Our Horses To Follow have produced plenty of winners and top-class performers across both codes in recent seasons, including Cheltenham Festival winners and Group 1 success on the Flat.
We still need more rain in some areas, but that won’t stop the excitement that comes with the National Hunt season, which really starts to kick into gear in October.Here are ten jumpers worth following for the season ahead and beyond, each from a different stable. I’ve also tried to cover a range of disciplines, with horses to follow across several divisions of the jumps game.
At Racing Club, we have a really strong team heading into the new season, with some valuable big race targets in sight. You can get involved with our winning jumpers from as little as £50!
Albie Littlewood – Dan Skelton
The powerhouse Warwickshire yard has an incredible team for the season ahead, and just a couple of weeks into the campaign, there have been very few races without a well-fancied Skelton-trained contender.There are plenty of obvious names who look set for successful seasons, but one I had expected to be slightly less well known is the Nick Skelton-owned Albie Littlewood. However, he has already been highlighted by plenty of others as one to keep onside, including Dan himself, who has mentioned him as a horse to look out for.
This nicely bred son of Ocovango didn’t show a great deal in some decent bumpers and maiden hurdles, although his early career was interrupted by an injury, seemingly following his debut. He was well backed into 11/8 favouritism for his handicap debut over two and a half miles at Huntingdon, where he was held up towards the rear. In typical Skelton fashion, he made smooth headway on the bridle as the race developed and was the last horse to come under pressure. Having jumped the final flight well, he showed a good attitude when shaken up by Harry, finding enough to prevail by half a length and fend off the challenges of two subsequent winners, one of whom has since beaten a three-time winner.
He stepped up in class and a furlong in trip for his next start at the same venue and produced a really taking display, almost mocking his rivals under a supremely confident ride from Harry. Once again, he was held up towards the rear before effortlessly cutting through the field without appearing to leave second gear, with his rider sitting motionless throughout. He jumped nicely again, was particularly good at the last and went on to win by half a length without coming off the bridle. The winning margin could easily have been four or five lengths had Harry asked him for any serious effort, while the front two pulled eight and a half lengths clear of the remainder. The runner-up has continued to advertise the strength of that form, finishing a very good third in a valuable and fiercely competitive Punchestown handicap, beaten just a neck by the subsequent Silver Trophy winner, before going on to win a Fontwell maiden hurdle.
This lightly raced seven-year-old looks to have plenty of ability and, importantly, plenty more to offer as he embarks on a chasing career. He appeals as the type who could improve significantly for the switch to larger obstacles, and I expect him to make good progress over fences this season before proving capable of winning some valuable handicaps further down the line.
Boultydoolin – Rebecca Curtis
Rebecca Curtis enjoyed another successful campaign with her star chaser Haiti Couleurs last season, and she looks to have another lovely prospect in Boultydoolin, who very much looks a similar type. I’m not saying he will emulate his stablemate, but he looks sure to make a cracking chaser.
He finished third in a decent point-to-point in April last year before getting off the mark at the second time of asking by a length. He defeated a horse who has since won a point-to-point himself and a bumper by 15 lengths.
Boultydoolin made an eye-catching debut in a good novice hurdle at Newbury, where he shaped well despite showing some inexperience. He stayed on nicely to finish second behind the talented Swindon Village, putting seven lengths between himself and the third, who had won his previous race comfortably.
He probably didn’t have to improve much to get off the mark on his next start at Chepstow, where he bolted up to beat a couple of fair rivals by eight and a half lengths on soft ground. He jumped very nicely and stayed on strongly, clearly relishing the step up in trip. Interestingly, this same race was won by Haiti Couleurs in 2024.
Sorry to bring out the old cliché, but whatever this lad achieved over hurdles was always going to be a bonus. He looks a proper old-fashioned staying chaser – a real beast of a horse who is made for fences. It would come as no surprise to see him eventually end up in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over 3m6f. He is one I am thoroughly excited for this season, and I’ll certainly make an effort to see him in the flesh, as he gives the impression he’ll be a very impressive horse to see in person.
County Prospect – Jamie Snowden
Jamie Snowden is now a real force in British jumps racing, having enjoyed his best season to date last year. With some shrewd recruitment adding further strength to an already talented team at Folly House, he looks set for another prosperous campaign. He has so many horses to look forward to, but my pick from his yard is County Prospect.This nicely bred four-year-old made a striking impression in an Irish Point-to-Point at Punchestown in February. He sauntered to victory by 12 lengths on soft-to-heavy ground over 2m4f, requiring very little effort from his rider, Brian Lawless.
The performance earned him an impressive RPR of 96, the highest awarded to any point-to-point winner this season. He looks a very talented individual and is clearly held in high regard.He will be brought along with patience and will start out in a bumper, a sphere in which his stable excelled last season. Hopefully, he can be found a nice opportunity to make a winning rules debut before progressing on to better things, perhaps remaining on the level and targeting some of the big spring bumpers.
He is in very good hands, and whichever route the team at Folly House take, he looks to have a very bright future. He should also be a fantastic prospect when he goes hurdling and, further down the line, chasing.
