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Yes, this was recorded by myself (Liam) and then converted into text via AI. Some of it reads a bit fluffy but the thoughts are all there and I am confident many of these will have big seasons.

The 2025/26 National Hunt season promises another year of drama, excitement, and big names clashing across Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown, and beyond. Willie Mullins still dominates the landscape, but with challengers from Gordon Elliott, Joseph O’Brien, Nicky Henderson, and Dan Skelton, there’s plenty of intrigue.

This carefully selected list of 25 horses blends superstars at the top level with handicappers who could strike at the big meetings. Each profile outlines last season’s key moments, why the form matters, where the horse is best suited, and what might lie ahead. From Gold Cup contenders to well-handicapped dark horses, this is a portfolio to follow closely.

American Mike

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

American Mike has been frustrating, but the key looks to be two and a half miles over fences. He proved it when winning a beginners’ chase over 2m4f, defeating Fact To File, now a Ryanair winner. He also ran a strong fourth in Grade 1 company behind Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps, and Iknowthewayurthinkin at the same trip.

Too often campaigned at the wrong distances, he’s now slipped to 145, making him very interesting for handicaps. His record shows that shorter doesn’t suit, while three miles stretches him.

With the right placing, American Mike could strike in a valuable 2m4f handicap this season (could he come over for the Paddy Power Gold Cup). He has the form, he has the rating, and Elliott knows how to land these races.

TARGET: Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Be Aware

Trainer: Dan Skelton

Be Aware finished a very good 2nd in the Greatwood Hurdle off 130. He then ran third in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot behind Fiercely Proud and Kabral Du Mathan, with big names like Dysart Enos and Go Dante well beaten.

Stepped up in trip for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and at Aintree, he faded after travelling well. The evidence is clear — two miles is his best trip.

Still just six, and only rated 136, he looks well placed for another crack at the Greatwood or the Betfair Hurdle. His speed and turn of foot are best seen at the minimum trip.

TARGET: Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham

Crebilly

Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Crebilly looked a ready-made Festival winner when finishing second in the 2024 Plate off 140. That was his best run and marked him down as a horse to follow.

Last season’s campaign seemed confusing on paper, but in reality it was tactical. He ran at the wrong trips early, then was stepped into the Ultima instead of the Plate. The reason? Connections already had Jagwar lined up for the Plate, which he won. The Ultima was an experiment, but not his race.

Crebilly is now down to 135, five pounds lower than when runner-up in the Plate. Back at 2m4f, he is handicapped to win.

Expect him in the Paddy Power Gold Cup or December Gold Cup, with Cheltenham again his long-term target.

Target: Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Final Demand

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Final Demand has the makings of a future Gold Cup horse. His point-to-point win over three miles set the foundation, and as a novice hurdler he showed class and scope.

At Cheltenham, he was third in the Turners over 2m5f, behind The New Lion and The Yellow Clay. That trip was on the sharp side. Back at Punchestown over 2m4f in a Grade 1, he bolted up by double digits.

All his wins have been emphatic. He travels strongly, stays well, and finds plenty. Over fences this year, I imagine he’ll start off over 2 1/2 mile before quickly stepping up to 3m.

TARGET: Brown Advisory Novice’s Chase at Cheltenham

Gaelic Warrior

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Gaelic Warrior is already a household name, but his best days may still lie ahead. He was runner-up in both the Ballymore and the Boodles, yet his most impressive efforts came over three miles.

He demolished Affordable Fury in a Grade 1 by 10 lengths, beat Grey Dawning at Aintree, and outstayed Appreciate It at Sandown. At shorter trips, like against Solness, he has looked vulnerable.

Mullins tried to make him into a 2m4f horse, but he does get 3m. He jumps fluently and also has that turn of foot.

The King George VI Chase looks perfect!

TARGET: King George at Kempton

Galopin Des Champs

Trainer: Willie Mullins

This one may appear very obvious but you could argue he deserves his place in this list as we think he’ll regain his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in March which he lost in 2025 to Iknowthewayurthinkin, but the pair pulled clear of the field. It was still a mighty effort, and there is every chance he regains the title.

The campaign writes itself: Leopardstown at Christmas, Irish Gold Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Punchestown Gold Cup. He may well sweep the lot.

At Cheltenham, he may simply have been outstayed. With slight tactical adjustments, he can prove superior again.

He remains the standard-bearer of the staying chase division.

Target: Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Ginny’s Destiny

Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Ginny’s Destiny arrives at Henderson’s yard from Paul Nicholls and looks very well handicapped. He has dropped from 155 to 147 despite solid Festival runs.

As a novice, he was second to Grey Dawning in the Turners and to Il Etait Temps in the Manifesto. Those runs show high-class ability.

Last season he was sent off 3/1 favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup off 155. Off 147 now, he could easily gain compensation. However don’t also overlook his very low 135 mark over hurdles!

Expect him in the same Cheltenham handicaps, but this time with a much better chance.

