The 2025/26 National Hunt season is underway, and as always the spotlight is on the trainers who shape Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown. Their form cycles, race planning and ability to peak horses at the right time decide who dominates across the UK & Ireland. This guide reveals the top trainers to follow in 2025/26, their festival records, key strengths and what punters should expect this jumps season. For a complementary look at the horses to follow for the 2025/26 Jumps Season, check our full guide here.
This long-form guide highlights the top trainers to follow in the National Hunt 2025/2026 season — Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton — plus a quick look at Paul Nicholls, Henry de Bromhead and Venetia Williams. You’ll get context, what they do best, what to expect across the calendar, and the kind of betting cues that consistently matter for each yard.
Quick comparison: top National Hunt trainers 2025/2026 at a glance
| Trainer | Key strengths | Festival record | 2025/26 watchpoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Mullins | Depth across all divisions, best National Hunt trainer, festival peak, novice management | 113 Cheltenham winners, 12-time Leading Trainer | Fresh novices, Grand National firepower, UK trainers’ title defence |
| Gordon Elliott | Early-season fitness, handicap placement, stayers & Nationals | 41 Cheltenham winners | Handicap battalions, Teahupoo-type stayers, Aintree targets |
| Nicky Henderson | Top hurdlers & two-mile chasers, patient campaigns | 75 Cheltenham winners (leading British trainer) | Comeback season after setbacks, eye on Champion Hurdle & Arkle |
| Dan Skelton | Handicap mastery, targeted campaigning, rising Grade 1 profile | 11 Cheltenham winners | Handicap plots, The New Lion momentum, Aintree focus |
| Paul Nicholls | Boxing Day specialist, Ditcheat tweaks, King George dominance | 14-time UK Champion Trainer, 13 King Georges | Second-half improvers, Kempton kingpins |
| Henry de Bromhead | Grade 1 selectivity, rider synergy, lethal with two-milers | 27 Cheltenham winners | Bob Olinger and stayers, sharp chasers for spring |
| Venetia Williams | Mud-loving stayers, deep-ground handicaps | Grand National 2009 (Mon Mome) | Winter Saturdays, second-run improvers |
Willie Mullins: National Hunt’s dominant trainer
Why Mullins matters in 2025/26
Willie Mullins enters 2025/26 after another era-defining campaign: a record-equalling 10 winners at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and the continuation of a dominance that extends well beyond Prestbury Park.
He has also proven he can pick off the UK’s biggest prizes on British soil, culminating in Grand National success in 2025. The scale and depth of Closutton’s team are unmatched; the pipeline of bumper stars, novice hurdlers and novice chasers ensures he refreshes his Grade 1 squad year after year.
Key strengths of the Closutton yard
- Depth across divisions. Mullins rarely relies on one flagship horse; he fields multiple contenders for the same Grade 1 without diluting chances.
- Novice management. The transition from bumper → novice hurdles → novice chases is carefully staged, often targeting spring Grade 1s after a light early campaign.
- Festival peaking. From Dublin Racing Festival to Cheltenham and Punchestown, the hit rate at marquee meetings remains the gold standard.
Festival targets and horses to watch
Expect the usual novice battalions to shape Arkle, Turners and Brown Advisory pictures through winter trials. For more detail on the most exciting prospects, see our 10 novice chasers to follow in the 2025/26 jumps season. The open-company horses typically follow well-worn paths: Down Royal at Halloween, Leopardstown at Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival in February, then Cheltenham/Aintree/Punchestown. Keep an eye on how Mullins spaces runs; he’s comfortable going fresh into Grade 1s when the horse’s constitution allows it.
Betting angles for punters this season
- Market moves matter less with this yard: second or third strings can be fully live. Judge case-by-case on course, trip, and running style rather than pecking order.
- Novice chasers improving late. First or second fences-in-public aren’t always the finished article; Closutton horses frequently jump sharper with a run, then spike for spring.
- Festival week stacking. When a Mullins horse shortens late in a festival heat with a proven rider-course combo, the yard’s confidence signal is worth respecting.
Read here our Willie Mullins horses to follow 2025/26.
Gordon Elliott: Ireland’s challenger to Mullins
Why he matters right now
Elliott remains Mullins’ most persistent rival in Ireland. His Festival record sits in elite territory, and his operation routinely produces horses that land big handicaps and stayers’ prizes. He has a knack for finding improvement in horses that looked fully exposed elsewhere, and he aims a significant part of his team at Aintree and the spring Nationals.
What the yard does best
- Autumn readiness. Plenty of Elliott horses are fit and winning early; his novice hurdlers and handicappers can strike before others have even revved up.
- Staying types & cross-camp progression. He’s adept at identifying horses who want a trip and shaping them into National and marathon chasers.
