Horses to follow for the 2014/15 National Hunt Season

With the 2014/15 National Hunt season now getting into full-swing, here is a list of 10 lightly- raced and unexposed horses that I expect to be winning plenty of races in the months ahead:

Alpha Des Obeaux
4-y-o gelding
Trainer Mouse Morris (Ireland)
Won his sole start in a 3m point at Tinahely by 20 lengths, crusing home by 20 lengths in a race run 15 seconds faster than average on the day. Joined Mouse Morris after that success and surprisingly got turned over at odds-on on hurdling debut when runner-up at Cork. However he stuck to the task well over a 2m trip which was too sharp, and remains a very exciting prospect who should be capable of winning plenty of races when his stamina is brought into play.

Altior
4-y-o gelding
Trainer Nicky Henderson
Looked a very smart prospect when running out an impressive winner on debut in a bumper at Market Rasen, travelling on the bridle throughout and showing a smart turn of foot to quicken clear and win by 14 lengths without coming out of second gear. The son of High Chaparral is held in extremely high regard by connections and has the scope to make up into a cracking hurdler. Should be capable of wining plenty of races and it would be no surprise to see him make up into a Cheltenham Festival candidate come next March.

Benenden
6-y-o gelding
Trainer Michael Scudamore
Cost £100,000 after getting off the mark at the third time of asking in an Irish point-to-point and has shaped with plenty of promise in three runs over hurdles. The son of Moscow Society particularly caught the eye in the last of those when a not knockked about sixth of 16 in a decent contest at Ascot. Looks the type who will do well in handicaps, and should be up to winning races off what could well be an opening lenient mark of 113.

Blue Fashion
5-y-o gelding
Trainer Nicky Henderson
Won juvenile events at Cagnes-sur-Mer and Auteuil in 2012/13 when trained in France by Francois Cottin, and ran a blinder on his first start for Henderson when finishing fourth to Diakali in a Grade 1 at Auteuil. Backed that up with an excellent second to More Of That in a very competitive handicap hurdle at Haydock when attempting to give the subsequent World Hurdle winner 6lb. Not seen in action after that but is in the right hands and has a big future over hurdles/fences.

Champagne West
6-y-o gelding
Trainer Philip Hobbs
Developed into a smart 143-rated hurdler last season, landing a hat-trick before posting a career-best effort to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival on his final start. Has the build to make an even better chaser and has been schooling well at home over the larger obstacles. Regarded as one of the stables’ best hopes in the staying novice chase division and could develop into leading contender for the RSA.