Cheltenham Festival: jockeys and trainers who could surprise with winners

We identify five jockeys and trainers who could make a splash at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Ben Jones

The 20-year-old had his first ride under rules in April 2017, but came into the season with just four winners to his name. He has come on leaps and bounds this year and has 37 victories on the board as well as £486,779 banked in prize-money, a big chunk of that thanks to the victory of De Rasher Counter in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

Jones must now be eyeing a breakthrough Cheltenham Festival success, which would be the icing on what is already a very tasty cake this term.

Support from the productive yards of Philip Hobbs and Emma Lavelle might not make that a remote possibility.

Oakley Brown

Tipped as a potential star of the future on the Flat when winning the , Brown has had to reassess his career since leaving Richard Fahey's academy for a brief spell with Alan King.

Oakley Brown: one of the best young jump riders around

A native of Malton in North Yorkshire, he relocated to Ireland last year to link up with Joseph O'Brien, who has made an instant impact as a trainer and recorded a brace of festival strikes 12 months ago.

Brown has caught the eye under his tutorship and his 7lb claim could come in handy at the festival.

Connor Brace

Ben Jones's Ladbrokes Trophy win and Jack Tudor's Coral Welsh Grand National triumph on Potters Corner generated plenty of headlines, but Brace is another young rider from Wales whose career is flourishing.

Verdana Blue and Connor Brace bagging the Scottish Champion HurdleCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

His grandfather, David Brace, is a permit holder and family honour has been upheld as the jockey has already bettered last season's tally of winners and prize-money.

Nicky Henderson has noticed Brace's talent, supplying him with two winners from just four rides, including Verdana Blue in last season's Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Richard Hobson

Another Cotswolds resident, the understated Hobson spent 14 years as a jockey before retiring in 2009, when he was already respected as a shrewd judge in the equine transfer market.

Richard Hobson: former rider is a shrewd operator in the equine transfer marketCredit: Edward Whitaker

He has made steady progress as a trainer – winning the Grade 2 bumper for mares at the 2017 Grand National meeting with Dame Rose – and has had nine winners this season, although they have come from just 40 runners at a healthy strike-rate of 23 per cent.

Solid staying chaser Lord Du Mesnilhas been flying the flag and Hobson has a number of options at Cheltenham, where his Shantou Flyer was narrowly denied in the 2018 Ultima Handicap Chase.

Emmet Mullins

The name Mullins is all over Cheltenham, be it Paddy with Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup heroine Dawn Run or his son Willie saddling more festival winners than anyone, but a new strain of the name could be in the spotlight.

Based on the same premises as his uncle Willie, Emmet Mullins enjoyed a festival winner as a jockey on Sir Des Champs in the 2011 Martin Pipe and has had a fine season in the training ranks.

Emmet Mullins: won at the festival as a jockeyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Fujimoto Flyer, who races for leading owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and second in Saturday's Adonis, could be a live outsider in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, while Rocket Lad is another with entries.

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