Fifteen National Hunt Horses to Follow in the 2020/2021 Season

After seeing a number of different 'Horses to Follow' lists for the National Hunt Season - I was eager to get to deciding mine. I usually do a video of my 'horses to follow' but this year I have decided to add a written piece as well - where I can go into some more depth and explain my reasonings.

I hope in turn that some of you enjoy this and find it somewhat useful. I have tried to stray away from the obvious and although many of these horses might not be winning anything come next March - they hopefully will be profitable to watch come the end of the year. The main hope is that all of the below horses win races and I firmly believe all fifteen have at least one win in them this year.

Horses have been arranged in alphabetical order just for convenience.

1 - Cedarwood Road

(Gearoid O’Loughlin / Chris Jones)

A breakthrough horse for the up and coming trainer, Gearoid O’Loughlin, Cedarwood Road looks like he should have a great future ahead of him going into this season. His owner, Chris Jones, has supported O’Loughlin since his start-up and the trainer still does a fair bit of pre-training and breaking for all of Jones’ horses. However, this horse has been kept in the care of O’Loughlin, and the news that Coeur Sublime would be joining him was massive for the yard this year.

Both horses have still great futures ahead but it was with the careful and long term approach that they gave Cedarwood Road last season, that makes him of most interest. Having been quite well beaten in a Punchestown Bumper on his racecourse debut, he has been transformed by a switch to obstacles and the overall growth into his frame.

He went on to finish sixth in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in November behind Conflated, having been given an educational ride. He stepped up markedly at Leopardstown over Christmas. He took the opening maiden hurdle on the Stephen’s Day card by a resounding eleven lengths. In doing so, he beat good animals in the shape of Jungle Junction, Arthurtian Fame & Fusain. From that maiden hurdle alone, 11 separate horses have all gone on to win races since - so there was depth to the race at all angles.

However, it was next time out that really showed a glimpse of the quality to come. He landed a few tidy bets when collecting the Listed ‘Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle’ at Naas the weekend before Cheltenham. He denied the very useful Beacon Edge in the process, showing a good blend of speed and requisite stamina to haul the leader in after the last.

Having been trained with Chasing in mind, I really can’t wait to see him jump a larger obstacle. As he is still a five year old, I would assume that this horse won’t be rushed so I would say he will be locally and shrewdly campaigned as a result. But do not let that take away from his raw ability, this is a horse with a big engine and a big future for a young, talented trainer.

2 - Delvino

(Dermot Anthony McLoughlin / Mrs P J Conway)

When picking a horse from this yard, it was very hard to get away from one of my favourites, Captain CJ. In his case, I would like to hope that all those staying handicaps will be his calling this season and if brushing up his jumping slightly, will take some stopping.

However, I’ve decided to side with this mare because I am convinced that she has an awful lot of quality about her. Coming from the exact same connections who had a Grade 2 mares bumper winner in Santa Rossa, they have sourced another above average bumper mare. Having not been seen on a racetrack till the age of five, her first encounter with the races was in Navan in February when taking on the extremely hot property that is Ballyadam.

There was obviously a bit of good word for this mare before the off though, as her opening price of 33/1 quickly disintegrated and became a SP of 14/1. She ran as you would have thought given the amount of money around for her, taking the lead coming into the final two furlongs before being outgunned by the more hardened and streetwise, Julies Stowaway (subsequent Champion Bumper 7th). There was no discredit in that effort at all and she had Ballyadam behind in third that day also - showing herself off to be more than useful.

Delvino went on to benefit from the racecourse experience when readily landing the odds at a Down Royal bumper the week after Cheltenham. The form of that race has been completely untested and though it did not seem like one of the strongest bumpers of the year, she quickened up very smartly in a muddling race to win by 4 and a half lengths going away.

The hope is she goes Mares Novice Hurdling this year and should reach a pretty good level in the process. I’m very excited by her.

3 - Docpickedme

(Harry Whittington / Cheltenham and South West Syndicate)

This is the first time that I have put up a horse to follow straight from the PtP fields in Ireland but I was really impressed by the performance of Docpickedme when landing a Ballycahane Point to Point in March.

