This is our guide to the 10 Best Novice Chasers to Follow in the National Hunt 2025/2026 Season. From Willie Mullins’ slick two-milers to Gordon Elliott’s potential stayers, these are the novice chasers who could dominate Cheltenham, Punchestown and beyond. Clear profiles, plain-English insights, and reasons why these young chasers might turn into the stars of the 2025/26 jumps season.
The novice chase division always brings surprises, with young chasers making their chasing debut and fans debating who the next star will be, complementing our main horses to follow 2025/26 guide. No jargon, just what matters: who they are, what they’ve done, and why they might light up the fences this season.
Before we start, a 10-second refresher: a novice chaser is a horse in its first season tackling the bigger, stiffer fences (as opposed to the smaller, more forgiving hurdles). Many have already shown talent over hurdles; the question now is how well they jump at speed and cope with a new rhythm. Right—let’s get stuck in.
Update (October 2025): At the 2025/26 National Hunt season launch, Willie Mullins confirmed that Kopek Des Bordes, Final Demand, and Salvator Mundi will all go novice chasing this term. The trio headline a strong Closutton team expected to dominate across distances from 2m to 3m.
What makes a good novice chaser in 2025/26?
Three things, usually. 1) A good attitude (bold but not silly at a fence). 2) A gait that says “I stay”—you don’t need a three-miler’s tank, but you do need to hit the line. 3) A trainer with a plan. You’ll see familiar names here; that’s not favouritism, it’s just where a lot of the best prospects live. And of course, every novice chase campaign is about finding out which young chasers can stay calm and jump fluently. That’s why following the best novice chasers in 2025/26 is such a thrill—because the next superstar could emerge at any track.
10 Best Novice Chasers to Follow in the National Hunt 2025/2026 Season (our picks, no particular order)
1) Kopek Des Bordes (Willie Mullins)
Think “speed with a brain”. He looked a natural over hurdles last spring and, more importantly, the Arkle trip (around two miles) screams his name. If he transfers that fluency to fences, he’ll be box-office. Expect an early-season sighter, then graded company once connections are happy with his schooling.
He showed his gears in the Supreme last March, pulling clear in the style of a horse who simply had too much pace for hurdlers. That’s exactly the kind of profile that often blossoms into a top-class Arkle contender. He also settles nicely, which makes him easier to ride aggressively without wasting energy. The only question is whether he can produce the same slick rhythm at fences, but Mullins has turned dozens of Supreme winners into Arkle types before—this lad looks cut from the same cloth.
Why follow? Raw class and the right kind of pace. If he’s neat at his fences, he could rack up wins quickly.
Update (Cheltenham 2025): Kopek Des Bordes won the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (SP 4/6F), beating William Munny by 1¾ lengths and finishing ahead of Romeo Coolio (3rd) on good to soft ground.
2) Final Demand (Willie Mullins)
A big, imposing type who shaped like a chaser even before he started bossing good races over intermediate trips. He has the engine for 2m4f–3m, which puts the Brown Advisory firmly on the long-term map if the jumping clicks.
What catches the eye with Final Demand is how he finds extra under pressure. In Punchestown’s Novice Hurdle he looked beaten turning in, only to rally like a seasoned chaser. That stamina reserve makes him dangerous when others are crying enough. He’ll be aimed at three miles sooner rather than later, and those relentless gallops up Newbury or Leopardstown’s long straights could be tailor-made. If his fencing is fluent, he’s the sort that bookmakers cut early once they see the engine translate to bigger obstacles.
Why follow? He has “staying chaser” written all over him. The further they go, the better he should look.
Update (Cheltenham 2025): In the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, The New Lion won (SP 3/1), The Yellow Clay finished second, and Final Demand was third (SP 6/4F). That trio now look set to clash again over fences, keeping the form lines between Dan Skelton and Gordon Elliott’s camps very much alive.
3) The New Lion (Dan Skelton)
Unbeaten through the spring and exactly the sort of horse who can go either way—stay over hurdles for champion honours or roll the dice over fences. If they go chasing, expect a measured campaign with a couple of confidence-building starts before a crack at a Grade 1 around 2m4f.
The Skelton team know how to place a horse, and they’ve already hinted this one will not be wasted in small pots. His unbeaten streak last spring showed tactical versatility: he can make his own running or sit handy and pounce. That’s gold dust for a novice chaser campaign where tactics win as much as talent. His stride also screams 2m4f, the classic Turners trip. If he’s schooling well at home, expect a steady climb into graded company by midwinter, with the RSA option open if he stays further.
Why follow? Professional, tough and has that “big day” mentality. If he takes to a fence, he’s top-table material.
