomiles-and-one-furlong and three miles, Tazbar has already proved himself to be an exceptionally versatile performer over hurdles.

Six wins and three seconds from only 12 outings is the stuff of fairytales, arguably his most impressive when slamming the 127-rated Sound Accord by 12 lengths at Haydock.

"It's hard when you're always taking on top company, but he should improve with age and I won't be afraid to drop him back in distance, " enthused the Lingdale handler.

DREVER ROUTE: HOWARD JOHNSON

DATE	RACECOURSE	SP	RESULT
Nov 15, 2008	Wetherby	13/8	11th (14 ran)
Dec 20, 2008	Newcastle	2/1F	4th (12 ran)
Jan 28, 2009	Newcastle	3/1JF	7th (15 ran)
Mar 19, 2009	Ayr	8/1	4th (6 ran)

SOON enough Howard Johnson needs to replace his record-breaking three-time World Hurdler winner Inglis Drever, who will surely retire if taking a fourth title in 2009.

In all probability no horse will be able to fill that great champion's boots, however both On Raglan Road and Drever Route have the potential to excel.

Another major-money purchase by the Wylies, the 220,000euros buy looked the ticket when out-gunning Alfie Flits on his two-mile Hexham debut.

The gelding showed a fine turn of foot that day, plus promises to stay much further, so provided he keeps free of injury, is nailed on for more races.