Trained by Ellmarie Holden and owned by Paul Holden when winning his PtP, he denied two very nice prospects in their own right when coming from last to first under Derek O’Connor. I was really impressed by his impressive turn of foot to look like he was struggling turning into the straight before latching back on the bridle under a matter of strides for Derek. He was immediately brought over to the Cheltenham Festival sale where he sold for 75,000 to Harry Whittington. The second and third from that PtP both went over to the same sale with Patroclus selling for 150,000 and Gaston Phebus for 100,000.

It’s quite clear that a good view has been taken of this race and even though selling for the least of the three, I am particularly intrigued by the development of this Getaway gelding. The horse has gone into a high brow syndication and Harry Whittington has reported that the horse had developed well over the summer. The aim will be to run in a bumper at the showcase meeting at Cheltenham before going hurdling. The fact he is being aimed at a race like that would indicate he’s being held in high regard and I’m hoping he may be one of the rising stars of the bumper/novice hurdlers this year.

4 - Elfile

(WP Mullins / Kenneth Alexander)

The Mares division is as strong as it has ever been and the strength of the Mares Hurdle last year was quite clear to see. In Honeysuckle, Benie Des Dieux and Epatante - we have three fine mares on our hands with many different options between them.

Although there is one mare that I am a massive fan of that perhaps doesn’t get quite as much credit as she deserves, and that is Elfile. There is no getting away from the fact that she is held by the aforementioned mares in this piece but that being said, her gallant third in the Mares Hurdle was a performance of massive credit. Having been squeezed up turning into the home straight, Elfile lost precious ground before having to be switched to the inside.

As much as everyone was looking at the front two battling out one of the best Mares Hurdle finishes there has ever been, Elfile was staying on gamely to finish third - five lengths clear of the fourth. A strong staying mare who should be suited by a stronger gallop, I think she has a big future still on the track given she is only six years old.

With question marks about where Honeysuckle and Benie will end up heading this year, with the Mares Chase/Stayers Hurdle being potential options on the table for these horses. The Mares Hurdle could in fact end up not being quite as strong a contest this year as it was last year. I think Elfile is exactly the type of mare that could sweep up the breadcrumbs if continuing her upward progression.

I would be very disappointed if she was not to add to her Grade 3 and Listed wins from the previous two years and in fact, I don’t think she is far off winning a Grade 1.

5 - French Dynamite

(Mouse Morris / Robcour)

Mouse Morris is the typical trainer to get horses to improve both with time and usually a switch to the larger obstacles. He is usually not very hard on his horses at the start of their career throughout their bumper and at times, novice hurdle career.

Therefore, it was very impressive to see this PtP recruit to the Morris yard collect two decent novice hurdles last year and come a close 4th in a Grade 3 affair at Clonmel in February. In French Dynamite, he has a potentially very good horse on his hands. Having won his PtP at Tralee for Donnchadh Doyle, he was the second top lot in the Cheltenham May Sale of 2019, selling for 165,000. Mouse has gotten a few decent horses from Robcour over the last few years and he has been entrusted in bringing this horse forward.

On debut for Mouse, he was unfancied in the market but won impressively, beating Trevena by a cosy length and a half. He was then highly tried, with Mouse bringing him to the Lawlors of Naas Novice race, where he had brought Sams Profile the previous year. I would have taken this as a guide to the regard the team holds him in, and despite being well beaten - it would have been a race he will have learnt from in a long term capacity.

French Dynamite returned to lighter waters back at Thurles and he did brilliantly to beat The Bosses Oscar by two lengths - this was a strong staying effort on his first step up to 2m4f on the track. This will probably show you where his future lies, in staying chases. He was slightly short of the mark when fourth in Grade 3 company at Thurles when behind Five O’Clock, but was respectable that day and should improve for another summer on his back. He has been bought to be a chaser, so it will be interesting to see whether he can develop into a good one.

