October traditionally heralds the beginning of the national hunt – AKA jumps – horse racing season in Ireland (and the UK).
It’s an exciting time for racing fans as they get to see some of the world’s best jump horses return to action after the break over the summer.
They’ll also get to see new superstars emerge over the coming months as trainers bring out younger horses for their first runs in Irish racing.
If you follow jumps racing, you’ll be well aware that Irish trainers, jockeys and owners are enjoying something of a golden era.
At the Cheltenham Festival, which is the undisputed highlight of the British and Irish national hunt season, the Irish have been on a run of unprecedented success, raiding the Festival for its top prizes, then coming back the next year to do it all over again. It’s been extraordinary.
But as the new season begins, can Irish-trained horses keep up this incredible dominance? We think so. Below, we pick out five brilliant horses who are worth keeping an eye on and could continue to make history over the winter and spring:
Honeysuckle – an impressive record
Honeysuckle’s record reads as follows: 16 races, 16 wins. The mare has won the last two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham, as well as the Mares’ Hurdle in 2020.
Surprisingly, she is not a favourite as it stands in the betting for the 2023 Champion Hurdle, but that could change when she returns to action in the coming weeks.
Honeysuckle’s profile is invariably wrapped up with that of her regular jockey, Rachael Blackmore. The duo has formed a remarkable partnership, with Blackmore (in our view) now the best jumps jockey in the world.
Both horse and rider are history-makers, and we can’t wait to see how their story unfolds in the coming months.
Galopin Des Champs – a keen favourite
A Willie Mullins-trained horse that turned so many heads last season as a novice that bookies have made him a favourite for the 2023 Gold Cup.
Ironically, perhaps, Galopin Des Champs’ best performance came in defeat when he fell at the final fence in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham 2022.
Falls happen, but the distance between Galopin Des Champs and eventual winner Bob Olinger (a superstar in his own right) before the fall was a veritable country mile. Galopin Des Champs looks every inch a world-beater.
Facile Vega – one to keep an eye on
The Willie Mullins operation continues to churn out superstar horses year after year. As the likes of Galopin Des Champs prepare for the big time, Facile Vega represents the next generation of Mullins’ talent factory.
The five-year-old already has a Cheltenham win under his belt, albeit in the low-key Champion Bumper, but he looks primed to take some big prizes as a novice hurdler.
The Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle beckons for the unbeaten Facile Vega (4-0), but Mullins will want to test him over the winter. Will be perhaps the most interesting horse to keep an eye on in the early part of the season.
Noble Yeats – a Grand National winner
Another Mullins’ horse, but this time the trainer is Willie’s nephew, Emmet. If the name of Noble Yeats rings a bell, well, it’s because he has hit the heights already – winning the Aintree Grand National last April.
He was, if you remember, a huge long shot, winning at 50/1 with amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen in the saddle.
Winning the Grand National leads to instant stardom, but there will be those who believe Noble Yeats’ win was something of a fluke. Can he prove the doubters wrong? We will find out on the 15 April next year.
Allaho − going for the hat trick
Allaho is another horse who has had a vice-like grip on Cheltenham over the past couple of years. Twice winner of the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase, he is a clear favourite to go for the hat trick in 2023.
His performance last year – winning by 14 lengths – was hugely impressive, and one wonders whether his owners will whisper in Willie Mullins’ ear that they want something bigger, like the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Again, we will get an idea of what Mullins intends to do with him when he has his first run of the season in the coming weeks.
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