10 Under the Radar National Hunt Horses to Follow in 2023 Jumps Season

We asked our horse racing experts for 10 National Hunt horses to follow 2023 ahead of the new core jumps season starting. There are plenty of under the radar, as well as up and coming types set to try new things this term. So, read on to see who the SportsLens team fancy to do well in 2023/24. 

10 National Hunt Horses To Follow 2023

Note: List in no particular order

A Dream To Share

The unbeaten A Dream To Share is certainly one of the most exciting National Hunt horses to follow this season after his bumper heroics last term.

John & Thomas Kiely’s five-year-old enjoyed a terrific campaign in National Hunt flat races last season where he completed a five-timer with notable victories at Grade 1 level at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

Sold to leading Irish owner JP McManus after his Dublin Racing Festival success, A Dream To Share was in line to make his debut over hurdles this week at Punchestown, but that plan will have to wait a little longer after the horse suffered a minor stone bruise injury.

He has a very bright future over hurdles and is up there with the most electrifying jumps horses in training right now. A Dream To Share’s win in the Champion Bumper was special as he confirmed Leopardstown form with Fact To File.

Asserting his dominance and status as the best National Hunt Flat race horse of the campaign, he followed-up that victory in the Irish equivalent just over a month later. The son of Muhaarar justified his odds-on favouritism when beating Willie Mullins’ Tullyhill by almost four lengths at Punchestown.

A Dream To Share is the current 7-2 favourite with the best horse racing betting sites to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

⭐️ A dream result in the @weatherbysltd Champion Bumper!

John Gleeson is only 18 years of age & wins on his first ride at the #CheltenhamFestival as A Dream To Share stays on best to claim G1 honours for John Kiely in the colours of JP McManus pic.twitter.com/gTRGDX6VcZ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 15, 2023

Fact To File

We have another McManus-owned horse next in Fact To File who looks to be going over fences this season according to his trainer. Willie Mullins’ six-year-old was beaten by owner companion A Dream To Share on his last two bumper outings.

Given his victory in an extended Irish National Hunt Flat race last Christmas, however, Fact To File will definitely be kept apart from McManus’ other prospect. A first Grade 1 success could well come when making use of his stamina.

Fact To File is shaping to be a fantastic stayer with wins in an Irish Point and over 2m 4f in that extended bumper at Leopardstown. Crack amateur Patrick Mullins has saddled him on all three of his races under Rules and did say earlier this year that he could be a Ballymore horse.

With Fact To File quoted at 10/1 in the ante post betting on that Cheltenham race and the same price for the Albert Bartlett, the bookies respect him. However, Mullins senior has recently stated he intends to go chasing with him, skipping hurdles completely.

With his ability to stay and his love for soft ground, Fact To File is up there with one of the most interesting National Hunt horses to follow this season. We feel he has a big win up his sleeve and punters show track his career in Ireland with interest.

🔥 Remarkable.. six winners for @WillieMullinsNH at @LeopardstownRC this afternoon

Point scorer Fact To File makes the perfect start to life under Rules with Patrick Mullins doing the steering to cap a fine day for team Closutton pic.twitter.com/XJIssgWMIa

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2022

Ballyburn

Willie Mullins has some of the most exciting youngsters in the British Isles at his Closutton stable and Ballyburn is certainly one of them. This five-year-old was excellent when winning by six lengths when last seen at Punchestown in April, making it two from two under Rules

It seems the route for Ballyburn will see him as a novice hurdler this season. He’s the current 11/2 favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, with bookmakers clearly fearing Ronnie Bartlett’s horse as he was as big as 16/1 for that race earlier this summer.

With an unbeaten record across a Point-to-Point and those bumpers, this son of Flemensfirth has a bright future ahead of him. Having taken a bit of time to get going in his races under Rules so far and finishing so strongly, there are is also plenty to look forward to with Ballyburn when tackles fences later in his career.

