Paul Ferguson previews the upcoming National Hunt season, highlighting the top horses to follow, including leading novice hurdlers and chasers, dark horses, intriguing early-season selections.
Should enough rain arrive for the 2026-27 National Hunt season to get rolling in early October, what do we have to look forward to? Well, having spent the summer putting together the 20th edition of Jumpers To Follow, I have decided to take an overview approach for my first feature for the Betway blog.
Let’s start off with three of last season’s bumper winners, with such less exposed horses – as regular readers will know – often featuring prominently in my annual publication.
Novice Hurdlers to Follow
Attin Nicky Richards
Cumbrian-based trainer Nicky Richards appeared to have a strong crop of bumper horses last season and this son of No Risk At All created a deep impression when winning by 8 lengths at Newcastle. With Flat winners in his pedigree, he looks to have the pace to be campaigned over the minimum trip as a novice hurdler and is very much one to follow in the North. Richards invariably starts his better novices off at Ayr, so take note if he is sent to the West Coast of Scotland.
Moore Brion Olly Murphy
Olly Murphy again ended last season with a career best total, both numerically and in terms of prize money earned, and of his 144 winners, this Doctor Dino chestnut chipped in with two wins in bumpers. Successful at Market Rasen in November, he returned from a 122-day break and readily defied a penalty in what appeared to be a stronger race. A half-brother to a Grade 3 winner in France, he has plenty of size and scope to make an impact over hurdles this winter.
Prince Rupert Nicky Henderson
Choicely bred, this four-year-old – on paper at least – should probably be in training with John & Thady Gosden or William Haggas but the Golden Horn four-year-old found his way to Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows stable and provided owner Anthony Oppenheimer with a very first National Hunt winner. Successful in a Kempton bumper, he raced keenly but it didn’t prevent him running out a most taking winner and one who can be expected to make up into a smart novice hurdler. Don’t be surprised to see him aimed at the maiden hurdle at Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup meeting in late November (Friday 27th), a race Henderson has won with Jonbon, Jet Powered, Jeriko du Reponet and Act Of Innocence in the past five years alone.
Moving on to the novice chase division and rather than nominating a trio of horses who could make an impact in Graded company, I thought I would put forward three who should be worth following in novice handicap chases.
Novice Handicap Chasers to Follow
Gatineau Park Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls
Twice a winner over hurdles last season, the good-looking grey has some solid form in the book from novice hurdles but appeals as the type to improve again for going chasing. A winner at Lingfield and latterly on soft ground at Ayr, he also bumped into the equally promising Hold The Serve at Wincanton and appeared to improve with experience throughout last season. Winner of an Irish Point at the third attempt, he begins the campaign on a mark of 130 and should climb the ranks over fences, with the potential for yet further improvement once stepped up to 3m. He could well end up in a nice handicap later in the campaign.
Le Tiep’s Sacre Gary & Josh Moore
A horse who I was excited about this time last year, we didn’t get to see him until March when he shaped with promise in a handicap hurdle at Kempton. A non-runner at Haydock the following month, the five-year-old remains extremely lightly raced and although he has won just once from three starts for the Moores, the It’s Gino gelding remains open to considerable improvement and should prove much better than a mark of 118 in time. He has the physical scope to do even better over fences.
The Dog Thief T Ellis
Winner of a Point-to-Point when in the name of Gina Andrews (Tom Ellis’ wife), the six-year-old made giant strides under Rules earlier this year. After bumping into the potentially top-class He’s On Fire at Carlisle, he beat a couple of next-time-out winners at Market Rasen before showing improved form to make a successful handicap debut at Perth. Running out a taking winner off a mark of 116, he was given a 6lb rise (more than fair) and looks open to considerable improvement upon his return.
While one of two of those could have been classed as ‘Dark Horses’ here’s a trio who certainly do fit into that category (in my mind, anyway).
Dark Horses to Follow
Close House Chris Grant
Third in what is often a strong bumper at Ayr on his racecourse debut, the son of Wings Of Eagle was trained by Andrew Slattery at the time but has since moved to Chris Grant in Stockton-on-Tees. Despite racing keenly in the hands of Danny McMenamin, he kept going once headed and was beaten by a couple of previous winners. With that experience behind him, he can make an impact as a novice hurdler once learning to race more economically.
Gorcombe And Wise Robert Walford
The lowest-rated horse to feature in this year’s edition of Jumpers To Follow, Robert Walford’s six-year-old was beaten 54, 52 and 62 lengths, respectively, on his first three starts over hurdles and despite still being beaten a long way on handicap debut (following a break of 285 days), got off the mark on better ground at Taunton in February. Successful from a mark of 75, he won with plenty in hand and despite a 7lb rise, looked to be a horse to monitor closely when last seen. A son of Telescope with bags of scope (no pun) for fences, he is one to take note off at a lower level.
