cheltenham quiz cover.jpg
It promises to be another exciting National Hunt season over the final months of 2025 and into next year and there are plenty of horses to keep a close eye on as the campaign develops.
Here we pick out 10, in no particular order, who could have a big impact in the months to come.
1. Celtic Dino
Created a good impression when winning on his reappearance in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow last weekend, enhancing his already impressive profile.
Fourth in a Grade 1 at Aintree on Boxing Day and third in a Grade 2 at Kempton last season, he remains lightly raced over hurdles and looks to have made good progress physically over the summer months.
2. El Cairos
Owned by David Maxwell and trained by Gary and Josh Moore; this gelding will likely fetch a handsome sum at the upcoming sales, having shown very good form in bumpers last season, culminating in a second at the Punchestown Festival.
Fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March, he’s a former Irish point winner and is an exciting prospect for novice hurdles.
3. Final Demand
A dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles for Willie Mullins last season, his only defeat coming when third behind The New Lion in what looked an outstanding renewal of the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Anything he achieved over hurdles was likely a bonus and this strapping gelding should take high rank in novice chases from 2m4f to 3m.
4. Give It To Me OJ
Fourth in a Grade 1 at Aintree in the spring and landed a valuable pot over hurdles for Gary and Josh Moore on the final day of last season at Sandown, carrying 12st to victory in what was an ultra competitive race.
He’s done well on the Flat since, winning both starts at Epsom.
5. Honest Policy
Trained by Gordon Elliott, he did nothing but improve over hurdles during the last campaign, winning twice at 2m, a Grade 1 at 2m4f and edged out at the top level at the Punchestown Festival, upped to 3m.
He’ll have plenty of options open to him this season, including a switch to fences.
6. Jagwar
Won four of his five chase outings last season, including a pair of Cheltenham successes, the latest in the Grade 3 Plate Handicap Chase at the Festival in March, despite not being overly fluent.
He should have more to come this term and has the potential to develop into a Grade 1 horse in due course.
7. Kitzbuhel
Another from the Mullins camp, who would have ended last season with a decisive victory in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown in April but for running out of room and completely losing his pitch before the second-last.
Lightly raced in Britain in Ireland, he has the potential to develop into a leading candidate for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
8. Majborough
Winner of the Triumph Hurdle in 2024 for Willie Mullins, he achieved plenty in his first season over fences last season, despite not looking a natural.
Won the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown and would have won the British equivalent at the Cheltenham Festival but for a couple of howling mistakes.
He recouped those losses with a wide-margin success in a Grade 1 at Punchestown in May, albeit jumping badly left at times.
9. The Jukebox Man
Was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival in March after sustaining an injury during a routine piece of work, but he’d previously proved himself one of the leading novice chasers around with victories in a Grade 2 at Newbury and a Grade 1 at Kempton.
10. Woodie Flash
Progressed rapidly over hurdles for Olly Murphy last term, winning three of his four starts, his last success probably the most impressive of them all.
This winning pointer should have more to come, particularly once switched to fences and he handles all types of ground.