The jumps season is really beginning to hit full stride, and this week’s notable entries at Navan signal that the big names are starting to emerge.

The Champion Chaser, Marine Nationale, looks set to make his eagerly anticipated return, while a strong group of exciting novices will also be putting their credentials to the test.

It’s shaping up to be a fascinating weekend, and I’d expect a few markets to shift significantly once the dust settles.

With such a competitive card, I could easily have included more than five names on the list, but the five highlighted below are particularly exciting prospects worth keeping a close eye on.

THE YELLOW CLAY  

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

(6yo) Yeats x Winning Indian

Form: 1112F-

Navan, Saturday 15th November - Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle 2m4f+

We get to see The Yellow Clay, last season’s Turners Novice Hurdle runner-up, make his seasonal debut this weekend at Navan in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle.

He was a hugely impressive novice hurdler to my eye last year, starting his campaign with a maiden hurdle win before progressing through the grades landing a Grade 3, a Grade 2, and then the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas, before finishing second at the Cheltenham Festival behind the current Champion Hurdle favourite.

Gordon Elliott has spoken very highly of him, and even revealed on my podcast that The Yellow Clay will stay over hurdles this season with the Stayers’ Hurdle (currently 10/1 ante-post) in March as his main target.

That makes this weekend’s race look like the perfect starting point, a good chance to get a win under his belt while testing himself against some solid opposition. The presence of a few decent rivals will give us a genuine read on where he stands, but everything about him suggests he’s a top-class prospect with serious potential in the staying division this year.

Step one: get off to a winning start at Navan.

MARINE NATIONALE

Trainer: Barry Connell

(8 yo) French Navy x Power Of Future

Form: 23211-

Navan, Saturday 15th November - Grade 2 Fortria Chase 2m

The Champion Chaser, Marine Nationale, returns to action this weekend as he begins his road back to Cheltenham in March.

His first assignment comes at Navan in the Fortria Chase, and for those who know me, you’ll understand why the nerves are already kicking in with my close connection to Marine and the yard. That said, those nerves come with plenty of excitement, and I can’t wait to see him back on the racecourse.

Last season, he had just two chase starts before stepping into open company, taking on rivals with as many as 17 chase runs under their belts, experience that far outweighed his own. Despite that, he was superb throughout the campaign, improving with every outing before going on to land the Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Chase double, winning by a combined 25 lengths without ever really being asked a serious question.

The fact that he’s still so lightly raced and has never had a hard race in either championship gives the impression there’s even more to come.

This time around, he also heads into the season off the back of his first full clean campaign, so Barry Connell won’t be playing catch-up as he was last year.

The soft-to-heavy ground this weekend is an obvious concern, but this run isn’t about the ground or the result, it’s about getting him started and building towards March. The goal is to have him peaking once again at Cheltenham, where he’ll look to defend his crown.

He’s borderline equine perfection physically, and the fact that I had the winter and summer watching his full season last year, has me deeply excited for what to come this season to. I genuinely can’t wait to see him back in full flight this weekend.

KOPEK DES BORDES

Trainer: Willie Mullins

(5 yo) No Risk At All x Miss Berry

Form: 1114-

Navan, Saturday 15th November - Beginners Chase 2m1f

Last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes looks set to make his chase debut this weekend at Navan.

He was electric in the Supreme, overcoming a final-flight mistake before showing gears to drop the bridle and quicken clear again in fine style. He beat William Munny into second, with Romeo Coolio back in third who has already advertised that form by winning on his own chase debut at Down Royal, firmly putting his Arkle credentials on the table.

So, for now, it’s advantage Romeo Coolio, but this weekend gives Kopek the chance to respond and stake his own claim for Cheltenham glory.

Physically, he’s always struck me as an interesting type. As a novice hurdler, he looked strong yet still a little raw, tall, athletic, and perhaps not fully developed. That frame always hinted he’d improve for fences and for another summer under his belt.

There may be a small question mark around his pedigree for chasing, but his natural ability is unquestionable, and it will be fascinating to see how he handles his first start over the larger obstacles this weekend.

 

THEFLYINGKING

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

(5 yo) Jukebox Jury x Siberian Vixen

Form: 221-F

Navan, Sunday 16th November - Monksfield Novice Hurdle 2m4f

The KTDA Racing owned Theflyingking is a horse I think is going slightly under the radar at the moment. A couple of weeks ago, he made his debut at Down Royal, and I loved everything about his performance right up until a final-flight fall cost him the race. Thankfully, he came out of it fit and well and now looks set to make his second start of the season at Navan this weekend.

Before that fall, he was travelling beautifully for a staying hurdler, showing that three miles will be no problem for him as the season progresses. I really liked how he relaxed behind the bridle before being asked to pick up the tempo, it was the run of a horse with plenty of natural ability and maturity.

His jumping, bar the mistake at the last, was also very good, and there’s a lot to like about him overall.

I imagine he’ll step up in trip as the season goes on, and if everything goes to plan, he could develop into a serious Albert Bartlett contender come spring.

I’ve taken a real shine to this horse, and it would be fantastic to see him get on the scoresheet at Navan on Sunday.

FINAL DEMAND

Trainer: Willie Mullins

(6yo g) Walk In The Park x Zuzca

Form: 1131-

Navan, Sunday 16th November - Beginners Chase 2m5f

The Brown Advisory Chase favourite puts his credentials to the test this weekend as he takes his first step into novice chasing company.

He’s a beautifully bred horse, clearly built for staying chases, and his novice hurdle campaign last season was very impressive. He won his first two starts, but was just outpaced at Cheltenham, and then made amends with a smart victory at Punchestown to round off the year.

What I like most about him is how well he travels because he moves with class and rhythm, and it’s already clear that three miles will suit him perfectly this season. He has some speed, but it’s not blistering, instead, his strong relentless galloping style suggests the further he goes, the better he’ll get.

It might be early days to say it, but he could be a future Gold Cup horse in the making.

There are some talented rivals entered here, so this should give us a solid read on Final Demand’s ability, but he wouldn’t be lining up unless Willie Mullins thought he was ready to fire.

It’s shaping up to be a big weekend for the Mullins novices, and this one looks particularly exciting.