Top 10 To Follow | National Hunt horses to keep an eye on leading up to the Cheltenham Festival.

Matt Morris / 9:14 AM GMT • 13th November, 2025

9 minutes

MATT MORRIS PICKS OUT HIS HORSE TO FOLLOW THIS JUMP SEASON AND TAKES A LOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS FESTIVAL INSIGHTS.

With the National Hunt season now in full swing, I’ve compiled a list of ten horses to keep on your radar this year, along with some thoughts on where they might end up when the business end of the campaign arrives in March. Hopefully, this list will be as enjoyable to follow as it is profitable for punters!

A PATH TO RONDA - Jamie Snowden - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

A Path To Ronda announced herself in no uncertain terms with an exceptionally impressive bumper victory at Uttoxeter, and she backed that up in style on her hurdles debut at Stratford. Well-supported beforehand, she travelled powerfully throughout before quickening smartly to reel in the two leaders, sweeping past them with ease to score by five and a half lengths. In doing so, she comfortably accounted for Followango, a reliable yardstick who gives substance to the form.

Her bumper performance has already been well franked, and all signs point to further progress as the season unfolds. Her trainer, the in-form Jamie Snowden, boasts an excellent record in the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle, a race he has earmarked as a potential target for her. With a proven preference for soft ground, Sandown’s testing surface should play to her strengths, and it would be no surprise to see her taking her place at the Cheltenham Festival later in the campaign.

DOCTOR DU MENSIL - Willie Mullins - Turners Novices’ Hurdle/ Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Willie Mullins has an excellent record with the progeny of Doctor Dino, and he looks to have another smart prospect in Doctor Du Mesnil. The gelding could hardly have been more impressive on debut at Cork in April, stretching clear to win by 11 lengths under Jody Townend. When asked to quicken, he responded immediately and with authority, marking himself out as a horse with serious potential. If he continues on the same upward trajectory, it’s entirely possible he arrives at Cheltenham in March unbeaten and heading for one of the Festival’s novice hurdles. For me, the 2m5f trip of the Turners (Baring Bingham) Novices' Hurdle looks suitable for him.

MEETMEBYTHESEA - Ben Pauling

Ben Pauling’s progressive gelding enjoyed a fruitful campaign last season, winning three times over hurdles before running an excellent race to finish a close third in a Premier Handicap at Sandown in March. His victory at Doncaster showcased both talent and grit, making all into a strong headwind and dug deep to hold off Mythical Moon by a neck who is a smart horse in his own right.

Meetmebythesea  looks primed for an exciting novice chase campaign, one in which he has the profile to mix it in graded company as well as the top end of handicaps over trips between 2 and 2½ miles.

LET IT RAIN - Dan Skelton

There are few better at lining one up for a handicap hurdle than the Skelton team, and their Kayf Tara mare Let It Rain looks extremely well treated off a mark of 120 once you dig into the form. Her Chepstow run stands up particularly well. She finished second that day, with several subsequent winners strung out behind her, giving the race real depth.

Her listed bumper win at Ascot was equally striking; she had Celtic Dino in behind, a horse who has since gone on to win multiple major races and is now rated 144. In a recent stable tour, Dan Skelton hinted that she could improve sharply as the season unfolds, and everything about her profile suggests she is capable of landing a major prize off this current mark, provided nothing goes amiss.

We may not see the very best of her until the day connections want her fully primed, and when that day comes, the market is likely to tell the story. Any significant support for her in the betting should be treated as a serious signal. She will likely be aimed at some of the big spring handicaps, but she’s worth keeping a close eye on wherever she turns up.

BOOSTER BOB - Olly Murphy

Booster Bob was last seen producing one of the most remarkable performances of the season when landing the Greatwood Gold Cup, a Premier Handicap chase at Newbury in March. He did so under one of the finest rides you’ll see, delivered by the country’s current standout jockey, Sean Bowen.

Tailed off early and trading at a huge 880/1 in-running, he looked to have no chance before rallying from around the third last, finding an extra gear and powering home to win by a length and a quarter. The grit, attitude and sheer engine he displayed to come from that position mark him out as a horse with significant untapped potential.

He has been raised 5lb for that success, but even so, he still appears to have plenty of room for manoeuvre off his current mark. A step up to three miles has been mentioned, and wherever he heads next, he will be a major threat. He looks poised to play a big role in some of the season’s top handicap chases.