6 - Fitzhenry

(Paul Nolan / JP McManus)

This may surprise some of you as he doesn’t shout like a massive improver for this season, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it could be another big year for Fitzhenry. A regular fixture in all of the big staying handicap chases, as an eight year old, Fitzhenry still has plenty more dances to dance in these races.

Last year was a year of what could have been for Fitzhenry, having made a pleasing return under his well handicapped hurdle mark, he went on to compete in the Troytown. On that day, he was extremely unfortunate to bump into Chris’s Dream, who was very well handicapped and loves Navan, and finished a very commendable second. As much as he was beaten almost ten lengths by the winner, he finished a further seven lengths ahead of Portmore Lough in third.

Fitzhenry was raised three pounds for that effort, but he went on to the Paddy Power over Christmas at Leopardstown and came agonisingly close to landing the big handicap pot. In a race made infamous for the commentary of Roaring Bull, Fitzhenry was the winner of the race everywhere bar the line, getting beaten half a length. If his season needed any less luck, he was cantering behind the leaders in the 2m5f Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival when being almost brought to a standstill by a faller at two out.

They took a chance at the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, and after being given perhaps an overly patient ride from Patrick Mullins, he could not quite get involved, finishing sixth. He has a current Irish rating of 141 and I still think there is enough wiggle room in that mark to get him his big day in one of these big staying handicaps. He will be campaigned at the exact same sort of races and if ever there was a horse that could do with a change of luck, it’s Fitzhenry.

7 - Gallant John Joe

(Oliver McKiernan / Keep the Faith Syndicate)

Gallant John Joe is a horse that for one reason or another, holds a very special place in my heart so it would be remiss of me to not include him in this list. Overall, he is a very good horse for his connections and the type of horse that rarely runs a bad race. I would be very confident that going into this year - he will continue that consistency and hopefully register a few wins.

Having initially looked very promising in a Punchestown bumper, he really lost his way for the rest of his bumper career and the start of his hurdling career. However, he slowly got the hang of things and culminated in a Grade 1 third at the DRF in 2019 behind Commander of Fleet and won the Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas the month after that.

Gallant John Joe took to chasing immediately and was thrown in at the deep end in the process. Making his chase debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, he pushed the high class Melon within two lengths, looking very threatening on him at the last. With that form looking very solid, connections decided to roll the dice and run in the Irish Arkle a month later. Running another brilliant race at a massive price, he finished just seven lengths behind Notebook and Cash Back in third, rewarding connections for going to the Grade 1.

Connections decided against heading over to Cheltenham, when a few shrewd judges had hoped he might get a favourable mark for the Novices Handicap. Instead they returned to Naas on the same card that he had won the previous year. Having travelled supremely throughout the Grade 3 Novice Chase, he was beaten a half length into third behind Royal Rendezvous and MinisterforSport. If you were being a little bit critical, his finishing kick didn’t look great. However, the ease in which he travelled into the race would indicate there are many races to be won with this high class Presenting gelding.

He is still a maiden over fences so perhaps winning a Beginners Chase would be great for his confidence before embarking on high profile handicaps and perhaps graded races.

8 - Grangeclare Native

(Gordon Elliot / Gigginstown House Stud)

Gordon has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the big races this year - when you think of Envoi Allen, Abracadabras, Delta Work, Presenting Percy and Samcro just to name a few. However, those horses are all commonly known throughout many different racing circles - so there would be no point staring at the obvious and instead to try and find something a little bit off the beaten track.

Grangeclare Native is a lovely, typical horse that Gigginstown have bought over the last number of years while being involved within the game. He came from the PtP fields where he won his sole Ptp by two lengths while under the care of Denis Murphy, he was subsequently sold for 125,000. I was in attendance at Punchestown on John Durkan day when this horse won his bumper on his first start on the track, he battled hard to deny Jungle Junction under a fine ride from Lisa O’Neill.

After that performance, he was a horse I was automatically interested in going forward. I found it a little strange that he made his novice hurdle debut quite late last year in a Grade 2 event at Naas, where expectedly he didn’t figure. That was asking an awful lot of the horse and his return to maiden hurdle company at the start of this campaign looked a sensible move from all involved. However, it didn’t go to plan as he fell at the last flight down the back straight at Gowran when a long odds on favorite.

