So I'm going to do it! I'm entering a team of NH horses. Possibly a flat one or two, but unlikely...

If anybody is interested I will do previews of my entrants, but I think I'm only going to have about 10-15. They all have full potential in game and prefer soft going, so fingers crossed.

welcome aboard Supercat

Just send the text file of your previews to leonvanrensburg at yahoo dot com and I will add to the newsletter. I will be updating the newsletter late tonight so can add yours along with the others i need to add

Horse I: Blazon II: 5yo Stallion: 3m Hurdler

He has never run over obstacles in game, but he is very good in the CK. He has made the odd mistake, but usually been able to get back to do himself justice. He was an excellent flat horse with full potential and around 20 G1 wins to his name over 1m-1m4f including races like the Dubai World Cup and Arc de Triomphe. If the ground came up very soft I would be worried. I hope that he can win a decent hurdle race or two so long as we don't get a winter in the league like we have in the UK!

Horse II: Chick II: 8yo Stallion: 3m Hurdler

The Kauto Star of SO. He has won aroun 15 G1's on the flat from 1m-1m4f including the races mentioned above. Plus about 20 G1's over obstacles from 2m over hurdles right the way through to 3m over fences, he is a monster! BUT he is a gamebred competing against homebreds, so we'll have to see how he gets on. He front runs and is inclined to hit a flat spot in a race but he never knows when he's beaten and will keep going to the line. He prefers good ground, but he has won on everything from firm-heavy so I wouldn't be too worried about the ground. I'm hoping he could be my World Hurdle horse, failing that hopefully he'll get a decent handicap mark for the Pertemps.

Horse III: Coco Palm II: 5yo Stallion: 3m5f Chaser

He was a decent horse on the flat, placing in a Yorkshire cup and winning a couple of listed races. He hates heavy ground and is prone to a bad jumping mistake. But he stays all day and he could be a real contender for Hunter Chases, hopefully the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. He's a hold up horse, so don't expect for him to be on the scene until the last few fences

Horse IV: Dance Of Life II: 4yo Colt: Juvenile

Top class miler on the flat, won the Irish Guineas and St James' Palace along with a couple of G1's in Hong Kong. His stamina would be a worry, but he is a hold up horse who will be the last to make his challenge (hopefully). I'd worry about him around Cheltenham, but he seems to love Ascot so I'll try to find a race around there for him. He'd prefer firmer ground, but will go on soft.

Horse V: Geraldine II: 8yo Stallion: 4m Chaser

He is a gamebred, I'm not sure how he is going to fare against other people's horses but he is the best of mine over marathon distances. He likes good-softish ground so I'm hoping that he may come into his own for the National Hunt Chase, maybe even the National. He does however, have the ability to absolutely uproot a fence early. If he does this he often gets outpaced and struggles to get back into it, that would be a major concern I would have, though he has rarely fallen. He hates heavy, so although I'm planning to aim him for the Welsh National I wouldn't expect he will do too well in that race. He stays all day and wins every 4m trial by a distance, so I'm hoping he can pick up at least a staying handicap or Hunter Chase over the course of the season.

Horse VI: Oak Blazing Rose: 5yo Mare: 3m2f (ish) Chaser

Descended from a very old Blazon II line, sired by a very good horse called Crystal and Roses who has been my foundation stallion for this particular team. I don't know much about her, she didn't race in game over obstacles but I believe she won the Oaks as a 3yo. She will prefer softer going. She is a definite stayer, but is outpointed by Geraldine and Coco Palm every time and I'm not 100% sure what her trip actually is. She seemed to enjoy Ascot, so I might see if I can find something around there for her. I'd be shocked if she would be anything more than a half decent handicapper.

Horse VII: Oak Crystal Rose: 4yo Filly: Juvenile

Related to the above from the Crystal and Roses line. She was decent on the flat, able to win a fillies G2 and place in the Pretty Polly. I have a copy of her at 4yo and 5yo and her older version never factored in the trials, yet her 4yo version was pretty good. She will be aimed at fillies juvenile races, though we will have to wait and see if she is any good...

Glad to see you taking part supercat More the merrier hope some of the old trainers will take part like scatters and Mwesty.

