Alex Hales is hoping to put a frustrating year behind him as he prepares to embark on a new National Hunt season from his Edgcote stables, near Banbury.

He may have enjoyed his best campaign numerically with 13 winners last term, but his ambitions were severely curtailed by a virus which hit the yard.

Now in his third season at Trafford Bridge Stables, having previously trained at Preston Capes, near Daventry, Hales is looking to bounce back.

And his string certainly appeared in rude health as they paraded at his annual owners’ open day last weekend.

Speaking to a gathering of around 150 owners and guests, he said: “Last season started extre-mely well.

“At Christmas, we were on target for a bumper year, but we ended up with a lot of problems which scuppered us for the rest of the year. It was very frustrating for everyone.

“But all the horses have had an incredibly good summer and they have come back and seem full of themselves.”

Star billing among the 26 on parade was Iconoclast, who won at Exeter last November, before pulling off an amazing last-gasp victory under a never-say-die ride from Paul Moloney in a Listed Chase at Ascot in February.

“He is the favourite horse in the yard,” said Hales. “He saved last year for us.”

The ten-year-old is set to reappear in the United House Gold Cup Chase at Ascot on October 29, with the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday April 9 his long-term target.

Hales is excited by Rif, winner of a Towcester novices’ hurdle last term before finishing sixth to Mossley in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham.

“He is one of my pride and joys,” said the Edgcote handler.

“I really like this fellow. He has already been point-to-pointing, so he will jump a fence and he will go novice chasing. With a bit of juice in the ground he could be useful.”

Hales also gave favourable mentions to unexposed mudlark Dinarius, who he feels could win a “big pot somewhere”, and Roseneath, who he described as “definitely one for the notebooks”.

With attractive prize money in France, he is planning cross-Channel raids with the likes of Dakota Boy and Blinka Me.

“We are very keen on the French connection and very keen to put a syndicate together to plunder a few Euros,” he added.