Yet I still haven’t been put off by these two blemishes in his copy book at this early stage and I think the campaigning of him has been very interesting. It’s far too early to be making any assumptions but I could easily see this horse developing into Gordon’s Martin Pipe horse for this year. By then, if he is alright after his fall last week, he should have plenty of experience and I doubt he will be engaged in many of the major graded novices this year, which perhaps may give him a favorable mark.

It’s a big shout and one that more than likely will not materialise but I have seen stranger things happen and this horse might just have the requisite class to develop into that sort of horse.

9 - Good Time Jonny

(Tony Martin / A Shiels, Donal Gavigan, Niall Reilly)

For the last few years I have always been very partial to getting my fingers burnt on strong travelling Tony Martin horses, but I think this is a potentially smart recruit for the yard to go hurdling with this year. He made an extremely pleasing debut when in the care of John McConnell when pushing Fantasio D’Alene within a head at Punchestown. After that effort, he joined his current connections for 61,000 - which may look a good purchase if this horse delivers on the promise he has shown.

After a small time off the track, which I assume was getting used to his new surroundings at Martin’s yard, he reappeared over Christmas to come 3rd in a strong looking Leopardstown bumper. Ahead of him that day was Risk Factor, who chased home Appreciate It in a graded bumper the next month, and Hamunderson, a well regarded individual from the Elliot yard. That day he was given a patient ride and it was quite clear that there was improvement to come from that effort.

He travelled over to Musselburgh next time out and travelled oh so smoothly to readily account for the previous dual scorer, Chuvelo, who is a horse I rate highly. This was part of a double Tony Martin coup at the Scottish track, with The Mouse Doctor also winning at ease. Good Time Jonny booked his ticket to the Champion Bumper with that performance and despite being held up well off the pace, he came a very respectable ninth.

Given the yard he is in, it’s hard to know whether this horse will take a high rank over hurdles or be primed to win a big handicap hurdle at some stage. I reckon he has the ability to potentially do either, as he travels like a really good horse and the form of his runs so far is solid enough to give enough basis behind the argument.

Wherever he goes this year as a novice hurdler, I will be following in.

10 - Jason the Militant

(Henry De Bromhead / Peter Michael)

Henry De Bromhead had a great season last year and he has another good crop of horses to go to war with this year. Stable stars such as Honeysuckle, Notebook, A Plus Tard and Chris’s Dream have all contributed to the quality of stock going up in Henry’s yard. They seem to have a very good prospect for Novice Chasing in the form of Captain Guinness, but he has been well found by most as a horse to follow this year. Instead, I’m siding with a similar profile stablemate.

Jason the Militant made his racecourse debut in December 2018 in the same bumper as the introduction of Envoi Allen at Fairyhouse. He ran very well to finish third behind Envoi Allen himself, and the presence of Port Stanley and Diol Ker gave that bumper a very robust look to it in the formbook. However, we didn’t see him for a full year until returning to Fairyhouse in November last year in a maiden hurdle. This time round, he met Unexcepted, who looked a very smart recruit at the time, and came a credible second in the process.

He was able to build on this when landing a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas under Hugh Morgan. Connections decided to roll the dice at the Grade 1 at the DRF in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle. He didn’t look at home that day any step of the way and was a well beaten fifth - running nowhere near to the best of his ability, the ground was offered up as a possible excuse.

He returned to the track a few weeks later to compete in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Naas on Cheltenham Trials Day at the track. Under an aggressive ride from Rachael Blackmore, he stuck on very resolutely to deny Beacon Edge in a titanic battle up the home straight. He also downed the very notable Andy Dufresne and Mt Leinster in the same race. He looked an ideal horse for De Bromhead to improve for sending Novice Chasing this year and although I can’t confirm that is the plan - I would be shocked if it wasn’t.

He also returned to action just a week ago at Fairyhouse in a flat maiden over 1m2f and he showed gears to burn when accounting for some decent rivals by three lengths. He is a very likeable sort and I can’t wait to see this horse be let off on the front end over a fence - should be exciting!

