2025/2026 National Hunt Horses To Follow - Our Picks

# Our Top National Hunt Horses to Follow for the 2025/2026 Season!

## Exciting Events on the Horizon!

It's that thrilling time of year again! We're diving into our yearly picks for National Hunt horses to follow for the 2025/2026 season! You can see how our picks from last year fared by clicking here.

Meet Our Star Picks!

Windbeneathmywings

This talented horse began his racing career in Ireland, winning 2 out of 3 bumpers for trainer Patrick Flynn. He was purchased by Professor Caroline Tisdall and G Thompson to be trained by David Pipe at Pond House in the South West of England. His only run in England so far was at Ascot in the Valuable King Edwards VII Bumper, where he won impressively by 14 lengths! This was considered the most competitive bumper of 2024. Although he missed the Cheltenham Festival due to a setback, we can’t wait to see him return and start hurdling this season!

The Jukebox Man

What a high-class hurdler! The Jukebox Man has placed in multiple Grade 1 races. He went chasing last season and started with a bang, winning a Grade 2 on chase debut and then following up with a Grade 1 win at Kempton Park! Unfortunately, he missed the major festivals due to an injury. However, he’s definitely one to keep an eye on if he retains his pre-injury ability. Trained by Ben Pauling, he’s one of the new leading lights in English National Hunt Racing!

Myretown

After falling at Windsor in January 2025, Myretown regained his confidence and won easily at Kelso in February 2025. He then followed up with a valuable Ultima Handicap win at the Cheltenham Festival, pulling clear to win by 11 lengths! His rating has drastically increased from 127 to 142. At just 8 years old and with only 9 races under his belt, the only question remains: will Lucinda Russell decide to run him as top weight in a handicap or at the top level against the best horses in the game?

Haiti Couleurs

This lightly raced 8-year-old has won 6 out of 11 under Rules! He’s a possible English Grand National runner, currently rated 152. With the recent changes in English Grand National ratings, he would run off a low weight. He finished the season by staying on over 3m 6f to win comfortably at the Cheltenham Festival 2025 and followed that up with a win at the Irish Grand National. If he can repeat this form, he’s sure to get a run in the English Grand National!

The New Lion

Meet a potential superstar! The New Lion is 5 for 5 under Rules, including the Grade One Turners Novices' Hurdle over 2m 5f. The team has planned his season to target the 2026 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He’ll be campaigned to run over 2 miles, down from 2m 4/5f. As a brother to Kateira and half-brother to Blairs Cove, who have both won over 2 miles, we can’t see the step back in distance having a negative impact!

Lulamba

Another potential superstar! Lulamba was purchased by Mrs. Donnelly from France after winning comfortably at Auteuil in October 2024. He made a winning debut for Nicky Henderson at Ascot in January 2025. Heading to the Cheltenham Festival, he had a winning chance in the Grade One Novices' Triumph Hurdle, where he was beaten by a neck by the shock winner Poniros (100-1). He missed the Aintree Festival due to unsuitable ground but headed to the Punchestown Festival instead, winning the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade One). He could be one of Nicky Henderson’s next leading lights!

Sir Gino

Could Sir Gino be the next coming of Jesus? He’s a Grade One winning hurdler at Aintree and Newcastle! Initially seen as Constitution Hill’s replacement, he was steered back to chasing after Constitution Hill returned. His chase debut started with a bang, smashing Ballyburn at Kempton! Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury. Still unbeaten, if he retains his ability through recovery, we can expect great things!

Inothewayurthinkin

Inothewayurthinkin won the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup and aims to complete the double, including the English Grand National! However, he wasn’t entered in the English Grand National, likely to protect him from injuries after owner JP McManus lost a horse aiming for the same double. He’s now rated the same as Galopin De Champs at 176, who was a back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup champion until dethroned by Inothewayurthinkin. The big question is whether connections will aim for the double again or focus on an English Grand National win, where he’s likely to succeed. He’s an obvious choice to follow this season!

Regent's Stroll

This lightly raced 6-year-old has only had 7 starts under rules, winning 4 of them. He was 2/3 in bumpers and kicked off his hurdle career in Newbury, winning easily by 9 lengths. He underachieved in higher-class events, including the Coral Challow Hurdle, where he was the 5/4 favourite. He also was favourite in a listed race in Exeter but regained his mojo by comfortably winning a Novice at Wincanton. His season concluded at the Aintree Festival, where he lost by half a length in the Turners Grade One Novice. It will be intriguing to see if connections choose to run him over fences, as he’s well built and bred to chase!

Jurancon

Jurancon has not finished outside the top two in 8 races under rules (3 bumpers, 5 hurdles). He’s a dual bumper winner on heavy and soft ground. After moving into hurdles, he finished 2nd on debut behind The Kemble Brewery, a horse that had strong backing. He followed up with a win, beating Tripoli Flyer, who went on to win a Grade 2 Novice by 7 1/2 lengths. After a blip at Exeter, he quickly bounced back with back-to-back wins at Newbury. We haven’t seen him since, and it’s assumed connections may explore chasing with him, as he has the conformation for the task!

Handstands

Handstands joined Ben Pauling after winning a Point to Point. He won 3 Novice Hurdles in a row, including a Listed Novice at Huntingdon. He tried Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing 6 of 7. Last season, he kicked off chasing but took a fall at Wincanton in November 2024. He put this behind him, comfortably winning a Grade 2 Novice at Sandown a month later. He followed up easily at Ffos Las, then took his form to new heights, beating Jango Baie (2025 Arkle Cheltenham Festival Winner) in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown. He went to Aintree as joint favourite but was disrupted by fallers, causing him to be pulled up. Connections have stated their desire to target the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Honourable Mention - Daany

We might be a bit biased since he’s owned by both founders of Grab the Reins! Daany is a truly hardworking horse coming back from a holiday with a fresh wind operation. He’s currently on a hurdling hat trick! Trained by Joe Tickle in Devon, who is in great form, a run is expected to blow the cobwebs away after such a long layoff. We’re excited about the improvement expected from his recent operation and summer holiday. Stay tuned for updates about Daany in the News section of the site!

What are your picks for horses to follow in the 2025/2026 season?