This preview is part of the 2009/10 National Hunt Season Guide by Graham Richards. With stable tours, horses to follow and newsletters for all major meetings through the season, it is an essential source of winners. Order your copy online today.

AD IDEM 5-y-o b g Kayf Tara - Major Hoolihan Mrs Pauline Gavin
Winning Irish Point-To-Pointer. He has shown enough in his Bumper and Novice Hurdle races, to suggest he will be winning sooner rather than later.

ALAIVAN (IRE) 3-y-o b g Kalanisi (IRE) - Alaya (IRE) Edward O’Grady
Highly talented Listed performer on the flat, who is reported to have schooled well at home. He has already been the subject of serious support in the Triumph Hurdle ante-post market.

BEST OSCAR (IRE) 4-y-o b g Oscar (IRE) - Best Trump Andrew Turnell
Won an Irish-Point at Loughanmore in April. Started his UK career with a second at Stratford, followed by a decent third to the highly-touted The Minack. Despite being on the small side, he has speed and stamina. Looks likely to do well when tried over three-miles.

GHIMAAR 4 b g Dubai Destination (USA) - Charlecote (IRE) Nicky Henderson
Fine big horse that should come into his own as the season progresses. Just below Listed class on the flat, he will stay two and a half miles over hurdles. Cost 60,000 Guineas at the Newmarket October Horses In Training Sales.

LADY AN CO (FR) 4 b f Lavirco (GER) - Lady Start (FR) Paul Nicholls
Decent form in Chases at Auteuil including a third place in the Grade Two Prix Congress last year. Four-time hurdle winner in the French Provinces, she will almost certainly run in mare’s only races and could be very good in that discipline.

Jumped well but failed to get home behind Riverside Theatre at Newbury. Despite running well at Auteuil, all her wins have come on relatively tight tracks. Looks sure to come on for the run.

MIRIFIC (FR) 3 gr g Linamix (FR) - Matanilla (FR) Nicky Henderson
Attractive son of Linamix that showed decent form in France this year, winning and running well at Maison-Laffitte. He has been gelded and should be seen around the Christmas/New Year period.

OSTLAND (GER) 4 b g Lando (GER) - Ost Tycoon (GER) Charlie Longsdon
Group Three winner in Germany and the winner of a Listed Hurdle race at Baden-Baden this August. Cost 40,000 Guineas at the Newmarket October Horses In Training Sales. Gelded since arriving at Charlie Longsdon's stable, he could be a useful novice hurdler this season.

OUR MUSICIAN (IRE) 6-y-o b g Accordion - Beauty Leader (IRE) Robert Tyner
Irish Point-To-Point and Bumper winner. He is included on the strength of his short-head second to Fionnegas at the Curragh. That fellow is unbeaten in Bumper and Novice Hurdles.

PRINCE OF MILAN (IRE) 4-y-o b g Milan - Lough Gur (IRE) Andrew Slattery
Yet another winning Irish Pointer that promises to make up into a decent Novice Hurdler. Led out the ring unsold at 49,000 Guineas in the DBS August Sales, he may now stay in the care of his current handler.
Ran a decent third in a Bumper at Fairyhouse. Travelled before getting caught flat footed when the tempo increased. Finished well and should do well over hurdles.

ROMULUS D’ARTAIX 3 g Sassanian - Kadisha Alan King
Full brother to Sybellius D'Artaix, a more than useful perfomer at Auteuil in 2004/5. Bumpers will be the starting point.

ROYAL MIX (FR) 3 gr g Sagamix (FR) - Princesse Irena (FR) Paul Nicholls
This fellow ran twelve times in France, showing the best of his form at Deauville in August. He has schooled well and enters the Juvenile Hurdle division, with experience behind him.
Made quite hard work of landing the odds in a juvenile hurdle at Newbury. Novicey at quite a few jumps, he nonetheless showed plenty of ability between the flights and raced with enthusiasm. Looks sure to improve and his next run will tell us more.

SOLEIL D’AVRIL 3 g Laveron - Melanie Du Chenet Alan King
Son of a top-class French hurdler and expected to go well in a Juvenile Bumper.

SONNY MULLEN (IRE) 5-y-o br g Bob’s Return (IRE) - Agua Caliente (IRE) Kim Bailey
Having won a Bumper at Market Rasen in July, Sonny Mullen returned to action at Haydock Park in a two-mile five-furlong Novice Hurdle. Sonny Mullen followed a suicidal pace and did well to finish second in the heavy ground. Sold for 52,000 Guineas at the DBS August Sales, he will be winning races before too long.
Battled on gamely to win at Uttoxeter recently. Looks a thorough stayer and appears effective on most ground conditions.

SOUTER POINT (USA) 3 br g Giant’s Causeway (USA) - Wires Crossed (USA) Nicky Henderson
Not the most straightforward on the flat, but could be useful if taking to hurdling. Cost 55,000 Guineas at the Newmarket October Horses In Training Sales.

THE BEGRUDGER (IRE) 5-y-o b g Blueprint (IRE) - Namloc (IRE) Paul Nicholls
Long-distance staying hurdler/chaser in the making. Won both his Irish Point-To-Points and reported to be a stronger stayer that will appreciate galloping tracks.

TOUBAB (FR) 3 gr g Martaline - Tabachines (FR) Paul Nicholls
Showed promise on the flat before finishing third at Enghein in September. The winner of the race was Prince Oui Oui, who subsequently landed the Grade One Prix Cambaceres at Auteuil. (A race won by Long Run in 2008). He will do well in the Juvenile Hurdle division this season; however, long-term he has the look of a chaser in waiting.

WATERGATE (IRE) 3 gr g Verglas (IRE) - Moy Water (IRE) Paul Nicholls
Apparently recommended by Sir Mark Prescott for prospective Juvenile Hurdles buyers. He loves soft ground and cost 85,000 Guineas at the Newmarket October Horses In Training Sales.

WESTMEATH 4-y-o b g Kayf Tara - Squaw Talk (USA) Paul Nolan
Irish-Point winner on his only start. Thought to posses the speed to contest Bumpers he should make up into a decent Novice Hurdler.

ZAKATAL 3-y-o b g Kalanisi (IRE) - Zankara (FR) Philip Hobbs
Another grey horse for Rooster Boosters owner Terry Warner. Finished second to Mirfic on his debut at Maisons-Laffitte and broke his duck over fourteen and a half furlongs at Clairfontaine. His sire has Katchit amongst other useful hurdlers on his C.V.

ZAUBER (GER) 4-y-o b g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) - Zizi Top A L T Moore
Placed in an Irish-Point he will now go straight over fences and could be a useful perfomer this season.