Might And Power
Amateur Rider
1.Abbey Scope … 5yo ( G ) Trained by Nicky Richards
- Winner of his only start to date when taking a Kelso Bumper back in the spring by a shade over three lengths, beating the Tom Lacey trained Jimmy Hurdstrom. Abbey Scope is a half brother to two winners and should have little difficulty in finding winning opportunities in the North when sent over hurdles. There’s every chance that he’ll stay further than the minimum trip with a bit more experience behind him.
- Has consistently ran well without winning since taking a maiden hurdle on his debut in January of 2024, and as a result his official rating has jumped from a mark of 123 up to one of 137. My guess is that he will be sent over fences this season, and there’s no reason to suggest that he won’t prove equally as good over the larger obstacles. Be Aware stays at least two and a half miles, and is effective on both a soft surface and good ground.
- A lightly raced son of Mahler with just the four career starts behind him – winning a Bumper and a novice hurdle, before being highly tried in Grade 2 & Grade 1 company for his latest two outings. Castle Carrock is probably still open to better, and should be placed to good effect in the months ahead – be it over hurdles or fences. He acts on soft ground and a sounder surface.
- Finished a well beaten seventh at Taunton on his only run since arriving from France early on in 2025, but has been given a long rest by his new trainer. Catch On Me was a winner on the flat in his native land over almost fourteen furlongs, and in time may well need further than two miles over hurdles to show his best. He appears well suited to testing conditions – like many of the Williams runners do, and it would be no surprise to see him leave that Taunton effort way behind over the winter.
- Court In The Act is a lovely genuine individual who has won a Bumper, and has also been successful three times from eight outings over hurdles. He looks the type to make a nice novice chaser for the new season, and there’s every chance that he will prove at least equally as good over fences. There’s no doubt his best form to date has been on decent ground, so it maybe best to tread carefully if conditions are particularly testing.
- Double Powerful was a big improver over hurdles last season – increasing his official rating from one of just 93 to ending the campaign on a mark of 134, winning four times and ending his season with a career best performance with a third place in a competitive handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting – beaten just a length and a half in total by Deep Cave & Timmy Tuesday. I imagine he will be schooled over fences before the new season and that maybe the path to take. He’s thoroughly genuine and stays at least three miles.
- Runner up in a Mares Bumper at Uttoxeter in mid March on her only outing to date. Gidge should have no problem finding suitable opportunities to get off the mark in the coming months. She’s a half sister to the stable’s star Crambo, and while she is likely to start off over two miles she should certainly appreciate further in time and with a bit more experience under her belt. Her pedigree suggests that she wouldn’t want the ground too lively.
- Looks a bit of a slow maturer to me, and may well be open to plenty of improvement when sent over hurdles. That said, Harbour Island has won both his starts so far - taking Bumpers at Wetherby in late December and at Ffos Las in mid April. His dam ( Saroushka ) by Westerner has bred four other winning offspring, and Harbour Light should have no trouble staying at least two and a half miles in time. Looking forward to his return to action.
- Definite signs of ability when finishing a five lengths fourth of thirteen in a Uttoxeter Bumper won by the Dan Skelton trained Double Measure towards the end of March, on his only outing last season. Despite looking somewhat green that day he stayed on late after appearing a little outpaced approaching the two furlong marker. Very much a dark horse at this stage, but will hopefully possess enough to find his way to the winners enclosure at some stage over the course of the season.
- Hot Fuss has more of a flat pedigree than a National Hunt one, being by the late two times G2 winning sprinter out of a Galileo mare. That said he appears to stay the two miles trip quite well over hurdles, and won last season at Sandown on soft and also finished runner up at Wincanton. His final outing saw him finish a respectable fourth in the Fred Winter Juvenile at the Cheltenham festival, meaning he will start the new season from a mark of 124. That appears a fair assessment and hopefully Hot Fuss will be up to adding to his tally in the coming months.