Power Rankings: Who made our list of top ten trainers in Britain and Ireland this season? Plus a horse to follow for each

The Big Jump Off revealed the ultimate list of Britain and Ireland's top ten trainers as the new season gets under way. 

Based on squad depth, firepower, shrewdness, historic success, and last year's victories, Racing Post experts have ranked the best of those currently in training. Discover whether your favourite trainer made the cut — and find out the key players and horses to follow this winter...

1. Willie Mullins

The 2024-25 season was another dominant showing from Ireland's biggest name in jump racing, with a plethora of victories that included the Grand National, Irish Champion Hurdle and Irish Gold Cup. A total of 38 winners was all Mullins needed to land the British trainers' title for a second consecutive year, bettering his previous prize-money record in the process, alongside a formidable 19th Irish trainers' prize. 

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With the likes of Galopin Des Champs, State Man, Lossiemouth and Fact To File still at his disposal, the Closutton trainer looks set for another strong campaign, having already rattled off a trio of Grade 3 wins this month prior to his chief runners' seasonal debuts. It will take a monumental effort to challenge the reigning champion. 

Horse to follow: Kargese

Among the many promising hurdlers turning to fences this term, ​​Kargese could be the one to make a splash in the novice chase division this season. Winner of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, the five-year-old is a top-class performer and could be a big player this season over fences with the benefit of a mares' allowance. 

Kargese: a fascinating addition to Willie Mullins' chasing teamCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

2. Nicky Henderson

It was a rollercoaster season for Nicky Henderson last spring as some of his biggest stars failed to fire while some unexpected talent emerged from the woodwork. Constitution Hill remains the trainer's pride and joy and also his biggest headache after a muddling campaign punctuated with falls at Cheltenham and Aintree, before disappointing at Punchestown. 

The question of whether Seven Barrow's star hurdler can regain his form remains to be seen but there are plenty of other big names Henderson can draw upon, including the ultra-consistent Jonbon, unbeaten chaser Sir Gino and surprise Arkle winner Jango Baie.

Horse to follow: Jeriko Du Reponet

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old found only stablemate Doddiethegreat too good for him in the Pertemps Final in March and followed up that effort with success at the Punchestown festival. His sole chase outing was a bit of a disaster at Sandown last November but he could be exciting on his return to that sphere, with Henderson "pretty confident" he will be top class.

Jeriko Du Reponet: returns to fences after a strong springCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

3. Dan Skelton

Dan Skelton has had to settle for runner-up twice now in the British trainers' championship and will no doubt be in the mix again after continuing his excellent rise to the top last season with 179 winners. His strength is not just in numbers but in quality too, with The New Lion the standout performer last campaign with his victory at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Last year's leading novice now tackles open company, with the Fighting Fifth on the horizon, but Skelton also has several other dependable types for the year's biggest races. Chasers Grey Dawning and Protektorat could make their mark in Graded company and Skelton can also utilise his legion of battle-hardened handicappers, who helped him to break the £3 million prize-money mark for the first time last term. A similarly fruitful term could lie ahead.

Horse to follow: Fortune De Mer

There is lots of like about this novice hurdler, who is set to tackle Graded company at Cheltenham on Friday. A Listed bumper winner at the track in November, Fortune De Mer could do with settling down to see his true potential and if Skelton is able to get a lid on him, the five-year-old is one to watch. 

Fortune De Mer: returns to Cheltenham on FridayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

4. Gordon Elliott

A somewhat quieter term by Gordon Elliott's lofty standards saw him achieve just one winner at the Cheltenham Festival, but away from the showpiece spring meeting there was plenty to revel in with eight Grade 1 victories last season. 

Elliott may have found Mullins a thorn in his side for some of the season's biggest contests but he still has one of Britain and Ireland's top stayers in his care in Teahupoo and a host of other smart runners at his fingertips. His squad this term will include the likes of Found A Fifty, who should continue to make his presence felt over fences, while Brighterdaysahead should be back in the thick of it over hurdles this term and is able to hold her own against the best Mullins and Henderson have to offer. 

Horse to follow: Kalypso'chance

The five-year-old started last season impressively with two wide-margin wins but he failed to deliver when it mattered most in the spring, trailing home at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He ventures into novice hurdling now and has the class to make an impact this winter, with a return to Cheltenham no doubt already in Elliot's mind. 

Kalypso'chance: lost his way in the spring but could be a leading player in novice hurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

5. Henry de Bromhead

The Knockeen trainer is often forced to play third fiddle to the powerhouses of Mullins and Elliott but De Bromhead still managed to get a few licks in last season thanks to Grade 1-winning staying hurdlers Bob Olinger and Hiddenvalley Lake. 

Many of his leading horses stay the same, including top-level chaser Envoi Allen, but there is change for De Bromhead's outfit among the personnel as he fills the gap left by the retired Rachael Blackmore with Darragh O'Keeffe. The 25-year-old will no doubt be ready to take advantage of the talent now on offer. 