Horse VIII: Oak Dancing Crystal: 4yo Colt: Juvenile

He showed a lot of promise on the flat, but was slow to mature. He won various listed races and placed in G3's. He is also from the Crystal and Roses line and is also a descendant of Dance of Life. He will prefer better ground. He jumps well and I think is the second best of my juveniles. Hopefully he can make it to the Fred Winter.

Horse IX: Oak Dancing Rosie: 5yo Mare: 2m Chaser

Another relative with similar lines to the above. She was a little disappointing as a 3yo, but did manage to win the Arc (!) and won a G1 at 2. She wasn't as good at 4 and never raced over obstacles in game. Her best age seems to be 5 in the CK. She likes softer going and will take charge of a race from about 4f out and out jump them all. Hopefully she will be able to pick up a race or two.

Horse X: Oak Diamond Currency: 6yo Mare: 2m5f Chaser

Again a relative of the above, with a slightly different dam-line one that I didn't continue with long after her. I don't know a lot about her other than she was a very disappointing flat horse. She is much better over jumps, though can throw a race away by making mistakes and getting detached early. I'm hoping there's a mares race for her somewhere.

Horse XI: Oak Diamond Rose: 6yo Mare: 2m-3m Hurdler/Chaser

She comes from similar lines as Diamond Currency, but from a more successful dam. She is a superstar in game and in the CK. There are few races over any distance where she isn't a factor. She won about 20 G1's in game from 1m-1m6f including the Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, St Leger, Arc, Breeders Cup, Japan Cup! Overall her jumping is great and she goes on any ground; but it is going to be really hard to place her as she has proven to be so versatile. She is down as a 2m4f horse on TOM and that is probably where I'll start with her so that she can go either down to 2m or up to 3m. I'd say she's just about the best of all my horses.

Horse XII: Oak Rival Crystal: 5yo Stallion: 2m4f Hurdler, possible chaser

Out of a dam by Rival and from the Crystal and Roses line again. He goes on most ground and is my best 2m4f hurdler. One worry I have is that he occasionally hates left hand turns, so that would be a concern around Cheltenham. But he has won a CK trial there and at Newbury, so it doesn't happen every time. Even Oak Diamond Rose struggles to get to him sometimes over 2m4f so I am hopeful that if one can win then the other can too.

Horse XIII: Oak Ruby Orse (should have been Rose!): 5yo Mare: 2m4f Hurdler/Chaser

Again another from the Crystal and Roses line. She is a full sister to Oak Diamond Rose, but was disappointing on the flat after a G1 win at 2. She has been placed in nearly every trial from 2m-4m over hurdles and fences. I will start hurdling with her at 2m4f and see how she goes. She does have a habit of getting outpaced and flying at the death, so if she shows those tenancies over hurdles then I'd immediately switch to fences.

Horse XIV: Oak San Rose: 5yo Stallion: 2m5f Chaser

Something strange has happened with his tactics and he seems to be a front runner rather than an even pace horse. He was place in a Dante but had a rather disappointing flat career. He is best over 2m5f but I think could run over 2m3f or 2m6f. A bit like Chick he doesn't know when he's beat and as long as he doesn't make a mistake up the run in he will keep going.

Horse XV: Rival II: 4yo Colt: Juvenile

Another version of him helped my NH breeding get underway, he is a gamebred. He is a lot better than my other juveniles so I hope he will be a triumph horse. He hates the Soft/Heavy which would be a worry, but he does generally jump well. If some of my other juveniles can win then he definitely will.

XVI: Sage II: 5yo Stallion: 3m

He will be another for the 3m hurdles division. He comes from the back and I have noticed if he hits one early he is very prone to getting detached. If he is clear over the last then he'll stay there, but I have noticed he doesn't always do very well in a battle. Nowhere near as good as Chick or Blazon, I hope he can at least pick up a win in a handicap somewhere.

I hope this is ok and people find it an interesting read.

Great stuff Cat

You could be the only female participant in this seasons league.

One bonus is, you will be top female trainer

I've told Leon and PJ to not let any other women enter. I need at least one prize! I'm pretty confident about my horses, but I doubt they're actually going to be any good. We shall see. As long as I get top trainer in some category I'll be happy!

I think we might have two lady trainers a AmyG897 better known as Rebecca Curtis as 1 horse in the flat league.