Horse Racing: O'neill Counting on Lineman

Robert Alner


Blandford, Dorset


Winners last season 38

Prizemoney £494,352

Some people crab Kingscliff, but he seems better than ever. He'll be given a month off after Christmas to get him fresh for the Gold Cup. Miss Mitch won an Irish point-to-point and got off the mark for us over hurdles at Towcester. A fine, big mare, she will pay to follow. So will Present M'Lord, another pointer. He was a bit novicey when second at Uttoxeter but will learn. Charlies Future has come to us from Simon Burrough. He seems well enough handicapped.

Peter Bowen


Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire


Winners last season 41

Prizemoney £485,798

Yes Sir has enjoyed a break since his last win at Newton Abbot in August, his seventh on the trot. The Feltham at Kempton's Christmas meeting is a race I have in mind. Take The Stand is as good as ever and had a nice pipe-opener when winning over hurdles at Plumpton. I made the mistake of running Tighe Caster over 2m at Kempton. He needs farther and a stiffer track.

Nicky Henderson


Lambourn, Berkshire


Winners last season 85

Prizemoney £1,058,136

Mam Ratagan has schooled well and is a high-class prospect for novice hurdles. Afsoun could be very exciting over fences. He has certainly taken very well to it at home. Obviously it is a blow to have Trabolgan miss the season, but Copsale Lad could take his chance at Newbury [in the Hennessy]. He has some excellent form and should do well.

Alan King


Wroughton, Wiltshire


Winners last season 63

Prizemoney £967,441

Over 2m4f on softish ground, Esprit Saint should be a top novice chaser. Wyldello is a mare we like. She has smart bumper form. She had a slight setback but should be OK for Christmas.

Jonjo O'Neill


Temple Guiting, Gloucestershire


Winners last season 105

Prizemoney £1,194,615

You can't leave out Black Jack Ketchum, who could drop back to 2m4f if the ground is right, and if we get a wet winter Iris's Gift can prove a lot of people wrong. He's in great form and schooling well. His jumping will be fine, provided there is plenty of give in the ground. Wichita Lineman looked good winning at Aintree and is one to follow.

Nicky Richards


Greystoke, Cumbria


Winners last season 59

Prizemoney £565,743

The best of my novice chasers are According To John
One Sniff
Harmony Brig and Money Trix
Monet's Garden is raring to go. If all is well after Carlisle [Sunday], he could be aimed at a nice race at Ascot on November 18 before the King George. Gunner Jack is a nice bumper winner, set to go hurdling.

Tom Taaffe


Straffan, County Kildare


Winners last season 26

Prizemoney £462,161

Kicking King could be back at Leopardstown over Christmas. Finger Onthe Pulse should be over [in Britain] to contest some handicap hurdles - he won well at Naas recently. Glenfinn Captain would be one to follow over fences. He won by 8l in the mud but would appreciate better ground.

Nigel Twiston-Davies


Naunton, Gloucestershire


Winners last season 59

Prizemoney £486,502

Knowhere has come storming back to form and is looking very good. He heads for the Open meeting at Cheltenham, where Fundamentalist could be back in business. Nothing went right for him last season, but he looks grand now. I liked the way Asudo won his novice hurdle. He could go right to the top.

Evan Williams


Cowbridge, Glamorgan


Winners last season 56

Prizemoney £390,539

Piran is tough and consistent. I thought I had him ready for his chasing debut at Ludlow but he just needed it. I could see him run some fine races against better class opposition getting the 4yo allowance. We might go straight for the Hennessy Gold Cup with State Of Play. Compared with some other novices from last season, he might still be well handicapped. He has summered well.

Tom George


Slad, Gloucestershire


Winners last season 34

Prizemoney £321,316

Good Citizen has been immature and this should be his season over fences. He has the potential to go far. Idle Talk looks to have improved since his novice chase campaign. He will hopefully go for some big races, with the Welsh National on the agenda.

Ron Cox's tip of the day


Neysauteur 4.00 Uttoxeter

Charlie Longsdon has made a bright start to his training career and looks to have a decent prospect in this ex-French five-year-old. Runner-up in heavy ground at Market Rasen on his debut for this yard, Neysauteur showed the benefit of that outing when hacking up by 17l at Exeter. That was not much of a race but he recorded a good time and is well handicapped despite his penalty.