Ten To Follow As The National Hunt Campaign Gets Going

So now is the time to reveal my ten horses to follow during the winter months that lie ahead for us.

Sober Glory

A gelding I put up as a horse to follow last campaign and didn’t let me down.

Back at the start of the year, the six-year-old completed two comfortable victories at Newbury. Next start off to Cheltenham for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, barring a mistake at the last he surely would have got the better of Old Park Star, going down by one and a half lengths.

The son of Mount Nelson finished the campaign at Aintree with a disappointing fourth of six behind Storming George.

Joint trainer Johnson White is already looking forward to the forthcoming campaign, with Sober Glory now switching to the higher obstacles, where White feels he will excel.

JPR One

Although a veteran at the ripe old age of nine, JPR One has already started his campaign in fine style by winning at Cheltenham just over a week ago after connections decided against sending him to the United States for the American Grand National, for the in form yard of Joe Tizzard.

The son of Court Cave was lightly raced last season, running just four times but after the win at Cheltenham there is certainly ample proof that this veteran shouldn’t be taken lightly this campaign.

Wilde’s Legacy

Jamie Snowden enjoyed his most successful season in terms of winners last year. Dual bumper winner Wilde’s Legacy looked a useful prospect when defying a penalty to score at Huntingdon in February, and although he was outclassed in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, he remains a promising horse who should improve this season.

He’s On Fire

A horses to follow list just wouldn’t be the same without a Willie Mullins horse to follow this season.

A maiden after three starts in France, he’s already two from two over hurdles for Mullins, including an exceptional performance at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival meeting which made everybody sit up and take note of this horse.

Conman John

Joint trainers Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore have been patient with this smart prospect. He only ran three times over hurdles, winning his first two starts before narrowly failing in his hat-trick attempt at Cheltenham back in December. The larger obstacles now beckon, with a successful season ahead very much on the horizon.

Klimt Madrik

A horse that improved significantly from run to run last season.chasing home No Drama This End in the Grade 1 Challow on just his third start, then finishing eighth, beaten less than seven lengths, behind King Rasko Grey in the Turners at the Festival.

The form of that particular race is working out especially well, with the winner, third and fourth all winning Grade 1s at Punchestown or Aintree on their next start. A switch to fences should bring about more progress from this imposing six-year-old, trained by Toby Lawes.

Hold The Serve

Following a wind operation, this Olly Murphy trained six-year-old grey out of Jukebox Jury finished a respectable fifth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree, over a trip that was further than ideal. He’s a horse that looks like a type that will improve for the switch to fences and he should be an interesting novice chaser to follow this season.

Harry Lowes

Yet another exciting prospect from the all-conquering Dan Skelton yard. Harry Lowes was unlucky not to win Class 2 Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on his final start last season. He is lightly-raced, having had just five starts under rules, and knowing Dan Skelton he will have plenty of options open for this progressive five-year-old.

Meetmebythesea

Consistency has been the key word for this six-year-old gelding. A winning machine in novice hurdles and fences over the last two seasons, another winning campaign this term looks very much on the cards.

A step up in trip certainly benefited the horse after winning at the Cheltenham Festival last campaign by taking the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

For trainer Ben Pauling the conundrum this term will be keep to this distance or a drop down to two miles.

Lossiemouth

Not only is this beautiful mare always a real picture in the paddock, but she also never knows when she is beaten.

Four wins in her last five starts tells its own story. Starting back in November last year in Ireland at Punchestown taking the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1) by no fewer than 19 lengths before lifting the December Hurdle (Grade 1) at Leopardstown.

The mare started the year off by finishing second to Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle, who she previously beat at Punchestown.

It wasn’t long before Lossiemouth extracted revenge on Brighterdaysahead at the Cheltenham Festival by claiming the Champion Hurdle in very impressive fashion by six and a half lengths before landing another winning run in the Irish Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in May.

If she can continue in this rich vein of form, then 2026 could well be another year to remember for the Willie Mullins trained grey.