11 - Midnights Legacy

(Alan King / Pitchall Stud Partnership)

Alan King has had some brilliant fun with an awful lot of the progeny of Midnight Legend and this horse is one of the last horses with the chance to emulate his father and go to the breeding sheds. Midnights Legacy is still a full horse and has been plying his trade this summer in flat handicaps for the ever expanding flat base within Alan King’s yard.

However, like all of his siblings, this horse is due to go hurdling and I fully expect this horse to go juvenile hurdling for connections this year. Considering the horse has got a flat rating of 90, if he takes to hurdling, he could be a fair tool to be reckoned with. Based on his flat form, the majority of his best performances have come on slightly softer ground so that must be a nice incentive for this horse to be campaigned throughout the winter.

I backed this horse a few times this summer and he won back to back handicaps at Haydock. In doing so, he showed a superb fighting spirit and a massive aptitude to find under pressure for his jockey’s urgings. He beat quality horses like Maori Night and Indigo Lake in the process. This was a major positive for me as he looks like he has a lot of the battling qualities that his sire possessed. Connections will be desperate for this horse to do well while hurdling and he potentially might be retired after a juvenile season if he was successful enough.

With what the Pitchall Stud Partnership have given to the game over the last number of years, it would be a fitting story if this horse would give them a new stallion to go to war with over the next few years. I expect him to adapt to hurdling very well and should take some stopping in England.

12 - Minella Trump

(Donald McCain / Mr T G Leslie)

I have a very soft spot for these Northern trained horses in England and Donald McCain has some very impressive Irish recruits in his yard, including this horse. As I’m a big fan of Good Time Jonny (as mentioned previously), I was quite close to putting up Chuvelo from this yard, but I’m really excited by Minella Trump seeing a fence this year and I think he could scale a lot more heights than he did last year over hurdles.

Having been trained in Ireland in the PtP fields by John Nallen, he won his sole PtP by six lengths at Ballycahane. He was subsequently purchased by current connections for a sizable 90,000. He didn’t go down the bumper route, and was immediately stuck over a hurdle and showed a nice aptitude for that game. He won his first two races for Donald McCain at Sedgefield, accounting for future winner Master’s Apprentice the first time and smashing Ladronne by eleven lengths under a penalty. Ladronne went on to win two of his next three races.

These performances were very impressive and I remember this horse travelling to Catterick for his handicap debut, where I thought he wouldn’t be beaten. However, he was beaten. Having given the eventual winner Annsam plenty of rope out in front, his jumping wasn’t slick enough to reel in the front runner, losing out by two lengths in the process. He was further stepped up in trip at Bangor next time out when returning to Novice Hurdle company with effectively a match race against the very well regarded, The Cashel Man. Racing off level weights, Minella Trump came through to head the long time leader over the last hurdle and idled in front and slightly drifted off a true line in the closing stages, holding on by a half length.

In my opinion, he was quite harshly thrown out in the stewards room but considering the proximity of The Cashel Man to Thyme Hill in his previous start, this was a very encouraging effort. He was slightly disappointing at Newcastle next time out but I feel he’s worth forgiving for that and should be better when seeing a fence.

13 - Ronald Pump

(Matthew Smith / Laois Limerick Syndicate)

An excellent horse for connections who has shot up the handicap and has developed himself into a proper graded performer. Matthew Smith has become a very shrewd man with the horses he has and has managed to improve a lot of horses in his care. Ronald Pump is an excellent example of this, bringing this horse from lowly handicaps and winning his first hurdle race off a mark of 102 to placing in the Stayers Hurdle this year.

For a few seasons now, the staying hurdling division has been fairly thin on the ground and the disappointment of Paisley Park last year has only added fuel to the fire of those thoughts. Lisnagar Oscar was a shock winner of the race but perhaps the unluckiest story of the race was Ronald Pump, who ran well above market expectations in second. This might not have come as much of a surprise to those closest to him, with the horse continuously progressing over hurdles for the last two seasons.

