Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow 2025-2026Now in its 20th year of publication, Jumpers To Follow is not only an essential tool to help guide you through the...

Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow 2025-2026

Now in its 20th year of publication, Jumpers To Follow is not only an essential tool to help guide you through the upcoming season but can be used a reference point for seasons beyond. Paul tends to focus on the younger horses, capable of showing improved form.

Key Features for 2026-2027 include:

• British Leading Prospects – Paul’s 30 Leading Prospects from yards across the UK
• Irish Leading Prospect – Paul’s 10 Leading Prospects from yards in Ireland
• Irish Extra – additional horses to follow from Across the Irish Sea
• Around The Yards – Paul’s personal view (not trainer comments) from a huge amount of yards up and down Britain – big and small – selecting horses who he believes can win races (at various levels) throughout the season
• A View From The Saddle – get the thoughts of several high-profile jockeys – including champion jockey Sean Bowen, Harry Skelton and James Bowen – who nominate their own horses to follow for the season ahead.
• Point-to-Point Graduates – Paul selects the horses who most caught his attention when racing between the flags last year and are set to embark on a career under Rules
• News From France – details of promising horses who have moved to the UK or Ireland
• Top-Class Performers – a look at the more well-known and high-profile National Hunt horses and how each division looks ahead of the new campaign
• Big-Race Trends – in the format of the Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, Paul takes a look at a dozen races throughout the season from a trends/statistical viewpoint
• Experts’ Picks – a horse to follow from a number of industry experts

THE 2025-2026 EDITION PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING GEMS:

LEADING PROSPECTS included:

• BOSSMAN JACK – Given both his pedigree and the manner of success at Wincanton, he is one to look forward to over hurdles.” – he won three times over hurdles, including the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
• CAPTAIN HUGO – “….he looks to have the pace to win over the minimum trip and will form part of a strong-looking team of novice hurdlers.” – he won three times over hurdles, including the Morebattle Hurdle at 14/1.
• MEETMEBYTHESEA – “Up 5lb to a mark of 133, he is likely to begin the season in a novices’ handicap chase but it would be no surprise if he were to progress into a Graded-class novice..” – he won three of his four starts over fences, culminating with a Cheltenham Festival victory in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase (9/1).
• NARCISO HAS – “….will, no doubt, have an eye on Leopardstown over Christmas and also the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the same venue….the hope is that he develops into a leading contender for the Triumph. He certainly looks to possess plenty of ability...” – he won the Leopardstown Christmas Grade 2, Grade 1 Spring Juvenile and was clear favourite for the Triumph when ruled out.

 

New section for last year, the IRISH EXTRA included:

"Another bumper winner from Punchestown to note is the Emmet Mullins-trained Soldier In Milan......it isn't difficult to envisage him contesting a decent race over a staying trip before too long." – he won the Irish Grand National as a novice by a whopping 16 lengths (6/1).

 

Highlighted horses within the AROUND THE YARDS section included:

• CHRIS GORDON section included David’s Well (won both starts over fences), Electric Mason (won Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at 15/2) and winners Kocktail Bleu and Bold Action.
• NICKY HENDERSON section included Holloway Queen (won National Hunt Chase @ 12/1), Impose Toi (won first three starts, including Grade 1 Long Walk) and Jingko Blue (won BetMGM Cup and Grade 2 Select Hurdle)
• STORMING GEORGE (Neil King) – “….He looks to be another really nice prospect….his pedigree suggests that decent ground might be an advantage to him..” – he won twice in the Spring, including the Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (16/1).
• OLLY MURPHY section included Wade Out (won Listed race over fences before reverting to hurdles to win at the Grand National Meeting @ 18/1), Wilstar (won twice over hurdles) and Indeevar Bleu (won on Boxing Day @ 9/2).

 

POINT-TO-POINT GRADUATES included:

·        BASS HUNTER "has moved to the yard of Chris Gordon and looks to be a useful prospect with plenty of size and scope." - won two bumpers (inc. Listed), landing a gamble on debut, and finished 3^rd in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

• SMOKE TRAIL "Another potential value buy....." - won twice over hurdles, including on debut at 9/1.

PUBLISHED THURSDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER