Racing TV's presenters and pundits Jumps horses to follow
Our expert team have compiled a list of horses for the 2022-23 Jumps season - make sure you add them into your Racing TV Tracker!
This time last year, our presenters and pundits picked out winner after winner, including Saint Palais (Martin Dixon) and Threeunderthrufive (Jess Stafford, Tom Stanley) who both completed four-timers; Champion Chase hero Energumene (Fran Berry); 7-1 Savills Chase winner Galvin (Alex Steedman); three-timers Galopin Des Champs (Nick Luck), Dusart (Steve Jones) and Bob Olinger (Ruby Walsh, Jane Mangan, Angus McNae); West Lawn (who won at 9-1 and 4-1 for Peter Naughton); other dual scorers Magic Daze (Donn McClean) and Kaiser (Gordon Brown), while Kilcruit (Rachel Casey), Bombs Away (Niall Hannity), My Drogo (Nick Lightfoot, John O'Connell, Rishi Persad), Zanahiyr (Kevin O'Ryan) and Eklat De Rire (Dave Yates) were also on the mark.
Our expert team have again compiled a list of horses to stay on the right side of during the 2022-23 Jumps season. Simply click on the horse’s name and then the binocular icon. You can keep track of your horses via the tracker page here.
DAN BARBER
Horse: Strong Leader.
Trainer: Olly Murphy.
Age: 5.
The good-looking ones don’t always deliver on the track, but Strong Leader certainly did on his debut in a Warwick bumper, having stood out a mile in terms of physique and condition in the paddock.
A full brother to Strong Glance, a multiple winner for the same connections, Strong Leader settled the Warwick race in a matter of strides with a striking turn of foot and had almost completed another half circuit by the time Adrian Heskin managed to pull him up!
He promises to develop into a smart novice hurdler around two miles.
FRAN BERRY
Horse: Flame Bearer.
Trainer: Pat Doyle.
Age: 7.
Highly progressive over hurdles last spring, his dramatic Grade Two win at Fairyhouse at Easter is well worth a watch (above) to illustrate how good a horse he is.
A strong, robust type who should be better going chasing, he looks underestimated at the 20-1 on offer with Paddy Power for the Turners Novices’ Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.
GORDON BROWN
Horse: Tough Out.
Trainer: Jackie Stephen.
Age: 5.
Formerly Britain’s most northerly-based trainer, Jackie Stephen is now settling into her new base in the borders, and I hear this is one of the horses she is particularly looking forward to.
With his hurdles mark having dropped a few pounds, he is expected to appear over around 2m4f when the ground eases and he should stay further when he goes chasing, which could be sooner rather than later.
Check out our best free bets and betting offers:
TOM BULL
Horse: Deeply Superficial.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott.
Age: 5.
This is somewhat off-piste, but I can’t wait to see how Deeply Superficial fares in her first season under rules.
The five-year-old Flemensfirth ‘freak’ cost £385,000 at the Tattersalls December sale following her romp in an Irish point-to-point at Lingstown, and with runner-up Mullenbeg (10l back in second) winning a Listed bumper at Cheltenham last season, the form looks red hot.
Gordon Elliott has taken responsibility for her and she’s already around 20-1 for the some of the novice hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival. Could she be the next Honeysuckle?
RICHARD HOILES
Trainer: Gericault Roque.
Trainer: David Pipe.
Age: 6.
Hopefully, last season's frustration at a string of placed efforts over fences can be turned to advantage as David Pipe's charge remains a novice for the forthcoming season.
A big, strong sort, he ended the campaign with a decent second from out of the weights at the Cheltenham Festival in the Ultima and will surely be a force in many of the staying handicap chases during the season, starting with the Coral Gold Cup having finished second over course and distance in last season's Mandarin Handicap Chase.
MARK HOWARD
Horse: Bo Zenith.
Trainer: Gary Moore.
Age: 3.
Gary Moore has recruited heavily from France and this exciting three-year-old could develop into a Triumph Hurdle contender this season.
Successful on his hurdles debut at Auteuil during the spring, he has impressed his new connections since arriving in West Sussex.
Expect him to follow a similar path to stablemate and Grade One winner Porticello this winter.
STEVE JONES
Horse: Minella Cocooner.
Trainer: Willie Mullins.
Age: 6.
Although he had to play second fiddle to stablemate The Nice Guy in staying novice hurdles at both Cheltenham and Punchestown, Minella Cocooner could be heading for the top over fences.
He’s a lovely, big horse, and a powerful galloper, and the National Hunt Chase which his trainer won for the third time last season already looks an ideal target.
NICK LIGHTFOOT
Horse: Crystal Glory.
Trainer: Nicky Richards.
Age: 6.
Crystal Glory is a novice hurdler I followed throughout last season. I don’t believe that there are negatives to be taken from defeats at either Haydock or Aintree, and Crystal Glory is front and centre in my mind for novice chases this season.
STEWART MACHIN
Horse: Nells Son.
Trainer: Nicky Richards.
Age: 7.
A useful bumper horse, he progressed quickly over hurdles last season winning a Grade Two at Kelso before finishing fourth in a Grade One at Aintree (watch above).
Seemingly versatile ground-wise, this lightly-raced seven-year-old stays 2m4f and looks an exciting prospect in the north if going chasing.
JANE MANGAN
Horse: Vauban.
Trainer: Willie Mullins.
Age: 4.
My horse to follow for the coming season is Vauban. Yes, five-year-olds typically struggle in their first year in open company, but I think this horse could trump that trend, just as Espoir D’Allen did for Gavin Cromwell.