- Handicap placement. From Troytown to the Paddy Power Chase and beyond, he plots routes that extract value from the ratings.
Horses and targets to watch
Look for a broad handicap team through Fairyhouse and Leopardstown over Christmas, then the traditional Trial paths into spring. In the Championship sphere, Elliott’s best hurdlers and chasers tend to race more often than their British counterparts; fitness is a weapon.
Betting angles for 2025/26
- Follow early-season form. When Elliott hits stride in October–November, the winners often cluster.
- Marathon chases. If a horse from the yard shapes like a strong stayer with safe technique, remember that Aintree, Ayr or even the Irish Nationals can be the real target — patience pays.
Read here our Gordon Elliot horses to follow 2025/26.
Nicky Henderson: Britain’s most successful Cheltenham trainer
Why he matters right now
The Master of Seven Barrows remains the most decorated British trainer at Cheltenham Festival, a yard that punters always track when analysing Festival trainers. Despite a challenging 2024/25 lead-up with a couple of high-profile setbacks, Henderson’s yard retains the firepower and the institutional knowledge to peak elite hurdlers and two-milers for championship dates. He’s selective with runners and still deadly when the ground, track and timing align.
What the yard does best
- Top-of-the-tree hurdlers and chasers. Henderson’s CV at two miles is formidable, and his best horses often travel and quicken off a strong pace.
- Campaigning for spring. He is content to run less and aim higher, which can look quiet midwinter but pays off when A1 targets arrive.
- Schooling and jumping fluency. His novice chasers frequently jump slick early; Seven Barrows graduates are good “debut over fences” propositions when conditions suit.
Horses and targets to watch
Henderson typically builds quietly through November–December, then aims for Kempton Christmas (especially for speed chasers) and selected spring Grade 1s. Watch for deliberate freshening breaks into the big ones; it’s a hallmark of the yard’s patience-first philosophy.
Betting angles for 2025/26
- Respect the yard note. When Seven Barrows declares a horse spot on after a setback or mid-season lull, the strike rate first-time-back is better than the market assumes.
- Two-mile chases & top hurdles. On good to soft/good spring terrain, Henderson’s best can outjump and outcruise rivals who rely solely on stamina.
Read here our Nicky Henderson horses to follow 2025/26.
Dan Skelton: Britain’s rising National Hunt force
Why he matters right now
Skelton has built Britain’s most upwardly mobile operation of the last few years, translating winter momentum into Festival winners and big Saturday handicaps. The partnership with Harry Skelton adds tactical clarity: they are shrewd at pace maps, and they time weight drops and trip tweaks to perfection in handicaps.
What the yard does best
- Handicap mastery. Skelton is outstanding at identifying winnable marks and exploiting them in valuable pots across the season.
- Targeted campaigning. He’ll take runs out to protect a mark or pivot distances to hit the sweet spot right before a festival.
- Novice progression. The team increasingly converts talented novices into bona fide Grade 1 horses, not just handicap standouts.
Horses and targets to watch
Expect a busy midwinter in Britain, with a strong presence at Warwick, Cheltenham Trials Day, Ascot and Newbury. Skelton’s team tends to roll into March with a handful of horses cherry-ripe, and he’s not afraid to reserve gas for Aintree if the Cheltenham setup isn’t perfect.
Betting angles for 2025/26
- Mark-watch. When a Skelton handicapper gets a lenient drop or hits a known sweet trip, the yard is ruthless at cashing in.
- Front-running advantage. On sharper British tracks, a positive ride from Harry Skelton can be the winning move if the pace map looks uncontested.
Read here our Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26.
Paul Nicholls: 14-time UK champion trainer
Where he stands
A 14-time British champion trainer, Nicholls remains a force. His record in the King George VI Chase is extraordinary, and Ditcheat still produces Grade 1 winners with regularity. The roster has evolved from the Kauto/Denman era to a more spread-out talent base, but the playbook — target Kempton, prep cleverly, and strike — still works.
What to watch in 2025/26
- Boxing Day at Kempton is Ditcheat’s natural habitat; even in transition years, the yard turns up with live King George players.
- Second-half improvers. Nicholls is adept at re-igniting horses after wind ops or trip changes; keep an eye on January–March spikes.
- Tactics and schooling. Expect efficient jumpers and strong gallopers; when the yard talks stamina over three miles+, take note.
Betting cues
- Kempton bias. Ditcheat’s Boxing Day stats speak for themselves; course specialists and Nicholls in the King George remain angles you don’t overthink.
- Freshness factor. First-time tongue-tie, wind-op, or seasonal debut can be a springboard — the market often underestimates the impact of Ditcheat tweaks.
Read here our Paul Nicholls horses to follow 2025/26.
