10 Irish National Hunt horses to observe this season – together with 33/1 Cheltenham Gold Cup shot
Cheltenham is back this Friday and with the Down Royal Festival the following weekend, the National Hunt season is shifting up a gear.
Irish horses and trainers have ruled the roost in jump racing over recent years and most of the major trophies look destined to stay on this side of the Irish Sea once more. We’ve picked out two novice hurdlers, three novice chasers, two hurdlers and three chasers for the season ahead and reckon these are ten horses worth backing throughout the campaign.
Charismatic Kid (G Elliott)
Had Elliott’s talented bumper runner With Nolimit trailing him when scoring on debut for another stable last December before being snapped up by Gigginstown for £300,000.
Gordon Elliott has snapped up a gem in the shape of Charismatic Kid(Image: Alan Crowhurst, Getty Images)
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Rider Ray Barron claimed he was among the finest horses he’s ever ridden following that outing and despite suffering defeat as favourite at the Dublin Racing Festival he rebounded with a Fairyhouse Easter triumph.
Fences could also be on the cards but he’s expected to spend a season over hurdles first and looks a promising prospect whatever path he follows.
Crystasia (H De Bromhead)
Made a huge impact on his first outing in a Bumper at Punchestown, pulling well clear of the pack in the final two furlongs to triumph by a commanding 12 lengths.
He appears a classy novice hurdle prospect for this season in the Brookhouse silks and has staying power in his bloodline with the form of his bumper victory also stacking up. He’ll probably turn up in a maiden hurdle in the next few weeks but is expected to be handled carefully as is typical with HDB runners.
Selma De Vary (WP Mullins)
Selma De Vary is going chasing(Image: Michael Steele, Getty Images)
This filly has found it tough to stay composed during races, yet still delivered two cracking performances when finishing fourth in the Triumph and runner-up in the Aintree Grade One despite racing keenly.
She then headed across the Channel and bagged the Prix Alain du Breil, marking her out as a thrilling prospect for novice chasing. Mullins secured the Arkle last term with Kargese, and this Rich Ricci-owned four-year-old could easily take the same path.
He’s On Fire (WP Mullins)
Another French recruit for Rich Ricci, he made a winning bow at Carlisle in an unremarkable contest before proving his class at Fairyhouse in a Grade 2 event.
The stable appears eager to send him over fences at the earliest opportunity, and he’ll handle three miles comfortably, potentially emerging as Closutton’s Brown Advisory contender later in the campaign.
Lossiemouth (WP Mullins)
Lossiemouth is out to retain her Champions Hurdle crown(Image: ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP via Getty Images)
As clear-cut as it comes, but there genuinely appears to be little opposition ready to challenge the brilliant mare this season in her quest for consecutive Champion Hurdles.
Her long-time rival Brighterdaysahead looks set for a switch to chasing, while State Man has called it quits.
Assuming she avoids injury, she ought to take the familiar Morgiana, December Hurdle, Irish Champion Hurdle path to Cheltenham, and only the boldest of punters would wager against her completing a clean sweep given she’s still just seven years old.
Forty Coats (H De Bromhead)
A bit of a wildcard, but a horse that might just possess the ability to develop into a quality staying chaser in handicaps this season, with potential progression to graded level.
He proved himself a decent novice hurdler, coming fourth to The New Lion in the 2025 Turners, and was perhaps just marking time in handicap hurdles last term.
This stable has a knack for extracting improvement over fences, and this point-to-point victor’s season could be well worth tracking if sent chasing.
Koktail Divin (H De Bromhead)
Koktail Divin is expected to start his season at Down Royal next week(Image: Alan Crowhurst, Getty Images)
He simply ran out of stamina over the extended three miles at Cheltenham in the Brown Advisory despite jumping superbly, and proved his quality when romping home at Aintree a month later over 2m4f.
The stable already boasts the defending Ryanair Chase champion in Heart Wood, but this six-year-old could provide serious competition and is a thrilling prospect for this season.
He is expected to head to Down Royal next week for the 2m4f Intermediate Chase, with the John Durkan in December shaping up as another perfect target.
Zeus Power (J O’Brien)
Joseph O’Brien captured the Stayers’ Hurdle last season with the extraordinary Home By The Lee, and this youngster appears capable of matching those achievements.
He was desperately unfortunate in the Turners’ at 50-1 behind King Rasko Grey, closing with tremendous momentum in the final furlong, before backing that up with an impressive triumph at Aintree.
His development last season was remarkable, and a race like the Hattons’ Grace could be the next target for this Australian-owned five-year-old.
Kaid D’authie (WP Mullins)
Willie Mullins is set to dominate the big festivals again(Image: Michael Steele, Getty Images)
There is no shortage of Mullins-trained chasers worth following, but this JP McManus-owned six-year-old could emerge as one of his most promising staying chasers this season.
He dispatched the highly consistent Western Fold and Final Demand with relative ease at the DRF before coming a cropper at halfway when strongly fancied for the Brown Advisory.
Mullins may well target him at UK tracks, and his preference for soft ground could make the Betfair Chase at Haydock his early-season objective.
Soldier In Milan (E Mullins)
The Irish Grand National champion is arguably one of the most captivating chasers in training this term following a stunning display at Fairyhouse in April.
He was handed a 15lb rise for that 16-length victory and will now step up to Grade One company, where he should hold his own, with plenty more improvement likely from this seven-year-old.
Caroline Tisdall has acquired a majority stake in the horse from Paul Byrne and, while the Grand National at Aintree remains the ultimate goal, there is every possibility he could develop into a Gold Cup contender at his current odds of 33-1.
