We’re still in the very early stages of the 2024-25 National Hunt racing campaign, with the first Grade 1 of the season—the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 23—not even taking place at the time of writing.
However, many horses have already made an impression on pundits and racing enthusiasts alike—with several even throwing down a gauntlet for some of the big-race targets at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
There’s a lot left to unravel in this hotly-anticipated season, and it might be too early to start using your betting promotions on the Cheltenham ante-post markets, but let’s take a look at four horses who have already made a mark this campaign.
Firefox
One of two horses who have already potentially given us some clues for the Arkle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, Firefox made a convincing start to life over fences at Down Royal at the beginning of the month.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse won just once in six starts over hurdles last season, which came against the exciting Ballyburn in a maiden at Fairyhouse in December but looks more accustomed to the larger obstacles already.
Indeed, he won only a Beginners Chase in Northern Ireland. However, it was a comfortable victory under Sam Ewing, and there’s scope for further improvement and progress at the higher levels going forward.
That Down Royal success has also seen the bookies cut him to the 6/1 second favourite for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, where he could renew his rivalry with Ballyburn over fences.
Inthepocket
Second to Facile Vega on his chasing debut at Navan when last seen in November 2023, Inthepocket made an emphatic return to action after 345 days off the track at Wexford at the end of October.
The 1/2 favourite for the two-mile Beginners Chase, the Henry de Bromhead-trained horse streaked to a 15-length victory over Farren Glory in Ireland.
It was potentially another hint for the Arkle, as the JP McManus-owned horse was slashed to 10/1 for the novice Grade 1 on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The New Lion
After missing out on the Trainers’ Championship title to a surging Willie Mullins late last season, Dan Skelton is desperate to get his hands on the trophy this year, and he has started the season well—unleashing a number of exciting horses as well as picking up crucial wins.
One of Skelton’s horses who has caught the eye in the early stages of this campaign is The New Lion. A comfortable winner of a bumper on his rules debut at Market Rasen in April, the five-year-old landed a maiden at Chepstow by almost five lengths on his hurdling debut at the end of October.
That’s resulted in The New Lion being shortened to 20/1 for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, but he’ll still need to show a lot more in future races to prove he’s at that level.
Brighterdaysahead
One of the biggest upsets at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Brighterdaysahead was turned over at short odds in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle by 10/1 outsider Golden Ace—which let down a fair share of accas on the penultimate day at Prestbury Park.
She bounced back with a more than seven-length win in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National Festival the following month. Elliott has always spoken very highly of this horse, and she showed her class again when winning on her reappearance in a Grade 3 at Down Royal.
She saw off her stablemate King Of Kingsfield in that contest and is now 20/1 for the Champion Hurdle. However, given the strength of the Festival’s opening day feature race, it’s likely she could be seen less than an hour later in the Mares’ Hurdle instead—where she’s 5/2.
