Novices to note

Boycetown's bumper form is right up there, having won at Down Royal by a street over Christmas, and then running fourth and third in Cheltenham and Punchestown's flagship events without the obstacles. He's a horse by Capri with a turn of foot, so I expect two miles will be absolutely fine for him, while he retains the option of going over further too. He's about as solid as any bumper horse set to tackle novice hurdles in Ireland this year.

Charismatic Kid certainly looks like a novice hurdler to follow this season, having produced a breathtaking display at Fairyhouse in April when winning by 11 lengths. He was purchased by Gigginstown and sent to Gordon Elliott following a Navan debut win when in the care of Colm Ryan who is a very good operator and sure to have put in a ton of groundwork with this horse when it comes to jumping. He was the pick of Harry Swan when sent off 7/4 at the Dublin Racing Festival, just finding a couple of stablemates too strong on the day. These young horses can develop hugely from run to run, and that end of season Fairyhouse effort marked him up to be one of Ireland's strongest novice prospects. I think it vindicated Gordon Elliott's decision to miss Cheltenham with this huge horse, who certainly has a bright future.

Different Story heads to Britain's Champion Trainer Dan Skelton off the back of winning an Oldstown point-to-point by half the track, and she's a mare I'm keen to see more of this season. She's a five-year-old so might have an edge on some potentially younger opposition, and I expect she'll go jumping straight away. She's now owned by Tony Bloom.

Even Tho wasn't long with Willie Mullins when running out an easy winner of a Limerick bumper in March, showing no ill-effects from her final fence fall in a Dromahane point-to-point which she was going to win easily. She backed that up with a 16l victory in a Grade 3 winners bumper at Punchestown, one of the most impressive performances of the week. Coming from a point-to-point background, the way she quickened away was really eyecatching. She's by a sire I love in Crystal Ocean, and this looks a very smart young mare, and an obvious one for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls is a master when it comes to sending four-year-olds over fences, and if that's the plan for Minella Yoga then I think he could have a very good season, especially getting all the allowances before Christmas. He's a product of academy hurdles in Ireland, getting the better of Act Of Innocence on his UK debut, before a solid run on Cheltenham Trials Day. He skipped the Festival, which is never a bad thing given Nicholls' history of not over-facing his best long-term prospects early in their career, and again showed promise in his final two starts last season. He wasn't long in Ditcheat before getting started last year, and I feel that with a full season under his belt at his new yard, there could be a lot more to come from this horse.

Goliath Du Berlais is a sire to note, and Monzon Sport is another of his progeny that I'm excited to see this year. He won a Borris House point-to-point in a good time last season and has since made the switch to Willie Mullins. His pedigree is strong, given his half-brother Leader Sport won a French Grade 1 in November he's with the right camp to get the best out of him, while the Donnellys seldom miss with their big money buys. He's only a young horse, so he could start off in bumpers.

I was at Portrush last year when Mourne Crystal absolutely destroyed the field in a point-to-point. He was unbelievably impressive that day, and his rider Declan Lavery spoke in glowing terms about him afterwards. He's another runner to follow by Crystal Ocean, and now with Ben Pauling. He's a horse you need to follow.

Outofafrika impressed me in three goes for Gavin Cromwell last year, winning on his second start before acquitting himself well at the Punchestown Festival. His debut run came in a very strong event, won by subsequent Champion Bumper hero The Mourne Rambler, and his victory at Fairyhouse saw Green Hint six lengths back in second, with that horse since bolting up at Listowel in September. He just looks a solid, uncomplicated horse who can definitely pay his way over hurdles this season.

Lingstown is a local point-to-point to me, and I was at the track the day Palinca won by a wide margin, and I was blown away by what she did. It was one of the best performances by a mare in the sphere last year, and she's now with Henry de Bromhead, having been snapped up for £400,000. She's by Goliath Du Berlais, and her pedigree already looks solid, with her half-brother Shokdor looking very promising too, having won a Listed chase on just his fourth start. It wouldn't surprise me if Palinca goes jumping straight away with her new yard, and she's one to keep an eye on.

If I'm suggesting Monzon Sport as a horse to follow, then I should also mention Profit In Pocket who came down two out when serving it up to Monzon Sport in their Borris House point-to-point. I feel he was getting the worst of the argument at the time, but I've no doubt this was a strong event. He's now with Gordon Elliott.

Paul Nicholls was obviously impressed with what he saw at Monksgrange in March, as he's bought the first two home in a strong-looking event. Wordfromhome (1st) made £320,000, and Road To Destiny (2nd) £200,000 with my marginal preference going to the runner-up that day. He was in the teeth of strong-looking gallop on bad ground, and he showed a willing attitude to keep on battling when the eventual winner moved upsides him. The first two home had a good battle all the way home, and look like lovely long-term prospects for the Ditcheat team.

One from left field this year could be Tiddesley Wood, who has joined Adrian Keatley after being bought out of Fergal O'Brien's yard. Put simply, this could be a really nice horse now tackling fences. His bumper form reads well, having been third to a subsequent Grade 1-winning novice hurdler in Storming George, and he boasts a really nice progressive profile, winning twice over timber last year, including when signing off at Kempton with a five length victory in a good time. He has the scope to jump a fence and I'm sure he'll be winning races for his new yard.