10 Horses To Follow Across The UK & Ireland This Jumps Season

The new jumps season brings fresh optimism, new stars and plenty of opportunities to find horses ready to take their form to the next level. With the 2026/27 National Hunt campaign on the horizon, attention turns to the runners who could emerge from the pack and make their mark on the biggest stages.

Some have already shown flashes of high-class ability, while others are new recruits and it'll be fascinating to see whether any of my selections can take high rank in the coming months. Here, I highlight 10 horses that are worth keeping firmly on the radar, with the aim of providing a group of horses that can enjoy a fruitful 2026/27 jumps season.

CRISTAL D'ESTRUVAL (Harry Derham)

Unbeaten in two starts in rules, CRISTAL D'ESTRUVAL is a hugely exciting prospect and I can't wait to see him over a fence this season. I was delighted to read that connections are going to go novice chasing with him and he could take high rank in Graded races on this side of the Irish Sea.

While he will undoubtedly get further in time, he is expected to start off at two miles and I'd imagine he will remain at that trip until beaten. The form of his maiden hurdle victory at Warwick could hardly have worked out better, with Baron Noir and Bossman Jack proving up to Grade 1 level in the spring.

He suffered a season-ending injury after his bloodless success at Carlisle but he will hopefully return to action bigger and stronger and he's very much one to keep onside in the coming months.

EACHTOTHEIROWN (Barry Connell)

Punchestown form should be taken with a pinch of salt but EACHTOTHEIROWN produced a huge performance to give owner Tim O'Driscoll another Grade 1 success and he should be well suited to novice chasing. By Westerner and out of a Presenting mare, there's got to be a decent chance he improves for a fence.

The Arkle often suits front-running types – Kargese virtually made all when winning this year's race and there's no doubt in my mind that EACHTOTHEIROWN is a better horse when he's allowed to get on with things. Cheltenham in March is the long term aim and it'll be interesting to see how he gets on throughout the season.

He'll have to improve significantly from his hurdles mark of 143 but that isn't beyond the realms of possibility. He's a 33/1 shot for the Arkle at the time of writing and he's a horse that I will be looking to get in the book before chase debut.

FAIRY PARK (Joe Tizzard)

There were strong vibes surrounding FAIRY PARK ahead of the Grade 2 Nickel Coin mares' bumper at Aintree in April and she was well supported in the betting before running a big race to finish third – reversing form with Newbury winner Princess Day.

I'd imagine she'll be better off at a more testing track than Aintree, and I'd be hoping that connections will start her off in one of the nicer mares novice hurdles this autumn. All being well, I wonder if the Listed race at Newbury on Coral Gold Cup day may be on the agenda for her – she'd certainly have the profile for that sort of race.

She looks like she'd get further in time but connections will reportedly keep her at two miles for now and I'd be hoping that she could be one for Cheltenham in March. I've very much bought into the hype with her – I think she could be the real deal.

HE'S ON FIRE (Willie Mullins)

If I had to pick one novice chaser to follow this year, it would be HE'S ON FIRE. For me, he was the best novice hurdler at Closutton last season and I'd be hoping that he turns out to be the yard's top novice chaser in the coming months. The phrase 'anything he does over hurdles is a bonus' well and truly applies to this fella.

There aren't too many horses out there who could travel as powerfully and put 12 lengths on the field like he did that day at Fairyhouse – especially on soft ground. It was a visually impressive performance and I cannot wait to see him over a fence.

Chanducoq is a relatively new sire but he had a Cheltenham winner in 2026 with Apolon de Charnie and I'd be hopeful that HE'S ON FIRE could be in the winner's enclosure next year. But which race? Welcome to the 2027 edition of Willie Mullins Bingo.

LETOS (Noel Meade)

Formerly with Tony Mullins, LETOS has been switched to Noel Meade and he looks well handicapped on some of his Irish hurdles form. He currently has a chase mark of 119 compared to his hurdles mark of 131 so I'd expect his new handler to be forming a plan for a big handicap chase down the line.

Fourth in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and fourth in a Listed handicap hurdle at Punchestown, LETOS has some solid form in the book and it'll be interesting to see how he gets on in his new surroundings. I wouldn't be surprised to see him receive an entry for something like the Troytown Handicap Chase.

