Irish horses to follow for the 2021/22 Jumps season
Danny Scutchings gives you five Irish horses to follow in the coming months, plus a few more worthy of mention
Eklat De Rire
Trained by Henry De Bromhead
He went off at 10/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but unseated Rachel Blackmore at the 12th when a close third.
De Bromhead had an excellent season last year with a 1-2 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National and if Eklat De Rire starts well he definitely has a serious chance at the 2022 Festival.
Willie Mullins
Energumene
Willie Mullins
This horse unfortunately missed the Cheltenham Festival but was impressive when making it four from four over fences at the Punchestown festival.
An exciting season awaits and he is currently 5/1 for the Champion Chase in a race that should include Shiskin and Chacun Pour Soi so one not to be missed.
Kilcruit
Willie Mullins
Kilcruit was favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but was beaten by Sir Gerhard, but he gained revenge reversing the places at Punchestown in April winning a Grade 1 impressively.
His target seems to be either the Supreme Novices or the Ballymore which looks more likely as previous Mullins winners of that race include Faugheen and Yorkhill so the trainer knows what is required.
Galopin Des Champs
Willie Mullins
He ended last season by winning a Grade One at the Punchestown festival but may be underestimated because of his random start to the season.
He made up for it at Punchestown and he should push on from that making him a season star.
Bob Olinger
Henry De Bromhead
I had to stick in an obvious one, but he is a brilliant horse and is at home over hurdles and a chaser in waiting – he could be the best novice chaser this season.
And with De Bromhead horses always excelling over fences who knows how good he could be.
Honorable mentions
There are so many more horses I could have picked so honorable mentions must go to Magic Daze, Low Lie The Fields, Zanahiyr, Appreciate It and Ferny Hollow.
They all deserve a place on anyone’s tracker and they should definitely have some good months ahead, so let’s hope for an exciting season.
♦Gary Sears Jump Horses to Follow 2021-22
