The review of the Alert List continues, and after the 8yo's now it is the 7yo's. There's a lot of them, so I may split this into two parts.
TEQANY - looked a very interesting hurdler when pushing Sceau Royal all the way in the Elite Hurdle last November. He hasn't raced again since over hurdles, but has had a successful summer on the flat and so is race-fit for an autumn hurdling campaign. Races today on the flat at Haydock (12Sept)
McFABULOUS - not quite top-level as a 3-mile hurdler, but may well hit that level as a chaser. Looks an exciting novice chase prospect for 2021-22.
IMPERIAL ALCAZAR - started at 11/2 for the 3-mile Pertemps Final Hurdle and was struck-into mid-race so was a disappointing 16th of 22. Ignore that run, as his previous win in Jan suggested he had lots more to come. Likely to go novice chasing and looks exciting.
ESCARIA TEN - ran 3rd in the NH Chase for Novices behind Galvin, but I reckon with a better ride he'd have won as came to challenge a tad too early. Is Grade 1 chase potential this season.
UP THE STRAIGHT - he has met a couple of good ones so has come 2nd 3x in 6 chase races. His OR138 rating looks fair and he's probably capable of a lot better than that and may need to step-up to 2m6f.
LOCK'S CORNER - a winner of 4 chase races, his best performance to date was his win at Kempton over 2m4f in Nov-20 and in my opinion he goes best right-handed. A rating of OR142 looks fair.
EMPIRE STEEL - could be anything. Was disappointing at Cheltenham and that run is best ignored, but has a lot of potential, and an OR140 rating looks very fair.
HAPPYGOLUCKY - went into my notebook when winning at Stratford on 29-Oct, the ground was possibly a tad too soft at the Festival when 2nd in the "Ultima", but he won well at Aintree. Now rated OR157, if he can win a handicap from this rating then he's likely graded level, and I think that's where his future lies in 2021-22.
SHAN BLUE - won a couple of Grade-1 novice chases at Sandown and Kempton, and perhaps right-handed courses suit him best. Starts off OR150, and he could be a handicap snip off that mark.
SULLY D'OC AA - it was brave of Anthony Honeyball to go to the Punchestown Festival in April and win with this horse, but the handicapper hit him with a 10lb hike to OR147. Trips of 2m-2m3f look best for him and he could be an exciting horse to follow.
ESPOIR DE ROMAY - he went into my alert list after winning his chase debut on 01Nov, and maybe he should have gone for a good handicap after that as he easily won a Class 3 in March and was going very well at Aintree in a Grade 1 chase when falling. Now rated OR160, handicaps are beyond him but he could be exceptional.
ELDORADO ALLEN - after winning his 1st-2 novice chases, he went on my alert list but hasn't won in 4 runs since. However, he has been highly-tried and maybe Tizzard may not set his heights so high this season, and a step-up to 2m4f+ could see him in the winners enclosure.
SANDYMOUNT ROSE - was entered on my alert list as a 3-mile hurdler in Dec20, after chasing-home Catchmeifyoucan (who won again on 27Nov), and she duly won her next couple of 3-mile hurdle races. She has since won her chase debut, and she could be a money-spinner.
ESPOIR DE GUYE - When the mud is flying, Venetia Williams horses are in their element, and I will be hoping the ground is worse than soft when this one is running. A couple of wins at Ascot, he will enjoy the right-handed London circuits.
DEMACHINE - could be a very interesting handicap horse as lightly-raced and his novice season was very promising. No disgrace being beaten by Remastered at level-weights in Feb, and we've not seen him since; so OR142 could be very lenient.
Overall, there are 46 x 7yo's on my alert list, and I am very hopeful of a great season for the blog. I will not post the names of any more - as I have to have some edge over other tipsters and the betting market - so you will find out who are the remainder as-and-when they run. So you will have to read the blog!
All the best.
