With the National Hunt season underway, H&H marks your card with the people to follow
Three trainers to watch
Mick Channon
The former England footballer has carried all before him on the Flat, but his name could be associated with some big jumping winners this winter. Following Henrietta Knight’s retirement, her jumpers will run under Channon’s licence. Among them are Somersby, scheduled to run in Exeter’s Haldon Gold Cup on 6 November, and Calgary Bay.
John Ferguson
The multi-talented one-time amateur rider, soldier, assistant to Sir Michael Stoute and former master of the Scarteen is now best known as Sheikh Mohammed’s longstanding bloodstock adviser. But with the sheikh’s support, he has developed a burgeoning jump training operation at his home near Newmarket that is bigger than ever this season.
Harry Fry
The 25-year-old quit Cirencester after four days to pursue his dream of a job in racing. He oversaw Rock On Ruby’s Champion Hurdle victory in March from a satellite yard for Paul Nicholls and is now training in his own right at the stable owned by Richard Barber at Seaborough in Dorset. Also look out for King Of The Night in novice chases.
Three up-and-coming jockeys
Harry Derham
Only had his first point-to-point ride in December 2010, but the teenager went from strength to strength last season. In November he turned professional after winning the Greatwood Hurdle on Brampour at Cheltenham and is likely to get well supported as a 7lb claimer this season, not least by his uncle — champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
Micheal Nolan
His name will be frequently misspelt (it’s pronounced Me-hall, not Michael), but the Co Kilkenny-born rider looks to have a bright season ahead of him. He wanted to be a jockey ever since sitting on the smart hurdler Olympian, trained by his uncle Jimmy Neville, when he was five. He shone on the point-to-point circuit before turning professional and is attached to Philip Hobbs’ Somerset stable.
Brendan Powell
His father and namesake won the Grand National on Rhyme ‘N Reason, and Brendan junior looks an outstanding talent. He says he wanted to ride before he could walk and has already ridden more than 40 winners under Rules, despite only turning 17 earlier this year. Got a good grounding on the
Irish pony racing circuit and also rides on the Flat.
Find out which horses you should be watching this season PLUS read exclusive interviews with Rebecca Curtis and Denis O’Regan in this week’s National Hunt special (1 Novemeber 2012)
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