Unfamiliar faces you should really get to know over jumps in Ireland this winter

The Irish National Hunt season is starting to accelerate through the gears and there are some star names on show at Gowran Park on Saturday, where the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase takes centre stage.

David Jennings has tried to find some eyecatchers from last season who have the potential to become household names over the coming months.

Fantasio D'AleneGordon Elliott

This Saddler Maker gelding, who has moved from Mouse Morris to Gordon Elliott, hit a low of 1.5 in the valuable Tattersalls Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse in April before taking third behind Uhtred.

Despite being a shade keen under Billy Gleeson in the early stages, he was still last off the bridle and looked the most likely winner two furlongs out.

He is an imposing individual who should find winning a bumper a formality over the next six weeks. It would come as no surprise to see him evolve into a Graded performer in novice hurdles during the second half of the season.

Minella FairNoel Meade

Last season was a write off for this mud-loving son of Flemensfirth, who never got his ground at any stage. There is a silver lining, though, as he starts the current campaign as a novice over fences and, if the rain arrives, he could make hay.

Although beaten 21 lengths by subsequent Irish Grand National winner Burrows Saint on his sole try over fences at Gowran Park in March, there was lots to like about the way he jumped there and it was only natural that he got tired up the home straight given that he was returning from a 354-day absence.

Minella Fair: could be a star over fencesCredit: Alain Barr

Sean Flanagan has said he has schooled like a natural from day one over fences and, if we are in for a wet winter, he is one to keep on side.

Minella Fair is rated 138 over hurdles but I fully expect him to prove a stone better over fences on soft ground.

The Getaway StarDeclan Queally

The only four-year-old to turn up for a 2m4f mares' bumper at Fairyhouse's Easter festival, The Getaway Star was arguably the most impressive winner of the three-day meeting.

Backed from double-figures down to 13-2 at the off, the daughter of Getaway was always in the first three before Eoin O'Brien sent her to the front two furlongs from home.

The response was immediate and she put the race to bed in a few strides, finishing eight and a half lengths clear of the useful Larquebuse, who posted an RPR of 105 in her previous bumper at Navan.

It is always foolish to read too much into just one outing, but it was hard not to be impressed with the way The Getaway Star devoured her rivals. She must be smart.

Lucky RangerTony Martin

No doubt Tony Martin will play the waiting game with Lucky Ranger but this Bushranger gelding definitely has ability.

Fourth to subsequent Ballymore winner City Island in a hot maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on his debut at 66-1, he backed up that encouraging effort with a fine third to Fiddlerontheroof at Navan and caught the eye in a Punchestown bumper when fourth to Longhouse Poet.

The gaps did not open the way Maxine O'Sullivan would have liked at Punchestown and he was value for finishing a few lengths closer to the winner.

Martin's shrewd decision to retain his novice status over hurdles should pay off and he looks a 130-rated hurdler in the making this season.

Carefully SelectedWillie Mullins

The 33-1 available with a whole host of firms for the RSA Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival is surely worth snapping up as Carefully Selected could be a staying star over fences.

Carefully Selected (left) shaped well behind Minella Indo at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

He won a maiden point at Monksgrange by 30 lengths and was only reeled in late by Relegate in the 2018 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

An early setback last season deprived us of seeing him until the middle of March, but he ran the most remarkable race in a Grade 1 novice hurdle over three miles at Punchestown when third to Minella Indo after failing to give his hurdles the respect they deserved.

Carefully Selected could be a different proposition altogether over fences and has the size and scope to make a real name for himself as a chaser.

Jon SnowWillie Mullins

Made it third-time lucky for Fabrice Chappet in France when comfortably landing a 1m4f maiden at Maisons-Laffitte and was subsequently snapped up by Willie Mullins for Rich and Susannah Ricci.

Jon Snow certainly catches the eye on paper, being the product of a half-sister to Champion Hurdle winner Binocular, and Mullins did not rush him into becoming a Triumph Hurdle contender last season.

Expect that patience to pay off and the early reports coming from Closutton were quite positive. Jon Snow is a name you need to remember.

Sams ProfileMouse Morris

Has long been held in the highest regard by Mouse Morris, who has always emphasised the fact that we would not see the best of him until he goes over fences.

Mouse Morris: keen on the chances of Sams ProfileCredit: Patrick McCann

He produced a fine effort to chase home Battleoverdoyen in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January and, although a shade disappointing when only fifth in the Ballymore at Cheltenham, he rounded off his campaign with a narrow defeat to Reserve Tank in a Grade 1 at Punchestown.

Sams Profile looks like a chaser and shaped like one over hurdles, so expect him to develop into a live JLT or RSA contender over the next few months.

Fury RoadGordon Elliott

Probably did not achieve as much as anticipated in bumpers last term but Fury Road remains an exciting prospect.

Although only third of four in a Punchestown bumper on his final start of the campaign, he was only beaten a length and the two that finished in front of him are smart sorts.

As a half-brother to Monbeg Worldwide, Fury Road should come into his own over fences next season but he could make a name for himself over hurdles before that and winning a maiden hurdle ought to be a formality over the coming weeks.

It will be disappointing if he is not contesting Grade 1s by the end of the campaign.

DunveganPat Fahy

When Dunvegan sprinted clear of Swordsman to win a maiden hurdle by seven and a half lengths at Fairyhouse last December, it seemed like Pat Fahy had a proper Grade 1 performer on his hands.

It did not turn out that way as he proved a bitter disappointment behind Commander Of Fleet at Leopardstown and was pulled-up in the Ballymore at Cheltenham.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Dunvegan: 'I think the absolute world of him.'Credit: Patrick McCann

There were more encouraging signs on his final start of the season in a winners-of-one hurdle at Punchestown when third to Gardens Of Babylon.

Chasing could be the making of Dunvegan and he goes into this season as something of a forgotten horse. Expect him to make a winning chasing debut in a beginners chase over the coming weeks.

Beacon EdgeNoel Meade

The ex-Nicky Richards-trained gelding has yet to win for Noel Meade but he bumped into Envoi Allen on his first start for the yard in a Grade 2 bumper at Leopardstown before taking third behind Colreevy in the Grade 1 Racing Post App Champion Flat Race at the Punchestown festival.

The ease with which he travelled through those two contests suggests he is a smart sort and when he starts filling out into his frame this season, he ought to rank highly in the novice hurdling division.

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham could be on his agenda come March.

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