Healys Pub Oliver McKiernan
Only seventh in the sales bumper at Fairyhouse in April 2025, this five-year-old progressed nicely in three starts over hurdles, all three starts coming at Oliver McKiernan’s local track, Naas. A winner at the third attempt, he was given an opening mark of 123 and was expected to make his handicap debut back at Fairyhouse this Easter. A non-runner due to the ground, he is another Telescope gelding who has bags of size for fences and should be noted once switched to the larger obstacles.
So, if that rain does arrive, how about a trio of horses to note in the early weeks of the new season?
Early Season Horses to Follow
Follow Your Luck Patrick Neville
Beaten more than 7 lengths in a novices’ handicap chase at Perth in August, he was conceding both chasing experience and race fitness to his four rivals and Patrick Neville’s unbeaten hurdler went one better in a two-horse race at the same track in September. Rallying to beat Dunkerque, who he had beaten over hurdles (on 10lb worse terms), he got up to win by a neck but looks open to further improvement, possibly once stepped up to 3m. Given his liking for a sound surface, he remains one to note in the early weeks of the season ‘proper’ especially as he will be fitter than those reappearing.
Saint Jeannais Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Given his liking for good ground, I would expect to see this six-year-old early once again this season. An impressive winner of a Worcester bumper last October – form which was advertised by the runner-up (won his first two over hurdles) – he finished only fourth of sixth under a penalty at Ascot but wasn’t seen again for 176 days. Returning in a weak maiden hurdle at Bangor in May, he ran out a convincing winner and marked himself down as a useful prospect for novice contests. He could be tough to beat under a penalty before Paddy Brennan considers something a little better for his promising six-year-old.
The Flaggy Shore Ben Clarke
Another with a hurdles win already on the board, the Hillstar mare had won an Irish Point and a Warwick bumper on decent ground before finishing runner-up in the Listed Alan Swinbank Bumper at Market Rasen. After struggling on bad ground at Sandown, she ran out an easy winner on hurdles debut at Ffos Las, drawing clear despite being allowed to shift to her right at the final couple of flights. With that experience under her belt, Ben Clarke might have the Listed race at Newbury (28th November) in mind, with another run in between. There is a mares’ novice at Newbury on 5th November, which might act as the ideal stepping stone.
Several of those already covered are former winning Pointers and we have seen horses from the Pointing ranks, particularly in Ireland, having dominated many a big race in recent years. Here’s three to note from between the flags who are set to embark on a career under Rules.
Point-to-Pointers to Follow
County Prospect Jamie Snowden
Red Acres Max and Loveable Reprobate proved successful in bumpers for Jamie Snowden and owners Oliver and Sasha Brendon last season, and they look to have another nice recruit on their hands in the shape of this four-year-old son of Chanducoq. Although it didn’t appear to be a strong race that he won, he quickened clear smartly and won with any amount in hand at Punchestown. A bumper campaign seems most likely.
Lou Prince Olly Murphy
Another athletic four-year-old who showed plenty of natural pace when winning at Kirkistown, this Doctor Dino gelding looks to be a promising recruit to the Olly Murphy stable. With the third and fifth advertising the form by winning subsequently, he is now in the ownership of Brooks, Butler, Whateley & Nicholls and looks to have the speed to head down the bumper route to begin with.
Mourne Crystal Ben Pauling
The stable of Ben Pauling continues to go from strength-to-strength and this four-year-old created a deep impression when winning in a quick time at Portrush. From the same academy as Champion Bumper winner, The Mourne Rambler, the Crystal Ocean gelding looks to be blessed with both natural pace and a high cruising speed, so is another who I would expect to see begin life under Rules in bumpers. He will carry the silks of one of his new part owners, Harry Redknapp.
Moving on to some more familiar names, starting by looking at three horses who look to have the ideal profile for a trio of early season handicaps.
Early Season Feature Handicaps
Meetmebythesea (Ben Pauling) Paddy Power Gold Cup, Cheltenham
In said early season features, I always tend to gravitate towards the previous season’s novices, and second-season chasers certainly have a good record in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Previous course form is also a hugely significant trend in what many believe to be the first real big race of the season and Ben Pauling’s Jack Richards winner looks to be a standout (and rather obvious) candidate. Having won at the Festival off a mark of 139, he was put up 7lb but after the placed horses fought out the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, he was given another 5lb (collateral form) so will be racing off 151. King Alexander (4th) further advertised that Cheltenham form when winning the Galway Plate and if he is to develop into a Graded class chaser, Meetmebythesea should be going very close despite that lofty rating.
