FOR all of us involved in jumps racing, this is the month of dreaming. Each October brings hope that last year’s bumper winner could be a novice hurdler for Cheltenham, and that the novice chaser who won a couple of quiet races in the West Country might turn out a Gold Cup horse. We all have these imaginings, jockeys, trainers and punters alike, and while most of them inevitably come to nothing, it cannot stop the annual ritual.

It has been a productive summer for me, satisfyingly ahead of last year’s schedule and with 73 winners already banked as jumping prepares to take the full spotlight. Philip Hobbs’s horses have been running well — so well that he is ahead of Martin Pipe for winners — and I’m now looking forward to the start of proper business by my other two main trainers, Henry Daly and Richard Phillips.

In producing my six rides to follow for the winter ahead, I could have nominated One Knight or Monkerhostin, who should win their share of big handicaps, or horses like Ballycassidy, a regular winner for me from the Peter Bowen yard, or Henry Daly’s progressive hurdler, Mighty Man. But these horses are already established, so instead I have selected some lesser-known prospects.

Two are coming out of the bumper division into novice hurdles, three are hurdlers about to embark over fences and the sixth is an interesting newcomer from a Flat racing champion who cut his teeth in jumping.

BILLYVODDAN (Trained by Henry Daly) If you created a horse to fit the ideals of both the trainer and his owner, Trevor Hemmings, Billyvoddan would come close to the perfect model. He’s very athletic, had the speed to win over hurdles but, most important, possesses the scope and size to be a proper chaser. He did win two novice hurdles last season over about 2½ miles — though he will get three without any problem — but his best runs came in defeat. At Cheltenham, Sandown and then on Grand National day at Aintree he showed his battling qualities and really endeared himself to me. In truth, I’ve liked this horse from the first time I sat on him and believe he could take high rank among the staying novice chasers this season.

OH MISTER PINTAU (Henry Daly) A real dark horse, indeed a baby at the game, but there is something about his attitude I like, and I know the trainer feels the same. He came to Henry from France, but unlike many from that country he did not arrive as an experienced jumper. He won a bumper over there and the schooling is now intensifying at Henry’s base in Shropshire. I jumped him over some logs last week and some baby fences yesterday. He has also worked in eye-catching style and has some strength about him for a young horse. Henry never rushes them and he might not be out until December, but remember the unusual name.

MASSINI’S MAGUIRE (Philip Hobbs) Bumper races have always been more a part of the Irish culture than they are here and they tend to be marketplaces for those who want to sell a horse. This one was bought by Philip, expensively by his standards, after winning at Limerick. When I first watched the race on video, I wasn’t sure what he’d seen in him but I know better now. He feels a very different horse when you sit on him and, after two schooling sessions, I really like his attitude. He makes his British debut in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow today and, although he’ll probably improve for the run, I’m looking forward to it.

NAPOLEON (Philip Hobbs) An unusual recruit in many ways, as he emerged from the Coolmore production line and was previously trained by Aidan O’Brien. As a brother to Gypsy King, who started second favourite for this year’s Derby, the original intention was doubtless that he’d be a classic contender rather than a National Hunt horse, but something was obviously amiss after his maiden win at Roscommon and he ended up at Newmarket Sales a year ago. Philip bought him, had him gelded and then gave him a year off to strengthen up. So far, I’ve only ridden work upsides him but the impression he left was pleasing. I’m told he could run in the next fortnight. An exciting prospect.

SUPREME SERENADE (Philip Hobbs) This mare runs at Aintree tomorrow on what is an important weekend for Philip and many other jumps trainers. Until now, she has never been my ride — when I was twice out with a broken leg, David Vann, an owner at the Hobbs yard, gave Paul Flynn a chance on his horses and then loyally stuck with him when I was fit again. Now that Paul has gone back to Ireland, I’m back on board such types as Supreme Prince and this one. She always looked immature over hurdles and probably wasn’t the easiest to ride in a race, but she won a couple of decent hurdles last year and I’ve been pleasantly surprised how well she has schooled over fences.

THE MICK WESTON (Richard Phillips) We will never know how close he might have come to winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March. With 20-odd young horses jostling at the top of the hill, we ran out of room, hitting the rail and then the deck. He was travelling mighty well at the time and the form of his win on the course in November, when he scooted clear by 16 lengths, shows what a good prospect he is. Somehow, that incident at the Festival was typical of Richard Phillips’s misfortunes last season but he has 85 horses for the winter and this horse could be his flagship. He’s been more relaxed in his work recently, has schooled well and could be a very decent staying novice hurdler.

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