As president of the Honeysuckle fan club, I would love to see her win a third Champion Hurdle, but this will be her most difficult year. All eyes will be on Constitution Hill, but I think Vauban might just spoil both parties in this division (before he wins the Melbourne Cup)!
DONN MCCLEAN
Horse: Capodanno.
Trainer: Willie Mullins.
Age: 6.
Capodanno was a progressive hurdler two seasons ago, and he continued that progress over fences last season. He only won two of his five chase starts, and he could finish only fourth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but he was held up that day on soft ground.
Willie Mullins’ charge appeared to be much happier ridden forward and racing on better ground at the Punchestown Festival in April when he ran out an impressive winner of the Grade One Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.
An impressive winner of a valuable three-mile handicap hurdle at the 2021 Punchestown Festival, the JP McManus-owned gelding stays well, has plenty of pace, and he has a touch of class.
He is only six and has raced just five times over fences, so has the potential to continue his progression this season and take high rank among the top staying chasers.
ANGUS MCNAE
Race: Champ Kiely.
Trainer: Willie Mullins.
Age: 6.
This Willie Mullins-trained gelding made his debut over hurdles at the Galway Festival this year, having won his bumper a year earlier.
He demolished the field by 21 lengths, without coming off the bridle, and is clearly a very smart prospect. There was no easier winner at the Galway Festival and the winning time stood out as one of the best, too.
He has clearly had issues as he is a six-year-old who has only raced twice, yet the fact that he has been kept in training has to be a positive sign.
He looked to be a strong stayer at Galway, seeing out the 2m 5f trip well, and his future may well lie over fences as he is an imposing type, but he remains with plenty of untapped potential over hurdles.
PETER NAUGHTON
Horse: Boy De La Vis.
Trainer: Jimmy Moffatt.
Age: 4.
Boy De La Vis is a quality four-year-old who was purchased for £52,000 at Goffs Doncaster Sales in May.
He has joined Jimmy Moffatt's yard and is much better than form figures of 2F3 might suggest.
On debut in a 2m6f maiden point at Sheriff Hutton in January, the gelding bolted on the way to the start and did a lap of the track. However, in the race, he was clear two out but beaten six lengths by Pedley Wood.
The winner was a Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews-trained classy youngster, who was sold later in the month to Colin Tizzard for £75,000, and Boy De La Vis could be another Cartmel specialist for his local trainer.
For more of Peter's free Notebook horses go to www.peternaughton.com
MEGAN NICHOLLS
Horse: Divilskin.
Trainer: Paul Nicholls.
Age: 4.
Divilskin, a new member of the Paul Nicholls team, won his point-to-point at Largy back in April in very impressive style. He can definitely sharpen up his jumping and looks an exciting novice hurdler for this season.
GARY O’BRIEN
Horse: Il Etait Temps.
Trainer: Willie Mullins.
Age: 4.
Il Etait Temps is still a novice for this season, and I expect him to take full advantage. The fact that Willie Mullins was happy to run the French import in a Grade One on his hurdle bow spoke volumes, and despite pulling too hard, he showed huge ability at Leopardstown that day, and again in the Triumph subsequently. Once he learns to settle better, he is going to be a major force as a hurdler.
JOHN O’CONNELL
Horse: Beauport.
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Age: 6.
Beauport was competitive in top staying handicap hurdles last season, all the while giving the impression he will be seen in a better light over fences.
Soft ground is ideal and from a stable that doesn't generally wrap their horses in cotton wool, we will likely see plenty of him when the campaign starts in earnest.
LISA O’NEILL
Horse: Mighty Potter.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott.
Age: 5.
The big, imposing gelding has the physique and disposition to indicate that he will be even better with another year under his belt.
A dual Grade One winner over hurdles, I am excited to see what he can do as he turns his attention to chasing for the season ahead.
TOM STANLEY
Horse: Between Waters.
Trainer: Nicky Henderson.
Age: 4.
A very impressive point winner in February, the form hasn’t really been advertised as yet but the third has won under rules. She’s in good hands and is just the type her trainer excels with.
ALEX STEEDMAN
Horse: Three Stripe Life.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott.
Age: 6.
I like both stablemates Three Stripe Life and Mighty Potter as newcomers to chasing this season.
“Stripe” is probably a stayer in the making but he had the class and versatility to compete between two to three miles over hurdles, and at all the big Festivals.
He’s extremely tough, too, and is first name on the team sheet material!
RUBY WALSH
Horse: Gaelic Warrior.
Trainer: Willie Mullins.
Age: 4.
Jumped right throughout, led, two lengths ahead last. Some of the in-running comments for Gaelic Warrior at last season's festival, but he lost! Every cloud has a silver lining; he is still a maiden, a novice, well-handicapped, more robust, and in need of winter ground. He'll do me.
ED WATSON
Race: Your Own Story.
Trainer: Lucinda Russell.
Age: 6.
With Ahoy Senor and Corach Rambler heading for some of the season's biggest chases, Lucinda Russell could find herself dining regularly at jumping's top table in the coming months.
Behind those two stable flag-bearers, the work to find the stars of tomorrow continues apace and, like Ahoy Senor, Your Own Story is a son of Dylan Thomas, a stallion Russell really rates.
Winner of two Irish points, he won second time out over hurdles at Carlisle in March and finished his race well when fifth on handicap debut off a mark of 117 at Ayr's Scottish National meeting.
Rising seven, he should come into his own graduating to fences in novice handicaps this term on galloping tracks over three miles.
CLICK BELOW FOR STABLE TOURS AND MORE
And click here for Dan Overall's 20 Winless Ones To Watch
