Horses to Follow 2024/25: Alan Kelly's 10 to Watch
Alan Kelly 
The new national hunt season is here, and we've got 10 horses to follow from our resident horse racing betting expert Alan Kelly.
You'll find names big and small on his horses to follow list, and if you're looking to place a bet, be sure to check our latest free bets and betting offers on site.
The 2024/25 National Hunt season is destined to be dominated by Irish trainer Willie Mullins once again, with the master of Closutton already responsible for many of the ante-post favourites for next year's Cheltenham Festival.
Reigning champion Galopin Des Champs heads the betting in an effort to win the Gold Cup for a third time, equalling the achievements of Cottage Rake, Best Mate and the great Arkle.
The ante-post market suggests that the main danger to a Galopin Des Champs hat-trick is likely to be that of stablemate Fact To File, bookmakers quoting 12/1 bar the two.
Hopefully, we will get to see more of 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill, whose last two appearances came in April and December of last year.
However, the early signs are good that Nicky Henderson's outstanding hurdler of recent years will get a clear run during the campaign ahead. Current champion State Man and Lossiemouth will ensure Michael Buckley's unbeaten hurdler will not have things all his own way.
Gordon Elliott's Teahupoo could well dominate the staying hurdling division once again, while Henderson's Jonbon, ante-post favourite for the Champion Chase, faces stiff competition in that division from the Mullins trio of Gaelic Warrior, El Fabiolo and Energumene.
Making both the Turners Novices Chase and Cross Country Chase into handicaps is a wise move by the Cheltenham executive, especially the former which resulted in a field of only four runners in 2022.
The most exciting recruit in the novice chase division is undoubtedly Mullins’ Ballyburn, currently favourite for both the Arkle and Brown Advisory, although I expect the six-year-old to be better suited by the longer race on the second day.
Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton are sure to have their fair share of successes once again in their bid for the trainer's championship, while Olly Murphy, Fergal O’Brien, Ben Pauling and Lucinda Russell are other stables worth following.
Willie Mullins is 13/8 with William Hill to retain the trainer's championship, odds which could look very generous come next spring, while the jockeys’ championship is likely to be fought out by Sean Bowen and Harry Skelton, with the former fancied to come out on top if staying relatively injury-free this time.
Horses to Follow 2024/25: Alan Kelly's Top 10
Here are 10 horses to follow for the 2024/25 national hunt season from Alan Kelly.
Your Own Story
- Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- Rated: 130
Lost out narrowly in a valuable staying handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival.
One for the marathon handicap chases; possibly Welsh or Scottish Grand Nationals.
Mr Escobar
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Rated: N/A
Only two runs over hurdles (ran out on second occasion) and almost landed a gamble when beaten a nose in a Heritage Handicap on the flat at Chester recently.
One of the stable’s lesser lights but could be worth following over the smaller obstacles, especially when given a handicap mark.
I Am Maximus
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Rated: 169
Not very original, but at the age of just eight, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this year’s Grand National winner develop into a serious Gold Cup candidate come next March.
Currently available at 20/1 to become the first horse to complete the double since L'Escargot in the 1970’s.
Surrey Quest
- Trainer: Toby Lawes
- Rated: 137
Raised only 4lb for a possibly unlucky nose defeat in the Scottish Grand National, the Milan gelding has a big handicap in him over a marathon trip on soft ground.
Djelo
- Trainer: Venetia Williams
- Rated: 147
With a tremendous record fresh and off a potentially decent mark, one to bear in mind for one of the valuable early season handicap chases at around two to two and a half miles.
L'eau Du Sud
- Trainer: Dan Skelton
- Rated: 138
There is surely a valuable handicap to be won with this grey son of Lord Du Sud.
Runner-up in both the Betfair Hurdle and County Hurdle, the six-year-old still looks well handicapped and is sure to pay his way over hurdles, or possibly fences if connections decide to take that route.
Forward Plan
- Trainer: Anthony Honeyball
- Rated: 138
Winner of Kempton’s Coral Trophy (Premier Handicap) in February before finishing a slightly unlucky third at Aintree, this ultra-consistent chaser has another valuable prize within him over around three miles on ground no worse than soft.
Kitty's Light
- Trainer: Christian Williams
- Rated: 144
Still only an eight-year-old, the son of Nathaniel ran a cracker to finish fifth in this year’s Grand National on ground that would have been far from ideal.
Winner of the Eider, Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Gold within the space of two months in 2023, it should be a case of all roads lead to Aintree once again for this talented staying chaser.
The 33/1 currently available with Ladbrokes and Betfred could look very big come next April, especially if the ground proves to be less testing.
Dysart Enos
- Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
- Rated: 131
Unbeaten on all six starts to date, three in Bumpers and three over hurdles, this six-year-old daughter of Malinas starts the season on what could prove to be a hugely underestimated mark of 131.
Cheltenham’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle in November looks the most likely starting point for this exciting mare.
Dancing City
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Rated: 150
With the announcement that the Turners will now be run as handicap at next year’s Cheltenham Festival, the two most likely options, now that this multiple Grade 1 winning staying hurdler begins a career over fences, are the Brown Advisory and National Hunt Chase.
I expect the seven-year-old to turn up in the latter, the 8/1 currently available with bet365 for the 3m 6f amateur riders contest potentially very generous for a trainer who has won two of the last three renewals.
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