Racing TV's presenters' 2026-27 Jumps horses to follow
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 18 Oct 2026
This time last year, our presenters and pundits were in fine form, spearheaded by Lisa O’Neill’s astute selection of three-time scorer Mange Tout, whose season culminated with an Aintree Grade 1 win (5-1).
Tom Bull’s choice, No Questions Asked, obliged twice (9-4 and 7-2), as did Mark Howard’s pick, Mydaddypaddy, who ended up finishing third in the Supreme, and Tom Stanley’s Vanderpoel (5-1 and 9-4).
Others on the mark included Nick Lightfoot (Our Boy Stan) and John O’Connell (Carrigmoornaspruce).
Our expert team have again compiled a list of horses to stay on the right side of during the 2026-27 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 (click here).
ALEX STEEDMAN
Horse: The Mourne Rambler
Trainer: Noel Meade
This fella ticks all the boxes for novice hurdles this season. We know he’s a championship-level performer from his runs at Cheltenham and Punchestown, where he travelled and stayed well on both occasions. That suggests he’d be effective over two miles, but I think he’ll be better over middle distances. How well he jumps remains to be seen, but he is a top prospect.
ANGUS MCNAE
Horse: Harry Lowes
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Harry Lowes is a very well-handicapped horse, a fact that his shrewd connections are sure to exploit. He was unlucky not to win a competitive Class 2 Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on his final start last season, where a mark of 124 looked to underestimate his ability. He is lightly-raced, having had just five starts under rules, and I can see him landing a high-profile Handicap Hurdle this season, with connections almost certain to target the Cheltenham Festival.
ANTHONY DUNKLEY
Horse: Le Labo
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Cliché time: “Anything he does over hurdles…” etc. He’s had a fair bit chucked at him in his career right back to his bumper days and he’s been working it all out on the job, with mixed results. However, he was a Grade 3 winner in the Kingsfurze at Naas before placing in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. He’s looked like a fence, and more of a test, will be the making of him.
DAN BARBER
Horse: All In You
Trainer: Warren GreatrexAvoiding winter ground may be one of the most crucial challenges facing All In You’s connections this coming season, but the strength of his form last season when conditions weren’t bottomless — tied in with the likes of Alexei, Dance And Glance and Hot Fuss — suggests he’ll be interesting in all the good two-mile handicaps in 2026/27. He’s a strong-travelling sort with a Flat-oriented pedigree, and riding him to use his turn of foot is key.
DAVE NEVISON
Horse:Meetmebythesea
Trainer: Ben Pauling
He has been a winning machine in novice hurdles and fences over the last two seasons. I see no reason for that to change, as he is still eligible for top-end handicaps despite a Festival win and could well progress beyond that grade by next spring.
DONN MCCLEAN
Kitzbuhel: impressive winner of two Grade One novice chases last season. (Pic: focusonracing.com)
Horse:Kitzbuhel
Trainer: Willie Mullins
It looks like Kitzbuhel is a little under-rated now, possibly on the back of his defeat at the Punchestown Festival in April. But that obviously wasn’t his running,and he is better judged on the balance of his form lastseason. He was progressive as a novice and, as a six-year-old rising seven who has raced just five times over fences, he has the potential to progress again. He is proven at Kempton and Cheltenham, and he could make his mark in some of the top staying chases this season.
ED WATSON
Klimt Madrik chased home No Drama This End in the Challow Hurdle last December.
Horse:Klimt Madrik
Trainer: Toby Lawes
A big, backward type, Klimt Madrik was surely only scratching the surface of his potential over hurdles lastseason. He improved significantly from run to run, chasing home No Drama This End in the Grade 1 Challow on his third start, then finishing eighth, beaten less than seven lengths, behind King Rasko Grey in the Turners at the Festival.
That race is working out especially well, with the winner, third and fourth all winning Grade 1s at Punchestown or Aintree on their next start. A switch to fences should bring about evenmore progress from this imposing six-year-old, who could have Newbury’s John Francome Novices’ Chase as an early-season target.
