Five horses to follow this Jumps season

As the new Jumps season unfolds, excitement fills the air as we look forward to thrilling races and promising performances.

In this blog, we’ll spotlight five horses to watch closely, each with the potential to shine in the coming months. From seasoned competitors to rising stars, these five horses are set to make their mark on the National Hunt circuit. Join us as we delve into their past performances and what makes them stand out this season!

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Git Maker

Desperately unlucky in last season’s Kim Muir behind Inothewayurthinkin, he remains one of the most memorable hard luck stories of the Cheltenham Festival. The horse surged ahead alongside the winner and led with just three fences to go but ultimately couldn’t match the well-backed favourite from the JP McManus stable, settling for second place.

However, he showcased his jumping ability and stamina in the subsequent Scottish Grand National, finishing a commendable third. With his talent in long-distance chases, he is definitely one to watch this season and could even be an early ante-post selection for this season’s Grand National.

The Jukebox Man

Another one of the notable tales of misfortune from last season’s Cheltenham Festival was The Jukebox Man. He lost crucial momentum at the final hurdle, which ultimately cost him a shot at the Albert Bartlett. Kielan Woods delivered an exceptional ride that day, demonstrating great skill and determination.

In his following race at Aintree, however, he was outpaced in a gruelling contest. Despite these setbacks, he possesses the class and ability to become a formidable competitor in the staying division. We wouldn’t be surprised if he transitions to chasing, but regardless of the path he takes, he is certainly a staying horse to keep an eye on this season for the Ben Pauling yard.

Johnnywho

Johnnywho, representing the Jonjo & A J O’Neill team, recently triumphed in a novices’ chase at Carlisle on October 24th. It was his first experience with regulation fences, and he handled them impressively. Johnnywho cruised to victory with hardly any effort, displaying a strong turn of foot after clearing the last fence. Jonjo O’Neill Jr remained composed throughout the race, highlighting the horse’s impressive performance.

A point-to-point winner and previously successful on his hurdle debut at the same venue, Johnnywho shows great promise as a novice and could thrive over longer distances. There has already been significant backing for him in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival, hinting at the potential for another JP McManus-owned winner at the event. Keep an eye out for the distinctive green and yellow hoops of Johnnywho!

Regent’s Stroll

Another horse to follow comes from Paul Nicholls’ yard, and one certainly worth keeping an eye on is Regent’s Stroll this season. He had a standout year as a bumper horse and seemed to be improving with every run.

If he makes a return in similar shape to last season, he could certainly be on to bigger and better things. He is a horse that has proven he possesses the stamina needed by any good hurdler, so it will be very interesting to see him in hurdle races. Regent’s Stroll could definitely be a top-tier horse.

Moneygarrow

Now time for a bit of a darker horse in the form of Dan Skelton’s Moneygarrow. Having won his only outing in an Irish point-to-point, he was well backed and rewarded his new team with a victory on debut. A sibling of the talented Minella Crooner, he showed some inexperience when taking the lead but has the potential to develop into an impressive prospect with further racing under his belt.

The trainer, Dan Skelton, seemed to only have good words for the horse prior to and subsequent to this impressive bumper performance at Chepstow, and he seemed to be very excited about the future for this four-year-old gelding by Shantou.