FINAL DEMAND - Willie Mullins - Champion Hurdle

Final Demand has already compiled a seriously impressive record, with his only defeat coming in the Turners at Cheltenham. He quickly bounced back at Punchestown, winning by an emphatic fifteen lengths, and now looks set for an exciting novice chasing campaign culminating in a tilt at the Brown Advisory. Judged on the manner of his three victories under rules (form that has worked out well), he could prove extremely hard to beat. He won his point-to-point by six lengths, and all evidence suggests he has the makings of a top-class chaser, one capable of developing into a future Gold Cup contender. Proven on both good and soft ground, he appears versatile enough to handle whatever conditions he encounters at the Festival. It’s highly likely he’ll win his first start over fences and shorten dramatically in the market, potentially trading around even money long before Cheltenham rolls around.

HAITI COULEURS  - Rebecca Curtis - Gold Cup

Haiti Couleurs has been a revelation for the Rebecca Curtis team, progressing from a talented hurdler into a top class staying chaser. Last season was nothing short of spectacular. He captured the National Hunt Chase at the Festival by four and a half lengths under Ben Jones, before producing a superb display to land the Irish Grand National by three and a quarter lengths under Sean Bowen.

A fluent jumper with bottomless stamina and a gritty attitude, he began this campaign with victory in what was regarded as a “pipe-opener” at Newbury. He may not have been at peak fitness that day, but his class and determination were enough to see him prevail. The manner in which he jumps and travels suggests he could be a lively outsider for this season’s Gold Cup, particularly with the added benefit of having the champion jockey in the saddle.

Beyond last year’s 1–2, there are few standout contenders in the division, and at around 25/1 each way, he represents solid value for a small wager given he’s likely to start at a considerably shorter price.

SALVATOR MUNDI  -  Willie Mullins - Arkle Novices’ Chase

There are plenty of intriguing contenders towards the head of the market for this season’s Arkle, but each has a few questions to answer. The ante-post value might lie with Salvator Mundi, whose master trainer holds him in the highest regard, and 16/1 looks fair at this stage. Like many high profile runners, he disappointed at Punchestown, but that meeting often catches horses at the tail end of long campaigns, so he’s easily forgiven that effort. We saw the real Salvator Mundi at Aintree, where he brushed aside Romeo Coolio who is shorter in the Arkle betting in impressive style. He quickened smartly under Paul Townend to score by seven lengths in taking fashion. Proven on both good and soft ground, he’s versatile enough to handle whatever conditions arise at the Festival. Fences could be the making of him, and there’s every reason to believe he has the class and scope to play a major role at Cheltenham in March.

ANZADAM - Willie Mullins - Champion Hurdle

n a Champion Hurdle market packed with fascinating contenders, Willie Mullins’ Anzadam ranks right among the most intriguing. The news that stablemate State Man will miss the season through injury is a real blow for racing fans, and for anyone eyeing Anzadam at bigger prices as his odds have since shortened dramatically to around 6/1. Even so, he remains a hugely exciting prospect to follow. There’s still an air of mystery surrounding this son of Authorized, as we’ve yet to discover the ceiling of his ability. Unbeaten in four starts, culminating in an eleven length Grade 3 victory, he looks a horse with plenty more to offer. While he may not yet have faced top class opposition, the manner in which he travels and quickens marks him out as something special. Proven in testing conditions, he will shorten dramaticalaly for the big one in March if he were to come out and beat a decent field on good ground, ticking yet another important box on his path to Cheltenham.

FACT TO FILE - Willie Mullins - Ryanair

Fact To File looks the standout contender for the Ryanair. The strongest chase form on offer right now revolves around Galopin Des Champs, and Fact To File has gone toe-to-toe with the dual Gold Cup winner on multiple occasions. He captured the 2024 Brown Advisory by three and a half lengths, and produced arguably the performance of last year’s Festival when strolling to victory in this very race—trouncing subsequent winners Heart Wood and Envoi Allen by nine and seventeen and a half lengths respectively.It’s well known that his powerful owner, J.P. McManus, has long coveted a victory in the Champion Chase, but it may not make much sense to divert Fact To File to that contest. He’s already proven in the Ryanair, and McManus has several other credible contenders for the Champion Chase who could carry his hopes there.He was somewhat underwhelming at Punchestown, but that meeting often produces quirky results, with many runners coming off long, hard campaigns and having already peaked for earlier targets—so his effort there can be readily forgiven. Ante-post odds of around 5/2 don’t offer huge appeal at this stage, but if he arrives at Cheltenham in March following a solid preparation, he will go off odds-on and will take the world of beating.