Ballyburn looks a very smart prospect! 😍

The youngster created a big impression on his rules debut in February and makes it two from two in good style at the @punchestownrace Festival 🏇

Four winners on the day for @WillieMullinsNH! pic.twitter.com/d81DMEAor4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 27, 2023

Apple Away

Lucinda Russell’s yard is most definitely on the up and she is establishing herself as one of the top trainers in Britain and Ireland. So, on the topic of National Hunt horses to follow this season, Apple Away just can’t be ignored.

This six-year-old mare was last seen winning the Grade 1 Sefton at Aintree races during the Grand National Festival beating some top level horses. She could’ve made her chasing debut at Worcester on Thursday, 11th October, but connections have decided to wait a little longer before unleashing Apple Away over fences.

Despite winning four races over hurdles, the Russell and Scudamore camp seem to think she’ll be better over the larger obstacles. After skipping the Cheltenham Festival this year, there are a couple of races that could be targeted there in 2024.

Apple Away is currently 16/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Her future over fences is definitely as a stayer; so depending on how she handles the transition from hurdles, it could be that or even the National Hunt Chase that Russell has in mind.

🍎 Apple Away makes @lucindavrussell‘s day!

Successful in 2021 with Ahoy Senor, a second win for the trainer in the Winners Wear Cavani Sefton Novices’ Hurdle courtesy of Apple Away who provides Stephen Mulqueen with a red-letter day at @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/ZX37MUztMt

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 14, 2023

Galia Des Liteaux

Dan Skelton mare Galia Des Liteaux made a promising start over fences almost a year ago, but couldn’t back a Grade 2 win at her local track, Warwick Racecourse, up during the spring festivals. She remains a smart prospect for the yard and could have a big pot in her.

This seven-year-old ideally needs soft or heavy ground to be at her best and is highly thought of by Team Skelton. After showing effectiveness at a shorter trip on testing ground in the past, connections may work backwards from the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham next year.

Looking at short-term plans, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury races with plenty of cut in the ground expected in early December could also suit. The track is flat and galloping like Warwick and the yard won this valuable prize last season with Le Milos.

Galia Des Liteaux wasn’t disgraced in this year’s Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, so the big decision is whether she goes in mares only races and have to drop down in trip, or try some big staying Premier Handicaps.

Back in business 🏇

Galia Des Liteaux bounces right back to her best to taste Graded success in the Hampton Novices’ Chase for @DSkeltonRacing & @harryskelton89 @WarwickRaces pic.twitter.com/otj3TLLYCk

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 14, 2023

Queens Gamble

Harry Derham will now train Queens Gamble with former handler Oliver Sherwood supporting him as assistant after retiring over the summer and connections are excited for the future. This classy mare made a winning start to life over hurdles back in May, with a triumph at Warwick when 2/13 favourite.

More is expected this season from the ex-Sherwood trained five-year-old and we could see her heading towards the Mares’ Novices hurdle. Although beaten at Market Rasen races en route to the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham under a penalty, Queens Gamble learned on her way round Warwick jumping obstacles in public for the first time.

The Listed novice hurdle event for mares during Newbury’s Winter Carnival could be on her agenda if the ground isn’t too soft. Queens Gamble, who can only improve for her first try at a new discipline, is definitely one of the most exciting National Hunt horses to follow this season.

1/6 favourite Queens Gamble getting ready for the 2.02 at Warwick. Brian Hughes rides for Oliver Sherwood

Last ran in the champion bumper at Cheltenham festival in March pic.twitter.com/mmfzyV0lWw

— Joe Lyons (@JoeTLyons_) May 1, 2023

Dysart Enos

Fergal O’Brien mare Dysart Enos is unbeaten under Rules in bumpers, SO is one of the yard’s top horses to follow this season. She could make her bow over hurdles at Hereford next week and coming from a stable who have been smashing the winners in of late, this five-year-old is set for a big future.

Either side of her win over fellow prospect Queens Gamble, O’Brien’s mare had two wide-margin victories added onto her CV and should go on to achieve plenty of success this season.