Horse to follow: Gameball

The five-year-old has had just two starts but caught the eye each time, winning his Ballinrobe debut by a wide-margin before following up on his stable debut for De Bromhead at Punchestown last week. He has already earned quotes for the Supreme after that smart six-length success and will likely tackle Graded company before Christmas.

Gameball: perfect record from two starts Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

6. Gavin Cromwell

Gavin Cromwell's yard continues to go from strength-to-strength after he achieved his biggest prize-money haul and winning tally last campaign. The crowning jewel of last season was not, however, his numerical record but his triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Inothewayurthinkin, who trounced Galopin Des Champs with a career-best effort in March. 

The improving chaser heads Cromwell's team this season and will not be the only returning Grade 1 winner, with Hello Neighbour likely to feature in some valuable hurdling contests this winter. Surely more big things await the Navan operation. 

Horse to follow: Bud Fox

A point-to-point winner in February, Bud Fox took on strong opposition on his rules debut at the Punchestown festival and emerged victorious, getting the better of four subsequent winners in the process. All signs point to the four-year-old being a smart novice hurdler in the making. 

Bud Fox: winner of a strong Punchestown bumper in AprilCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

7. Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls came just one victory shy of breaking the 100 winners mark for the fifth consecutive season and there was plenty of positives to take from a season that really found its stride in the spring. 

The major festivals became a site of triumph for the progressive Caldwell Potter with victories at Cheltenham and Aintree, while Kalif Du Berlais claimed Ditcheat's third and final Grade 1 victory of the season in the Maghull Novices' Chase. The pair spearhead Nicholls' squad this term, alongside Ascot regular Pic D'Orhy, and with several strong handicappers also able to be deployed, Nicholls will not be giving up title ambitions any time soon. 

Horse to follow: Kalif Du Berlais

The five-year-old blossomed in the spring to strike at Aintree with a beautiful round of jumping under Harry Cobden. He should be right at home in the major two-mile chases this spring, with the Tingle Creek a likely early target. 

Kalif Du Berlais: out to land another Grade 1 contest over fences this termCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

8. Olly Murphy

If Olly Murphy has started as he intends to go on, then the Wilmcote trainer is set for a very big season. Last season saw Murphy surpass his previous winning-tally record by some margin with a remarkable £58.74 profit on a £1 level stake, and he has already made significant inroads this term with 45 winners and counting. 

Strong Leader is the established high-quality horse in the yard but there are plenty of other Graded candidates among the team, with Kingston Pride impressing on his chasing debut and Fingle Bridge well fancied to turn his hand to chasing too. With the likes of Resplendent Grey and Booster Bob for handicap chases, Murphy is well stocked to make another splash this season. 

Horse to follow: Fingle Bridge

He was unbeaten in his last four starts and looks a deadly prospect on soft ground as he heads into novice chase company. The form of his Listed win at Exeter has worked out well and he has all the makings of a Grade 1 performer. 

Fingle Bridge: heads the novice chasers for Olly Murphy this season

9. Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies

The father-son team embark on their first season under a joint-partnership and have started the winter jumps season with gusto, already clocking nine winners in October. 

Cleeve Hurdle winner Gowel Road provided plenty of riches for the yard last season and he is set to be joined in the staying division this campaign by the talented Potters Charm. Beauport and Master Chewy are also the types to pay their way in some lucrative contests and there is no doubt a smart novice or two is lurking among the stables at Grange Hill Farm. 

Horse to follow: Un Sens A La Vie

The five-year-old is well regarded by Nigel, Willy and Sam Twiston-Davies and justified his skinny odds at Market Rasen last week with an impressive seven-and-a-half-length victory. He bids to follow up at Cheltenham on Friday in the Grade 2 Sharp Novices' Hurdle. 

Un Sens A La Vie (right): point-to-point winner and exciting recruit for the Twiston-Davies's familyCredit: Healy Racing

10. Venetia Williams

A second Betfair Chase was the highlight for Venetia Williams last season as resilient chaser Royale Pagaille got the job done yet again to help the trainer surpass £1m for the fourth season on the bounce. 

The likes of L'Homme Presse, Frero Banbou, Djelo and Victtorino could give Williams a particularly strong hand in handicap chases this term, and she will no doubt be well stocked in other departments once the mud gets flying this winter. 

Horse to follow: Tanganyika

Dubbed one of the horses to follow by stable jockey Charlie Deustch this season, the seven-year-old was just beaten in the Midlands National and will remain competitive starting off on a mark of 140 in staying contests.

Tanganyika (left): full of promise after striking twice last seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Read more from the Big Jump Off:

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

'It will surely be in Joseph O’Brien’s mind to target this race again' - Paul Kealy's best bets for the early part of the jumps season 

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 

'I lost a few owners and a lot of horses, but sometimes it’s good for you in life when you have little dips - it makes you stronger' 

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