He was a revelation over fences last season - and 16-1 could look a big price for the Coral Gold Cup

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Panic Attack can strike for the Skeltons in the Paddy Power Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Paddy Power Gold Cup

Cheltenham, November 15

Harry’s tip: Panic Attack (16-1)

Panic Attack was lightly raced last season after returning from 649 days off the track and switching to Dan Skelton from David Pipe, running just four times. She shaped okay over inadequate trips on her first two hurdles starts before relishing the return to further when running out a comfortable five-length winner in a 2m4f handicap chase at Windsor in January, travelling strongly and jumping well on her first start over fences since February 2023. She’s lightly raced over fences and looks to have the scope to deal with a 9lb higher chase mark.

Greatwood Hurdle

Cheltenham, November 16

Harry’s tip: Jack Hyde (20-1)

Jack Hyde has done well since having a tongue-tie removed, winning three of his five starts, and he ran well for a long way before finding a few others too strong when upped to 2m3½f for the Grade 2 Persian War on his last start. He looked impressive on his return, comfortably getting the better of a subsequent winner who was in receipt of 2lb in a 2m1f novice hurdle, and shaped well in his sole handicap start when fourth at Aintree in April, faring the best of those who raced prominently. Celtic Dino, who was one place in front, landed the Welsh Champion Hurdle to frank that form and Jack Hyde could have more to come back in trip.

L'Homme Presse could be the classiest horse to run in the Betfair Chase and is a massive 25-1Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Betfair Chase

Haydock, November 22

Harry’s tip: L’Homme Presse (25-1)

Connections couldn’t get L’Homme Presse ready in time for a go at the Grand National in April, but he’s one of the best staying chasers around and should prove suited by this test. He has lost only one of his five completed starts over fences on soft ground, finishing fourth in the 2024 Gold Cup behind Galopin Des Champs, and has lots of high-class form in the book, including victory in the Cotswold Chase and third in the King George last season. The Gold Cup may now be out of the equation as he’ll be 11 come March, but he’s still capable of running to a high level and may be the classiest horse on show at Haydock.

Anzadam can lower colours of Constitution Hill and The New Lion in the Fighting FifthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Fighting Fifth Hurdle

Newcastle, November 29

Harry’s tip: Anzadam (5-1)

The early market is headed by The New Lion, who is yet to race over two miles over hurdles, followed by Constitution Hill, who needs to bounce back from a disappointing spring, so the value could lie with the Willie Mullins-trained Anzadam. He’s lightly raced, having had only four runs, and looked a potential Champion Hurdle contender when winning both his starts last season. He gave Grade 2 winner Kala Conti 2lb and a six-and-a-half-length beating in a Grade 3 before oozing class when barely coming off the bridle to win in similar company by 11 lengths. With further improvement likely, he should have no trouble coping with this rise in class.

Coral Gold Cup

Newbury, November 29

Harry’s tip: Katate Dori (16-1)

Katate Dori proved a revelation when switched to chasing last season, winning three of his first four starts over fences. He looked as though he’d cope with a much better class when comfortably lumping top weight in a couple of handicaps at Exeter and Chepstow on soft and heavy ground and proved just that when running away with the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton in February. That 15-length demolition earned him a spot in the Ultima, but he didn’t get off to the best start, had to race wide and made a big move to sit prominently before halfway, which ultimately resulted in him being pulled up. He’s better than that and this looks a good spot for him to bounce back.

Jango Baie: Arkle winner could prove a big price in the King George

King George VI Chase

Kempton, December 26

Harry’s tip: Jango Baie (16-1)

Willie Mullins’ high-class pair Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior could both line up and may prove hard to beat, but it looks worth taking a chance on Jango Baie, who suggested he may be suited by stepping up in trip when staying on for third in the 2m4f Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April. That came after an unlikely success in the Arkle in March, when he didn’t have the pace to hold a position and looked likely to finish last when making a mess of three out, but took off from the last to claim the duelling leaders. Nicky Henderson suggested three miles might be on the agenda and he could find even more improvement for it.

Welsh Grand National

Chepstow, December 27

Harry’s tip: Whistle Stop Tour (16-1)

Whistle Stop Tour has to bounce back from a couple of disappointing efforts at Perth, but getting back on softer ground and stepping up to marathon trips should suit. He showed good promise when first sent over fences, comfortably winning 3m chases at Kelso and Ayr

before looking in need of a stiffer stamina test when staying on for fifth under a patient ride in a strong novice contest over an inadequate trip in January. He can be forgiven for pulling up in the Ultima at Cheltenham, as he was badly hampered by a faller at the first, and could have untapped potential at this distance.

