Five beaten horses from the weekend who it could pay to follow - including a surefire improver when stepped up in trip

It was an informative weekend of racing and here we pinpoint five beaten horses who it could pay to follow throughout the season . . .

Califet En Vol

2nd, 2m4½f novices' hurdle, Newbury, Saturday November 30

The New Lion maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive success in this novice hurdle, finishing three lengths ahead of the runner-up Califet En Vol.

Califet En Vol got outpaced approaching the second last but rallied for pressure to finish best of the rest under James Bowen.

Califet En Vol (maroon cap): chased home The New Lion at Newbury on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The strapping five-year-old is an embryonic chaser but should win races over hurdles this season and has scope for improvement when stepped up in trip.

A 15-length winner of a novice hurdle at Kempton last month, the Lanzarote Hurdle back at that track looks a potential short-term target.

Queens Gamble

2nd, 2m½f handicap hurdle, Newbury, Saturday November 30

Navajo Indy brought up a hat-trick with victory and the horse who chased him home, Queens Gamble, could be one to rack up a sequence herself this season.

The mare was useful in bumpers for Oliver Sherwood before winning both starts over hurdles for Harry Derham last season, her most recent success coming in a Listed contest at Taunton in December.

Queens Gamble (right): made a promising reappearance when second at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

A setback ruled her out of the spring festivals but she made an encouraging return on Saturday and would have finished closer had the third not hung left on the run-in.

Queens Gamble has been raised 5lb since but that is unlikely to handicap her out of things, while she also has the option of reverting to mares-only company.

Tellherthename

4th, BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Newcastle, Saturday November 30

Sir Gino was a class above his rivals in this Grade 1. The form looks open to question given the no-show of main market rival Mystical Power, but of those in behind the winner, Tellherthename appeals as one for the notebook.

A dual winner for Ben Pauling last season, the five-year-old was debuting for the training partnership of Jonjo and AJ O'Neill on what was his first start since finishing down the field in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tellherthename (pink silks, fourth from right): finished fourth behind Sir Gino in the Fighting FifthCredit: John Grossick Racing

Having briefly threatened to play a part in the finish turning for home, Tellherthename jumped the third last a little big and got tapped for toe before rallying for fourth under Kielan Woods.

His performance produced a career-best Racing Post Rating of 140 and suggested his official mark of 137 is workable if his connections target a valuable handicap hurdle next. The Betfair Hurdle could be an option.

Plontier

4th, Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Fairyhouse, Sunday December 1

Willie Mullins trained five of the first six home in this Grade 2 contest, including the winner Tounsivator, and his fourth-placed Plontier caught the eye.

The eight-year-old entire was a 12-length winner of a maiden hurdle at Sligo in August before disappointing in a couple of competitive handicaps on the Flat.

Back hurdling on Sunday, Plontier was bang in contention jumping two out and was beaten less than ten lengths despite making a mess of the final hurdle.

A winner of 14 Flat races in Europe and currently rated 90 in that sphere, it will be fascinating to see what hurdles mark Plontier receives. He strikes as the type to pop up in a valuable contest at one of the spring festivals.

Gorgeous Tom

4th, Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase, Fairyhouse, Sunday December 1

There was a thrilling four-way finish in this Grade 1 in which 22-1 outsider Croke Park came out on top.

Subsequent Grand National hero I Am Maximus won the same race last year and Gorgeous Tom, fourth in Sunday's running, could be one to note in top staying handicap chases this season.

Gorgeous Tom (right): fourth in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on SundayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Henry de Bromhead's six-year-old challenged wide before dropping to last jumping two out but he finished to excellent effect to be beaten just a length under Mark Walsh.

Out of a half-sister to Grand National second Cappa Bleu, Gorgeous Tom is yet to race beyond 2m4f under rules but on the evidence of his Drinmore run looks a surefire improver once stepped up in trip. 

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