Having had a try over fences, his Beginners chase win last year was followed by two disappointing efforts in Graded company, and as such, his chasing career has been postponed for the time being. Unlike a lot of the horses on this list, he is a small horse who probably found the task of jumping fences just a little too much of a strain. However, he is a slick hurdler and his jumping apart from the final flight in the Stayers Hurdle was exemplary.

He will have to go and improve again this season if he is to continue taking as high rank in these staying contests but with the division on its knees at the moment, I see no reason why he can’t. The Irish staying races such as the Grade 1 over Christmas and the Galmoy can often be weak enough contests and I’d be surprised if connections don’t just roll the dice at the better standard of races from here on out.

14 - Quick Grabim

(Fergal O’Brien / Mrs G S Worcester)

Another horse that has been one of my favourites for a few years now is Quick Grabim, with my association with the horse going back to his bumper days. In fact, the first time I saw this horse was at Leopardstown in December 2016 when he hacked in a bumper when under the care of Robbie McNamara. He subsequently went to Willie Mullins and embarked on a two season long novice hurdle campaign. He is a horse with a lot of ability but at times injury has prevented him from properly showing us what he can do on the course.

After winning the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins in late 2018, it looked like the world was at his feet but injuries ruled him out of the rest of the season until Punchestown, where he put in a below par performance. He was then moved to Fergal O’Brien, with the owner looking for her horse to be in training closer to home - but overall last year was a bit of a nightmare.

He found himself in a very tricky position of being too high in the handicap but not quite up to competing at open Grade 1 and Grade 2 level. His two runs of the season both resulted in being well beaten at Kempton. However, his return to the course just a week ago has reignited my enthusiasm for the former Grade 1 winner.

Making his chase debut in a hot contest for the time of year at Uttoxeter, Quick Grabim showed a terrific attitude and aptitude for jumping a fence. He was only hauled in late on by one time Christmas Hurdle favourite, Fusil Raffles, in the shadows of the post. This showed more than enough ability to suggest that wins over fences are not far away for the eight year old. Dropping back into novice company, even in a new discipline, can be critical for these horses to build back up some confidence and I really hope that he can stay sound for the rest of the season to realise some of that potential. If he stays sound, he will be winning plenty of races over fences this season.

15 - Weakfield

(Brian Ellison / Phil & Julie Martin)

As mentioned earlier when talking about Minella Trump, I do like some of the Northern based trainers and always have a soft spot for horses that win races around the likes of Hexham and Sedgefield. Windsor Avenue was a horse I thought an awful lot of last year and he is still a horse for the Ellison team that I can see developing into a very smart horse over around 2m4f. However, I’m not opting for him but in fact a stablemate in the same colours.

Phil & Julie Martin have always had a strong set of horses with the Ellison yard and the recent successes of Definitely Red, Forest Bihan and Windsor Avenue have gone someway to repaying some of their investments. I was at a Cheltenham Sale in November 2017 when they shelled 90,000 on Weakfield who had won a Portrush PtP when trained by Gavin Cromwell. The second in that race, Brace Yourself, was sold for 165,000 at the same sale and has gone onto becoming a useful horse for Noel Meade.

It took awhile for Weakfield to look like he was ever going to repay much of that price tag when he struggled in his bumper when beaten by IK Brunel and couldn’t get going in either of his first two starts over hurdles. Those two average efforts gave him an initial hurdling mark of 109, which he seized upon in impressive style to land a few nice bets when winning on handicap hurdle debut at Market Rasen.

That was two seasons ago and we only saw this horse once last year, back in October. Given that he won his PtP - the hope was that he was always going to be a better Chaser than hurdler and he gave us a glimpse as to the promise he may possess. Given a mark of 120 for his Novice Handicap Chase at Hexham, he made short work of that mark when powering away to win by twelve lengths, a most impressive chase debut.

The fact we didn’t see him after that last season would slightly temper enthusiasm but I do believe there is a fair engine in this horse and if he can build on that smooth chasing victory from last year - he could indeed land a fair few tidy handicaps over the next twelve months.