A new
national hunt
season arrives and we begin the search for the next top hurdle prospects. The season officially begins at Chepstow’s Jump Season Opener but in these first weeks and months we get the first glance at some exciting talent. Before long, attention will turn to the top winter hurdles races the Greatwood Hurdle, Fighting Fifth, International Hurdle, and Christmas Hurdle, all paving the way towards the spring festivals and the ultimate targets of the Champion and Stayers’ Hurdle.
In this article it’s the novice division that I'll focus on here as we aim ultimately for those festivals novice Grade 1 races.
Five novice hurdlers who could light up the 2025/26 national hunt season
.
STARZAND
(5yo Harzand – Phoenix Twist)
Owner: Gwent Holdings Ltd
Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Career Form: 2 - 11
Top RPR: 115
Runner-up on his debut point before going one better in December, he made all impressively, quickening clear to score by 25 lengths. Purchased for £230,000 soon after, he made a professional rules debut at Ffos Las in March, cruising to victory under Sean Houlihan. A strong stayer in the making, he looks sure to thrive over 2m4f up to 3m. He's another who could be graded class with potential targets including the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury and in the spring the Albert Bartlett. An exciting long-term prospect.
Verdict: Intermediate to staying trips, soft ground no issue but good spring ground may be what sees the best of him.
BOSSMAN JACK
(5yo Jack Hobbs - Lindeman)
Owner: M W Lake
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Career Form: 1
Top RPR: 108
He's a half-brother to dual Grade 2 winner Gidleigh Park, who’s rated 155 over fences. He made an eye-catching debut in a Wincanton bumper in mid-January, where Fergus Gillard gave him a confident ride and he put the race to bed without much fuss. He’s got the speed for two miles, but there’s every chance he could be seen over an intermediate trip down the line. He’s set to start his novice hurdling campaign over the minimum trip and looks to have the class to hold his own in top company, Grade 1s wouldn’t be out of the question.
Verdict: Start over 2m, soft ground will be his ideal with eyeing up Grade 1 Novices in the UK early season and the spring.
GREEN SPLENDOUR
(5yo Mount Nelson - Cool Customer)
Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Career Form: 4151
Top RPR: 127
He had three runs for Willie Mullins last season winning two and coming a 3 length 5th in the grade 2 Leopardstown bumper behind Colcannon. His last start he headed to Aintree and he bolted up in the grade 2 Aintree bumper under Partick Mullins. To me he looks a stayer in the making, I think once he's goes over hurdles and steps up in trip he will definitely be one to keep onside, especially when that spring ground comes.
Verdict: Intermediate trip up to 3m would be for him, decent spring ground will bring out his best.
NO DRAMA THIS END
(5yo by Walk In The Park - La Segnora)
<strong>Owner: McNeill Family & Chris & Giles Barber
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Career Form: 1 - 19
Top RPR: 122
This Walk In The Park gelding bolted up by 23 lengths in a point to point before selling for £160,000 and joining the Ditcheat team. On his Rules debut in a Warwick bumper, he was ridden confidently by Harry Cobden, travelled powerfully, took the lead over a furlong out, and pulled clear to win impressively. After a break, he ran a solid race to finish ninth in the Cheltenham Festival bumper, shaping well before fading on ground quicker than ideal. Now set to embark on a novice hurdling campaign, he looks ideally suited to 2m4f on soft ground. A Chepstow novice could be his starting point, with longer-term targets potentially including the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury. An exciting prospect for Nicholls.
Verdict: May well start over 2m but the intermediate trip and soft ground will be his ideal. Definitely Grade 1 potential.
THEY’RE CHANCERS
(5yo Milan - Valentines Lady)
Owner: Paul & Clare Rooney
Trainer: Nicky Richards
Career Form: 1
Top RPR: 100
A half-brother to Grade 1 winner Edwulf, he was purchased for €70,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale by Paul and Clare Rooney. They’re Chancers made an impressive debut at Ayr in January, he travelled smoothly, quickened smartly in the straight, and, despite showing signs of inexperience he stayed on strongly under Danny McMenamin to see off Lucinda Russell’s duo, Triple Crown Ted and Caballo De Guerra. He is now set to go novice hurdling, with connections expecting him to go well over 2m4f and further, particularly on soft ground. A chaser in the making, he looks every inch a high-class staying prospect for the future and should make his presence felt in the UK novice hurdle calendar.
Verdict: soft ground, intermediate trip up to 3m. He's talented and I hope he can win some races, Grade 1 potential time will tell.
2025/26 National Hunt Season Outlook
I can see all five of these go onto win races this season. We’ll see if they can make their way up to top graded company by the time the spring festivals come around as well. We'll be watching all the action throughout the season and providing you with
horse racing betting tips.
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