Mares’ Hurdle

Cheltenham, March 10

Harry’s tip: Wodhooh (5-1)

Lossiemouth is the one to beat if turning up in search of a hat-trick in this event, but there is still a chance she could be aimed at the Champion Hurdle and, either way, there wasn’t much between her and the improving Wodhooh in the Aintree Hurdle last season. Wodhooh was bidding for her eighth win from as many starts over hurdles, having won the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival, and was beaten less than three lengths. She’s unbeaten in two starts at Cheltenham and could have even more to come this season.

Champion Hurdle

Cheltenham, March 10

Harry’s tip: State Man (7-1)

With so much uncertainty concerning the majority of the main players in the market and the desire to see what Anzadam can do at the top level first, the best option at this stage looks to be State Man, who would be the defending champion had he not fallen at the last. He’s looked back to somewhere near his best since being fitted with cheekpieces, most recently when emphatically seeing off Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace at Punchestown to land his 12th Grade 1. He arguably should be favourite given his spring exploits and looks the most reliable option despite his advancing years.

Sir Gino can strike in the Champion Chase

Champion Chase

Cheltenham, March 11

Harry’s tip: Sir Gino (4-1)

Sir Gino is one of those horses I just can’t wait to see again, having looked something special when following up his Grade 1 hurdle success with a seven-and-a-half-length romp in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase on his debut over fences at Kempton in December. Nicky Henderson has started the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin in that contest and Sir Gino also looks destined for the very top over fences, having winged his way to the front that day and won in a much quicker time than the Desert Orchid Chase on the same card. Marine Nationale is a tough opponent, but Sir Gino could prove a class apart.

Fact To File was in a league of his own in the Ryanair last seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ryanair Chase

Cheltenham, March 12

Harry’s tip: Fact To File (5-2)

It’s hard to know who will have the Ryanair Chase on their agenda, but Fact To File took to the intermediate distance so well last season and he will prove extremely hard to beat if bidding to defend his title. He jumped well and readily went clear before two out, winning unchallenged and producing a Racing Post Rating that has been bettered in the Ryanair only by dual winner Allaho. Connections may be tempted to give three miles another try, but his victory in the John Durkan last year showed his suitability for the distance and he looks to be the new force in this division.

Stayers’ Hurdle

Cheltenham, March 12

Harry’s tip: Ballyburn (6-1)

It looks as though connections have finally made the right call and we’ll get to see Ballyburn back over hurdles, as he has not looked an absolute natural jumping a fence, which he paid for with a bad mistake when odds-on in the Brown Advisory. He did well to get so close (fifth, beaten by eight and a half lengths) given his round of jumping, so it looks as though he stays (as his pedigree says he should), and he’ll bring plenty of class to the staying hurdle division if his 13-length romp in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last year is anything to go by.

Mares’ Chase

Cheltenham, March 13

Harry’s tip: Spindleberry (6-1)

Dinoblue has form figures of 211 over fences at 2m4f, including victory in this last year, and is the rightful favourite, but there was lots to like about Spindleberry’s first season over fences and she is open to improvement after just three chase starts. She thumped Grade 2 winner Bioluminescence in a Listed mares’ chase at Fairyhouse in February before proving too good in a Grade 1 back there (subsequent top-level winner Champ Kiely back in third). She has improved with every run and should be a major force back in mares-only company.

Gold Cup

Cheltenham, March 13

Harry’s tip: The Jukebox Man (40-1)

There is no doubt that Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs, last year’s one-two, set a high standard, but I was really taken by The Jukebox Man’s first season over fences and it looks like his campaign will be geared towards the Gold Cup. Narrowly beaten in the Albert Bartlett last year, he went 2-2 in novice chases, following a Grade 2 success with a comfortable victory in the Grade 1 Kauto Star in December when last seen. He’s a strong stayer who jumps well and could well have the class to topple the Irish battalions.

Grand National

Aintree, April 11

Harry’s tip: Quai De Bourbon (40-1)

Willie Mullins has been the dominant force in the National recently and it could be another for the Closutton maestro with Quai De Bourbon, who was last seen finishing third in the Irish National. Mullins’ last two Aintree winners contested that race the previous season, so it’s a path he clearly likes to take, and Quai De Bourbon will likely benefit from the experience. He didn’t have a chance to show what he could do when unseating then being brought down in a couple of Grade 1s in the spring, but he is seemingly well regarded and shapes as though he has the class and stamina needed for this test.

Read more from The Big Jump Off:

Patrick Mullins: Our bid for another jumps title is starting early - and I also think I was riding our next Cheltenham Gold Cup winner last season  

'He might have a Nick Rockett-like prep' - Tom Segal with his four best bets for the jumps season including a 40-1 Grand National pick 

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