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Captain's Blog - Thursday 8th November

It is not really my sort if thing to put up horses to follow during the jumps season, but I think I have got one for us all to have a closer look at. This horse has never raced over hurdles, not a good start I hear you say, but let's deal with his raw talent on the Flat first of all and lets leave the jumping issue to the top-class trainer and jockey combo that will be nurturing this horse's talent.

He won recently at Doncaster in a very fast time when with John Gosden and since then he has been sold and is now with Willie Mullins. Time for a drum roll and the big revelation, folks. Let's hear it for Daneking everybody. This horse has the profile to make up into a top class hurdler. Here is my reasoning.

1. He stays 14 furlongs on the Flat, so two miles over hurdles will be perfect for him

2. He travels strongly in his races without being too keen and has a turn of foot.

3. His Doncaster win came off a mark of 80, but he is much better than that mark.

4. He handles cut in the ground, which is important during the winter.

5. His best performances have come when held up, perfect for Ruby Walsh.

6. Willie Mullins is top-class and he will get the best out of this horse.

To sum up I believe this horse would have won the November Handicap if he had run in it. Subsequent research revealed this switch to the Mullins' yard and in effect he is a 100-plus rated Flat horse going jumping with one of the best jumps trainers around.

He is not quoted in any of the antepost markets for Cheltenham, unfortunately, but keep an eye on him because he could be a very useful recruit to the jumping game.

Our each-way selection finished third yesterday. Today I am keen on Stormy Morning in the 4.00 at Mussleburgh. This horse has been in good form on the Flat, recently finishing second at Mussleburgh off a mark of 61. Today he gets to race off 94, which makes him very well treated over hurdles and given he acts on the track and is in good form he should be backed to win the last at Mussleburgh today.

Time to rejoice now folks because racing at Meydan returns today. I was thinking about whether I could impart any words of wisdom for you in respect of the meeting. In truth I have not got a lot of inspiration for you, but perhaps all we need to know is how many runners Ali Rashid Al Raihe has at the meeting. The double A is what we could call a move-up trainer and in the six races on the card he has no less than 17 runners! We can take it as read that somewhere along the line today he will be in the winners' enclosure.

Time to call its day. 

Today's selection:

4.00 Mussleburgh - Stormy Morning (4.3 Betfair)