Target: Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Grangeclare West

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Grangeclare West looked the unlucky horse in the 2025 Grand National. Badly hampered on the turn for home, he still charged late for third behind Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus.

Earlier in the season, he had pushed Galopin Des Champs and beaten Corbetts Cross. He is a genuine Grade 1 horse who stays all day.

Now rated 166, Mullins may use Grade 1s to shave his mark down. Back near 163, he would be perfectly placed for Aintree.

He has all the tools to win a Grand National.

Target: Grand National at Aintree

Herakles Westwood

Trainer: Warren Greatrex

Herakles Westwood has been asked to stay extreme distances, but that isn’t his game. Seventh in the National Hunt Chase and fifth at Punchestown over nearly four miles proved as much.

At three miles, however, he looks a different horse. He was fancied off 129 at Newbury and now sits at 126, which is a tempting mark.

Greatrex will likely target 2m6f–3m handicaps this term. Cheltenham could play to his strengths, with his cruising speed ideal for those big races.

A shrewd campaign could see him rack up wins.

Target: Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase at Newbury

Holy See

Trainer: William Durkan

Holy See caught the eye in juveniles. At Naas, he was a close second to Charlus, with Kool One behind. He was then heavily backed into 6/4 for another Naas race that often highlights Fred Winter horses, showing the regard in which he’s held. The 2 horses that finished 1st & 2nd (who both went off 7/2) have since won Grade 3 and Grade 1 events!

He ran in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and pulled up at 33/1 & then finished third at Ballinrobe in a maiden against older horses (Arch Empire, Yoradreamer). He then contested a Grade 2 where he was outclassed but that was probably the plan to keep his handicap mark down with this season in mind.

The key is his mark. Dropped to 117, eight pounds lower than at Cheltenham, he looks very interestingly handicapped.

Durkan trains and owns him, so you can expect careful placement.

Iroko

Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Iroko made a fine first attempt at the Grand National, finishing fourth off 152 as a seven-year-old. He had already been second to Iknowthewayurthinkin in a Grade 1 over three miles.

His Aintree record is excellent, and he clearly thrives on the big occasion.

Still off 152, his mark is unchanged. Expect him to be campaigned carefully, with the National again the target.

By April 2026, as an eight-year-old, he could start favourite.

Target: Grand National at Aintree

Jasmin De Vaux

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Champion Bumper winner of 2024, Jasmin De Vaux then ran eighth in the Punchestown Champion Bumper. Over hurdles, he beat The Enabler before two fourths at Naas and Leopardstown when jumping poorly but clearly possessing an engine.

At Cheltenham, he landed the Albert Bartlett, beating The Big Westerner. He then showed this wasn’t a fluke by winning at Punchestown, winning the 3m Grade 1 Novice Hurdle.

Jumping is his weakness. Fences are risky, so another hurdling season beckons. The Stayers’ Hurdle is the obvious goal.

With stamina assured, he could become a major player in that division.

Target: Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham

Jeriko Du Reponet

Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Jeriko Du Reponet’s season began disastrously at Sandown, where he boiled over in the paddock and was pulled up. Switched to hurdles, he rebuilt confidence.

He was third in a Pertemps qualifier, then second in the Pertemps Final behind Doddiethegreat (who made this list last year). At Punchestown, he reversed the form with Doddiethegreat franking the form of the Pertemps Final.

That sequence proved his talent and stamina. Now back over fences, he is rated just 135, leaving him very well treated.

Ignore Sandown. If he jumps cleanly, he could go all the way to graded chases with the Brown Advisory the long term target. In the near future, he could be aimed at a couple of Novice Handicap Chases at Cheltenham over just further than 2m4f (Nicky won last year with Peaky Boy) & then up to 2m6f at Newbury again (Nicky ran Shanagh Bob last year)

Target: Novice Handicaps at Cheltenham & Newbury

Jordans

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jordans has had only six runs but already boasts strong Grade 1 form. He was second to Impaire Et Passe at Limerick and second to Caldwell Potter at Aintree.

In the Plate at Cheltenham, he was only fifth off 148, but that may have come too soon. As a six-year-old, he is entitled to improve.

Handicaps like the December Gold Cup could be perfect before stepping back into Grade 1s.

Lightly raced and full of promise, Jordans is one to watch.

Target: December Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Kitzbuhel

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Kitzbuhel has made rapid progress for Mullins. He beat Colonel Mustard, a proven Champion Hurdle performer, and then won at Gowran over Break My Soul and Sir Gerhard (two more smart types)

Tried at three miles, he disappointed when only 5th at Aintree before then only finishing 3rd at Sandown over 2m5f. Not often that I think Willie Mullins gets things wrong, but there appeared to be no reason for him to step up in trip and he’s arguably shown that he needs to go back in trip now.

Does he stay over hurdles or go over fences. I think the former would be my preferred option if I owned him.

Still under-appreciated, Kitzbuhel could be the Donnellys’ next two-mile star. They could even face of State Man & Kitzbuhel in the Morgiana Hurdle to find out their pecking order!

