10 Horses to Watch in the 2026/27 Jumps Season

The 2026/27 National Hunt season is underway, with several promising horses looking to make their mark as attention turns towards the Cheltenham Festival and the biggest races of the winter.

With the Cheltenham Showcase Meeting taking place on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th October, the new jumps season is gathering momentum. Some of the sport’s leading trainers, including Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton, have exciting prospects preparing for the months ahead.

From established Grade 1 performers to talented novices hoping to make an impression at the highest level, here are ten horses to keep an eye on throughout the 2026/27 National Hunt campaign.

1. The Mourne Rambler – Noel Meade

The Mourne Rambler heads into the new campaign as one of the most exciting novice hurdle prospects after winning the Champion Bumper at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Noel Meade, the gelding produced an impressive performance under Colin Keane to win the Grade 1 contest, before finishing second at Punchestown the following month.

Attention now turns towards his first season over hurdles, with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2027 emerging as a potential target. Meade has already identified the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse as an early-season objective, making The Mourne Rambler a particularly interesting horse to follow.

2. Fleur In The Park – Andy Slattery

Fleur In The Park has already made an impressive start to the 2026/27 season, strengthening his claims as a potential contender for some of the biggest races in the National Hunt calendar.

The seven-year-old enjoyed an excellent previous campaign, winning a Grade 1 novice chase at Fairyhouse before finishing second at Punchestown.

He returned to action at Gowran Park earlier this month, recording an impressive six-and-a-half-length victory over Blood Destiny in the Grade 2 PWC Danoli Chase despite conceding 6lb to his rival.

Trainer Andy Slattery has since identified the King George VI Chase at Kempton as a possible target. A step up to three miles would present a new challenge, but his recent performance suggests he deserves consideration among the leading chasers this winter.

3. Kabral Du Mathan – Dan Skelton

Kabral Du Mathan is another horse who could feature prominently this season after making a successful transition to chasing.

The six-year-old joined Dan Skelton from Paul Nicholls ahead of the previous campaign and quickly established himself as a leading hurdler, winning his opening two races for the yard. Those victories included the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

An attempt at three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle proved less successful, with Kabral Du Mathan finishing fourth.

However, he made an impressive winning debut over fences at Perth on 15th October, jumping confidently throughout the two-mile contest. That performance has strengthened his claims as a potential Arkle contender at the 2027 Cheltenham Festival.

4. Crystal Island – Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson has another exciting prospect in Crystal Island, who remains unbeaten following three career starts.

After winning his sole Irish point-to-point appearance, the five-year-old made an immediate impression over hurdles, recording victories at Ascot and Ffos Las during the 2025/26 campaign.

His success at Ffos Las in April demonstrated further progress, although Henderson has acknowledged that the horse still has plenty of developing to do.

Connections have yet to confirm whether Crystal Island will remain over hurdles or begin a novice chasing campaign. Either route would make him an interesting prospect, particularly as he gains experience over longer distances.

5. Salver – Josh and Jamie Moore

Salver has already established himself as a talented performer over both hurdles and fences, and his connections will be hoping he can make further progress this season.

The six-year-old has three Grade 2 victories to his name, including two during his first campaign over fences.

He also delivered a creditable performance at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, finishing third in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase despite encountering difficulties during the race.

With proven form over three miles, Salver looks well suited to staying contests, particularly when conditions are testing. The Betfair Chase at Haydock has been suggested as a possible early-season target, offering an opportunity to establish himself against more experienced opposition.

6. Mighty Park – Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins will once again have an impressive collection of horses competing throughout the National Hunt season, with Mighty Park among those capable of making significant progress.

The five-year-old produced one of the most striking maiden hurdle performances of last season when winning at Fairyhouse by an extraordinary 38 lengths. The horse he defeated, Roc Dino, subsequently demonstrated useful ability himself.

However, Mighty Park was unable to reproduce that performance at the Cheltenham Festival, where he disappointed on quicker ground.

A return to softer winter conditions could help him rediscover his best form, while a possible move to novice chasing has also been discussed by the Mullins team. His next few appearances should provide a clearer indication of his prospects.

