With the jumps season gathering pace, few opinions carry more weight than those coming out of Closutton. Willie Mullins‘s assistant David Casey has picked out five horses to follow for the campaign ahead, and his list includes the reigning Gold Cup winner, a dual Cheltenham Festival scorer on the comeback trail and a couple of intriguing newcomers.
Here are David Casey’s five to follow, with the reigning champion staying chaser heading the list.
1. Gaelic Warrior
“I rode him out this week myself…hopefully he gets a smooth run through the season.”
Gaelic Warrior was the champion staying chaser of last season and enters the new campaign as the one they all have to beat. He began 2025/26 by leading for most of the way and then rallying gamely to win a gruelling John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on soft to heavy ground. He was then just denied in a thrilling finish to the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, finishing third, before chasing home the winner in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
He saved his very best for the spring. Sent off at 11/4 under Paul Townend, he travelled strongly throughout the Cheltenham Gold Cup, led going easily before two out and was four lengths clear at the last before pulling further away. He then rounded off the season by winning the Punchestown Gold Cup at 5/6 with any amount in hand. The son of Maxios has now won at the top level at two Cheltenham Festivals, following his Arkle success in 2024, and he also landed the Bowl at Aintree in 2025.
A familiar route looks set to be followed. Casey said: “I rode him out this week myself. He is well in himself. He will probably start in the John Durkan and hopefully he gets a smooth run through the season and keeps sound. That is half the battle keeping them sound and healthy. If you can do that, then you have a fighting chance.”
Casey also reflected on last season’s raid across the Irish Sea and how the plan will take shape: “Last year obviously Gaelic Warrior went across and was unlucky. I don’t know if the plan is the same this year. All those horses tend to start in the John Durkan, and we see how they go from there and make a plan. The likes of Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File and Kitzbuhel who won at Kempton last year and then at Cheltenham will have entries from earlier in the season then we will see how they progress.”
2. Mighty Park
“I do like Mighty Park going chasing; I think he can be very, very good.”
Mighty Park is the one Casey is most excited about going over fences. The JP McManus-owned son of Walk In The Park missed an intended start at Leopardstown over Christmas with colic, but made light of that when making all to win a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in January, going further clear on the turn and winning easily at 8/13.
That earned him a crack at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where he was sent off at 13/2 but raced too keenly up with the pace and weakened after two out to finish ninth. With only two runs over hurdles behind him, there should be plenty more to come, and Casey believes fences could bring out the best in him.
He said: “I do like Mighty Park going chasing; I think he can be very, very good. I don’t know about under the radar, but Mighty Park and He’s On Fire are a couple of horses who are likely to go chasing although that isn’t confirmed yet. They looked like really decent novice hurdlers last year. I know Mighty Park didn’t run his race at Cheltenham.”
3. Chic Me
The first of the newcomers is Chic Me, a grey filly who arrives at Closutton from France. She won the Prix Géographie in France in the spring before joining the champion trainer, and her new connections clearly think a good deal of her.
Casey has clearly been taken with what he has seen at home so far. He said: “I like a grey filly I, Chic Me, a winner in France.” She is one to keep a close eye on when she makes her debut for the yard.
4. Interstellar
Interstellar is very much the dark horse of the quintet, with little public form to go on so far. Nevertheless, Casey’s endorsement is a strong one, and when someone who rides out at Closutton every morning says a horse is catching the eye, it is worth taking notice.
Casey said: “A horse called Interstellar seems very nice at the moment.” He will be well worth looking out for whenever he appears on a racecard.
5. Jasmin De Vaux
“Jasmin De Vaux is on the comeback trail and looks pretty good.”
Jasmin De Vaux was among the brightest staying novices of 2024/25 before missing the whole of last season. The son of Tirwanako won the Champion Bumper at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival at 9/2, coming from the rear to lead inside the final furlong, and returned 12 months later to land the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 6/1.
He then completed a Grade 1 double when winning a staying novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, despite Townend losing his irons after an awkward jump at the last. A horse with three Grade 1 wins to his name, including two at Cheltenham, could be a major force in the staying hurdle division if he returns anywhere near that level.
Casey said: “Maybe Jasmin De Vaux, who missed his season last year. He’s on the comeback trail, will probably go down the stayers’ route, one where I think he could be very competitive. He won a bumper then the Albert Bartlett but missed all of last season. He’s on the comeback trail at the moment and looks pretty good.”
Casey was speaking courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest horse racing odds every day of the week.
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