'More Improvement Lurking' - Five Irish Handicappers Poised to Strike This Jumps Season The National Hunt season is going through the gears with some major meetings across Britain and Ireland now in the books, and things are set to keep ramping up. We've picked out five Irish handicappers to follow for the Jumps season ahead. Mossy Fen Park (Henry De Bromhead) This six-year-old son of Walk In The Park got on the scoresheet over fences at the third attempt as he returned from a 289-day absence to win a beginners' contest at Listowel's Harvest Festival in September, under De Bromhead's new stable jockey Darragh O'Keefe. He was made favourite for a Grade 3 novice contest at Cork (2m4f, good to yielding) and finished third after making a couple of mistakes in the second half of the race. A winning point-to-pointer, he has stamina for three miles and a rating in and around the high 130s could be exploitable when he turns his attention to handicaps. The Other Mozzie (Gavin Cromwell) Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell won't be short of options in the coming season as he bids to build on his excellence from last season. The Other Mozzie showed good aptitude over fences last term in winning three times, including a decent contest at the Scottish National Festival at Ayr over an extended two miles. He had previously finished midpack in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, no poor effort, and will stay effectively at that trip. The Paddy Power Gold Cup at the Cheltenham November Meeting is being touted for a horse Cromwell admits has surprised him somewhat but that might have more improvement lurking as a second-season chaser. Beaufort Scale (Gordon Elliott) Beaufort Scale has already been busy this autumn, with his runner-up finish in an Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham's Showcase Meeting being his fourth appearance. He chased home Smugglers Haven that day and showed good tenacity up the Cheltenham hill in a bunched finish to get second spot. He was racing off a mark of just 122 in that contest over three miles and one furlong and his trainer suggested afterwards it was his best run so far. It was also his first in a handicap over fences and from his current low base, there's scope for better things with this Sholokhov gelding in staying chases. Springt De La Mare (Gavin Cromwell) Another for Gavin Cromwell and one that could have some undetected potential for staying chases. The six-year-old No Risk At All gelding runs in the Alymer Stud silks and he began his time over fences by winning minor contests at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in the opening months of 2025. The spring was less kind as he was well beaten at Limerick and in a decent Listed handicap over fences back at Fairyhouse. He's got a mark of 136 now and his trainer suggests he lost his way somewhat but could be 'back on track' this season. There's plenty of stamina in his pedigree but he has mostly been campaigned in and around two miles. It wouldn't be a shock to find a handicap over further is within his range this season. Solly Atwell (Cian Collins) Cian Collins is amongst the rising stars of the training ranks in Ireland and his yard should continue to go from strength to strength. Solly Atwell is a seven-year-old gelding with a future over fences. His first three attempts in this sphere were nondescript but he won minor events at Galway (2m6½f, good to yielding) and Downpatrick (2m7½f, yielding) in September. His next stop was an amateur riders' contest at Cheltenham in October, where he assessed a UK mark of 121 and ran sixth of 18, perhaps having had to make up more ground than optimal from the rear to challenge from four out until the final fence. He faded up the Cheltenham hill in the end under Rob James but it was no disgrace and he's got scope for better still.