ELLA MCNEILL
Horse:Hold The Serve
Trainer: Olly Murphy
He made good strides over hurdles last season following a wind operation, notably finishing fifth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree, over a trip that was further than ideal. He’s a beautiful model by Jukebox Jury and looks like a type that will improve for the switch to fences. A drop back to two and a half miles should also see him to better effect, and he should be an interesting novice chaser to follow this season.
FRAN BERRY
Horse:Delamotte
Trainer: Willie Mullins
He looks a high-class prospect after making a winning debut at the Punchestown Festival. Given the way therace developed for him, his margin of victory, andwith the second having won twice since, he has thepotential to develop into a smart novice hurdler this season.
GARY O’BRIEN
Horse:Word For Word
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
He may be capable of further progress over hurdles this season. He shaped well on a couple of his Flat starts in Ireland before overcoming some sloppy jumping to make a winning debut for his new connections at Kelso in February. I’m happy to give him a pass for his defeat back at the same venue on his only subsequent outing.
GORDON BROWN
Horse:Largy Meadow
Trainer: Mike Smith
Currently on a mark of 96, the only way is up for this stoutly-bred, slow-maturing six-year-old, who has already shown some ability over hurdles in handicap company. His half-brother was a year older when making a winning bumper debut at the Punchestown Festival, and I hear he’s set for a racecourse gallop at Ayr ahead of running at his local track’s opening jumps fixture in late October. He’ll handle most types of ground and will be operating at around 2m 4f.
JAMES MILLMAN
Horse:Merlin Allen
Trainer: Jane Williams
Impressive on debut in a junior bumper before running excellent races in defeat taking on older horses. His third in the Grade 2 at Aintree was particularly noteworthy as he was the only four-year-old to have been placed in the race in the last 10 years. Fascinating to see what he does as a novice hurdler.
JANE MANGAN
Horse:He’s On Fire
Trainer: Willie Mullins
He blew us away with a jaw-dropping performance at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival. A maiden after three starts in France, he’s two from two over hurdles for Willie Mullins but physically looks a chaser. I think thiscould be one of the top novices this season; the sky is his limit.
JOHN O’CONNELL
Horse:Boycetown
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
The son of Capri showed plenty of promise in the Grade 1 bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring, considering the stamina in his pedigree. Sure to be suited by stepping up to 2m 4f, his attentions will now be turned to hurdling, and expect him to be paying his way when the rain arrives in the coming months.
JOSH STACEY
Horse:Just For Dad
Trainer: Sam Thomas
A highly thought-of bumper horse from last season, who was a short enough price in a hot bumper on debut. He was beaten in a slowly run bumper on his second start at Carlisle in ground conditions that were too quick. Sam Thomas has graded ambitions with him and, based on last season’s form, he might open up a good price on his hurdling debut.
LISA O’NEILL
Keep Him Company can "stamp his authority" over intermediate trips this year, says Lisa O'Neill. (Pic: Healy Racing)
Horse:Keep Him Company
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
He had a really nice start to his career, winning his point-to-point and two bumpers. He disappointed in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, onground drier than ideal. I believe he can put that behind him and turn into a really smart novice hurdler this year. I think he will come into his own over the two-and-a-half-mile trip and should be able to stamp his authority on that division this year.
MARK HOWARD
Horse:Attin
Trainer: Nicky Richards
Well supported on his racecourse debut in a bumper at Newcastle in April, the gelded son of No Risk At Allnever gave his backers an anxious moment, strollingclear to win by eight lengths. Interviewing his trainer Nicky Richards for One Jump Ahead during the summer, the four-year-old didn’t need a racecourse gallop beforehand and is viewed as a smart novice hurdler for the winter ahead.
The five-year-old is blessed with plenty of speed and is likely to reappear in a two-mile novice hurdle during the autumn before a possible tilt at the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.
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MEGAN NICHOLLS
Horse: Haveanotherguinness (unraced)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
A four-year-old son of Nathaniel, who is a half-brother to the useful Jetara. I bought him from Doncaster spring store sale last year, and he has shown promising signs at home from the very beginning. Likely to start in bumpers, with the valuable Goffs sales race at Newbury in the spring as the long-term aim this season; definitely one to follow.
