As we rapidly approach the festive period — a time when the National Hunt campaign traditionally kicks into overdrive with major Christmas meetings at Kempton Park and Leopardstown — several exciting prospects have already laid down early markers for the Cheltenham Festival.
The action we’ve seen so far at Sandown, Newbury and Cheltenham has been top-tier, and as bettors scour the markets and hunt for horse racing free bets, it’s a good time to assess which runners have impressed most.
Below, we look at four horses who have raced at least twice this season, proving their progression and setting themselves up as genuine spring contenders.
Mydaddypaddy
The Skelton team continues to grow in stature, and this season may be their strongest yet. While The New Lion remains their headline act — even after his dramatic fall at the second last in the Fighting Fifth — it’s Mydaddypaddy who has arguably been their most striking early-season performer.
The four-year-old has emerged as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite after two commanding victories at Carlisle and Haydock. Both wins came with an air of authority, showing slick hurdling and an ability to quicken on demand. Although many of his potential Supreme rivals are yet to emerge, he has already set a meaningful form benchmark and looks every inch a Festival horse in the making.
No Drama This End
Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard has produced some of the most iconic names in modern jump racing — Denman, Kauto Star, Big Buck’s — and No Drama This End could be the latest to add his name to that illustrious list.
The five-year-old has started life over hurdles with a bang, landing two Grade 2s in his opening two runs at Cheltenham and Sandown. Harry Cobden has barely had to move on him in either win, which tells you everything about the engine beneath him.
Now a 13/2 shot for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, he represents serious value at this stage of the season, with his blend of cruising speed and untapped stamina making him one of the most exciting novices in training.
Lulamba
From Nicholls to Nicky Henderson, Seven Barrows has also unleashed a chasing gem in Lulamba. Owned by the powerful Donnelly team, the four-year-old has made an immediate impact in his debut campaign over fences.
His 10-length rout of Fingle Bridge in a Beginners’ Chase at Exeter was eye-catching, but he backed it up in even more impressive fashion with a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
He is currently second favourite for the Arkle behind Kopek Des Bordes, but on the evidence so far, he has the class and scope to provide Henderson with a record-breaking eighth win in the two-mile novice chase championship.
Panic Attack
We return to Skelton for our final standout performer, as Panic Attack has proven herself one of the season’s most compelling stories. The mare made history by becoming the first female horse to win both the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham’s November Meeting and the Newbury Gold Cup — the two richest pre-Christmas handicaps in Britain.
Her blend of tactical speed, resilience and assured jumping has propelled her into elite company, and while she may yet head to Cheltenham for the Mares’ Chase, her principal target is now even grander: the Grand National at Aintree. Given her profile and early-season form, she’s entitled to take her chance.