7. Apache Tribe – Gordon Elliott

Apache Tribe is another promising staying prospect who could have an important season for Gordon Elliott.

The six-year-old began attracting attention after winning a bumper at Listowel in September 2025 before following up with a maiden hurdle victory at Ayr in February 2026, both under the guidance of Noel Kelly.

He subsequently joined Elliott’s powerful Irish operation and made an impressive winning debut for his new trainer at Ayr in April, finishing five and a half lengths clear of the opposition.

That performance suggested Apache Tribe is capable of competing at a higher level, particularly over longer distances. His stamina and relatively limited experience make him one to monitor as the novice hurdle programme develops.

8. Minella Study – Adam Nicol

Minella Study was one of the notable British-trained juvenile hurdlers last season, delivering a series of impressive performances for trainer Adam Nicol.

Victories at Wetherby and Cheltenham during the winter established him as a contender for the Triumph Hurdle at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

He justified that reputation with an excellent third-place finish in the Grade 1 contest, narrowly missing out on an even better result against some of the leading juvenile hurdlers from Britain and Ireland.

Although a disappointing subsequent appearance at Aintree brought his season to an unsatisfactory conclusion, his earlier performances demonstrated considerable ability. Minella Study will now have the opportunity to build on that experience as he moves beyond juvenile competition.

9. C’Est Different – Sam Thomas

C’Est Different established himself as a progressive staying hurdler last season, recording four consecutive victories before his winning sequence came to an end at Cheltenham.

Trained by Sam Thomas, the six-year-old was particularly impressive over longer distances, claiming handicap hurdle victories at Market Rasen and Newbury.

Those performances earned him a place in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, where he performed competitively for much of the contest before eventually fading.

Despite that defeat, C’Est Different remains relatively lightly raced and has demonstrated an ability to handle demanding staying contests. Further appearances over approximately three miles could see him return to winning form this winter.

10. Dallas Star – Emmet Mullins

Dallas Star has taken an unusual route into National Hunt racing, having previously competed at a high level on the Flat.

The five-year-old enjoyed his biggest success on the Flat when winning the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in 2024 at odds of 50/1. He subsequently competed in that year’s Derby at Epsom.

Now trained by Emmet Mullins, Dallas Star made an encouraging start to his jumping career when winning on his hurdling debut at Navan in September, providing Amo Racing with its first winner over jumps.

Although he was beaten on his next appearance at Limerick, there remains considerable interest in how his Flat ability translates to hurdling. Further improvement in his jumping could make him competitive in stronger company as the season progresses.

Which Horses Could Feature at the 2027 Cheltenham Festival?

The 2027 Cheltenham Festival will take place from Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th March, providing a major target for many of the horses featured throughout the new National Hunt season.

The Mourne Rambler could emerge as a leading contender for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, while Kabral Du Mathan’s impressive start over fences has brought the Arkle into consideration. Elsewhere, the likes of Salver and Fleur In The Park could challenge in some of the season’s biggest staying chases.

There is still plenty of racing to come before March, with performances throughout the winter likely to influence each horse’s programme.

For racing enthusiasts looking to experience the action at Prestbury Park, Eventmasters offers a range of Cheltenham Festival 2027 hospitality packages, providing premium ways to enjoy one of the biggest meetings in the horse racing calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026/27 National Hunt season take place?

National Hunt racing takes place throughout the year, although the main jumps season runs from autumn 2026 through to spring 2027. Major meetings include the Cheltenham November Meeting, the King George VI Chase, the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National Festival at Aintree.

When is the Cheltenham Festival 2027?

The 2027 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 16th March to Friday 19th March 2027 at Cheltenham Racecourse, featuring four days of racing culminating in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Which horses could compete in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2027?

The Mourne Rambler is among the early contenders for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle following his victory in the 2026 Champion Bumper. Other novice hurdlers could emerge as challengers throughout the winter.

Which horse could challenge for the 2026 King George VI Chase?

Fleur In The Park is among the horses being considered for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, following his impressive victory at Gowran Park in October.