TWE's Five Novice Hurdlers To Follow During The 2021/22 Jumps Season

The first horse ahead of the jumps season we are putting up as a novice hurdler to follow is the unknown Matterhorn that has recently joined Paul Nicholls from France.

Nicholls in the past has been superb with his French imports and we believe this three year old will be no different this term, with the Triumph Hurdle a possible race for him at Cheltenham.

The potential superstar has been seen once during his career to date finishing third of 15 runners in a Listed Hurdle event at Auteuil.

He showed plenty of raw ability on that run in April and now under Nicholls' tutelage could be one to watch.

Another hurdler in the making that has recently joined Paul Nicholls from France is the exciting Magistrato who like Matterhorn is a French import that could have a big first season over fences.

Originally with David Cottin, the three year old gelding has been seen once to date at Auteuil in a three year old Conditions Hurdle event and shaped extremely well to finish second.

Bought off the back of that and given to Nicholls looks a very interesting type that might not be known to many now but will be by the end of the season.

A more familiar name to national hunt fans, but still an obscure one to follow this term going novice hurdling is the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned O'Toole.

The five year old son of Mahler was seen twice in bumpers last season, winning well on debut at Fairyhouse in February when bolting up by 15 lengths.

He was then last seen stepping up in Grade One company for the Champion INH Flat Race at the Punchestown festival and finished a good second behind the smart Kilcruit.

The Stuart Crawford trained gelding looks a smart animal off the back of that run, beating home Cheltenham bumper winner Sir Gerhard.

Set to go hurdling this term he looks a staying type that could feature in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle or Albert Bartlett and he is currently 20/1 in the betting.

It is nice to see the ownership of Munir and Souede have another nice type.

One of the most well known horses out of these five to follow is the Gordon Elliott trained Hollow Games for Noel and Valerie Moran.

The five year old gelding was bought by the well known owners after absolutely bolting up in a three mile point to point at Turtulla in Ireland.

Fetching £255,000, he was given to Elliott and was first seen in a bumper at Punchestown over two miles and he hosed up by seven lengths.

The son of Beat Hollow was then sent to Leopardstown over Christmas when making it back to back wins, seeing off a nice type for Willie Mullins.

He has not been seen since then and was always bought to be a horse to go over obstacles.

Currently 50/1 for the big novice races at the Cheltenham festival, he looks one to keep an eye on this term.

The final horse of the follow blog is the Willie Mullins trained five year old son of Presenting, Grangeclare West who was snapped up by Cheveley Park and looks to be a serious animal going over hurdles this term.

The gelding back in November 2020 won a Point to Point by four lengths over three miles at Lingstown and from that was bought by the superstar owners Cheveley Park Stud for £430,000.

Last term he was given one outing in a bumper at Punchestown and bolted up under Jody Townend by nine lengths.

Mullins has expressed he will be going over hurdles this term and since then has been squeezed into 25/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

CP look to have another monster on their hands.