Looking at last year's race, the bottom weight ran off an official rating of 118 so LETOS could get in and run off a featherweight. Only time will tell if I'm on the right lines but he's on my radar for a big pot anyway.

MANGE TOUT (Gordon Elliott)

I thought connections campaigned MANGE TOUT impeccably last season, opting to skip the Cheltenham Festival following a hard enough race at the Dublin Racing Festival and they were rewarded with Grade 1 success at Aintree in April. And with that victory to her name, I'm wondering if they may be more aggressive this term.

Reportedly likely to start off in the Listed Hurdle at Down Royal at the end of the month, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Robcour-owned mare line up at the highest level once again – and I wonder if she could have a crack at Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown's Premier Weekend.

She looks a speedy enough type to me but showed plenty of fight to knuckle down and get the better of Selma de Vary at Aintree. With the Champion Hurdle looking a weak enough division, I wonder if connections may be tempted to dip their toes in the water.

MOURNE CRYSTAL (Ben Pauling)

Ben Pauling has already stated that MOURNE CRYSTAL is going to go straight over hurdles this season and I absolutely love that decision. He recorded a phenomenal time figure at Portrush and runner up Igoldinof, beaten nine lengths that day, was subsequently purchased for £190,000 by Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins.

He arrives at Pauling's yard with a lofty reputation, with whispers suggesting that there was plenty of interest in the Crystal Ocean gelding after his point-to-point success. He won't have him fully wound up for his debut but you'd be hoping that class will get him through and he'll learn plenty for the experience.

It's hard to know what to expect from point-to-point recruits at times but I'd be shocked if MOURNE CRYSTAL doesn't turn out to be well above average. He looks a real pacey type and he could be one that goes well in the two-mile novice hurdle division.

ROCCONTIER (Nicky Henderson)

Stablemate Feel Gut has been sitting at the top of the Supreme Novices Hurdle market for much of the summer but ROCCONTIER is the Henderson horse that stands out to me based on his Junior Hurdle success at Market Rasen – I thought it was a very impressive performance from a horse making his first appearance on a racecourse.

He looked extremely professional, jumped very well and jockey Nico de Boinville was complimentary of his mount in his post-race interview. In addition, the horses in behind have franked the form – albeit throughout the summer and at a low enough level.

I can't wait to see ROCCONTIER again, hopefully in a novice hurdle at Kempton or Newbury as Henderson often starts his top prospects at those tracks. I've had a little bet on him for the Supreme already and I think he's decent enough value at 33/1 given his trainer's record in the Festival opener.

SINNATRA (Dan Skelton)

Set to go novice chasing this season, SINNATRA could be one for a big race in the spring – whether that's at Graded level or a nice handicap. He was a slow learner last season but was busy enough and hopefully that experience will stand him in good stead as he goes over the bigger obstacles.

He's a real versatile type – you can hold him up or you can bring him to the fore and that is one of his biggest strengths. He clearly boasts an engine and I'd love to see him take in a nice race over hurdles before going chasing, with a race like the Greatwood Hurdle looking right up his street.

Looking further ahead, Kabral Du Mathan has been labelled as an Arkle horse and he is in the same ownership as SINNATRA so Skelton will do his best to keep them apart. He has plenty of options.

ZEUS POWER (Joseph O'Brien)

Already a Grade 1 winner, ZEUS POWER is the new kid on the block in the Stayers Hurdle division. He ran a nice race behind King Rasko Grey in the Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham before winning the Grade 1 Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree – beating a field that included Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle winner Johnny's Jury.

He was a keen enough horse at Aintree but settled better at Cheltenham when dropped in and I'd imagine that is how they will try to ride him this season. You don't always need to be up with the pace to win a Stayers Hurdle – just look at the ride Rachael Blackmore gave Bob Olinger when winning the race in 2025.

Joseph O'Brien has the 2026 winner in his yard but we could see a changing of the guard in 2027 and ZEUS POWER is one of the top youngsters in the mix. He's not been missed in the market but he certainly ticks plenty of boxes and he's undoubtedly talented.