'He spoiled the party' - Idaho Sun and Mambonumberfive added to our notebooks We’ve had an abundance of excellent racing across Britain and Ireland over the festive period and we’ve seen some high quality performances. There have been some significant pointers for the major spring festivals and some of the big races have had a bit of a shake-up. With that in mind, we’ve picked out five horses who won over Christmas and are therefore worth following for the rest of the season. Idaho Sun The Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree was meant to be a formality for the Dan Skelton-trained Mydaddypaddy, who was ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, but Idaho Sun spoiled the party. The low sun led to the omission of both flights of hurdles in the home straight, which probably wouldn’t have benefitted either horse. Harry Fry’s runner was keen in the early stages but he showed a good turn of foot to kick three-and-a-quarter-lengths clear. Idaho Sun has shortened into 16/1 for the Supreme in March, having been as big as 50/1 before the race on Boxing Day. He’s certainly one to follow now. Narciso Has Narciso Has was selected by Willie Mullins as a dark horse to follow earlier on in the season and he finished second on his Irish debut in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last month. Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout made the most of her fitness advantage but Narciso Has made no mistake when going one better in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown. He was far too good for them on the day and the Triumph Hurdle is surely on the agenda in March. Ballyfad Boxing Day was certainly a good one for Gordon Elliott, who landed a treble at Punchestown and also had a winner at Limerick. Romeo Coolio’s Grade 1 success was probably the most notable but Ballyfad was arguably the most impressive. The Gigginstown-owned gelding was narrowly victorious in a couple of bumpers before trying hurdles for the first time at Leopardstown on Friday and it was clearly a good decision, as he produced a decisive performance to win by almost 10 lengths. A step up in grade will be required sooner rather than later and he looks capable of competing in better races on that evidence. Mambonumberfive Ben Pauling is having an excellent season so far and The Jukebox Man’s King George victory is surely the highlight of his career so far. More graded success was still to come at Kempton the following day, as Mambonumberfive won the Wayward Lad. The gelding remains unbeaten in three starts over fences and he’s improving with every run. Taking the step up to graded company in his stride, he needed a bit of convincing but made rapid headway once the penny dropped. There’s more to come from him. Skylight Hustle Another Grade 1 winner for the bang in-form Elliott, Skylight Hustle could only manage second on his hurdling debut but left that effort well behind him when bolting up at Fairyhouse later that month. The Future Champion Novice Hurdle is often a good form pointer for the big novice hurdles and the five-year-old had every chance of winning when Talk The Talk fell at the last. He could return to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival.
