Horse racing tips: 10 horses to follow during the National Hunt season

Andrew of Fiosrach
31 October 2023

The Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival

As we leave the Flat season behind us, our horse racing analyst Andrew of Fiosrach examines some of the horses that have caught his eye ahead of the new National Hunt campaign.

I have tried with the following list to pick horses that will win races, but are not the most likely to be top of most other like-minded lists.

I have deliberately left out the likes of Constitution Hill, El Fabiolo, Impaire Et Passe and a host of other top performers that the majority of other lists are likely to contain.

Most of those lists will see most runners start odds-on and give very little chance of making a profit following them.

I usually add these to a horse tracker and put in notes about going and distance preference, which you can cut and paste from my summaries below.

Facile Vega

Age: 6 years old
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Owner: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate

Facile Vega is likely to be on several lists, despite only finishing runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, as he then came out and demolished the field in the Champion Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown in April. He won this top novice race in fine style and made good rivals look average.

Willie Mullins his trainer stated that “Facile Vega doesn't have any respect for hurdles, so the sooner we go chasing the better.”

I expect Facile Vega to do very well chasing in novice ranks in the coming season and his trainer thinks he will be able to go further than two miles over fences.

He has already won four Grade 1’s – two over hurdles and two national hunt flat races (bumpers), and this whilst not actually taking to hurdles. I am looking forward to seeing how he adapts to jumping fences in the coming season.

Facile Vega is at his best on going with cut and distance-wise I would focus on 2 miles to 2 miles 4 furlongs until he proves he can go further. He is equally at home going right or left-handed.

Last time out: Nov 18 - 1st/12 at Navan (2 miles 1 furlong, soft-heavy)
Next time out: Dec 26 14.20 Leopardstown - Racing Post Novice Chase (2 miles 1 furlong)

Captain Teague

Age: 5 years old
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Owner: Mrs Johnny de la Hey

Captain Teague has only had three runs but impressed me with his run in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He finished third that day and was the only British runner in the top eleven finishers, which just emphasises the Irish dominance of National Hunt flat races.

That run should see Captain Teague amongst the leading novices in the coming season and considering he has only had three runs is sure to improve further.

Captain Teague has only run on soft going, so I would suggest backing him when there is cut in the ground and around or just over two miles until evidence shows further will suit.

Last time out: Nov 17 - 2nd/8 at Cheltenham (2 miles 5 furlongs, good-soft)
Next time out: none at time of writing

Pied Piper

Age: 5 years old
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Owner: Caldwell Construction Ltd

Pied Piper was owned by the Queen when running on the flat and didn’t really shine in that sphere but has impressed over hurdles. He has won at Grade 2 level over hurdles and has placed at Grade 1 and 3. He has had ten runs over hurdles, so you may think he is fully exposed, but I believe given the right circumstances he can continue to win.

Pied Piper seems to be best in fields of less than ten but has performed in fields of around twenty runners too. He has run well on ground ranging to heavy through to good going. Pied Piper runs particularly well at Cheltenham.

Last time out: Nov 25 - 4th/4 at Punchestown (2 miles 1/2 furlong, soft)
Next time out: Dec 29 14.20 Leopardstown - Matheson Hurdle (2 miles)

Ballybawn Belter

Age: 5 years old
Trainer: Liz Doyle
Owner: John P McManus

Ballybawn Belter is not likely to compete in Grade 1’s but was impressive when winning a decent handicap hurdle at Punchestown in April and won again in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe. She is a good looking mare that has filled out since arriving at Liz Doyle’s small stable in County Wexford. His trainer believes that Ballybawn Belter will improve further when switched to fences, but she holds no entries yet.

Ballybawn Belter is best with some cut in the ground and in mares’ only races (despite winning in an open race at Punchestown). She is especially good in big fields and with a claiming jockey on board.

Last time out: Nov 12 - 8th/21 at Naas (2 miles 4 furlongs, soft)
Next time out: none at time of writing

Douglas Talking

Age: 7 years old
Trainer: Lucinda Russell
Owner: The Bristol Boys & Russell

Douglas Talking showed nothing over hurdles with only a third place in four starts; however, when switching to fences he has now run ten times and won five times, finishing second in another two.

He has won in Class 3 and 4 but impressed me when finishing second in a Grade 3 at Aintree and then was second in a decent handicap at Punchestown. Douglas Talking has so far won in small fields with some cut in the ground at the minimum trip of two miles.

He should be capable of winning a Class 2 handicap with a small field on going from soft through to good. I would stick to around the two-mile mark until he proves capable of staying further.

Last time out: Apr 27 - 2nd/14 at Punchestown (2 miles, good-yielding)
Next time out: none at time of writing

Marine Nationale

Age: 6 years old
Trainer: Barry Connell
Owner: Barry Connell

Marine Nationale took me by surprise last season and would be the banker among this top ten to follow. He remains unbeaten in five starts and has superb speed across the turf between obstacles and that gains him several lengths.

His owner/trainer Barry Connell stated after his horse won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle that he was thinking about sending Marine Nationale over fences this season with the Arkle at Cheltenham his main aim.

No entries are posted at present, but how interesting would it be if he stayed hurdling and took on Constitution Hill!

Last time out: Mar 14 - 1st/14 at Cheltenham (2 miles 1/2 furlong, soft)
Next time out: Dec 27 12.30 Leopardstown - Paddy Power From the Horses Mouth Beginners Chase (2 miles 1 furlong)

Maskada

Age: 7 years old
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Owner: M K Mariga

Maskada won the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at Cheltenham impressively by over six lengths, but she does seem to be ground dependent and needs good-to-soft through to heavy to show her best.

Her new rating probably means that Maskada will need to move out of handicap company, but she should cope if there is cut on the ground. Best conditions are two miles up to two and a half miles on soft or heavy going.

Last time out: Dec 10 - 3rd/6 at Cork (2 miles 1/2 furlong, soft-heavy)
Next time out: Dec 27 13.10 Leopardstown - Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (2 miles)

Teahupoo

Age: 6 years old
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Owner: Robcour

Teahupoo burst onto the staying hurdle scene last season as a six-year-old and finished third in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, losing out by less than a length.

He should be stronger as a seven-year-old and will be competitive in any of the Graded hurdles on soft or heavy ground.

If he continues to progress as I expect he could dominate the staying hurdle division for the next two to three years.

Last time out: Dec 3 - 1st/5 at Fairyhouse (2 miles 4 and 1/2 furlongs, soft)
Next time out: Dec 28 13.50 Leopardstown - Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle (2 miles 7 and 1/2 furlongs)

Hereditary Rule

Age: 8 years old
Trainer: John C McConnell
Owner: CF Syndicate

Hereditary Rule won an A-class handicap chase at Punchestown, which was his best performance to date.

He has run this season over a trip which was too short, as he needs two and a half miles or just over that.

Presumably, that race was being used as a sharpener as Hereditary Rule holds an entry at Punchestown on Wednesday 11^th October.

His best trip is over two and a half miles up to three miles on good ground or with some cut.

Last time out: Oct 11 - 17/17 at Punchestown (2 miles 4 furlong, yielding-soft)
Next time out: none at time of writing

Bo Zenith

Age: 4 years old
Trainer: Gary Moore
Owner: O S Harris

Bo Zenith moved from low-class hurdles into the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree, where he lost on the bob of a head to Zenta.

Bo Zenith has massive scope to improve, and it will be interesting to see if he stays over hurdles or switches to fences, as his owner believes that he will make a great chaser over two and a half miles in time.

I am looking forward to seeing what Bo Zenith can achieve this season and his best trip is around two and a half miles on ground with soft as part of the going.