After ending the season landing the Grade 2 Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper at Aintree, O’Brien has his eyes set on Cheltenham next year for Dysart Enos. She’s the current 6/1 favourite for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Dysart Enos takes the scalp of Queens Gamble in the Listed feature with the pair clear at @MarketRasenRace.

The winner is two from two under Rules ad looks a lovely prospect for @fergalobrien07 and @PaddyBrennan81 🏇 pic.twitter.com/kl3cc4chi6

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 7, 2023

Bo Zenith

Gary Moore’s handy four-year-old Bo Zenith was beaten on the line by Zenta when seen last in the Anniversary at Aintree, so it will be interesting to see him over hurdles once again considering how close he went to Grade 1 success that day.

He was in front of Zenta before and after the winning post at Aintree, and is surely a graded winner waiting to happen. Bo Zenith has come on leaps and bounds from his stable debut in January and his Rules debut over in France in April 2022 was clearly no fluke, so Gary Moore has proved he was clearly a clever purchase.

For now the plan looks to be sticking with hurdles as mentioned, but connections hope that he will make a chaser in the future. Plans haven’t been finalised as yet for this talented young horse, but he is one of the best National Hunt horses to follow this season with the 2m hurdlers outside Constitution Hill looking weak in Britain.

🥊 Zenta vs Bo Zenith – WHAT. A. RACE.

Mark Walsh & the @WillieMullinsNH-trained Zenta win a thrilling G1 Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/vqxhF01bhx

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 13, 2023

Irish Point

Gordon Elliot’s Irish Point surely has more coming after his fascinating Grade 1 success at Aintree in April and, after skipping Cheltenham this year, we could certainty see him have a say in proceedings there in 2024.

Still only a five-year-old, this exciting grey has plenty of options for the future, after already winning a top hurdle race. Following his win last time out on Merseyside, trainer Elliott said he could go chasing, but it was confirmed last month that he will be staying over the smaller obstacles once again.

With his versatility ground wise and the speed shown in his win last time out, Irish Point looks like he could shape to stay even further than 2m 4f, so the Stayers’ Hurdle could be a serious target if Elliot sends him to Cheltenham next year. This son of Joshua Tree is certainly one of the National Hunt horses to follow this season.

Davy Russell & IRISH POINT 🔥

Winners of the @TurnersLtd Mersey Novices’ Hurdle 👏#RandoxGrandNational pic.twitter.com/YgIi3d0ZYe

— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 15, 2023

Giovinco

And to wrap up our National Hunt horses to follow this season, Lucinda Russell’s useful gelding Giovinco is one of the yard’s most talented prospects. Following two wins at Ayr and Carlisle, this son of Walk In The Park picked up an impressive victory in a Listed contest at Perth, and there is a lot more to come.

Sent off at 10/1 that day, Giovinco bulldozed his way to a 12-length success over previous winners without even coming off the bridle. With an unbeaten record over Rules when jumping hurdles, it would not be surprising to see his handler send him over fences this winter. This horse should achieve great things for one of the north’s best stables.

An impressive new Listed winner for Walk In The Park as Giovinco remains unbeaten over hurdles in the British EBF BetVictor Gold Castle Novices’ Hurdle at Perth.

The Colm Griffin-bred gelding sold to Lucinda Russell and Paul McIvor for £85,000 from Knockacool Stables at the… pic.twitter.com/WQzpNqBKDl

— Racing Post Bloodstock (@rpbloodstock) April 26, 2023

Related Horse Racing Content:

• Best Horse Racing Free Bets Offers at UK Sportsbooks – Top Horse Racing Bonuses for 2023
• Top Free Horse Racing Tips & Advice for UK Betting Today
• Free NAP of The Day – Today’s Horse Racing NAPs
• Free Horse Racing Lucky 15 Tips for Today – Best Lucky 15 Bet Today
• Today’s Racecards – View Horse Racing Cards Today
• Horse Racing Results Today – See All Recent Race Results & Winners