While we still have Champions Day and the Breeders’ Cup to take place, the bulk of the Flat season is all but over. The National Hunt has kept ticking along, albeit in the shadows of the speed-orientated discipline, but Chepstow’s Persian War meeting taking place this weekend can only mean one thing – the jumps are back.
The beauty of the National Hunt season is its unpredictable nature. From Foinavon in 1967 to Goshen in 2020, within the blink of an eye the outcome of a contest can shift dramatically. From ecstasy to agony, joy to despair, pain to pleasure; the rollercoaster of emotions is set to return to take us all on that turbulent journey once more, and GG have set me the insurmountable task of predicting what we can expect this coming season.
1. The Return Of Willie Mullins Bingo
Where better to start than with the infamous Mullins bingo. If you weren’t already sick of attempting to delve into the mind of Aidan O’Brien this season, then the loyalty points at your local chemist will no doubt continue to tally up if you continue to play the game of chance in Closutton form.
The maestro at the helm of National Hunt’s most formidable training fortress has an embarrassment of riches. Over 200 thoroughbreds are stationed at the County Carlow-based Closutton, and not even Willie will have a clue where the large majority of them will end up at the spring festivals, let alone us mere mortals.
Remember, Mullins stated ‘we’re in Faugheen territory’ with Mighty Park last season. He was beaten 17 lengths in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Mon Creuset was shortened from 33-1 to 12-1 in places within a day a week prior to last year’s Festival, before drifting back out to 33’s and finishing 15th in the Triumph. Not every whisper you’ll hear is gospel, and not every market move is a guide to the eventual outcome. And that’s before getting into how he threatened to pull his horses from the Festival after withdrawing Fact To File on account of the ground not being soft enough.
I wouldn’t even consider looking at his string until Christmas time. You’ll drive yourself skint and crazy.
2. Harry Derham To Ramp Up His Reputation
After what appeared to be a breakthrough season into the National Hunt trainer ranks, the former Ditcheat assistant Harry Derham had a nightmare 2024/25 campaign when his gallop was left unfit for purpose following 74mm of rainfall in just under 40 hours in November 2024.
From a financial standpoint, it left a huge mark on his business, not just the performance of his horses. However, Derham revitalised that early spark last season with a host of promising youngsters coming through, and gained a first Grade 1 with Le Frimeur at Punchestown.
Derham’s already made a strong start to his campaign, and he has a wealth of talent to proceed with. Klub De Reve hasn’t been seen since his Grade 2 Dovecote success, and he’s reportedly set to go chasing. The imposing Mossy Fen Road skipped the spring festivals and looks well handicapped this season with the Greatwood Hurdle a possible target. The hugely promising Cristal d’Estruval is also set to go chasing, looking to maintain his unbeaten streak.
With momentum behind him and the Grade 1 duck broken, I suspect we’ll see Harry Derham’s name in the winners’ enclosure at several of the bigger meetings this season.
3. Dan Skelton To Eclipse Martin Pipe’s Record Of 243 Winners In A Season
Onto another Ditcheat graduate in Dan Skelton, who belatedly achieved his goal of being Champion Trainer last season following an agonising defeat to Willie Mullins on the final day a year prior.
It’s fair to say the guard has changed in the National Hunt ranks, with Paul Nicholls passing the baton to his protégé in Dan Skelton, who looks set to dominate British racing for the foreseeable future.
Dan Skelton made it very clear last season that he will absolutely not rest on his laurels, as he has set himself the target of beating Martin Pipe’s British record of 243 winners in a season. Already ahead of last year’s tally by this stage, Skelton has made a flying start having attacked the summer jumps.
The big owners have jumped ship elsewhere to the young blood in the heart of Warwickshire, giving Skelton the required ammunition to achieve his task. I do wonder, however, if we should be cautious with some of his mounts at the Cheltenham Festival, particularly in the ante-post markets at the other side of Christmas, as there is the possibility Skelton will target lesser events with his string in order to fulfil his mission.
4. Harry Cobden To Be Crowned Cheltenham Festival Champion Jockey
In January earlier this year, it was announced that Harry Cobden was to be retained as JP McManus’ number one rider in both Britain and Ireland. Ten years on from riding McManus’ Brelan d’As as a 3lb claimer in 2016, Harry Cobden could be set for his biggest season yet, particularly at Cheltenham.
The 27-year-old has ridden 7 winners at the Festival, including an enterprising front-running performance with Kitzbuhel in last year’s Brown Advisory. Now sporting the prestigious green and gold colours, he can take his Prestbury Park form to a new level. The New Lion, Mighty Park, Inothewayurthinkin, Majborough, Dinoblue, Narcisco Has and Meetmebythesea are just some of the rides Cobden will likely acquire, not to mention the wealth of youngsters coming through the ranks.
Paul Townend will certainly have something to say about it, but I wouldn’t be wanting to lay Harry Cobden to be the top Cheltenham Festival jockey at this stage.
5. ‘I’ve Got My Buying Hat On And My Recruiting Hat On’ – Don’t Write Off Venetia
Prior to the new year, Venetia Williams had just 7 winners in the official 2025/26 jumps season and when the mud was flying at the beginning of the year, she was 0-41 just after the beginning of February. When Martator won at Cheltenham, she had just a 9% strike-rate and 15 wins since April 2025.
It was a dire season by her standards, but we shouldn’t write her off this year. Yes, we may need the heavens to open up (and quickly), but so does everyone else and it would be unwise to suggest she hasn’t factored the changing climate into her buying strategy.
After a winner in April, she suggested a lot of her back-up team had failed to fire but are likely to come through this season. Crucially, she will have a plethora of well-handicapped horses this season.
Jeu d’Opale is one I have my eye on. He was a typical French recruit, and took a while to find his form having returned from 995 days off the track. However, he was last seen winning comfortably at Wincanton in February and a mark of 111 will underestimate him.
The Susannah Ricci-owned Karpenn was seen just twice after coming from France, but he remains with plenty of potential and is a likely improver once sent chasing off 108.
The one I’m most excited for is Kingbel Du Lion, another horse sporting the Ricci silks. He had relatively moderate form in France, but created a huge impression when a 12-length winner at Bangor in 2025. He missed all of last season, but off a mark of 123 I think we could see something at least 20lbs well in once going chasing if reappearing this term.
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