4) William Munny (Barry Connell)
Street-wise, genuine and blessed with a pleasing change of gear. Connections have played the long game and pointed him firmly at novice chasing this season. He shapes as a two-mile type to begin with, the sort that can sit handy and pop away.
He earned plenty of admirers chasing home Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme, proving he’s tough enough to live with a searching gallop (and if you’re new to the differences between novice hurdles, maidens and beginners’ chases, here’s a quick guide to those race types.
Over fences, his straightforward attitude will be a huge asset. Some novices lose their head at the bigger obstacles, but William Munny has the sort of level head that should make the transition smooth. Barry Connell has said the plan is to campaign him positively, so we might see him in Ireland’s hot early-season novice chases before a spring Festival tilt. He could easily grab one en route.
Why follow? Clear plan, clear trip, and the kind of attitude that often makes a tidy novice chaser.
5) Romeo Coolio (Gordon Elliott)
If you like horses who travel sweetly and use a turn of foot, he’s your catnip. He mixed it with the best over two miles last term and his technique should lend itself to fast, fluent fencing. Expect trainers to pick their moments—he’s the sort you don’t need to run every fortnight.
He’s one of those horses who rarely runs a bad race, and that consistency often blossoms into a novice chasing campaign where he picks up plenty of prizes. Over hurdles he was always travelling like the winner two out, and fences should actually help him settle into a better rhythm. If he clicks early, something like the Irish Arkle could come into view, and he’s exactly the type to give punters plenty of fun because he holds his form. Don’t be surprised if he racks up a sequence through the winter months.
Why follow? He’s a rhythm horse—get him into one, and he’ll make top races look like workouts.
6) Salvator Mundi (Willie Mullins)
Smooth as silk when things fall right—settles, travels, and finishes. The 2m novice chase lane looks tailor-made. If he tightens up one or two small kinks at a fence (which many do with experience), he’s going to win nice races.
There’s an elegance about the way he moves that makes you think fences won’t faze him. He impressed in the Top Novices’ at Aintree, where his ability to quicken off a strong pace set him apart. The danger with horses like this is that they can sometimes treat fences too casually—he’ll need to respect the obstacles. But if he does, he has the engine to take out good races over two miles. A tilt at Sandown’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase in December wouldn’t shock, and that could set up a Festival path.
Why follow? A natural mover with enough class to make early graded company realistic.
7) Irancy (Willie Mullins)
A 2m–2m4f operator with substance. He has already shown that a strong pace doesn’t bother him—if anything it helps. That bodes well for deep novice chases where they don’t hang about. Don’t be shocked if he ends up at the pointy end of the season.
When he won at Punchestown, it wasn’t just the victory, it was the manner: travelling smoothly, jumping neatly, and then finding a little more when it mattered. That’s a hallmark of a horse who enjoys a proper test, and over fences that’s invaluable. He looks a horse who could handle deep winter ground, which gives him options others might lack. If the Mullins camp choose the Turners route, he’d be a lively one, and he might be underestimated because he doesn’t scream flashy—he’s more a grinder, and grinders win novice chases.
Why follow? He brings form and stamina hints; add schooling polish and you’ve got a proper player.
8) The Yellow Clay (Gordon Elliott)
Big engine, uncomplicated style and the look of a horse who will keep improving as the tests get tougher. Trip-wise, 2m4f seems a sweet spot, with the option to stretch if he keeps relaxing.
Physically he already looks a chaser, with scope and substance. Over hurdles he often gave the impression that the obstacles were almost in his way—like he was waiting for something bigger. Connections have hinted that schooling has gone well, and that’s key: if he’s as natural over a fence as his frame suggests, he could turn into one of the best of the season. Keep an eye if they campaign him gently into graded company; he has the raw material for a Brown Advisory tilt if they stretch him out to three miles.
Why follow? He ticks a lot of boxes: physique, attitude, and a set-up that should translate to fences.
9) Lovely Hurling (Colm Murphy)
One from outside the usual mega-yards to put a star next to. He progressed fast last term and has that “no drama” way about him. If he keeps finding off the bridle, fences won’t scare him. A light campaign with targeted strikes could pay off.
Every season needs one from outside the mega-yards to stir things up, and this could be the lad. He made steady progress last term, improving with every run, and that profile often explodes when they see fences. His attitude suggests he’ll keep finding, and smaller yards tend to place horses cleverly to avoid big clashes until necessary. If he wins early, the hype train will gather fast because everyone loves a “David vs Goliath” in novice chasing. He might just be that story this season.
Why follow? Profile screams “improver”. If the jumping is clean, he’ll outrun prices in good races.
