Eye Catchers March 2026

Le Frimeur – 1st in 2.00 Newbury 20/03/2026

Le Frimeur remains unbeaten and is an exciting hurdler for connections and Harry Derham. He won an Irish point to point with Pat Doyle before switching to Harry Derham. Le Frimeur won his maiden hurdle nicely at Chepstow last November. He suffered a setback following his maiden win and only returned for his second hurdles run at Newbury.

I liked the way Le Frimeur finished off his race strongly to run down the better travelling second placed, Came From Nowhere. Le Fremeur is just the type to relish a strongly run two and a half mile handicap or else step up to three miles in better class races. He handles good ground with Harry mentioning a trip to the Punchestown Festival up next.

Yoradreamer – 1st in 3.57 Wexford 17/03/2026

Youradreamer is owned and bred by Roger Brookhouse. Willie Mullins ran him six times over hurdles with a single win in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick. He looks a much better prospect since going chasing. A very good second at Gowran behind King Alexander leading to an easy win at Wexford upped in distance to three miles.

The handicapper has raised him four pounds to a mark of 132. That looks like a lovely mark of this young chaser. Paul Townend said after the race that “he’ll stay going for the summer” as he handles nice ground. An exciting staying chaser who remains unexposed over distances of three miles plus. He could end up in a Kerry National next September with more chasing experience.

Jump Allen – 3rd in 5.20 Cheltenham 13/03/2026

I think everyone knows by now that Jump Allen was the most unlucky loser at the Cheltenham Festival. He did ever so well to gallop up the hill strongly to land third place. Anne McGuiness got stopped in her tracks more than once approaching the final hurdle which ultimately cost her and Jump Allen the win. It was a rough race with space at a premium due to the slow pace set up front. That resulted  in most of the runners still in contention turning for home.

A cracking first run of the season by Jump Allen who was having his first run back since winning on the final day of last season at Sandown. He stays well and loves spring ground. A two pound hike in the rating is lenient and he will be winning sooner than later. A proper big horse to go novice chasing next season too!

Only By Night – 2nd in 2.40 Cheltenham 13/03/2026

Only By Night ran a cracker in the mares’ chase at the Cheltenham Festival. She went clear of the field with the winner Dinoblue losing out by less than two lengths. The good ground suits Only By Night who proved that she stays well over two and a half miles. Dinoblue put in her best round of jumping ever to my eye and yet Only By Night had the pace to follow her. Gavin Cromwell has a good one and with age on her side she could well be the mare to beat in the mares chase next season.

Oscars Brother – 4th in 2.00 Cheltenham 11/03/2026

Oscars Brother is the type of chaser any owner would love to own. He gives you his all, no matter the race and once again battled on strongly for fourth place in the Brown Advisory Novice Chase at Cheltenham. It is clear the ground was plenty quick for him over three miles as he was flat out all the way. 

Conor King has a proper Grade 1 horse on his hands and connections will be tempted to run him in either the Irish or Aintree Grand Nationals. The extra distance of a national will suit and he would get away with it on good to soft ground. Whatever happens this season he is a proper staying chaser to follow on winter ground.

Soldier Reeves – 4th in 1.20 Cheltenham 11/03/2026

A remarkable run by Soldier Reeves in the Grade 1 Turners Novice Hurdle. He was sent off a 150/1 rag but ran a huge race to finish fourth. A massive step forward with the step up from two miles and five furlongs improving the son of Soldier of  Fortune. The ground was good most of the week at Cheltenham and it was obvious that horses ridden forward had a major advantage.

Nevertheless, Soldier of Reeves was ridden cold in plum last and only made a move after the hurdle down the hill. He picked up strongly and would have been third but for bunny hopping the final hurdle. A graded horse for sure and could well get three miles in the novice grade 1 at Aintree.

Scorpio Rising – 1st in 1.50 Sandown 07/03/2026

Scorpio Rising won the EBF novice handicap hurdle final at Sandown impressively. Settled out the back by Sean Bowen, he caught the eye travelling well. He made up ground easily from the back of the field to win comfortably.

This win made it four wins in a row with Scorpio Rising an exciting prospect going forward over hurdles or fences. He seems to love winter ground and has a turn of foot. Olly Murphy might run him again this season but if not this horse will be a good one to remember on easy ground over hurdles or fences next season.