The National Hunt season is on the horizon and expert Cathryn Fry is back with her Irish Horses to Follow for the season. Read her eye-catchers exclusively for kwiff.
Irish Horses to Follow: October 2025 Update
Eric McNamara has had his string in fine form for a while now. On Sunday, he won the Munster National, with the ex Mouse Morris trained French Dynamite. French Dynamite could well be heading to Aintree in April for the Grand National. Bringing up a 1-2 for the McNamara stable was Weveallbeencaught, who until recently was trained in England by Nigel Twiston-Davies, he also had a brief spell with Christian Williams.
Irish Horses to Follow: French Dynamite
Now this is a horse that looked very promising but he obviously has problems. I think one or two things still aren’t perfect; but, Eric is getting a tune out of him with super runs in both the Kerry National and the Munster National. There’s a big staying chase in this horse under the care of his new handler.
Irish Horses to Follow: Mystical Goddess
Talking of future staying chasers, I am biding my time waiting for Mystical Goddess to step up in trip. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, who is currently having a fine run of form, she was part of a De Bromhead triumvirate in the mares beginners chase at Limerick on Sunday.
Irish Horses to Follow: Walks in June
It’s always worth making a note of placed horses at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Walks In June proved that point in another victory for the De Bromhead’s on Sunday. Backed as though defeat was out of the question: (15/8 into 4/5 favourite), Walks In June justified the strong market confidence when making a successful hurdling debut in the Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.
A former point-to-point winner, the five-year-old had shown plenty of promise when finishing third on his Rules debut at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival but failed to back that up on his next and only subsequent outing at Fairyhouse in January. Returning from that layoff, the Barry Maloney-owned gelding was prominent throughout under Darragh O’Keeffe, jumping fluently and asserting his authority after the second-last. He stayed on strongly up the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Torps.
Irish Horses to Follow: Hewick
At Thurles last Thursday, Prolific globetrotter Hewick (8/15f) picked up right where he left off, by making a winning reappearance in the www.thurlesraces.ie Hurdle for trainer Shark Hanlon, who is now plotting another campaign at the top level for his hugely popular stable star. The ten-year-old, whose remarkable résumé already includes victories in the Galway Plate, American Grand National, and King George VI Chase, was returning from a five-month break.
With the trainer’s son Paddy Hanlon taking the reins, Hewick faced only two rivals but stamped his class on proceedings from the start. Jumping with his usual fluency, the gelding made all the running and stretched clear in the straight to win by four and three-quarter lengths from Moon D’Orange. This latest success, his 12th career win, now pushes his prize money beyond €890,000.
Looking ahead, Hanlon outlined several options for his stable star: “He has the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal or the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby next, depending on ground conditions. Today’s run will leave him spot on, and we’ll go wherever there’s decent ground. He might be ten now, but I honestly think he’s better and stronger this year — he’s really filled out.” Hanlon hasn’t ruled out another crack at the Grand National, either.
By Cathryn Fry
Please note that the information provided in this Irish Horses to Follow article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org
