Five Weekend Runners to Follow for the Rest of the Jumps Season

The National Hunt season is in full swing and jumps fans are in for a real treat, with competitive action at Sandown and Aintree over the next few days. Christmas is still a few weeks away but we’re set for an early festive cracker this weekend. Here, I look at five declared runners – considering their chances of victory in the short term while also pondering the spring. So without further ado, let’s get down to business and I start with a Paul Nicholls novice hurdler who could be destined for greatness.

NO DRAMA THIS END – Sandown, Friday, 1.45pm

Paul Nicholls was clearly impressed following NO DRAMA THIS END’s debut victory over hurdles, stating that he is a “real one” while owner Max McNeill recently claimed that he might be the best horse that he’s ever owned. Initially expected to go straight to the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on 29th December, the Ditcheat handler has opted to get another run into him and he can make light work of his rivals on Friday despite shouldering a 5lbs penalty.

While the trip is potentially a little on the short side, the hurdles track is described as ‘Soft, Good to Soft in places’ and that should be spot on for him. In time, he’ll make into a staying chaser but there’s no immediate need to step up to three miles. If – and I fully expect him to – he wins on Friday, then he’ll likely head to the Challow and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares there. Looking at the spring, if it came up soft in March then you’d expect connections to look at the 2m5f Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

HIDDEN HISTORY – Sandown, Friday 2.55pm

Quite possibly my NAP of the entire weekend, Dan Skelton looks to have found a perfect opportunity for HIDDEN HISTORY to add another win to his record. He jumped very well on debut and got the job done despite looking like he’d come on for the run. He was given a measly 2lbs hike in the weights for that effort and that could look very lenient indeed come Friday evening. He stays well and I’m excited to see him progress throughout the season – he could have a big handicap in him down the line.

Currently rated 127, I’m expecting him to win again this weekend and it’ll be interesting to see how Skelton campaigns him. Will he try him in a Graded race and risk exposing his mark or will he go softly, softly before unleashing him in the spring? His trainer mentioned the National Hunt Chase as a potential target and I could see him in a race like that for sure. He’ll have no problem staying the trip and he is neat and tidy at his obstacles, two attributes that give him a great chance in any race.

SOBER GLORY – Sandown, Saturday 12.10pm

Potentially the best British novice hurdler we’ve seen so far this season, SOBER GLORY is the one to beat in the Listed race on Saturday afternoon. He is unbeaten in four starts under rules and he bolted up on debut – he looks a proper, proper animal. Philip Hobbs suggested that he’ll head to the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day and that will almost certainly be the target providing Saturday’s race goes to plan. He’s a very exciting prospect and one very much to keep an eye on. The form of his hurdles victory has taken a few knocks but it was positive to see Matty’s Getaway, fourth at Chepstow, win at Doncaster last week.

Sober Glory was fit that day but you’d assume he will improve for both the run and the experience. Saturday’s race is a stepping stone to the Formby and we could see a clash between Sober Glory and current Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Mydaddypaddy. It would be a race to savour for sure – and both have Cheltenham very much in mind.

EDELAK – Aintree, Saturday 2.05pm

While Treasure Planet is favourite for this race at the time of writing, I’m really interested to see how EDELAAK fares over hurdles. Bought privately after winning a 1m4f maiden at the 2025 Galway Festival, he is now in training with leading trainer Dan Skelton. Looking through his flat form, Treasure Planet finished eight lengths ahead of Edelak on debut but the selection has a very strong piece of form behind Scandinavia. The vibes are rather strong around him so I’m excited to see him run.

I’m already thinking of the Fred Winter for Edelak – he’s being thrown in the deep end a little bit here against juveniles with hurdling experience, so he’ll need to be smart enough to win this first time out and that could suggest the Triumph Hurdle. His half-brother, Emiyn, has placed twice in four starts over hurdles and he was rated at a similar level on the flat. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on this weekend, I won’t be betting him on Saturday but I’ll be watching him closely with a view to the future.

EXCELLO – Aintree, Saturday 2.40pm

A left-field selection, EXCELLO steps markedly up in trip for the 3m2f Becher Chase on Saturday afternoon and he can give Nicky Henderson cause for celebration. I think this trip could be the making of this gallant grey. With invaluable experience gained over the famous Grand National fences in the Grand Sefton last month, Excello returns to Merseyside off a 1lb higher mark but he looks fairly treated to me – and is worth another go back up in trip.

While some will argue that he failed to see out the three-mile trip at Sandown in March, I am confident that it wasn’t the trip so much as the testing nature of the track. Excello was there pitching at the last in the Grand Sefton before staying on at the one pace. With Nico de Boinville at Sandown, James Bowen takes the ride and he’s going well right now, with a 26% strike rate over the past fortnight. It’s a competitive race but I’d expect to see Excello in contention and he could be one for the Topham in April.