Target: Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown

Lulamba

Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Lulamba rose to prominence in the Triumph Hurdle, finishing second to Poniros (who won at 100/1). At Punchestown, he reversed the form in style, winning the Grade 1 by four lengths from Poniros demonstrating the Triumph Hurdle form was strong.

With Hello Neighbour and Murcia behind I feel the form looks quite deep as well.

Lulamba looks tailor-made for fences, with the Arkle the long-term target and this could be very important with the likes of Anzadam and Kitzbuhel also owned by the Donnelly’s. What would you do with State Man, Lulamba, Anzadam & Kitzbuhel?

Henderson has another potential Festival star here.

Target: Arkle at Cheltenham

Majborough

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Majborough went into the Arkle as a 1/2 favourite after thrashing Touch Me Not at Leopardstown. He travelled like a winner but made critical mistakes at the last two fences.

At his best, he is fast, fluent, and dominant. The Champion Chase is his race. His only major rival is Sir Gino. Il Etait Temps still has to prove himself at Cheltenham, and I still don’t rate Marine Nationale right at the very top!

Mullins and/or J.P. McManus already have their middle-distance and Gold Cup team sorted — Fact To File, Galopin Des Champs, Iknowthewayurthinkin — so Majborough stays at two miles.

At 8/1, he is overpriced. I actually expect him to line up favourite in March.

Target: Champion Chase at Cheltenham

My Mate Mozzie

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell

My Mate Mozzie has smart form over both hurdles and fences. Over hurdles, he was third behind Nürburgring and Ndaawi in the Galway Hurdle, who are both rated much higher since whilst My Mate Mozzie is only 2lb higher!

Over fences, he was second at Leopardstown to An Peann Dearg, then fourth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, finishing just behind quality rivals after travelling powerfully.

He flopped at Aintree but dropped 1lb for it, leaving him at 150. His marks of 146 over hurdles and 150 over fences make him a player in handicaps.

Expect him at Leopardstown or Galway, where he has form, and he could pop up in a big handicap.

Target: Ryanair Handicap Chase (finished 2nd last year when RTR 1 behind RTR 2)

Nurse Susan

Trainer: Dan Skelton

Nurse Susan looked a star in the making when fourth in the 2022 Mares’ Novice Hurdle, but injuries have plagued her. She was off 613 days before winning at Cheltenham and Lingfield, then another 418 days before returning in the Martin Pipe.

At Cheltenham, she ran boldly, leading until two out before fading — a huge effort off a long break. At Ayr next time she disappointed, possibly due to cheekpieces.

Now rated 125 fences / 130 hurdles, she is very well treated.

If she gets a full season, she could win multiple races en route to Cheltenham maybe in the Pertemps Final

Target: Mares Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (December)

Nurburgring

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Nürburgring is only five but has already shown serious talent. He was fourth in the Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham off 143, behind Caldwell Potter, Anyway, and O’Moore Park.

He then beat Special Cadeaux in a novice chase, confirming his progress. His Galway Plate run can be ignored — he was hampered and pulled up, having been sent off favourite.

Now rated fairly, he looks dangerous in handicaps between 2m and 2m4f.

Still unexposed, I still think there is more to come!

Target: Ryans Cleaning Handicap Chase at Punchestown

Sa Majeste

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Sa Majesté went off 5/1 for the Coral Cup in 2024 off 140, then ran third in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham 2025 off 142. For a seven-year-old, that was an excellent effort.

He was pulled up in the Irish Grand National, but that may have been a case of too much, too soon. His mark has dropped to 135 hurdles / 139 fences, which makes him very interesting.

Another Kim Muir bid with Patrick Mullins looks on the cards, though he could strike in handicaps beforehand.

There is still more to come from him. When does JP want him to win a feature race?

Target: Kim Muir at Cheltenham

The Goffer

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

The Goffer is a puzzle but one with a clear answer — 2m4f is his trip. He ran third in the Topham off 137, and now sits at 134.

His career highlight came at Leopardstown in the February Handicap Chase, which he won off 138. Inexplicably, he has never been back.

Instead, he has been campaigned at Nationals and cross-country races. If kept to 2m4f, he has wins in him.

The Leopardstown handicap looks an obvious target again.

Target: Leopardstown Handicap Chase (February)

This 25-horse list offers a blend of Festival stars and handicapping gems. Galopin Des Champs, Gaelic Warrior, Majborough, Jasmin Des Vaux head the Grade 1 brigade. Crebilly, Sa Majesté, Holy See, Be Aware look like big handicap players. Future Gold Cup horses like Final Demand and Grand National contenders such as Grangeclare West and Iroko add long-term intrigue.

The themes are familiar: Willie Mullins dominates, Nicky Henderson has new firepower, Joseph O’Brien and Gordon Elliott hold smart handicappers, and Dan Skelton could strike with clever placement.

Follow these horses closely through 2025/26 — they represent the best mix of proven quality, untapped potential, and handicapping opportunity.

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