Paul Nicholls 2026/27 National Hunt Season Preview: Seven chasers to follow

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When you have such a big stable of horses that we have at Ditcheat, it's almost impossible to pick out the best of the best, they're all here because they all have ability, and we'd like to think that they can all win races.

But I've been asked to name a handful of hurdlers and chasers that are worth following this season, and these ones would be my picks of the chasers at this stage.

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⭐ Caldwell Potter ⭐

8yo grey gelding

NH Form:  8163/211/13211/

• Sire: Martaline (GB)
• Dam: Matnie (FR)
• Dam's Sire: Laveron (GB)

Caldwell Potter is one of Paul's Star Horses to Follow. Click here to read more

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Issac Des Obeaux

8yo bay gelding

NH Form:  137/6113P3/5P33/31214-

• Sire: Kapgarde (FR)
• Dam: Varda Des Obeaux (FR)
• Dam's Sire: Saddler Maker (IRE)

Is he my potential Grand National horse? He could be. He likes soft ground but whether it is a year to soon for him we will see. We will run him in the Welsh National if there is cut in the ground and there's a race that the Barber family are sponsoring at Taunton that we would like to go for over three and a half miles.

In the spring, we will decide whether to train him for Aintree or go to the Midlands National and the Scottish National again. He will tell us but, whether it is this year that he runs in the Grand National or the year after, he will have an entry. He is a really exciting stayer on soft ground.

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Now read Paul's verdict on his six hurdlers to follow this season

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⭐ No Drama This End ⭐

6yo grey gelding

NH Form:  1/19/111P1-

• Sire: Walk In The Park (IRE)
• Dam: La Segnora (FR)
• Dam's Sire: Turgeon (USA)

No Drama This End is one of Paul's Star Horses to Follow. Click here to read more

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Pourquoi Pas Papa

4yo bay gelding

NH Form:  2221243-

• Sire: Manatee (GB)
• Dam: Pourquoi Pas Elle (FR)
• Dam's Sire: Martaline (GB)

He goes chasing this season. He's only a four-year-old so will get a handy bit of allowance at the start of the season. He jumps nicely and will ultimately get two-and-a-half but you need a good two-and-a-half miler to be a good two-mile chaser. He will leave his hurdling form behind him and be a better chasing horse.

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Quebecois

7yo chestnut gelding

NH Form:  2/10/12321/24223P-

• Sire: No Risk At All (FR)
• Dam: Miss Poutine (FR)
• Dam's Sire: Chamberlin (FR)

He is a novice for the season which is a bonus. He may start off in the intermediate chase at Newton Abbot on the 17 October and he will have an entry in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. We will also keep an eye on all the novice chases for him.

There are lots of options for him and he could be a very exciting horse this season. He doesn't want the ground too soft.

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⭐ Regent's Stroll ⭐

7yo bay gelding

NH Form:  11/14212/31232-

• Sire: Walk In The Park (IRE)
• Dam: Pretty Puttens (IRE)
• Dam's Sire: Snurge (IRE)

Regent's Stroll is one of Paul's Star Horses to Follow. Click here to read more

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Tutti Quanti

6yo bay gelding

NH Form:  22/1261/6118F-

• Sire: Chanducoq (FR)
• Dam: Terebella (FR)
• Dam's Sire: Muhtathir (GB)

I'd like to think he can be a better chaser than hurdler. As mentioned, that is often the way with a lot of our horses. He needs some experience, we have schooled him a lot already this season and he's jumping nicely, but he needs to do it on the track, and he will have an entry at Ffos Las on Wednesday.

Ultimately, he could be a very nice chaser. In terms of what he wants, let's see what happens with his first run and then we'll decide what trip he wants. Nothing is set in stone yet.

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