Twelve to follow

Advice should always be received cautiously. I have in mind the two hunters in the American woods. One fell to the ground, his eyes rolling in his head. His companion called the emergency services by cellphone: ‘I think my friend is dead. What do I do?’ The operator cautiously urged him, ‘Now, sir, let’s stay calm. Let’s first of all make sure your friend is dead.’ The line goes quiet. Then there is the sound of a shot before the caller comes back on the line to the operator, ‘OK. Now what?’

Do not cash all your premium bonds to invest on the dozen horses I am now advising for an interest through the winter. This is a snapshot of opinion at this stage, not a guarantee that all will necessarily maintain their enthusiasm for sluicing through the mud at Chepstow on a wet Friday all the way to April.

That said, the new season has already sparkled for any sticking with last year’s twelve. Diamond Harry (at a generous 9–2), Whiteoak, Crackaway Jack, Money Trix and Pettifour have all won. So here are a dozen more hopefuls.

Charlie Mann’s Rebel Rebellion finished third recently in an Ascot bumper. He should win one before he goes hurdling. Charlie also has a promising novice chaser in Sullumo, who jumps the big fences rather better than he did hurdles and won first time out at Uttoxeter.

Emma Lavelle, too, is building the quality of her stable season by season. She is excited by the four-year-old Court in Motion but from her team I will go for Prior’s Glen. On his Newbury debut last year they wondered if he would complete. Beaten only a neck then, he has strengthened up and clearly needed his first outing at Ascot.