We’re now halfway into the 2020s, and what a time it’s been for National Hunt racing. From all-conquering Gold Cup heroes to unbeaten Champion Hurdlers, the past five years have given fans no shortage of brilliance to admire.
And for those who follow the action closely on Betdaq, the betting exchange has been the perfect place to trade opinions on some of the sport’s modern greats. Let’s take a look at five jumps horses who have truly lit up the first half of the decade.
Galopin Des Champs
Top of the list is arguably Galopin Des Champs. Bursting onto the scene with a success in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle as a five-year-old in 2021, the Willie Mullins-trained star has since scaled the very summit of the sport.
With back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups in 2023 and 2024, he’s established himself as one of the finest staying chasers of the modern era.
Boasting 12 Grade 1 victories and almost £2 million in prize money, Galopin Des Champs could make history this year by becoming only the second horse after Kauto Star to regain the Gold Cup — a testament to his enduring class and consistency.
Constitution Hill
A once-in-a-generation talent, Constitution Hill has redefined what dominance over hurdles looks like. Trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by Michael Buckley, his explosive acceleration and effortless jumping have drawn comparisons to some of the all-time greats.
From 2021 to 2025, he went unbeaten in 10 races — eight of them Grade 1s — including a breathtaking victory in the 2023 Champion Hurdle. While illness curtailed his momentum and led to rare mishaps at Cheltenham and Aintree last season, the superstar remains a force to be reckoned with.
Fully recovered and with something to prove, Constitution Hill will look to remind the racing world of his sheer brilliance.
Honeysuckle
Before Constitution Hill took centre stage, Honeysuckle was the queen of the two-mile hurdle division. Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden throughout her career by Rachael Blackmore, the remarkable mare recorded a 16-race unbeaten streak between 2018 and 2022.
In that golden run, she won two Champion Hurdles, three Irish Champion Hurdles and two Punchestown Champion Hurdles — a record that speaks to her dominance and durability.
Her emotional farewell in the 2023 Mares’ Hurdle, where she rebounded from her first career defeats, brought the Cheltenham crowd to its feet. It was a fitting swansong for one of the most beloved mares in National Hunt history.
Envoi Allen
Few horses have shown the longevity and consistency of Envoi Allen. Initially trained by Gordon Elliott and later switched to Henry de Bromhead, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding has been a model of class and resilience.
Unbeaten in his first 11 races, including a Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, his career could have faltered after a fall at the Festival in 2021 — but Envoi Allen bounced back in style. Since joining De Bromhead, he has added another six wins, five of them at Grade 1 level, including the Ryanair Chase.
Now an 11-year-old, he continues to defy Father Time, most recently rolling back the years with victory in the Down Royal Champion Chase.
Jonbon
While Jonbon has yet to claim that elusive Cheltenham Festival victory, his record elsewhere makes him impossible to ignore. Another star from the Nicky Henderson yard, the JP McManus-owned gelding has captured the imagination of fans with his consistency and quality.
From 23 career starts, Jonbon has won 18 — including 10 at Grade 1 level — and remarkably, he has never finished outside the top two. His triumphs include back-to-back Tingle Creek Chases at Sandown and successive Melling Chase wins at Aintree, cementing his place among the best two-mile chasers of recent times.
One big win at Cheltenham would elevate him to legendary status, but even without it, his record speaks for itself.
