Jeriko Du Reponet, Marine Nationale and more: when and where some exciting jumps stars could return this week

Forget about the Breeders' Cup and the Melbourne Cup. We are now firmly in the thick of the new jumps season and some familiar faces will be returning over the coming weeks. Here we assess some of the big names set to make their reappearance this week . . .

Royal Infantry

Declared: 12.50 Chepstow, Wednesday (2m maiden hurdle)

Dan Skelton's five-year-old didn't set the world alight in points but he made a big impression in bumpers, comfortably winning at Doncaster in January and taking a Listed event by two lengths at Newbury the following month.

He took his chance in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March and did the best of the British challengers in eighth, but he would probably prefer a flatter track and should be a serious prospect over hurdles.

Let It Rain

Declared: 1.50 Chepstow, Wednesday (2m3½f maiden hurdle)

This talented mare had looked a smart prospect when winning a Warwick bumper on her debut by eight lengths, and she duly confirmed that promise when landing a Listed event at the expense of the talented Brechin Castle and Celtic Dino at Ascot in December. She was in line for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival but was ruled out with a minor setback in February.

Let It Rain: makes her hurdling debut at Chepstow on WednesdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

She's held in high regard by her trainer Dan Skelton and she is likely to develop throughout the season. She could potentially take high order in the mares' division (she's 14-1 for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival).

Allegorie De Vassy

Declared: 2.05 Clonmel, Thursday (2m5f Listed mares' chase)

How to solve a problem like Allegorie De Vassy? The Willie Mullins-trained mare has always been a horse of huge potential but she has never quite transferred this to the track and is yet to run in a Grade 1.

Still only a seven-year-old, Thursday's assignment at Clonmel looks more than manageable – it is a race she won last year – and another tilt at the Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, in which she's finished second and fourth over the past two years, will surely be on the cards.

Monmiral

Declared: 2.52 Newbury, Thursday (3m handicap hurdle)

All roads could lead back to the Pertemps Final for last season's winner after trainer Paul Nicholls declared Monmiral for a qualifier on Thursday. The seven-year-old, owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and John Hales, started his season over fences last term but begins over hurdles this time in a bid to qualify early. Last season, he only just scraped into the final at the Cheltenham Festival when finishing fourth in a qualifier only three weeks before the big event.

Monmiral: won the Pertemps Final last seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

His 25-1 win at the festival came off a mark of 138 but the length-and-a-quarter success resulted in a 6lb rise and he could manage only fifth on his final start in a premier handicap at the Grand National meeting.

Shanagh Bob

Entered: 1.50 Exeter, Friday (3m novices' chase); 12.55 Aintree, Saturday (3m1f novices' handicap chase)

Bought for £200,000 after impressively winning his sole point-to-point, he quickly developed into a smart hurdler last season, following a seven-length romp on his hurdling debut with a gutsy victory in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in December before finishing fourth in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

He's a big, chasing sort who will likely improve for fences and was given a glowing report in our stable tour with Nicky Henderson, who said: "He jumps really well and I'd be surprised if he wasn't near top class in this sphere."

Captain Teague

Entered: 1.50 Exeter, Friday (3m novices' chase)

Third in the Champion Bumper in March last year, he confirmed he was a smart prospect when scooting nine and a half lengths clear in the Persian War on his hurdling debut and then bettered that when taking the Challow in December.

He ran no sort of race in the Albert Bartlett when last seen, but he's had a breathing operation since and was reported as "one of our best novice chase prospects this winter" by Paul Nicholls in his recent stable tour.

Hillcrest

Entered: 1.50 Exeter, Friday (3m novices' chase); 12.55 Aintree, Saturday (3m1f novices' handicap chase)

Hillcrest, welcome back. The Henry Daly-trained nine-year-old has been off the track for more than two years, having last been seen when pulled up in the 2022 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival (went off the 9-4 favourite).

Hillcrest: has two entries this weekCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Before that, Hillcrest's record had been impressive, winning four of his five starts over hurdles including a Grade 2 success at Haydock the month before his last appearance at Cheltenham. He has been beset by injury problems since and is a big horse, but he is primed for his chasing debut, providing the ground at Exeter or Aintree has sufficient ease.

JPR One

Entered: 2.25 Exeter, Friday (2m1½f Grade 2 handicap chase)

Highly touted as a novice hurdler, he returned from injury and a 370-day break with an easy victory in handicap company in March last year, after which his trainer Joe Tizzard said "he couldn't wait for next season".

He progressed well over fences last season, winning two of his first four starts and looking unlucky when coming down in the Arkle Trial in November, but was well beaten in the Arkle itself. He's better than he showed that day and the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, which Tizzard won with Eldorado Allen last year, looks the perfect place for him to return.

Anno Power

Entered: 1.40 Sandown, Sunday (2m maiden hurdle)

Caught the eye in bumpers last season by winning two of her three starts, and the Harry Fry-trained five-year-old capped off her strong first season with success at Cheltenham in April. Her only loss was on her debut against the boys but she mastered the mares' division and could be capable in that company once more.

Anno Power: showed plenty of ability in bumpersCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The form of her Cheltenham win is encouraging and she is 33-1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the festival in March. She starts of her hurdling career over a similar trip this week.

Jeriko Du Reponet

Entered: 2.15 Sandown, Sunday (1m7½f novices' handicap chase)

Jeriko Du Reponet failed to live up to his lofty reputation when pulled up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle won by Slade Steel in March – although that effort did come in a week when Nicky Henderson withdrew most of his intended runners.

He is still only a five-year-old and retains considerable untapped potential. Henderson has opted to send him straight over fences this term, starting at Sandown at Sunday when he could meet stablemate and Betfair Hurdle winner Iberico Lord. It will be fascinating to see how he goes when chasing.

Marine Nationale

Entered: 2.35 Naas, Sunday (2m Grade 3 chase)

Now we're talking. Marine Nationale is back, and in the words of his trainer Barry Connell: "It's amazing how quickly horses are forgotten about in this game."

The stunning 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner missed Cheltenham and a potential tilt at the Arkle last season, but is now being campaigned towards the Champion Chase. He has run only twice since his Cheltenham success and it's hard not to feel we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to the seven-year-old.

If he's afforded a clean bill of health then he will be a delight to watch this season, and will likely be in the mix for major prizes over Christmas and next March.

Shakem Up'Arry

Entered: 3.25 Sandown, Sunday (3m veterans' handicap chase)

Shakem Up'Arry was one of the most popular winners at this year's Cheltenham Festival, storming up the hill to take the Plate and spark wild celebrations for his owner Harry Redknapp.

He disappointed when last seen in the Topham Chase at Aintree but that was a mere footnote at the end of a brilliant campaign that also included a handicap chase success at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. The Ben Pauling-trained ten-year-old should be a major player in big handicaps this season.

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