Liam Firkin names some of the top jumpers for National Hunt fans to keep an eye on in the flat season.
Many National Hunt fans switch off during the summer months but there may be value in sticking with some of our jumps racing stars this summer and I’ve picked a few horses that could be well worth monitoring as we swing into the 2025 Flat season.
Key Jumpers to Watch on the Flat
ABSURDE
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Age: 7
- Rating: 110
Willie Mullins will no doubt have his eye on a few of the big prizes and most notably, the Melbourne Cup, where he tends to send a couple of horses, each year. Absurde was sent to Flemington in 2024 & 2023 for the “race that stops a nation” and this may well be his ultimate aim in 2025.
He ran a good third at Chester this week but perhaps anyone backing him expected more, given that he was successful at the course in August of last year. he may be one that jump racing fans can keep tabs on through the season with that race in the back of your minds as his main target.
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PONIROS
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Age: 4
- Rating: 91
We may as well stick with the British and Irish Champion Trainer who has a few other recruits we will no doubt see over the coming months. One of which was purchased by Tony Bloom and looks set for a flat campaign following his shock win at the Cheltenham Festival, when sent off at 100/1, is Poniros.
Since winning on debut for Ralph Beckett, he struggled to get his head in front again, until that switch of yards and codes. However, he has finished ahead of horses now rated 98, 101, 94, 112, 96 and 94 on the flat and he could have a bit in hand, off his current mark of 91. He’s another who could be sent “down under” later this season but I wouldn’t put it past him winning between now and then.
A DREAM TO SHARE
- Trainer: John & Thomas Kiely
- Age: 7
- Rating: N/A
We will stay in Ireland and this J P McManus seven year old, who was a top jumping prospect having won what turned out to be a very good Champion Bumper in 2023. A Dream To Share subsequently had a few issues and jumping was clearly not his forte. He has had two starts on the flat and he will no doubt be sat on a nice mark, once assessed by the Irish handicapper.
He’s finished fourth in both of those starts, which came in big field events and was sent off at big prices. A certain improver later in the season and markets may be a key indicator as to where this horse is likely to be aimed. It is perhaps worth noting that the Green and Gold team won the Cesarewitch in 2023, with The Shunter.
EAST INDIA DOCK
- Trainer: James Owen
- Age: 4
- Rating: 89
We hop over the Irish sea now to a trainer who’s making a name from himself in the National Hunt game with the likes of Burdett Road and this season, East India Dock.
James Owen is proving to be a very successful dual purpose trainer and it is the latter of the two horses I’ve mentioned, that I think people can keep on side for this season.
Went in as the market leader for the Chester Cup and it is at these staying trips that he will be seen to best effect. The winner last season of a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood and was a comfortable winner of that race, finishing over 4 lengths ahead of his nearest rival.
He will no doubt be one to keep onside for the flat season, although this starting assignment at Chester, could be a difficult proposition and he will need to overturn the key trend that no winner of the Chester Cup has come from a favourite or joint favourite, in the last 11 renewals.
CONSTITUTION HILL
- Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- Age: 8
- Rating: N/A
Staying in England…he couldn’t, could he? Constitution Hill to turn up in the Ascot Gold Cup?
Unlikely, I am sure, but if he were to run here, it would be great to see flat racing draw in more jumps fans as no doubt there would be a lot of talk around this brilliant but polarising horse, should he line up at Ascot, this summer.
SIXANDAHALF
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- Age: 5
- Rating: 94
Sixandahalf was a good winner on The July course over 1m6f before following that up with a third place finish in hugely competitive Irish Cesarewitch.
She does now sit on a mark of 94 but I’m sure that Gavin Cromwell will want to see where the ceiling is with her. She may be another to track for these staying handicaps, further down the line.
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Flat Season Wildcards
I also wanted to throw in a couple of wildcards for the season. They are some we’ve seen over hurdles who would be of interest back on the flat this season.
WODHOOH
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Age: 5
- Rating: 71
The first is the Martin Pipe winner, Wodhooh for Gordon Elliott. She remains a maiden on the flat but I think it’s fair to say that she’s matured and transformed into a brilliant National Hunt mare, since moving from Sir Michael Stoute and joining Cullentra House.
She holds a rating of 154 over hurdles and won all seven of her starts before her run at Aintree. It is that final run of the season when she placed in that Grade 1 behind Lossiemouth that may have put the clappers on any potential flat campaign.
That said, she is off a mark of 71 which is no doubt extremely exploitable and I did wonder if Gordon would plot out a plan to get a couple of wins under her belt, before a tilt at a big pot, in a staying handicap later this season.
It’s most likely that she will be “put out to grass” for the summer but should they decide that she is lightly raced enough to have a crack at the flat then prepare the wheelbarrow. She is incredibly well handicapped based on what she’s achieved over hurdles.
PIED PIPER
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Age: 7
- Rating: 96
Sticking with Gordon Elliot, we’ve recently seen Pied Piper back over obstacles after having been off the track since October of 2024. He was a good winner of a beginners chase at Down Royal where he won with ease by 20L.
Given that he’s managed to come back and show that level of form, it is encouraging for any flat campaign that the team may decide to embark on.
He is sat on the same mark as when second at Newmarket in the Cesarewitch, in 2023 and there’s plenty of time to get to work on that mark between now and October. If this event is a long term target for 2025, he could well come into the race off a very handy handicap mark.
MONEY DANCER
- Trainer: Noel Meade
- Age: 4
- Rating: 80
My final wildcard comes in the shape of a lesser known mare, Money Dancer. She has placed in 4 of her last 5 starts in both codes and is one who would love a bit more cut in the ground. As and when those conditions present themselves, she will be one to keep onside in handicaps. For me, she will get her head in front, it’s just a matter of when.
Notable Mentions for the 2025 Flat Season
Some notable mentions and their ratings, who didn’t quite make the write ups but may be worth considering:
- Belloccio - 105
- Ethical Diamond - 96
- Hello Neighbour - 97
- Bottler’secret - 87
- Galileo Dame - 97
- Too Bossy For Us - 89
LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
The final thing I will say is that it may pay to keep one eye on some of the form from this flat season.
Had a few more of us switched on to the form line between East India Dock and Poniros from last season (Poniros finished six lengths ahead of East India Dock in the King George V Stakes) then we may have all had a 100/1 Triumph Hurdle Winner.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, always comes a little too late.
Whether you’re a hardcore jumps racing fan who has decided to join our equine superstars on a summer holiday, or whether you’ll be punting throughout the summer, I wish you all a very enjoyable few months ahead and hopefully a winner or two have been provided above.
