We have compiled our best horses to follow through the 2025 jumps season, they range from staying chases to potential Gold Cup horses and bumper horses.
As there has not been much racing through the new year period, we thought it was the right time to do our list. We will go through form, ratings and recent performances to dictate why they belong on our list.
Click which horse you'd like to read about below.
The Jukebox Man
The Jukebox Man won his sole point-to-point at Turtulla by 6 lengths in Ireland when trained by Mary Doyle, subsequently bought by Harry Redknapp for £70,000 at the Goffs Tingle Creek sales in December 2022.
Running in 2 bumpers winning 1 comfortably at Ffos Las and finishing 2nd by future Grade 2 Winner Gidleigh Park.
He started his hurdle career by getting up a quick double at Ffos Las over 2 miles 4 furlongs both on testing heavy ground. Then having an excellent run in the 2023 Challow Hurdle at Newbury finishing only 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Captain Teague.
Finishing his Hurdle career with back to back 2nd places at Cheltenham and Aintree, both in Grade 1 company and being upped in trip to 3 miles.
Starting his chase career as a 6 year old, there was a lot of noise early in the season about The Jukebox Man and he obliged with a sensational chase debut in the Grade 2 John Francome under now regular rider Ben Jones. His most recent run was even more eye-catching when he comfortably won the Kauto Star Grade 1 Chase.
The sky is the limit for him when he's chasing over 3 miles, we believe he will be a future Gold Cup horse but weather connections believe the same we will see.
One thing we know is this lad has a huge future!
Imperial Saint
This 7-Year-Old Gelding by Saint Des Saints was heavily tried in the Point-to-point field running 3 times over 3 miles and he finally got his head Infront in his final run for S.R.B Crawford. Bought for £40,000 by Richard Johnson Racing at the 2023 May Doncaster sales.
This horse started his career over hurdles and under rules with a dominate display at Ludlow winning by 9 lengths and now trained by Somerset trainers Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and ridden by stable jockey Micheal Nolan,
He was then super consistent over hurdles before winning his final start of the season at Ffos Las. Chasing has been the making of this gelding, winning on debut at Aintree then quickly backed up back at the track and won very comfortably making a great partnership with Nolan.
This horse ran below par at Newbury in a Class 2 , coming 7th by 20 lengths, but then bounced back making all round Aintree once again. This performance took his Aintree record to 3 wins from 3 runs but most importantly his first chase trying 2 miles 4 furlongs.
Rated now 144 he has many options for the reminder of the season, he is yet to run a chase in a big field so were not sure weather a big handicap at either Cheltenham or Aintree Festival would suit him when he could find it harder to dominate.
Sir Gino
An obvious name on this list is Sir Gino, unbeaten hurdler including the Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham when he comfortably beat the field by 10 lengths. Followed up with a comfortable success in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle Grade 1 at Aintree under Nico De Boinville.
Nicky Henderson did flirt with Sir Gino going chasing prior to Constitution Hill's poor Gallop when Sir Gino was hard held alongside him, subsequently he went and ran in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle winning comfortably when only slightly squeezed along.
He is a big strapping gelding with plenty of scope by It's Gino, so chasing was always going to be his game and he made his belated debut over fences at Kempton Park in the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Hurdle Grade 2, where he travelled like a dream and won in a canter ahead of Grade 1 winning hurdler Ballyburn.
It’s going to be very interesting down the line. Will he go up in trip because he's got the tactical speed for 2 miles, but looked sure to stay at least 2 miles 4 furlongs?
He will be a short price at Cheltenham no matter what race they decide to run in and we are all excited to see him next time.
L'Eau Du Sud
L'Eau Du Sud is an interesting horse who never really clicked over hurdles after coming over from France after winning a Listed race at Auteuil.
It seemed early on that the mark he was given which was 132 was too high, when finishing a remote 4th on debut for Dan Skelton.
Kempton on his next start looked more promising, when 3rd and only weakening close home. It looked like his debut for the Skelton's really sharpened him up.
His two best hurdle races were both up in Graded company, starting with a 1 length 2nd at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle. He then followed it up well at Ayr in the Scottish Champion Hurdle when 5th by 1 length.
Chasing looked to bring out the best in him when he easily beat his rivals at Stratford even after making mistakes. He backed up impressively at Cheltenham in the Arkle Trophy Trial Grade 2, where he looked really impressive that day, winning hard held by Harry Skelton by 11 lengths.
The first time he was asked to find of the bridle was his most recent start at Sandown in the Grade 1 novices Henry VIII Chase, where his fans were anxious whether he had anything when push came to shove. This was proven correct when he stayed on strongly to win, taking him 3 from 3 over fences.
Expect him to be feature strongly in the Arkle market behind Sir Gino for the Cheltenham Festival.
The New Lion
The New Lion a horse that's been all over the new after being sold by owner Darren Yates to J P McManus for a reported £1,000,000 (Click here to read more)
Only having 4 runs so far, it’s hard to know where the limit of his ability is. However, after winning hard held at Newbury in the Challow Hurdle, there's obvious claims he could progress into a Champion Hurdle type.
After after the Challow Hurdle, his owner claimed he's good enough to run in the Champion Hurdle, which probably pushed his price up abit more.
This Gelding will be on most people's list after the Challow and he will be a very short price at Cheltenham. Will be cool to see Harry Skelton in J P McManus's famous green and gold.
Jingko Blue
Another novice chaser that makes our list is Jingko Blue, who won his sole Point-to-point at Oldtown when trained by Robert James , putting the race to bed on the run in.
