Overall I was happy with my performance yesterday. I managed to find a few decent winners, a couple of places, and on the whole, the racing was fantastic. I'm hoping for more of the same this afternoon.
12/03/25, 13:20 – Cheltenham (Hurdle - Good To Soft) 2m 5f
Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) £84,405 - Runners: 11
On paper this looks to be a competitive renewal with four horses holding some kind of claim.
Final Demand puts his unbeaten record on the line, and he’s looked mightily impressive so far especially when winning at Leopardstown. While that form is yet to really be tested, he ticks all the right boxes and there has been a bullish sentiment behind him for quite some time.
The New Lion is JP’s most recent big money purchase. I was surprised that his previous owners sold him, given the cash they’ve invested over the years trying to buy a good one but I guess some offers are just too good to refuse. His form looks solid, and he has a nice way of going but I simply can’t have him at his current odds especially as the Irish have dominated this race in recent times.
The Yellow Clay is a sneaky horse in that he’s largely slipped under the radar despite being undefeated over hurdles. Gordon has a good record in this contest, especially when running horses who prepped in a Grade 1 (6 runs, 2 wins, 2 places) and those with decent memories will remember this horse being right at the top of Gordon’s bumper crop last season. I think he offers some EW value against a favourite who is likely to be very short come post time.
Potters Charm may have blotted his copybook at Cheltenham, but he remains a horse with plenty of scope for improvement. For me, finishing 2nd is rarely a negative so I’m prepared to overlook that, especially given that Nigel’s previous winners of this race had also failed to win their prep run. As with The New Lion, his form looks rock solid, and he should outrun his odds.
Selection: FINAL DEMAND ( 6/4) – WIN
NB: THE YELLOW CLAY (9/2) – EW
12/03/25, 14:00 – Cheltenham (Chase - Good To Soft) 3m 110y
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices' Chase) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) £112,540 - Runners: 7
A rather disappointing field for this race in terms of the numbers, but there are still a couple of quality animals on show.
Ballyburn is a horse who is almost certain to relish this step up to three miles and for my money, he’s the heir apparent to Galopin Des Champs. He won a key trial for this race back in February and realistically, if he stays on his feet, he only has to beat Dancing City to get the job done.
Selection: BALLYBURN ( 8/13) – WIN
NB: DANCING CITY (13/2) – EW
12/03/25, 14:40 – Cheltenham (Hurdle - Good To Soft) 2m 5f
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+,155) £61,897 - Runners: 28
A total minefield of race and one which I’ve never had much success in when it comes to trying to find the winner. Maybe I’ll finally manage to break the curse this year though!
Impose Toi is a horse with some solid form in the book and Nicky has done well in this race in the past. His seasonal debut at Newbury marked him down as a horse with a touch of class and while his revised mark will make life harder, this kind of test on good ground, is probably exactly what he wants.
Beat The Bat looks like a horse whose been campaigned specifically with this race in mind and with the objective of preserving his mark. It therefore came as no surprise when I saw that there had been market support for him. I expect him to run a huge race, and I also think his stablemate, Might I is overpriced too.
Sandor Clegane has some solid novice hurdle form from back in 2023 and his record over this kind of trip reads 1st/3rd/1st with his only defeat coming at the hands of Good Land in a G1 at Leopardstown. Whether he can defy a mark of 147 in a race like this is yet to be seen but his trainer is a shrewd operate and he may offer a little bit of EW value at what is likely to be a decent price come post time.
Selection: IMPOSE TOI (13/2) - EW
NB: BEAT THE BAT(10/1) + SAMUI (28/1) - EW
12/03/25, 15:20 – Cheltenham (Chase - Good To Soft) 3m 5f 56y
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+,160) £39,022 - Runners: 18
If you know me well, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of this race, but it won’t stop me from trying to find the winner.
Stumptown got one of the sweetest rides you’ll ever see when beating Mister Coffey over this CD back in December and he’s a horse, who on his day, oozes class. I was therefore a little surprised to see that Gavin had fitted the CPs but if they improve his finishing effort by even 5%, the rest of these are playing for places.
Busselton is a horse who I backed to win the Boodles back in 2021 and at that time, I wouldn’t have dreamed that I’d be seeing him running in the cross country just four years later, but strange things happen in racing, and to be fair to the horse, he’s taken to his new discipline well. He clearly has work to do if he’s to reverse form with some of these, but I could see him running into the top 3 or 4 without any issue.
