Tuesday 11th March 2025
1.20: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle:
We kick things off at this year’s Cheltenham Festival at 1.20 on Tuesday with the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle over two miles and half of a furlong, which is our first Grade 1 of the week. I fancy two in the race, the first of which is the obvious market leader in Kopek Des Bordes for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, he’s unbeaten in three starts to date and looked mightily impressive when winning a Grade 1 by thirteen lengths last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival. I think he’s the one they all have to beat.
I’ve also tried my hand with an each-way selection in the race as well due to the short price of the favourite as I’ve come down on Workahead for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. The form of his latest success at Leopardstown is very strong, with the third horse Springt De La Mare coming out and winning twice since, and most notably, William Munny, who he’ll reoppose here, was seven lengths behind in second coming out and winning a Listed race since by fifteen lengths. On the back of that, I think De Bromhead’s seven-year-old represents some value.
Kopek Des Bordes – 4/5 (Win)
Workahead – 10/1 (Each-Way)
2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase:
We move onto the Arkle at 2.00 which is a Grade 1 novices’ chase that’s contested over two miles. I find it nearly impossible to oppose Majborough here, another Willie Mullins hotpot that heads the betting and is set to be ridden by Mark Walsh. Sporting the silks of JP McManus, he burst onto the scene at last year’s festival when taking the Triumph Hurdle, which was just his second start for Willie Mullins. Since then, he’s reverted to fences which has always looked as though it would be his game, and that has appeared to be the case as he’s won by a combined total of fifteen and a half lengths in his two chasing outings to date. Most recently, he won the Grade 1 Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and he should prove very tough to beat here.
Majborough – 8/15 (Win)
2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase:
The first handicap of the meeting takes place at 2.40 and this is the Ultima Handicap Chase which is a Premier Handicap that’s contested over three miles and a furlong. This is always extremely competitive and I’ve tried my hand with a couple of selections at nice prices. The first of which comes in the form of Henry’s Friend for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones. He’s a progressive eight-year-old who has won four of his seven starts over fences, including when thumping Hymac by six lengths at Newbury when last seen in December, and that horse is a solid yardstick. This race has been the plan for him and he’ll come into the contest fresh having been kept off the track since that Newbury effort.
I’ve also taken a chance on Famous Bridge here for the team of Nicky Richards and Sean Quinlan. He’s currently trading at a best price of 16/1 and I think he could represent a bit of value here. He’s generally consistent and comes into the race in good form having won the Grade 3 Grand National Trial at Haydock last time out when getting the better of smart Apple Away by three lengths. The dry forecast should also play into his hands here and he’ll probably need to win the race if he’s to get into the Grand National itself. He was also fourth in the race last year off just a three pound higher mark.
Henry’s Friend – 12/1 (Each-Way)
Famous Bridge – 16/1 (Each-Way)
3.20: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle:
The fourth race of the opening day is the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle which is contested over a distance of two miles and four furlongs. It’s hard to see past Lossiemouth here who’s been somewhat controversially reverted from the Champion Hurdle. She looked fantastic on her seasonal reappearance when getting the better of Teahupoo in impressive style in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. It’s not quite gone to plan since, although she lost nothing in defeat when a couple of lengths behind Constitution Hill at Kempton before falling last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival. She’s clear on ratings though here and it would be a fairly huge shock if she wasn’t to follow up her success in the race from last year.
I have looked for an each-way alternative to the short-priced favorite here and I’ve come down on Kala Conti for Gordon Elliott. She was fourth lengths behind July Flower last time out within Grade 3 company, however, she had to give five pounds to that rival on that occasion which won’t be the case when they reoppose here. She’s got some strong form to her name herself in several hot contests and I think she’s got a great chance of picking up some place money, or maybe even better if the market leader fails to fire.
Lossiemouth – 4/6 (Win)
Kala Conti – 12/1 (Each-Way)
4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy:
The feature race of the opening day of the meeting is the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle over two miles and half of a furlong. It’s unfortunate that Lossiemouth won’t take her place in the lineup here, however, we still have a fascinating renewal of which I think that Constitution Hill will regain his crown for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. He was mightily impressive when winning this race back in 2023 when defeating State Man by nine lengths. He’s had an abundance of issues which have seen him miss a lot of racing, however, he returned to track in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day when getting the better of Lossiemouth and won at a canter last time out in the International Hurdle here on Trials Day in January against inferior opposition. I think a fast pace, which will be set by the Gigginstown horses, should play into his hands here and even if he’s a few pounds below his best form, that should still be enough to win this and win it well.
Constitution Hill – 4/6 (Win)
4.40: Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle:
The penultimate race of the day on Tuesday is the 4.40 and this is the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. I’ve come down on Beyond Your Dreams who sports the JP McManus silks for Joseph O’Brien. She was a winner on the flat and got off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles when winning at Fairyhouse back in December. The plan has clearly been to save her for this race and protect her mark, and she could prove to be chucked in here off her current mark of 123. She’ll need to jump a bit better but they’ve had a while to work on it since her last outing, and I think she could prove to be another big handicap winner for a trainer and owner who have had plenty of success in Cheltenham handicaps over the years.
Beyond Your Dreams – 8/1 (Each-Way)
5.20: Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase:
Signing us off for the day will be the 5.20 and this is the National Hunt Novices Handicap Chase over three miles and six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on one at a price here and that’s Gericault Roque for the team of David Pipe and Jack Tudor. He was off the track for over two years until he made his return at Windsor back in January when he finished third of six, which was an encouraging run given the circumstances. He had some very strong form to his name previously, notably, when finishing second here at the 2022 festival when second behind Corach Rambler in the Ultima. He’ll contest this off a nine pound lower mark than that Ultima effort and whilst it’s a big ask for him to win a festival race coming back from such an absence I think that he’s handicapped to be very competitive.
Gericault Roque – 12/1 (Each-Way)
