MUD, sweat and tears – there is quite simply nothing like jumps racing.
And the new season is back with an almighty bang at Chepstow this Friday.
The quality action gets underway thick and fast with the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle taking centre stage.
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We saw a couple of subsequent Cheltenham Festival stars strut their stuff at Chepstow last year – and Paul Nicholls could have one to keep an eye on with 6-4 fav Teeshan.
The Ditcheat boss will be aiming for a big season as he once again tries to tackle the Irish batallion led by Willie Mullins.
There will be loads of thrills and even more spills as the season unfolds – as well as a very different Cheltenham Festival to the one we saw last year.
Here, Sun Racing takes you through some of the key names to keep track of over the next few months.
And don’t forget, you can get Templegate’s tips before anyone else by joining Members Enclosure, the place to be this jumps season – sign up here for just £1 for the first month.
Sir Alex Ferguson
They don’t come much bigger than the former Manchester United boss.
He’s aiming for his best season yet after the world-record £660,000 purchase of novice hurdler Regent’s Stroll.
Sir Alex sparked amazing scenes at the last Cheltenham Festival with two winners, and will be going for more of the same in 2025.
Harry Redknapp
Legendary footie manager had a winner of his own at the most recent Cheltenham Festival.
But could his big goal this year be the Grand National? His horse The Jukebox Man stays longer than the mother in law and likes some cut in the ground… so stick his name in your tracker.
A huge supporter of racing who loves a punt, ‘Arry will be on screens a lot throughout the season.
Tony Bloom
Continuing the football theme, Brighton owner Tony Bloom is not shy of backing his horses with gargantuan sums of money.
Of course it has backfired in the past… but his two-time Champion Chase king Energumene has won him bundles too.
Rich Ricci
If you don’t spot the sunglasses first, then you’ll probably see the mullet.
And if you somehow miss that then it will be the eye-catching, tailor-made suit that gets your attention.
Legendary owner Ricci is a huge hit wherever he goes, one of the biggest owners in the game and loved by punters for his straight-talking style… just what you’d expect from a multi-millionaire banker.
JP McManus
You’ll spot the iconic Irish punter’s green and gold silks at racecourses everywhere.
Whether it be in the Gold Cup, Grand National (which he won in 2023 with I Am Maximus), or a novice hurdle at Hexham, bookies always take cover when one of his is running.
Galopin Des Champs
Where better to start than with the two-time Gold Cup champion trained by Mullins.
The superstar chaser of his age he’ll be coming back for a hat-trick in March, but faces a whole host of other monsters who look like making the 2025 Gold Cup an absolute classic.
Ballyburn
You’ll spot a common theme among many of the top horses – they’re all trained by Mullins.
But this chap is something special. Owned by David Manasseh, who was Gareth Bale’s agent, he has made mincemeat of all challengers and never even come close to being beaten.
He’s currently favourite for the 2m Arkle and 3m Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and already considered a banker by many.
Constitution Hill
Will he or won’t he? Will he come back as the all-conquering hurdler of his age… or will he fail to ever fire again?
Trainer Nicky Henderson is confident it’s the former but we won’t know for sure until the unbeaten hero, who missed Cheltenham last year with illness, makes his return in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on November 30.
Il Est Francais
French-trained horse put in one of the most jaw-dropping performances of last season when hosing up in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
His jumping was ridiculously good – then it all went wrong when he finished dead last, beaten 55 lengths on his next run.
He came back with a win this year and the King George, the big race back at Kempton on Boxing Day, is his target once again.
Lossiemouth
Stunning grey mare has been beaten just once in her nine-race career and often forms part of any punter’s ‘banker multiple’.
She looks like going for the Champion Hurdle this year in which would be a clash for the ages against Constitution Hill and State Man.
Willie Mullins
Who else? The reigning British and Irish champion jumps trainer.
He also mops up big prizes on the Flat these days and everyone else is playing for second best.
Nicky Henderson
Legendary British trainer has won it all in his career – apart from the Grand National.
He’ll fight to make that right again this year from his Seven Barrows base.
Paul Nicholls
The most successful Brit trainer of his time, few are better at training 3m chasers.
His feistiness and desire to win have not wavered over the years and he goes to war with a strong squad this season.
Gordon Elliott
You could argue Elliott has been on a recovery mission since his dead horse photo shame… but that was a good few years ago now and he is firmly back on his feet.
Has yet to fill the void left by Tiger Roll (who won the Grand National twice) but has some great horses coming through, including Brighterdaysahead and huge Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fancy Romeo Coolio.
Dan Skelton
Nicholls’ former protege, Skelton has proven himself an exceptional placer of horses.
Whether they be Grade 1 winners or handicap plot jobs (see Langer Dan), he isn’t afraid to run his horses, speaks his mind… and bags loads of winners with brother Dan doing the steering.
Rachael Blackmore
Became a global superstar with her 2021 Grand National win and hasn’t looked back.
She has a very calm, quiet riding style and always seems to eek out that bit extra in the drive for the line.
Paul Townend
Mullins’ No1, he has arguably the best job in racing.
But with it comes huge pressure. Has shown time and again he can handle it on the big stages and is an excellent reader of pace in a race.
Harry Cobden
Hollywood Harry, with his swagger and million dollar smile, is the main man for Nicholls.
Totally unflappable, he is nearing in on the 1,000 career win mark and is, amazingly, still only 25.
Jack Kennedy
Elliott’s main man, Kennedy is the same age as Cobden but already has a Gold Cup to his name as part of 12 Cheltenham Festival wins.
He has been incredibly unlucky with injuries so, provided he has a clear run, will be right up there again in terms of winners.
Nico de Boinville
Henderson’s trusted man in the saddle, De Boinville is as cool as a cucumber and just who you’d want on a pressure-packed ride.
Victories on legends such as Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Coneygree, Shishkin and Constitution Hill prove that.
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