Henry de Bromhead: selective but deadly trainer
Where he stands
Few National Hunt trainers in UK & Ireland choose their battles better, and de Bromhead has built a reputation for targeting only the right Grade 1 races. De Bromhead’s operation doesn’t try to match Mullins for volume; instead, it targets the right Grade 1s and has a remarkable recent record across Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup and staying hurdles. The jockey-trainer synergy remains a key differentiator, with tactics that suit speed-and-jump horses in championship races.
What to watch in 2025/26
- Two-mile chasers and staying hurdlers are the yard’s heartbeat. When ground is sound and the horse jumps quick, de Bromhead is dangerous at Cheltenham.
- The team typically travels well to Aintree, particularly with hurdlers who relish flatter tracks after the Cotswolds.
Betting cues
- Grade 1 selectivity. If de Bromhead commits to a top-level target, assume the horse is spot on.
- Rider synergy. When the stable’s A-rider is booked early and the horse’s ideal setup (track/ground) is in play, the strike rate is better than the broader market implies.
Read here our Henry de Bromhead horses to follow 2025/26.
Venetia Williams: winter ground specialist
Where she stands
Williams is synonymous with tough, mud-loving chasers and clever placement in deep-ground handicaps. The headline memory is the 100/1 Grand National shock with Mon Mome — but her broader fingerprint is winter handicaps where stamina and jumping trump raw speed.
What to watch in 2025/26
- Heavy-ground Saturdays. January–February is her window; when deep ground hits and the fences matter, Venetia’s horses often outjump rivals late.
- Durable stayers. Look for repeaters in races with demanding fences and undulating tracks.
Betting cues
- Ground first. When it turns soft/heavy, Venetia’s strike rate and ROI can surge. If the horse has course form in the mud, upgrade again.
- Freshness vs fitness. Many horses from this yard improve 2nd run back; don’t panic if the seasonal debut is just okay.
Read here our Venetia Williams horses to follow 2025/26.
How to use trainer trends in your betting strategies 2025/2026
Use these quick checks before you bet.
Map the season
Build a simple calendar with key weekends (Chepstow opener, Down Royal, Betfair Chase day, Tingle Creek/Many Clouds, Christmas meetings at Kempton/Leopardstown/Limerick, DRF, Trials Day, Cheltenham, Aintree, Scottish National, Sandown). You can also check our full National Hunt 2025/2026 calendar of fixtures and festivals for a complete guide to the season’s schedule.
Next to each weekend, note which yards traditionally fire. You’ll quickly spot yard-specific hot zones.
Track the ground
Trainer form often tracks going changes. Venetia on heavy, Nicholls on better winter ground at Kempton, Mullins rolling through spring festivals — these are seasonal patterns you can anticipate rather than react to.
Watch the novice arcs
Follow how each trainer introduces and escalates novices. Mullins’ second-season chasers, Henderson’s slick two-milers, Skelton’s mark-protecting routes, Elliott’s autumn-forward approach — these arcs repeat yearly with different names.
Respect yard momentum
When a top yard bangs in two or three in a day, don’t call it noise. It’s often systemic — horses are healthy, scopes are clean, and the team is in rhythm. If you liked one already and the yard is flying, lean in, not out.
Final thoughts on top National Hunt trainers 2025/26
You don’t have to guess which National Hunt trainers to follow in 2025/26 will define the season — their profiles are stable, the calendars are known, and the strengths are repeatable. Mullins brings depth and festival control; Elliott adds early-season volume and staying power; Henderson still sets the bar with elite hurdlers and chasers when conditions suit; Skelton is Britain’s sharpest handicap strategist with growing Grade 1 clout.
Around them, Nicholls remains a Kempton king and a spring fixer, de Bromhead is lethal when he chooses his battlegrounds, and Venetia Williams owns the deep-winter grind.
Use those truths to shape your shortlists, manage your staking around the calendar, and you’ll stop chasing form after it’s obvious — and start arriving before the market gets there.
Frequently asked questions – Top National Hunt Trainers 2025/26
Willie Mullins is the all-time leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival, with over 110 winners and counting. His depth across all divisions and ability to peak horses for March make him the dominant force, year after year, in both novice and championship races.
Dan Skelton has earned a reputation as Britain’s shrewdest handicap strategist. His yard consistently identifies winnable marks, times campaigns to perfection, and produces runners that peak for big Saturday handicaps or Cheltenham Festival targets. Punters often keep a close eye on his mark drops.
Venetia Williams is the trainer to watch when the ground turns soft or heavy. Her chasers thrive in testing conditions, especially during the deep winter months. Many of her runners improve on their second start of the season, making them strong betting propositions in tough-ground handicaps.
Gordon Elliott has a proven record with staying chasers and National types, including Tiger Roll’s back-to-back Aintree wins. His horses are often campaigned with spring marathons in mind, and his ability to keep stayers fit through the season makes him a consistent National contender.
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