Trained by Nicky Henderson and bought by Countrywide Park Homes Ltd for £225,000 at the Cheltenham February sale in 2023 he ran his first hurdle and bumped into future Grade 2 winner Personal Ambition.
Jingko Blue won his 2nd hurdle start at Newbury under Nico De Boinville and then secured his hattrick at Sandown easily.
He then ran in the Grade 1 Novices' Baring Bingham, when all of Nicky Henderson's horses were not in form and there was an illness in the yard.
For us, his chasing debut was very telling where his level over the big obstacles stood, winning readily by 9 lengths and jumping well and easily went clear. Now rated 149 we expect him to be engaged at either the Cheltenham or Aintree festival. Exciting horse!
Lowry's Bar
Very similar profile to the Phillip Hobbs & Johnson White chaser that made our list, Lowry's Bar an impressive hurdler who has turned into an even better chaser.
This 7 year old Gelding by Malinas made a perfect start to his races under rules by winning his debut maiden hurdle at Wincanton, then went and won 4 in a row, culminating with a win easily at Chepstow on heavy ground.
Following this, he was beat by a 200/1 shot around Exeter in a valuable Class 2, causing quite the stir. However, the noises out of the yard where that he will be a better chaser.
We have most definitely seen this when he made his chase debut at Bangor-On-Dee, when being beat by the well handicapped Jagwar.
After no winning his last 2 chases, both over 2 miles 3 furlongs leaves his mark at 144 so alongside Imperial Saint we could see him at the Cheltenham or Aintree Festival. This gelding could make a bold show from the front with his slick jumping and powerful flat speed. One we're really excited for.
Libberty Hunter
This was the one horse for us that caught our eye the most at the December meeting at Cheltenham, when he comfortably won over 2 miles under Harry Cobden.
He always had the promise of being a better then average horse after winning his last 2 Bumpers for Brian Eckley. He is now being trained by Evan Williams where he only raced in 4 hurdles before going chasing.
Falling in his debut chase when travelling the best under Adam Wedge, he soon put that right first at Wincanton then soon after at Cheltenham.
Going on to place twice in Graded company at both the major festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree, this left his rating at 144. He then made his seasonal debut at Cheltenham and looked really well handicapped when Harry Cobden barely squeezed him along to win by a few lengths.
Libberty Hunter looks very well handicapped, but we could see him again compete in Graded company. He is ultra consistent and we look forward to see where he runs next.
Brighterdaysahead
Gigginstown Stud's super impressive mare Brighterdaysahead has only got one career loss on her CV for Gordon Elliott, which was at the hands of Jeremy Scott's star mare Golden Ace.
Always impressing when we see her, she recently beat 10 time Grade 1 and Champion Hurdle winner State Man by 30 lengths when having a pace maker in the race.
She has proved before that she could potentially be a Champion Hurdle mare for the Festival in March.
Picked up for £310,000 as 3 year old has been in the news recently and fans are screaming out for her to potentially meet Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth if all turn up for the Champion Hurdle. But there has been recent murmurs she will run in the Mares Hurdle instead.
If she repeats the form of her most recent run she could easily compete in the Champion Hurdle but we think she could easily win the mares, even is Lossiemouth turns up. Mightily impressive mare who could be the best mare ever.
Kalif Du Berlais
One for 11 time champion trainer Paul Nicholls and team Ditcheat, Kalif Du Berlais and impressive 5 year old who has took to chasing at a top level.
After falling on chase debut, this Grade 2 hurdle winner bounced back with a bang at Newbury where he won when going clear up the run in.
French recruit bought by Ferguson, Mason, Hales, Done & Hogarth and sent to Paul Nicholls travels super strong but also jumps quickly and is slick over his fences. Winning at the Cheltenham New Years meeting, where he looked to take a huge step forward from the Newbury win winning by 9 lengths and on the bridle under Champion Jockey Harry Cobden.
One for the big festivals who we would expect to make bold showings from the front, jumping big and bold and cruising to victory.
Big chance for the English at the Cheltenham Festival.
Inthewaterside
Another chaser similar to Libberty Hunter but looking more at staying chases. This gelding made the perfect start to his career by winning all of his first 3 starts at Exeter and Sandown in bumpers and followed up by winning his Maiden hurdle at Aintree.
Bought for £90,000 as a 3 year old, he seemed set to be a chaser, being a huge 17hh plus.
His chase debut took place at Newbury over 2 miles 6 furlongs on Good to Soft ground, he made all under 2024 Champion Jockey Harry Cobden. he jumped well, but made one mistake 3 out but this cost him nothing in the race and he cruised to a 3 length success.
His reassessed mark of 138 seems to makes him very well handicapped for any big field races and he will be one to look out for this coming year.
Windbeneathmywings
Finally we picked out our most impressive bumper horse from the end of 2024, which for us in Windbeneathmywings.
This horse is an Irish recruit to David Pipe's West country yard, Pond House, from Patrick Flynn.
A flashy Gelding out of Free Eagle, he was well fancied in one of the hottest bumpers we have seen all season where he was backed at 3/1 and duly obliged and won on the bridle by 14 lengths under stable jockey Jack Tudor.
Soon after this sensational performance he was quoted at 8/1 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
Its always interesting to see where bumper horses levels lie, maybe the Irish will bring over a machine but he should be hard to beat.
Will be very excited to see him over a hurdle.
We look forward to see all of these horses run in the 2025 season, hopefully all run well and come home safely.
Grab the Reins racing will be reporting on these horses throughout the season, so make sure to read up on their progress here.
Comments