Harry Lowes (Dan Skelton) Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, Cheltenham
Leading owner JP McManus could be in for a big weekend at the November meeting, as Dan Skelton’s five-year-old appeals as being a likely contender for the Greatwood. Although he only won twice from five starts last season, there is a strong suspicion that he has much more to offer over hurdles before fences are considered. Although he will stay further, he certainly isn’t short of pace and from a mark of 128, I suspect that Skelton might consider targeting a race which he has won twice in the past decade. Betway have yet to price up either race, but I suspect that when they do, the McManus-owned pairing will be somewhere towards the top of each market (hopefully not!).
Wendigo (Jamie Snowden) Coral Gold Cup, Newbury
The former ‘Hennessy’ is another race which favours the lightly raced and potential improvers and Jamie Snowden’s likeable seven-year-old is a probable contender from the nearby Lambourn, with the trainer landing the prize in 2023. Fourth behind The New Lion in 2024 Challow, he won a Grade 2 novices’ chase at this fixture last year, so clearly goes well at the track and he was dropped 2lb to a mark of 147 after his disappointing end to the campaign at Aintree. Interestingly, he has won at the second attempt in each of his three seasons under Rules, so I suspect that Snowden will want to get a run into him beforehand, possibly starting off in Carlisle’s Colin Parker or Aintree’s Old Roan.
And, how about a look at one of the championship divisions from an ante-post perspective?
Ante-Post Selection
Having looked through all divisions in great detail for this year’s Jumpers To Follow publication, it was (once again) the staying hurdle division which made most appeal when looking at Cheltenham markets from an ante-post perspective. Last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner, Home By The Lee, turns 12 in January, Bob Olinger (winner in 2025) was retired in the spring, and 2024 winner Teahupoo has now been beaten in the race three times and remains vulnerable to an improver.
The New Lion topped the Stayers’ market throughout the summer but I wouldn’t be 100% sure that he will try 3m just yet and even if he does, there would be a slight doubt about him seeing out the trip, based on the fact that his sister Kateira was at her best at around 2m5f. Jasmin de Vaux sits next best with most firms and hasn’t been seen since April 2025 and while many of last season’s leading staying novices are likely to go chasing, the one who stands out is Zeus Power, who represents the winning stable of last term.
Having only made his racecourse debut in October of last year, there has to be a strong chance that he will continue to progress this winter and his form in the spring was significantly better than that from earlier in the season, with him winning Aintree’s Sefton – despite an indifferent round of jumping – after an eye-catching run in the Baring Bingham at Cheltenham. That form was further franked by Bossman Jack and Soldier Reeves at Aintree, while the winner followed up at Punchestown, and he saw the 3m trip out well in Liverpool. Winning a Grade 1 over that sort of distance is no mean feat at the age of five and if he can sharpen up his jumping, I suspect that he will develop into a leading contender for the Stayers’, possibly starting off over shorter before being aimed at Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle. Available at 16s in places recently, he has been trimmed by most firms (now a best price 12/1) and Betway have Joseph O’Brien’s charge at 10/1 (from 14s) but they might push him out a little if we ask nicely.
To conclude, how about a trainer and jockey to follow for the months ahead?
Trainer & Jockey To Follow
Jamie Snowden Trainer
Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden continues to build with each passing season and as well as enjoying Cheltenham Festival success with Johnny’s Jury, ended last season with a career best 86 winners. He looks to have an exciting team to go to war with, with the likes of Tiptoptim and Cinquenta backing up the Spa Novices’ Hurdle (Albert Bartlett) winner in the novice chase division, whilst Fine Shot, Red Acres Max and Sapphos Word are just three to note in novice hurdles. Recent arrival from France, Grade 3-winning mare Miss Wood, is set to go chasing and is another exciting recruit to a burgeoning stable. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if Snowden reached 100 winners for the first time.
Lewis Saunders Jockey
There are plenty I could have gone with here, Danny McMenamin being a slightly obvious one, on the back of (another) career best season last term, which resulted in him riding 81 winners. With Nicky Richards again looking to have a nice crop of youngsters, I expect him to enjoy another fruitful campaign in the saddle, while Jack Tudor could well be on the up in terms of numbers, with the announcement during the summer that he will be riding as stable jockey to Oliver Greennall & Josh Guerriero.
However, I’ve opted for a younger, less experienced rider in the shape of Lewis Saunders, who rode nine winners last term, taking his total to 27 at the end of the latest campaign. Based with Olly Murphy, he was entrusted in riding smart youngsters Old Habits and Hold The Serve last term (won on both) and with that stable continuing to grow, the conditional should only continue to get more opportunities when Sean Bowen is tied up elsewhere. Good value for his claim, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him ride a decent handicap hurdle winner at some stage this season.
Hopefully that has gone some way to whetting the appetite for the months ahead. If you enjoyed that, Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow – with this the 20th edition (the publication clearly standing the test of time) – can be ordered below. It was published on Thursday 17th September.
Harry Derham, who wrote this year’s Foreword, referred to Jumpers To Follow as “arguably the most thoroughly researched winner-finding publication racing enthusiasts can lay their hands on.”
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