| Monday, August 15, 2022 11:21 AM

10 Jumpers to Follow Autumn 2022: Best Horses to Back this National Hunt Season

Stephen Harris

With nearly all the major flat festivals now behind us, thoughts inevitably turn to the National Hunt horses and the start of the jumps season proper. Here at bettingexpert we have compiled an exclusive list of 10 horses well worth following throughout the autumn and winter months.

These are at a wide range of abilities, from promising Graded performers to unexposed novices and proven handicappers. By adding them to your tracker, bettingexpert followers will hopefully enjoy a profitable NH season

#1- My Drogo

Dan Skelton has made no secret at all of the regard in which he holds this strapping performer, and he will be looking to land running over fences this winter after missing last season with a nasty injury.

He has not been seen out since winning over fences at Cheltenham in December 2021, jumping fluently and in command a mile out in the manner of a top class chaser in the making.

The 7-y-o is reportedly in and working really well at home, and is very much one for bettingexpert punters to follow throughout the winter as he aims to head to the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

#2- Coconut Splash

Evan Williams always has some exciting young horses in the Rucker colours each season, and this 7-y-o remains with plenty of scope when going handicapping over fences this winter.

He is a previous winning pointer, who won over hurdles despite looking every inch a strapping chaser in the making, and is sure to be shedding his maiden tag over fences soon when the ground softens up from October onwards.

#3- Doctor Parnassus

Dan Skelton’s 4-y-o is not one to write off this season, despite finishing off on a slightly disappointing note in a red hot handicap hurdle at Sandown in April.

He shaped a lot better than the bare result there too, just fading on the long run to two out having traveled well, and remains with plenty of upside after just four career starts so far.

#4- Elvis Mail

Nick Alexander is one of the best trainers in the north, with a lovely string of unexposed young horses, and this talented performer is just the type to win a big Saturday handicap this winter.

He was very free and inclined to pull his chance away in the early days of his career, but is much more settled now, and caught the eye on his final run at Ayr in April behind the trailblazing Beakstown in a warm novice chase.

#5- Holly

Jonjo O’Neill’s filly took a while to be played in after arriving from France, but she really got her act together when the cash arrived at Wincanton in December, storming clear on the bridle up the straight to land a competitive maiden hurdle for the track.

The form has been very well advertised since by the second and third both winning twice, and she is just the type to make her mark into handicaps this winter for her very shrewd connections.

#6- Imperial Esprit

Harry Fry is a trainer well worth following over the next few years, with his string expanding and a strike rate that shows he does not over-face his young, promising horses. This 8-y-o impressed when winning over fences on his chase debut at Uttoxeter in October (well backed after nine months off and jumped well given his inexperience).

He did not disgrace himself under a quiet ride last time at Ffos Las in November, and remains with plenty of scope to develop into a useful handicapper this time around.

#7- Island Run

Phillip Hobbs young hurdler is very much an embryonic chaser in the making, but he has plenty of scope to progress as his stamina is drawn out over the winter months.

He looked very strong at the finish when winning at Wincanton in January despite clearly still being raw and inexperienced through the race, and then failed to land a blow under a negative ride on handicap debut at Fontwell in March.

#8- Kyntara

Kim Bailey’s 6-y-o has already been called a few names by punters after some expensive short priced defeats, but there is no doubting he has a big engine and switch to fences is surely on the cards this season.

He has been turned over at 8/13f, 11/4, 1/2f and 1/2f in four runs over hurdles so far, seemingly very green in front on one occasion, but still has plenty of scope and could be a different proposition after a summer off the track.

#9- American Mike

No ten to follow list would be possible without some Irish contenders, with both Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins dominating at the top level when sending runners over to the UK.

This top class bumper performer has won 3 of his 5 career starts so far, and should not be written off after a disappointing final run at Punchestown on April (simply one run too many).

He comes from a pointing background, but has plenty of pace and is likely to emerge as a leading contender for the Supreme Novice hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

#10- Redemption Day

Willie Mullins 5-y-o disappointed at the Cheltenham festival in the Champion bumper, but showed that was not his true running when finishing a cracking second at Punchestown on his final run of the season in April.

He is a very strong traveler with plenty of speed, and is
undoubtedly one of the most exciting young hurdlers we will see this winter.

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