'This top trainer will be using him on his best handicappers' - Graeme Rodway on his ten claimers to follow this season

Graeme Rodway picked out his top ten claimers to follow for the Big Jump Off supplement. Here's who he picked, including one who has already struck in a big race this campaign . . .

Jack G Gilligan

From a famous racing family, Gilligan’s brother Danny has already ridden out his claim and it won’t be long before Jack follows in the footsteps of his sibling. Most of his winners have come for his father and the rider still claims 7lb at home, which may be particularly valuable.

Freddie Gingell

If you asked jumps fans in Britain to name a star rider of the future the majority would probably come up with Gingell, who brilliantly guided Il Ridoto to Paddy Power Gold Cup victory earlier this season, has already won a Grade 1 and is still able to claim 3lb. 

Elixir De Nutz is the horse who propelled Gingell into the limelight last season and the jockey enjoyed a potent partnership with that horse’s trainer Joe Tizzard. However, Paul Nicholls has been key to the rider’s rise and has put him on more winners than anyone else. 

Paul Nicholls and Freddie Gingell hold the Paddy Power Gold Cup aloftCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Also look out for Gingell when he joins forces with Anthony Honeyball as the young jockey struck up a good partnership with one of the trainer’s stable stars last campaign, Sam Brown.

Freddie Gordon

The other Freddie on the list and Gordon had a big win of his own last season, partnering Annual Invictus to victory in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster for his father Chris.

Gordon almost doubled up on the same horse when second in the bet365 Gold Cup and can clearly handle the hustle-and-bustle of big-field handicaps over fences. All but three of the jockey’s winners have come for his dad, but more opportunities will surely come his way.

Dylan Johnston

Olly Murphy made a point of giving Johnston plenty of opportunities last season and the young rider paid him back handsomely with a strike-rate of 24 per cent for the top trainer.

Johnston also came in for some high-profile rides for the Sam Thomas team, including partnering Iwilldoit to third in the Welsh Grand National and Al Dancer to second in the Coral Trophy at Kempton. That is a partnership that could well prove fruitful this season.

Dylan Johnston: won at Cheltenham's November meeting with Double Powerful Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Carl Millar

Why is it that jockeys often don’t hit their peak until they get older? It’s probably because experience is the key to riding good races and Millar is a claimer who has an awful lot of it.

Despite having had more than 250 rides, he is still able to claim 7lb, and put experience to use when steering Maxxum to big wins at the Dublin and Punchestown festivals last season.

Maxxum’s trainer Gordon Elliott has spotted Millar’s potential and will no doubt have him claiming off some of his best handicappers this season, so it could be a big one for the rider.

Ethan O’Sullivan

A name that might not be as familiar as others on the list, but O’Sullivan has the backing of Henry de Bromhead and that partnership has already given the rider more winners than he has for any other yard. O’Sullivan still claims 7lb and is one to watch in the coming months.

Caoilin Quinn

Gary Moore knows a good jockey when he sees one and it didn’t take him long to take Quinn under his wing. The pair teamed up for a famous success with Nassalam in last season’s Welsh Grand National and Jamie Moore’s retirement is likely to give Quinn more chances.

David Bridgwater has also recognised the rider’s talent and it’s worth taking note when they team up because five winners from 25 runners is a healthy strike-rate when they join forces.

Alice Stevens

There is a lot to like about the way that Stevens has risen through the ranks and Henry Daly has been her biggest supporter. However, partnerships with Harry Derham and Ben Brookhouse proved particularly profitable for punters who stuck with Stevens last season. Derham, in particular, looks to have made her a go-to rider so look out for the combination.

Alice Stevens: has become a go-to rider for Harry DerhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Conor Stone-Walsh

Undoubtedly one of the up-and-coming stars of the weighing room in Ireland.

Gavin Cromwell has provided Stone-Walsh with the majority of his rides, but the jockey rarely misses the target when booked by Joseph O’Brien and that combination can flourish.

James Turner

Another who still claims the full 7lb allowance, Turner caught the eye last term with some high-profile rides for Nigel Twiston-Davies and he provided the bulk of the jockey’s winners.

Turner also had rides for Evan Williams, Stuart Edmunds and Ryan Potter, and appears to be building some big relationships. He can show he has benefited from last season’s experience.

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