Last updated: 15 October 2025.
As the 2025/26 National Hunt season gets underway, Warwick has already staged its Grand Season Opener (23 September 2025), marking the official return of Jumps racing in Britain. Early form lines are starting to emerge, and conditions are shifting towards that autumn “good to soft” balance that separates the pretenders from the stayers.
The Flat still has a few chords left to play, but give it three weeks and the drums of the Jumps will start thundering again. If, like me, you’ve already dug the wellies out and started pretending that drizzle is “good news for stayers,” this one’s for you. In this guide, we’ll explore the horses to follow 2025/2026 Jumps Season, including the obvious big guns, a few nearly-men (and women) with points to prove, and the novices who might blow up your ante-post docket—in the good way, hopefully.
This isn’t a stable-tour lecture or a wall of ratings. It’s a friendly fan-to-fan guide, with just enough context to help your bets—and a few nudges about where ground and trip might flip a script. Ready? If you want more race-specific insights, check out my Betting Guides.
Top 10 horses to follow for the 2025/2026 Jumps Season – betting guide
Inothewayurthinkin – Gold Cup winner with stamina and class; the benchmark staying chaser for 2025/26.
Galopin Des Champs – Triple Grade 1 star, still the class act at three miles despite missing Cheltenham glory.
Gentlemansgame – Strong stayer who thrives in testing conditions; a live Gold Cup contender.
Marine Nationale – Slick Champion Chase hero; excels on good ground but handles softer going too.
Update (2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase result): Marine Nationale won the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase by 18 lengths, defeating Jonbon after Quilixos fell at the last. He went off at odds of 5/1. The race became emotionally resonant as Marine Nationale’s victory was seen as a tribute to late jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who rode him to Supreme Novices’ success in 2023.
Jonbon – Speedy yet tough; inconsistent at times but capable of winning big two-mile chases.
Fact To File – Dominant Ryanair Chase winner; versatile from 2m4f to staying trips.
Golden Ace – Shock Champion Hurdle winner; combines speed and resilience against top rivals.
Update (2025 Champion Hurdle result): Golden Ace claimed the 2025 Champion Hurdle as a 25/1 outsider, beating Burdett Road (2nd) and Winter Fog (3rd).
Lossiemouth – Star mare and dual Festival winner; classy and consistent around 2m4f.
Update (2025 Mares’ Hurdle result): Lossiemouth retained the 2025 Mares’ Hurdle, winning by approximately seven and a half lengths under Paul Townend.
Ballyburn – Headline novice hurdler moving to fences; scope and star quality.
Jasmin De Vaux – Albert Bartlett winner with stamina and efficiency; leading novice hurdler.
Cheltenham Gold Cup horses to follow 2025/2026
Several of these names are likely to clash at Cheltenham in March. You can already mark it on your diary with our National Hunt 2025/2026 calendar
Inothewayurthinkin
If you only remember one thing from last spring, make it this: Inothewayurthinkin walked into the Gold Cup and walked out wearing the crown. No flukes, no ifs or buts—he travelled, jumped, and powered away up the hill. He’s not flashy; he’s effective. That’s a beautiful word in staying chases. The job now is to back it up from November to March. Expect a quiet-enough campaign aimed squarely at a Cheltenham defence, with the usual Irish Grade 1s as markers. He doesn’t need extremes of ground, but a bit of “good to soft” makes him purr.
Update (verified 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup results):
Inothewayurthinkin claimed the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup by six lengths at SP 15/2, beating Galopin Des Champs (2nd) and Gentlemansgame (3rd) on officially good to soft ground. His time of 6m 42.30s marked one of the most decisive wins of the last decade and set the benchmark for the 2025/26 staying division.
Galopin Des Champs
Yes, he was denied the three-peat in March. No, that doesn’t stop Galopin Des Champs being a total monster. He’s still the standard for class at three miles, he bagged more big pots either side of Cheltenham, and he remains the horse others have to go past when it matters. If he gets his rhythm—long, low, economical—he makes good horses look ordinary. The season may well point to a blockbuster rematch in March. Don’t be put off if he’s beaten mid-winter: he’s a spring peaker.
Here you can read about other horses to follow from Willie Mullins for the 2025/26 National Hunt season.
Gentlemansgame
The “third man” from the Gold Cup, but not a token entry. Gentlemansgame has the engine to keep picking up deep races when others run out of oxygen. He’s a proper stayer who likes a test, and if the weather turns sour (and it will), he’s one you want on side in the right races.
These are the kind of horses to follow 2025/2026 that fans will keep on side when the mud flies. That’s why they’re at the very top of any list of horses to follow for the 2025/26 Jumps season.
Champion Chase horses to follow 2025/2026 – National Hunt racing
Marine Nationale
Two years after his Supreme glory, Marine Nationale came back to Cheltenham and took the Champion Chase with a punchy, take-no-prisoners run. Pace, neatness, tactical smarts—he ticked the boxes that win championship two-mile chases. This season is about consolidation: avoid the potholes, hit the key Grade 1s, and arrive fresh for March. On nicer ground he looks silk; in deeper stuff he’s still good, just not quite as turbo.