10) Tripoli Flyer and the Supreme crew
A small cheat, this: the novice hurdlers who chased home the top dog(s) often become very smart novice chasers a year later. From that crop, aside from William Munny and Romeo Coolio, keep half an eye on Tripoli Flyer if connections switch to fences—there was more in the locker than the form book sometimes shows. He’d be a fun dark horse at the right track and trip.
It’s often wise to keep tabs on those who weren’t quite good enough to win a Supreme but showed flashes of ability. Tripoli Flyer is a prime candidate: not everything went right last season, yet you could always sense talent bubbling underneath. Over fences, sometimes that sort of horse sharpens up, finds a new gear, and surprises people. He won’t carry the weight of massive expectations, which can be an advantage. If he gets into a rhythm, he could spring a Festival surprise at double-figure odds.
Update (October 2025): Tripoli Flyer made his seasonal debut at Perth on October 21, starting as the 4/5 favourite (OR 142) in what looked a perfect starting point for his 2025/26 jumps campaign. Unfortunately, his jockey unseated during the race, ending his run early. The incident shouldn’t dent confidence too much—he appeared well beforehand and there were no signs of physical issues. Expect him to bounce back quickly, as his profile still suggests plenty of untapped potential once things click over fences.
Why follow? The “nearly horses” from top novice hurdles regularly blossom when they see a fence.
These 10 Best Novice Chasers to Follow in the National Hunt 2025/2026 Season split across trips — from Arkle two-milers to Brown Advisory stayers.
What trips are we talking?
- Speedsters (Arkle route, ~2m): Kopek Des Bordes, Romeo Coolio, Salvator Mundi.
- Middle-distance (Turners route, ~2m4f): Final Demand (could stay further), The New Lion, Irancy, The Yellow Clay.
- Stayers (Brown Advisory route, ~3m): Final Demand for sure, and possibly The Yellow Clay if connections stretch him out later.
This isn’t sealed in stone—horses tell you their trip once they’ve had a spin or two over fences. But it helps to know where they might be heading.
Where will they meet?
Circle these on your calendar:
- Ireland (autumn/winter): beginners’ and rated novice chases at Punchestown, Leopardstown’s Drinmore meeting, and the Dublin Racing Festival.
- Britain: early preps at Kempton, Newbury, Sandown; then the mid-winter Grade 1s that sort the pecking order.
- The big three in March: Arkle (2m), Turners (2m4f), Brown Advisory (3m)—that’s where hype meets reality. By mid-season, several of these top prospects over fences will have announced themselves as Festival contenders. And if you like looking beyond the obvious, check out our outsiders to follow in the 2025/26 jumps season, where we highlight the dark horses that could shake up these very races
It’s often in these meetings that the top novice chasers of 2025/26 start to show their true colours.
How to bet (or just enjoy) novice chasers without losing your head
- Don’t marry your opinion after one run. Plenty look brilliant on debut, then get found out when the pace lifts or the ground changes.
- Jumping is everything. A horse who gains a length at every fence will break hearts—usually opponents’.
- Trainers matter. When the top yards say “we’ll go chasing,” listen; when they say “we’ll see,” also listen. Sometimes the best bet is patience.
Final thoughts
The beauty of the novice chase division is its unpredictability. Half this list could look like world-beaters by Christmas, and two of them might terrify their jockeys at the third fence on debut—that’s the fun of it. But taken together—proven class, right shapes for fences, and clear-ish targets—these are the names we want on our side — the 10 Best Novice Chasers to Follow in the National Hunt 2025/2026 Season — as all roads lead to the Cheltenham Festival.
Top up your pint, bookmark this page, and check back after a couple of runs. We’ll be here to say “told you so”… or to hold our hands up and laugh along when a 25/1 outsider makes us all look silly.
Frequently asked questions about novice chasers
What is a novice chaser in horse racing?
A novice chaser is a horse running in its first season over fences. Many already raced over hurdles, but fences are higher and more demanding. Once a horse wins a chase, it remains a novice until the end of that season.
What races should I watch for novice chasers in the National Hunt 2025/2026 season?
Key targets include the Arkle (2m), the Turners (2m4f) and the Brown Advisory (3m) at the Cheltenham Festival. Earlier in the season, Leopardstown’s Drinmore and Sandown’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase are also big markers.
Can a horse go straight to fences without running over hurdles?
Yes, some trainers send their horses directly to fences, especially those with strong point-to-point backgrounds. It’s less common but can work for natural jumpers.
Which novice chasers are worth following this season?
Our top 10 includes names like Kopek Des Bordes, Final Demand and Tripoli Flyer—promising types who could shine in the 2025/26 jumps season.
Horses to follow for the 2025/26 Jumps Season –
[…] 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. […]