The Goffer is an interesting runner here especially having come for EW support. While he's been beaten in handicap chases at Cheltenham off marks of 149, 147 and 142, he's always run to a consistent level and now gets in here off 138 carrying just 10-5. That's certainly going to give him a chance to get closer to the likes of Stumptown and Vanillier and if he can do that, he won't be far away from the winner.
Galvin is another horse who I’ve back at the festival on various occasions and he also gave me one of my biggest anti-post wins when he beat Next Destination in the Challenge Cup. For that reason, I’ll always have a soft spot for him, and I think he’s the one horse in this line up with the raw class to give Stumptown a real race.
Selection: GALVIN (7/2) - WIN
NB: THE GOFFER (12/1) - EW
12/03/25, 16:00 – Cheltenham (Chase - Good To Soft) 1m 7f 199y
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) £225,080 - Runners: 8
This is always one of my favourite races at the festival and this year it may finally be time for Jonbon to get that elusive Cheltenham Festival win.
Jonbon simply must be the starting point here. Sometime in horse racing, things are simple. He put Energumene to bed easily the last day, who himself has the beating of Captain Guinness. He’s also previously beaten Solness out of sight at Sandown and I see no reason why most of those form lines wont be confirmed here. I’m also happy to rule out Found A Fifty due to his last run, together with Libberty Hunter and Quilixios who simply shouldn’t be good enough. That just leaves the enigma that is Marine Nationale and the question as to whether Energumene can improve upon his last run returning to Cheltenham. Truth be told, I’ve never been the biggest fan of Marine National, but he’s been consistent over fences so far and this race may suit him slightly better than those he’s been contesting in Ireland recently. As for Energumene, I'm sure he'll be cherry ripe for this today and if he can return to anything close to his best, he'll give Jonbon one hell of a race this time.
Selection: JONBON (7/4 Super Boost) – WIN
NB: ENERGUMENE (6/1) – EW
12/03/25, 16:40 – Cheltenham (Chase - Good To Soft) 1m 7f 199y
Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+,160) £84,405 - Runners: 21
An interesting race featuring plenty of familiar names. It always tends to be eventful.
Unexpected Party comes into this race looking to retain his crown having won last year. He looks to have been campaigned with this race in mind but the combination of the additional weight and better ground, may make life tough for him.
Jazzy Matty won the Boodles back in 2023 and he’s taken well to chasing since. On his form behind Path D’oroux it’s not hard to reach the conclusion that his mark of 135 probably underestimates his ability and the Irish have done well in this contest in recent times.
Primoz ticks most of the key trend boxes for this race as does the stablemate, Traprain Law. Yesterday I picked the wrong Russell horse in the Ultima so I’m not going to make that mistake again and will be backing both of them!
My Mate Mozzie has caught the eye on a few occasions this season, but I can’t quite figure out whether he’s being played with or whether he’s just a quirky character who has his own ideas about the game. Eitherway, it would require an epic performance to win this carrying 11-9.
Selection: PRIMOZ (8/1) – EW
NB: TRAPRAIN LAW (14/1) - EW
12/03/25, 17:20 – Cheltenham (NHF - Good to Soft) 2m 87y
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4-6yo) £45,560 - Runners: 18
By this point in proceedings, I’m usually considerably poorer and playing Willie Mullins bingo with his bumper runners isn’t my idea of a good time.
Copacabana has been a talking horse for some time, and it comes as no surprise that Patrick rides, as I’ve heard him waxing lyrical about him on various occasions. He looked a classy animal when winning on debut and this is probably his race to lose.
Bambino Fever has been extremely weak in the betting on both of her prior starts but that hasn’t stopped her from winning. It is a caused for concern though and there’s no doubt that more is required if she’s to win this as her numbers have been middling at best.
Gameofinches was visually impressive at Punchestown and was heavily punted on the day too but to me at least, he wouldn’t have the class or physique of Copacabana (at least not yet) and with not much between in the betting, I know which one I’d want to be on.
El Cairos is the only British runner who I feel can really serve it up to his Irish counterparts. His numbers from Newbury were impressive and I’d love to see Maxwell land a festival winner.
Selection: COPACABANA (4/1) – WIN
NB: EL CAIROS (16/1) - EW
DAILY ACCA
1:20 - The Yellow Clay (5/9 - Top 3 Finish)
2:00 - Ballyburn (8/13 - Win)
4:00 - Energumene (20/21 Top 3 Finish)
4:40 - Primoz (20/23 - Top 8 Finish)
4 Fold Pays 8.26/1 (Bet365)
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