Fairy Park – Joe Tizzard
Fairy Park is a mare I am really looking forward to following this season as she goes novice hurdling for Joe Tizzard.The daughter of Walk In The Park first caught the eye when dominating an Irish point-to-point, winning comfortably by eight lengths, with a couple from behind subsequently giving the form a boost at a lower level.
She made her Rules debut in a strong Class 2 mares’ bumper at Newbury, where there had been plenty of positive talk about her beforehand. She raced keenly but travelled powerfully into the contest, with Brendan Powell sitting motionless for much of the long home straight. She looked the likely winner for a long way before Princes Day went clear when asked for her effort, but there was certainly no shame in finishing second to a very smart mare on debut. Fairy Park also pulled six lengths clear of third-placed Malina Road, who has since won a Listed bumper at Market Rasen.
Fairy Park then stepped up to Grade 2 company in the mares’ bumper at Aintree and again impressed with her strong-travelling nature. Held up towards the rear, she came widest of all turning for home and kept responding well under pressure to finish an excellent third, beaten just two and a quarter lengths.
She is a well-built mare with plenty of size and scope, and everything she has shown so far suggests she could make into a lovely novice hurdler. I would expect her to be very difficult to beat on her hurdles debut unless she comes up against another potentially top-class prospect.The Listed mares’ novice hurdle at Newbury towards the end of November looks a likely early-season target, and if she progresses as expected, she could well develop into a contender for the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Feel Gut – Nicky Henderson
The Donnellys have an exceptional ability to acquire smart horses, with a long list of top-class individuals and big-race successes. Amongst a strong team for the season ahead, one of their leading lights looks to be the Nicky Henderson-trained Feel Gut.The powerful owners clearly took a liking to the three-year-old conditions hurdle run on soft ground at Auteuil on 1st October last year, as they purchased the first two home. The winner was Macho Man, who was pulled up in the Triumph Hurdle and disappointed at Punchestown, but does have form in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races.
Feel Gut was due to make his British debut in a Junior Hurdle at Newbury in January, where Nicky Henderson tends to send some of his best prospects, and was expected to win. Unfortunately, he didn’t scope clean and was withdrawn. He made a winning start just over a week later at Warwick, where he was given a confident ride and, despite being a little keen early on, delivered a polished performance to win comfortably by six and a half lengths. Apart from taking a bit of a chance at the second last, he jumped beautifully and looked a really classy individual.
The form of that race has worked out very well at a lower level. The third horse home won by six lengths on his next start, the fourth had won by four and a quarter lengths on his previous start, while the horse in fifth has since won three times.Feel Gut hasn’t been seen since that stylish success, so he has very likely had an issue, but if he returns this season firing on all cylinders, he will take some stopping and may well reach the big spring festivals unbeaten. Judging by the way he jumps his hurdles, he looks likely to make a smashing chaser in time and is certainly one to add to your tracker to follow closely in the coming years.
He’s On Fire – Willie Mullins
Of course, the legendary trainer is not short of top-notch prospects for the season ahead and has already unleashed one over the summer in Witches Familiar, who looks very smart. However, it is another in the same Ricci ownership who was the most impressive novice hurdler to emerge from the all-conquering Closutton yard last season.
After three runs at Auteuil in the autumn of 2025, He’s On Fire moved to Willie Mullins and, unusually, made his stable debut at Carlisle in February, where he was sent off the 2/9 favourite. He barely had to come out of second gear to justify those cramped odds, cantering home 20 lengths clear. The runner-up, The Dog Thief, has won comfortably twice since and is worth following over fences this season.
He seamlessly transitioned into Grade 2 company at the Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse in April, producing a stunning performance in a 2m4f novice hurdle. He raced pretty keenly on ground described as yielding to soft, so you could have forgiven him for a weaker finishing effort, but instead he showed a striking turn of foot to put 12 lengths between himself and a respectable field, before being eased down at the line. It was a performance that announced him as one of the most exciting horses in training and arguably the leading novice hurdler of the season.
He looks a real chasing type and his trainer suggests he should have no problem getting three miles. He could chart a similar path to stablemate Final Demand, starting in a beginners’ chase at somewhere like Navan or Punchestown before potentially heading to the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas and then on to the Dublin Racing Festival. Whatever route Willie Mullins decides to take, He’s on Fire looks set to be a real force over fences this season, and it would come as no surprise at all were he to arrive at a big spring target unbeaten.
Hidden Mountain – Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls
As they so often do, the Bailey and Nicholls yard have started the season strongly, and they have plenty of quality individuals to look forward to in the months ahead. Gatineau Park is certainly one of those, but my one pick from Thorndale Farm is Hidden Mountain.
This son of Maxios made his debut at Ayr on heavy ground for Ewan Williams and made a really pleasing start to life under rules. He travelled through the race nicely and responded well when asked for his effort by Craig Nichol. He ultimately finished two and a half lengths behind Broadway Ted, who is a smart horse in his own right, having won twice, including a Grade 2, and contested the Champion Bumper. Hidden Mountain finished a length ahead of a horse who has since won a handicap hurdle at Perth by five lengths, with the front three pulling 13 lengths clear of the remainder.
