Winless Ones To Watch: five more Jumps horses to follow this season

Trainer: Dan Skelton.

Conditions: Novice Hurdles, likely over intermediate trips.

Much like Presley, who featured previously in this column, Rattlin Home looks a seriously exciting prospect for hurdling this season. 

His point-to-point victory at Portrush could hardly have been better advertised by the runner-up: the Champion Bumper winner, The Mourne Rambler. Rattlin Home still looked raw that day, but having just narrowly edged to the lead on the run to two out, he really attacked the last to score a one-length victory with the leading pair well clear of the rest. 

Rattlin Home wouldn’t make his debut for the Skeltons until February, when he ran in a Kempton bumper. Considering The Mourne Rambler had already been impressive on his rules debut, it was a touch surprising that Rattlin Home went off 13/2 having been quite easy to back, albeit in what looked a competitive race. Given a patient ride, he was pushed along in seventh when the field turned for home and initially looked very green under pressure. Given that, it was to his credit that he was able to surge into second, albeit denied by Fine Shot. It looks a strong piece of form, with multiple previous winners (such as Smile John Boy and Le Roi Remi) in behind, while the third (Merlin Allen), also a previous winner, finished third in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree next time out. 

Dan Skelton in his blog described Rattlin Home as a “great, big horse”, while Harry commented after the race that “he was a bit all at sea down the back straight… I think he’s a nice horse for the future and definitely a three-miler in the making”. Considering that, to finish second in a Kempton bumper of substance looks a very good effort. 

I expect Rattlin Home to develop into a very nice novice hurdler this season. He’s likely to improve throughout the season as he still looks raw, but it would be no surprise if he was competing at Graded level come the spring. 

Trainer: Oliver Signy.

Conditions: Handicaps over intermediate trips.

Few, if any horses in this column will have run as many times last season as Bespoke Tailor. While that will put some off, I still think he retains plenty of potential. 

An impressive bumper winner when trained by Ewan Whillans, he joined Oliver Signy shortly after that win when he sold for £90,000 at Tatts Cheltenham January 2025 sale. 

His stable and hurdling debut came at Fontwell behind Idaho Sun and Gaelic Pride; he ran well to a point behind some smart rivals before fading late on, shaping as if he’d improve for the run. He duly took a step forward when he finished a close third at Cheltenham behind Soldier Reeves (147) and the reopposing Gaelic Pride (125). Further good efforts in novice company would follow behind Swinging Safari and Fire Warning (126), running to a similar level on each occasion. 

Bespoke Tailor would make his handicap debut in the Morebattle in a first time tongue-tie. Held up on the inside, it’s not easy to make ground from the rear at Kelso and so when he jumped the second last in thirteenth, his winning chance was negligible. He stayed on into seventh without threatening – a respectable effort given the race did not pan out in his favour at all. 

Interestingly, he underwent wind surgery before his final start of the season, which came in the Novices’ Championship Final handicap at Sandown. A bit like at Kelso, he was ridden very patiently and never threatened to win but posted an eye-catching effort, doing much the best of those held up to finish third. I’m sure connections will have been thrilled by the way he hit the line, particularly on his first run after wind surgery. 

Only raised one pound for that Sandown effort, Bespoke Tailor begins the season rated 119. He’s shown more than enough to suggest he’s up to winning off that mark, potentially down in grade and up in trip; for all that his dam is bred for pace (by Invincible Spirit), he’s by Malinas and his half-brother won multiple times over three-miles. 

Trainer: Willie Mullins.

Conditions: Mares' novice hurdles.

Last season, King Rasko Grey featured in this list having finished second in a Punchestown Festival bumper for Willie Mullins. It would be unfair to think Altesse du Luy can mirror his success, but she looked a filly of significant potential on her sole start last campaign. 

By No Risk At All out of a French hurdles winner (from the family of the high-class Mr Mole), she was sold for €145,000 to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins as a three-year-old. 

Her sole run under rules thus far came in the Goffs Defender Bumper. The choice of Patrick Mullins, she was sent off the well-supported 9/2 favourite. Patrick seemed keen to keep his filly wide, in contrast to the majority of the other riders, which saw Altesse du Luy out on her own at stages. That was particularly notable turning for home – while the eventual winner, Abbeyglen, forged clear from his challengers on the rail, the filly was never seemingly on terms for all that she kept responding for pressure. A clear second in the end, she left the impression that there was more to come for all that this did not look like the deepest renewal of this race. 

Trainer: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore.

Conditions: Handicap Hurdles over intermediate trips (and beyond).

Having looked a work in progress across his three starts under rules thus far, it is hoped that Like Minded will appreciate a step up in trip into handicap company this campaign. 

Purchased for €47,000 as a three-year-old, Like Minded made his debut at Ayr as an unfancied 28/1 shot over two miles. While no match for the exciting Upon Tweed and the 127-rated Stede Bonnet, he stayed on into a respectable fourth, albeit never threatening the leading trio. 

He would get considerably closer next time out over the same course and distance – only beaten three-and-three-quarter lengths behind Sanilam (126) with Wilstar (125) only narrowly ahead in second. Yet again, he was under pressure earlier than most and kept on at the one pace, but it was still another encouraging effort. 

Following a fifty-day break, his final start came at Newcastle where he sported a first time tongue-tie. He continued his trend of gradually improving his finishing position, staying on into a never-nearer second having never threatened the winner, Jimbo Sport (120). 

Based on what we’ve seen on the track and his pedigree (half-brother to three-mile winner Hawthorn Street, dam related to Irish National winner Thunder And Roses), it seems inevitable that he will improve when stepping up in trip. He’ll start the season on a mark of 110 and, with experience and more appropriate conditions, it’s hoped he will continue to improve. 

Trainer: Paul Nicholls.

Conditions: Handicaps over two to two-and-a-half miles.

With four successive twos in his form line, Kilnew Supreme is the type of horse that I spend an inordinate amount of time internally debating when compiling this list. Ultimately, I’m prepared to give him a chance given how lightly raced he is and the opportunities he’s likely to have this season. 

Bought for £110,000 after finishing second to Crystal Island (unbeaten under rules, rated 133) in his sole point-to-point start, he was slightly flattered by the winner that day, but it was still a fair effort. 

Sporting a tongue-tie on his rules debut which came at Wincanton in a bumper, Harry Cobden went forward at a strong early pace before settling things down, leading until the final half a furlong where he ran slightly green. The winner, No Way Jay, finished fourth in a listed race next time out to give the form some substance – albeit, the race lacked depth. 

After that effort, he underwent wind surgery and so we wouldn’t see him until the Spring, where he was sent over hurdles. Back at Wincanton, he and the eventual winner, Stanners Glen, were the front two throughout and got into a good battle. Stanners Glen had an experience edge and the benefit of a recent run which may have proved decisive. His final start came at Taunton over an intermediate trip – he was given another positive rid and finished second again, beaten a similar distance. On both occasions, he showed he had plenty to learn. 

Kilnew Supreme is only rated 106 which should mean he can find some good opportunities in relatively weak handicaps. With time and more experience, he should improve by going up in trip, while his jumping has been an asset so far (topped the metrics for lengths gained jumping on both hurdles stars).