Jonbon
If sport had a “Netflix drama” division, Jonbon would own it. Magnificent one week, maddening the next, and rarely dull. He carries speed like a flat horse but is tough enough to go to the well—just maybe not in a swamp. Expect a familiar path: a smart pre-Christmas target, Sandown’s great winter tests, then the spring festivals. He’ll win good races. The trick is catching the right ones.
Both Marine Nationale and Jonbon rank among the must-see horses to follow 2025/2026 this season.
Here you can read about other horses to follow from Nicky Henderson for the 2025/26 National Hunt season.
Ryanair Chase horses to follow 2025/26
Fact To File
Nothing “second tier” about this one. Fact To File bulldozed the Ryanair Chase and looked every centimetre a championship horse. He’s nimble enough at 2m4f to sit handy and quicken, yet he keeps galloping like a stayer. That versatility makes him a nightmare to mark. Soft doesn’t blunt him; proper heavy might, but few look comfortable when the turf turns to soup. If you like early season bets, pencil him in for all the intermediate Grade 1s.
Champion Hurdle and top hurdlers to follow 2025/26
Champion Hurdle contenders
Golden Ace
If your jaw didn’t drop in the Champion Hurdle, you weren’t watching. Golden Ace arrived with a price that screamed “nice story,” then wrote the plot herself. She’ll start this season with a target on her back, but the engine is there and the attitude is steel. Against the lads on decent ground, she’s absolutely live again.
State Man
Fell when the big one looked in reach at Cheltenham, then went and did State Man things in the spring: smooth, dominant, “thanks for coming.” He’s the professional of the division—sets a bar you must clear. If the ground is fair and the fractions sensible, he’s eight out of ten before the tapes go up.
Stayers’ Hurdle names
Lossiemouth
The coolest grey in town. Lossiemouth swerved the Champion and defended the Mares’ Hurdle like it was a schooling session. She’s bankable, classy, and rarely breaks a sweat at two-and-a-half. Connections have options; fans have fun.
She’s bankable, classy, and rarely breaks a sweat at two-and-a-half—one of the clear Cheltenham Festival horses to watch again this season.
Bob Olinger & Teahupoo (stayers)
Pick your flavour of three-mile hurdler. Bob Olinger proved there’s still spice in the tank; when he gets a rhythm, everything looks easy. Teahupoo is the old-school grinder who keeps turning the screw, especially in Ireland. On soft or worse, he might be the most reliable name for your multiples.
Novice horses to follow 2025/2026 – Jumps Season prospects
You know the drill: this is where we all fall in love and then spend winter trying not to overreact to every fence or puddle.
Novice hurdlers to follow
Kopek Des Bordes (Supreme hero)
Fast, professional, and already with the stripes that matter. Kopek Des Bordes looks like the sort who turns up, does his job, and leaves the rest arguing about sectionals. Two miles, good to soft: yes please. If they stretch him a bit further later on, don’t panic—he relaxes like a grown-up. As a result, we’ve also included him in our guide to the 10 best novice chasers to follow in 2025/26.
Update (Cheltenham 2025): Kopek Des Bordes won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (SP 4/6f).
Jango Baie (Arkle winner)
If you like drama, Jango Baie has you. He saw off a red-hot field in the Arkle and did it the hard way: organised at pace, brave when challenged, strong up the hill. He’ll pull a crowd wherever he runs. A speed track suits; deep winter bogs are less his love language.
Update (Cheltenham 2025): Jango Baie took the Arkle Chase.
Jasmin De Vaux (the staying novice hurdler turned star)
A Champion Bumper winner who then landed the Albert Bartlett—that’s a tidy double. Jasmin De Vaux has stamina and a neat way of getting from A to B without wasting fuel. However connections map it out, keep him on the right side when the race looks like it’ll bite late.
Update (Cheltenham 2025): Jasmin De Vaux claimed the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Novice chasers to follow
Ballyburn (the people’s “can’t-wait” project)
He was last season’s headline novice hurdler and already dipped a toe over fences in the spring. Ballyburn has scope, swagger, and a big-track way of moving. He’s the one you want to be with when the notebook brigade goes full caps lock on a Sunday at Leopardstown.
Majborough (talent, tested)
Last winter’s talk of the town went straight over fences and looked a natural… until the festival asked the hardest questions. Majborough still screams proper. With a cleaner round and a touch more polish, he could make amends in a big Grade 1 before the daffodils arrive.
Poniros (the 100-1 bomb who isn’t a fluke)
Yes, Poniros landed the Triumph at cartoon odds. No, that doesn’t make him a one-hit wonder. He showed grit and a serious engine for a youngster. A careful campaign at two miles (maybe 2m1f on a testing track) could turn him into a spring menace. Juveniles can wobble year two—file under “exciting with a sensible dose of patience.”