After this, he joined Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls’ team in the Cotswolds, where he took a huge step forward on his next start at Huntingdon in a bumper with a good roll of honour. Sent off a well-backed 6/4 favourite, he dominated a respectable field, including a previous three-length course winner, from the front, eventually winning by 11 lengths. He could not have been more impressive, cruising clear under Tom Bellamy before quickening away in stylish fashion.
For those who have seen him in the flesh, his action suggests soft ground will be important for him, while stepping up in trip should be no issue either. He looks a lovely novice hurdling prospect and should take a bit of beating. I would hope he can make a winning hurdles debut before progressing into Graded company.
Lou Prince – Olly Murphy
Olly Murphy is a fantastic trainer who has propelled himself into the top ranks of the sport and continues to go from strength to strength, with the added benefit of having the mighty Sean Bowen as his stable jockey. He has some really exciting horses for the season ahead, with the likes of Merry Wood, Hold The Serve and Moore Brion, to name just a few, all very much worth following. However, for my one pick from Warren Chase Stables, I have gone for the lesser-known four-year-old gelding Lou Prince, who was purchased for £240,000.
He received a deservedly high RPR of 92 for his sole appearance between the flags at Kirkistown, where he won with a real swagger by three lengths. The son of Doctor Dino jumped very well in the main and cruised clear with the minimum of fuss. The performance itself was impressive enough, but even more so when you consider how well the form has worked out since.The second has joined Willie Mullins and made a winning rules debut in a Listowel bumper as a well-fancied 8/11 favourite, winning by half a length and putting seven lengths between himself and the second favourite, who had previously finished fourth in a valuable bumper at the Punchestown Festival. The third horse home at Kirkistown, beaten seven lengths, has since won a point by two lengths, while the fifth, beaten fourteen and a half lengths, has since won a Fairyhouse point by two lengths. Considering Lou Prince won by a snug three lengths under hands and heels, it suggests he is a horse of considerable ability.
It will be interesting to see whether he starts out in a bumper or heads straight over hurdles, but I expect he is well capable of winning on his rules debut and could pick up a number of races during his first season. He looks to have a very bright future and is certainly one to keep on side.
Mourne Crystal – Ben Pauling
Ben Pauling has a number of top individuals to look forward to this season, but there is plenty of excitement surrounding his winning pointer Mourne Crystal, who arrives from Ireland with a big reputation and will carry the well-known silks of Harry Redknapp.
He certainly looks worthy of his lofty reputation, having dominated his only point-to-point start at Portrush by nine lengths, travelling strongly at the head of affairs before powering clear with very little effort required from his rider. His winning time was comfortably the quickest of the day, and he finished nine lengths ahead of Igoldinof, who has since been sold to Willie Mullins for £190,000. The pair pulled further twenty one lengths clear of a horse who has subsequently finished second in a bumper at Hexham.
Declan Lavery spoke very highly of him following that victory, while his new trainer has suggested that, although he isn’t the biggest, he has plenty of speed and has impressed with his work so far at Naunton Downs. Despite his size, he certainly jumped well on his way to victory at Portrush.He looks a really promising recruit and appears likely to start out over two miles over hurdles. I would be disappointed if he wasn’t capable of winning on his rules debut before progressing into Graded company, provided he is as good as his reputation suggests. Perhaps the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree over Christmas could come into the reckoning.
Upon Tweed – Nicky Richards
There are a number of horses returning from injuries suffered last season who are well worth following closely, and I could easily put together a whole list of them. However, one horse I particularly like and can’t wait to see back in action is Upon Tweed. Unbeaten in three starts, he has already shown a high level of ability and has some strong form to back it up.
He strolled to victory on his debut in a bumper at Newcastle, cutting through the field on the bridle before Danny McMenamin gave him a gentle nudge to put eight and a half lengths between himself and Conman John, who has since franked the form emphatically and is now rated 135.Upon Tweed then bolted up on his hurdles debut at Ayr, where his jumping was a little novicey, which would be my one slight concern ahead of a possible switch to fences. However, he travelled through the race stylishly and showed a lovely turn of foot to win by eight and a half lengths. The form has worked out particularly well, with runner-up Stride On subsequently winning a maiden hurdle by 17 lengths before finishing second in a strong novice contest, with a Grade 2 winner behind him. Third-placed Gaelic Rover went on to win a maiden hurdle by ten lengths, while the fourth and sixth have also won since. Upon Tweed then returned to Ayr to maintain his unbeaten record, defeating a Gordon Elliott-trained rival who has subsequently won twice.
Following those outstanding performances, the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day may well have been the next target, but unfortunately, a setback ruled him out for the remainder of the season.He hasn’t been rushed back into action, and if he retains the ability he showed last season, I think he will take some stopping in novice chases. I would expect him to follow a similar path to last year, picking up a couple of races up north for his shrewd trainer before stepping into Graded company. He is certainly one I am very much looking forward to seeing back on the racecourse.
Two for the price of one with Nicky! He also has a horse called Attin, who bolted up by eight lengths in a Newcastle bumper in April. Much like Upon Tweed, he looks the type who could rack up a sequence of wins over hurdles in the north. Keep an eye on him too.