NIALL HANNITY
Horse: Monster Truck (unraced under rules)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
He looks a very exciting prospect for Gordon Elliott after creating a big impression winning his sole start in a point-to-point for Cormac Doyle at Lingstown. Connections had to pay £530,000 for him at the Cheltenham Festival sale. Hopefully, he can have a good season over hurdles before chasing the following term.
NICK LIGHTFOOT
Horse:Wilde’s Legacy
Trainer: Jamie Snowden
Jamie Snowden enjoyed his most successful season in terms of winners last year, with dual bumper winnerWilde’s Legacy making a valuable contribution tothat tally. He looked a useful prospect when defying a penalty to score at Huntingdon in February, and although he was outclassed in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, he remains a promising horse who should relish stepping up in distance.
PETER NAUGHTON
A Pai De Nom: one to watch on better ground, says Peter Naughton. (Pic: Francesca Altoft - focusonracing.com)
Horse:A Pai De Nom
Trainer: Dan Skelton
He had a productive season over hurdles but is expected to be even better over fences. Dan Skelton’s improving six-year-old won off 124 at Newbury before a fine third in the Lanzarote over 2m 5f. He was well backed when travelling best over three miles at Uttoxeter, when beaten a length by Doughmore Boy, with the front two finishing well clear.
A Pai De Nom did most of his running in testing ground but will be better on decent going. He will go novice chasing this season over two and a half miles, and Dan hopes he will get three miles in the spring.
RACHEL CASEY
Horse:Le Frimeur
Trainer: Harry Derham
Harry is a young, talented trainer with huge ambition, and there is every reason to believe he is heading for a fantastic season. One of his exciting stars is Le Frimeur. His Grade 1 triumph at Punchestown last season was a landmark first for Harry. A minor setback last autumn has been firmly put behind him, and his unbeaten record makes him an exciting prospect. With further improvement expected, the switch to fences this season could see him take another significant step forward.
RICHARD HOILES
Horse:Trojan Tale
Trainer: Dan Horsford
He came right away to win a heavy-ground bumper at Wincanton on his debut last season before runningthird in a Listed race at Newbury. He is an athletichorse who schooled well, but it was decided to keep hisnovice status for this campaign. Trojan Tale will start off in two-mile novice hurdles, with a view to having sufficient experience to hopefully capitalise on his ability to handle deep ground at a higher level later in the season.
STEVE JONES
Horse:Conman John
Trainer: Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore
The patient approach is usually the best approach when it comes to training racehorses. Conman John’s Scottish-based trainers have taken it very slowly with this smart prospect. He only ran three times overhurdles, winning his first two starts before narrowly failing in his hat-trick attempt. Fences now beckon, and they should be the making of him.
STEWART MACHIN
Horse:Kocktail Bleu
Trainer: Chris Gordon
He had a good novice hurdling season despite jumping errors. He may be capable of landing a decent two-mile handicap but will be of interest over fences. His current rating enables him to get into those Class 3 novice limited handicaps, and fences might just sharpen up his jumping.
TOM BULL
Horse:Lisbane Park
Trainer: Joe Tizzard
He is well worth following as he graduates to fences this season. His smart novice hurdle form includes aclose second to Kocktail Bleu, and he has a size to himthat would suggest the larger obstacles will bringabout improvement. He has a lot of speed in his pedigree, so expect two-mile handicap chases to behisbread and butter this season.
TOM STANLEY
Horse:Kabral Du Mathan
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Fairly obvious as ones to follow go, but I just think he’s exceptionally talented. He looked electric when winning on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham, albeit in a race which suited him at the weights. That form is good, and it was interesting that connections felt the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham wouldn’t be for him.
Temptation proved too much, however, and he looked the winner turning for home before not staying. Could he drop back to be a Champion Hurdle horse? Perhaps. But he can certainly dominate over two and a half miles for now.
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