Update (Cheltenham 2025): Poniros won the Triumph Hurdle.
Haiti Couleurs (the staying handicap crusher)
He swaggered around Fairyhouse to bag the Irish Grand National, and nothing about it looked accidental. Haiti Couleurs has a big, loping action and relishes a trip. If we get a wet winter, he’ll be terrifying in the deep handicaps and could even shape as one of the more interesting Grand National contenders 2026.
This group might just deliver the breakout stars among the horses to follow 2025/2026 campaign.
How to use this list without torching your bankroll
- Start with the ground and the trip. If you read my fresh guide on ground in jumps racing, you know the drill: Good lets class sing, Soft asks questions, Heavy shouts them. Don’t back a sprinter for a marathon just because you like the colours.
- Watch the first fences/hurdles. Is your horse meeting flights on a stride? Are the big chasers slick or ballooning? Sometimes you can tell in 30 seconds whether today is “on”.
- Avoid narrative traps. We all love the comeback story. Markets do too—until the tape goes up. Let the price come to you.
- Pick your battles. You don’t need six bets in a Grade 1. One strong view beats three “maybes” nine days out of ten—and it’s exactly the kind of approach that comes into play when understanding handicap races and betting value.
- Re-rate in real time. If a horse shows you something new—a cleaner jump, a different run style—update your view. Don’t get stuck in last year.
Jumps racing divisions 2025/26 – quick notes
Gold Cup route (3m+ chasers)
- Bankers: Inothewayurthinkin, Galopin Des Champs
- Darker at prices: Gentlemansgame, Haiti Couleurs (handicap route)
- Ground note: a testing finish on soft is a different sport—upgrade stamina monsters.
Champion Chase (2m chasers)
- Bankers: Marine Nationale
- Live rival: Jonbon
- Ground note: speed matters most; deep ground turns it into a war of attrition.
Ryanair (2m4f chasers)
- Banker: Fact To File
- Ground note: the all-rounders thrive; wind and pace shape everything.
Hurdlers (2m to 3m)
- 2m: Golden Ace vs State Man (and keep an eye on Poniros developing).
- Mares: Lossiemouth the yardstick.
- Stayers: Bob Olinger vs Teahupoo—different tools, same target.
Novices (fences/hurdles)
- Grade-1 baked: Kopek Des Bordes, Jango Baie, Jasmin De Vaux.
- Hype (deserved): Ballyburn, Majborough.
- Handicap/comeback watch: plenty—but let the early runs guide you.
Reader poll – which horse will stand out in 2025/26?
Now it’s your turn! Cast your vote for the horse you believe will shine brightest in the 2025/26 Jumps Season. If your pick isn’t listed, use the ‘Other’ option.
If you’re thinking of other horses not on this list, check out our Dan Skelton horses to follow guide and our Gordon Elliott horses to follow guide for the 2025/26 National Hunt season.
Final thoughts on horses to follow for the 2025/2026 Jumps Season
Some of these will soar. Some will flop. One will miss the first half of the season, then pop up and win a Grade 1 like it’s no big deal. Another 33/1 shot will ruin everyone’s multiples… except yours, obviously. That’s the joy of tracking the horses to follow for the 2025/2026 Jumps Season: mud, mystery, and the sweet satisfaction of being right when the hill starts biting.
So pull on the wellies, keep an eye on the going, and enjoy tracking these horses to follow 2025/2026 Jumps season. If this list helps you dodge a bad bet or land a cheeky each-way, job done. Now let’s get the tapes up.
And if you’re curious about the less obvious names who could still light up the season, don’t miss my outsiders to follow guide for 2025/26.
And of course, this list is just a starting point. There will always be dark horses, late bloomers, and handicappers who sneak under the radar. So here’s where I hand the mic to you: drop your own “horses to follow” in the comments. Which names have I missed? Who are you convinced will light up the 2025/26 Jumps season?
FAQs for readers new to the party
The new National Hunt racing season 2025/26 gets underway in late September, with Warwick hosting the traditional opener. It builds momentum through the autumn and peaks with Cheltenham and Aintree in spring.
Big names include Inothewayurthinkin for the Gold Cup, Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase, Fact To File for the Ryanair, and novices like Ballyburn. These are some of the main horses to follow across divisions.
Proven Cheltenham performers are the safest bets. Expect Cheltenham Festival horses to watch like Inothewayurthinkin, Lossiemouth, and Fact To File, all of whom have shown top-level form at Prestbury Park.
Stamina-heavy chasers are the type to thrive at Aintree. Haiti Couleurs, proven in the Irish Grand National, could be among the more exciting Grand National contenders 2026.
Ground conditions decide how races unfold. Good suits speed, while Soft and Heavy test stamina. Checking past form on the going is key for anyone betting on the National Hunt horses to follow this year.
The importance of ground in jumps racing (and your betting slip) –
[…] And if you’re already thinking about the season ahead, check out my guide on the horses to follow for the 2025/26 Jumps season […]