We're just a matter of weeks away from the start of the 2024/24 National Hunt season and there is always an aura of anticipation and excitement at this stage of the year.
Here, I've picked out 10 horses to follow in the jumps season and hopefully we'll see one or two go on to win one of the big races at the spring Festivals.
Without further ado, here are my ten horses to follow in 2024/25. You'll almost certainly be seeing a lot of these names in our horse racing tips throughout the campaign!
Jumps Horses To Follow (2024/25)
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Bowmore (Henry De Bromhead)
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Blueking D’Oroux (Paul Nicholls)
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Excello (Nicky Henderson)
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Givemefive (Harry Derham)
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Gwennie May Boy (Dan Skelton)
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In Excelsis Deo (Harry Fry)
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Jingko Blue (Nicky Henderson)
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Limier D'Arthel (Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)
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Lincoln Du Seuil (Willie Mullins)
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Making Headway (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
Bowmore (Henry De Bromhead)
I can see the Henry De Bromhead-trained Bowmore climbing through the novice chase ranks after his debut success at Tipperary over the summer.
The Alan Halsall-owned six-year-old impressed throughout and forged clear on the run-in to beat useful performer Thecompanysergeant by four lengths.
Hampered next time out at Killarney, the big horse should be there or thereabouts over the winter.
Blueking D’Oroux (Paul Nicholls)
Trained by Paul Nicholls, Blueking D’Oroux arrived from France with a fairly tall reputation but took a while to adapt to his new surroundings.
The five-year-old settled in nicely in 2023/24, winning at Cheltenham and Ascot will probably continue to compete in Graded hurdles for the time being.
Excello (Nicky Henderson)
Nicky Henderson's exciting French import Excello upset odds-on favourite Solo when running out a ready winner of last season’s Howden Graduation Chase at Ascot, before the rest of his season tailed off somewhat.
The five-year-old will be back fitter and stronger this season and he looks sure to make his mark once again in the horse racing betting markets.
Givemefive (Harry Derham)
Narrowly defeated in the Adonis Hurdle by Kalif Du Berlais, Harry Derham firmly ruled out a trip to the Cheltenham Festival for his talented juvenile, but went to the later scheduled Fairyhouse meeting instead where he finished an honourable fourth in a Grade 2 Hurdle.
There will be more Graded action to come with him in the forthcoming months.
Gwennie May Boy (Dan Skelton)
Owned by the lovable octogenarian Gwendoline Clarke, Gwennie May Boy was last seen pulverising the field by seven and a half lengths in the 3m½f William Hill Hurdle at Aintree on Grand National Day.
Since moving from Jonjo O’Neil to Dan Skelton’s yard, Gwennie May Boy has raced three times and won all three of those starts. The six-year-old is certainly one to side with in the long distance handicap hurdles this season.
In Excelsis Deo (Harry Fry)
In Excelsis Deo landed a valuable Grade 2 Handicap Chase over 2m5f in the colours of JP McManus at Cheltenham’s April meeting.
He was unlucky on a couple of occasions last season and had finished strongly when fifth in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Harry Fry can send him on to bigger and better things in the upcoming season.
Jingko Blue (Nicky Henderson)
Nicky Henderson was on the mark with another smart novice in Jingko Blue last season and there should be more good things to come from him this year.
Pulled up in the Baring Bingham at the Cheltenham Festival, the five-year-old should be able to bounce back knowing the calibre of the stable.
Limier D'Arthel (Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)
A nine length winner of an AQPS race at Moulins back in April, this horse could well be another astute French purchase for owner JP McManus.
Bred to be a chaser in time, he possess the necessary flat speed to win over shorter and he should pick up a Juvenile hurdle or two this season if he’s plotted correctly.
Lincoln Du Seuil (Willie Mullins)
When Lincoln Du Seuil suddenly emerges as a young stable star for Willie Mullins you’ll be wondering exactly where he came from?
Winner of a 1m4f Conditions Stakes at Lignieres En Berry at the end of March, the three-year-old ran on well to the line to comfortably take the spoils in the heavy ground conditions.
Again, he’s another horse to watch out for in NH bumpers and juvenile hurdles and keep an eye out for his Cheltenham odds too.
Making Headway (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
Making Headway was the winner of a competitive novice hurdle at Newbury last February. He had to make all of the running and did it in great fashion.
He was given a great front running ride by Henry Brooke that day and then went on to run a stormer in the Imperial Cup at Sandown where he finished fourth to Go Dante.
I suspect we’ll see the six-year-old running in more handicap hurdles in this campaign.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
