The 2025/26 National Hunt racing season could be considered one of the best in recent memory: I Am Maximus regained his Grand National crown; Rich Ricci completed the famous Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup double for the first time in modern history; and Dan Skelton finally overcame his champion trainer hump and became the first trainer to surpass the £5 million prize money barrier.
It has been a sensational year of National Hunt racing, but it wouldn’t be what it was without some of the world’s best horses reaching the top of their respective ladders. The steeplechasing world was dominated by trainer Willie Mullins and his jockey Paul Townend, with Gaelic Warrior excelling in the three-mile division by completing the Punchestown and Cheltenham Gold Cup double, while Il Etait Temps took over the two-mile division, also achieving the same double.
Despite the emergence of new greats and champions this season, some of racing’s favourites also made their final appearance on a racecourse this year. Greats like two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs and three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Envoi Allen both raced for the last time this year, but their legacies will never be forgotten.
But it wouldn’t be a National Hunt season without some drama. Former Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Constitution Hill opened this year’s account with another fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, putting an end to his time over jumps. Legendary owner JP McManus had yet another fine year, but it wasn’t without hiccups. Champion Chase favourite Majborough failed to bring McManus his first Champion Chase victory, and Jonbon still couldn’t get over his Cheltenham festival woes in the Ryanair Chase.
Former Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill’s final appearance in the Cheltenham parade ring
However, greats aren’t all born at Cheltenham, as I Am Maximus regained his Grand National crown after being jubilant in 2024 and a respectable second in 2025. Following in the steps of Red Rum himself, Paul Townend and Willie Mullins once again etched themselves in history with another Grand National win and will likely be back again next year to do the unthinkable.
Although this year’s Cheltenham Festival was all about Townend and Mullins once again, the English fought back with the charge of Nicky Henderson and newly crowned champion trainer Dan Skelton. Old Park Star put England on the board early in the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle, and Jango Baie, and the King George VI Chase winner The Jukebox Man made Harry Redknapp proud, both running their hearts out in the Gold Cup.
Horses going to post before the Aintree Hurdle
But for the English, it was Dan Skelton who finally reached the peak. Becoming the first trainer in history to earn upwards of £5 million in prize money and birthing some of the best stories this year with Grey Dawning’s Betfair Chase redemption story at Haydock and Protektorat surpassing £1 million in prize money of his own, Dan and his brother and jockey Harry put England back on top again and smashed records nobody thought could be beaten.
However, it wouldn’t be a National Hunt season without good stories, one in particular being jockey Richie McLernon’s Cheltenham Festival story. After injury struck in December, McLernon wasn’t expected to ride at the festival in March, let alone ride a winner, but against all odds, McLernon came back and rode trainer Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s quirky Johnnywho to victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, following that up with a massive fourth-place finish in the Grand National, and he explained how his season as a whole went from good to bad to better.
Interview with Ultimate Handicap Chase winning jockey Richie McLernon
In terms of ‘the best’, the best horse of the year has to go to Gaelic Warrior. That magnificent battle between him and stablemate Fact To File in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown was one to remember; following up with dual Gold Cup successes, it doesn’t get much better than that, and no horse even comes close.
The National Hunt season of 2025/26 was not your average season; great things happened, historical stories were made, and future stars emerged. Looking ahead to the next season, it appears that it could surpass the current one, featuring more competitive races, new star horses, and a wealth of exciting prospects.
