Tuesday 10th March 2026
“Welcome aboard to this year’s Cheltenham Festival preview. I’ll start off with a quick recap of our most recent blog’s selections, which were on Saturday. Our first selection of the afternoon was Bibe Mus in the 1.15 at Sandown, put up at 9/4, and he got us off to a great start, winning decisively for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls. We then stayed at Sandown for the 1.50, where we’d tipped Unknown Entity each-way at 11/2; he drifted to 10/1 on the day, however, still finished fifth, which was a nice return with most firms paying five places. It was another winner with our third selection, as Mondo Man was an impressive winner at 11/4, despite a mishap at the last. This confirmed profitability for the day. Our NAP was Triple Crown Ted in the 3.20 at Ayr, he was put up at 2/1 and was well-supported all day, he travelled into the race powerfully, however, could only manage second in the end to a big-priced stablemate. Our fifth and final selection of the day was Classic Maestro, also at Ayr, who tried to make the running; however, bumped into a very well-handicapped rival in Primoz on the day, and eventually finished third. It was still a very good day for us, and a bounce-back to form after a couple of tough days during the week.
Moving on to The Festival. This year’s meeting looks extremely competitive, and one of the toughest in recent years, this is primarily down to the fact that a lot of the Irish National Hunt season this term has been ran on heavy ground, yielding some surprise results (no pun intended), there’s also the fact that Willie Mullins hasn’t got as strong as a team as usual, and the UK seemingly having more stronger chances on paper than recent years.
Last year, we came into the meeting in great form; however, that doesn’t always mean a great Festival. We’ve often started the meeting strongly in previous years; however, that wasn’t the case last year. We had an underwhelming Tuesday and Wednesday; however, we turned it around on Thursday and Friday with several winners, to end the meeting in profit. Our most notable winner at last year’s festival was Bob Olinger, who was tipped up at 33/1 and won the Stayers Hurdle.
As ever, enjoy the four days, and hopefully, it can be another profitable meeting.” – Jordan.
We get things underway at 1.20 with the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. Nicky Henderson has won this in recent years with the likes of Constitution Hill, Shishkin, and Altior, and I think that he has every chance of taking it with another good one here in the form of OLD PARK STAR, who’s the mount of Nico de Boinville. He’s looked like a very exciting prospect since joining Seven Barrows from Paul Nicholls, getting the better of the useful Un Sens A La Vie by three lengths on his stable debut at Kempton in November, before taking his form up a notch with a scintillating twelve-length success at this track at the December Meeting. He then went to Haydock in January for the Supreme Trial, and this was another romp, as he beat Hurricane Pat by eighteen lengths, enhancing his credentials for this race further. For me, he’s the one to beat, and another bold showing would be no surprise.
If you’re looking for an each-way play in the race, MYDADDYPADDY could run a big race for the Skeltons, and is currently trading at a best price of 8/1. He was favourite for this race in the autumn, following a couple of easy victories at Carlisle and Haydock. He was sent off the odds-on favourite for the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, but could only manage second to the progressive Idaho Sun. He travelled powerfully into the straight that day; however, the lack of hurdles may have gone against him. I certainly wouldn’t rule him out of this on the back of that effort, and he could well have a say.
There is a whole host of dangers, notably, Mighty Park for Willie Mullins, who could be anything following his hugely impressive debut at Fairyhouse, with the yard being very bullish about the regard they hold him in. El Cairos and Talk The Talk are also players.
Old Park Star (5/2) (Win) (NB) & Mydaddypaddy (8/1) (Each-Way) – 1.20 Cheltenham.
Next up it’s the Arkle at 2.00, which is more Grade 1 action, this time over the larger obstacles and once again over a distance of two miles. Nicky Henderson holds another very strong hand in this particular affair with five-year-old LULAMBA, who’s once again ridden by Nico de Boinville. He was touched off at last year’s meeting in the Triumph behind shock winner Poniros; however, immediately turned the form around with that rival at Punchestown when taking Grade 1 spoils by four lengths. He opened his account over fences at the first time of asking this term with a ten-length success at Exeter on chase debut in November, before following up with a nine-and-a-half-length victory in the Grade 1 Henry VII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December. Most recently, he faced more battle-hardened rivals at Newbury in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase last month, where he was given an educational ride by de Boinville, and won by six and a half lengths. He will have learnt a great deal from that race, and he’s highly likely to be another top drawer chaser for the team. He should go very close here.
His main danger looks to come in the form of Kopek Des Bordes for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He won the Supreme last year, and whilst things haven’t gone smoothly this term with just the one run over fences, the yard has been very confident about his chances despite that. He has deadly speed, and it’lll be fascinating to watch given Lulamba will likely want further over time. Kargese shouldn’t be ruled out either; she gets seven pounds off her rivals here, and is a very smart mare on her day, and won the County Hurdle at last year’s meeting.
Lulamba (7/4) (Win) (NAP) – 2.00 Cheltenham.
It’s the first handicap of the week at 2.40 with the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, more commonly known as the Fred Winter, and this is a Premier Handicap over two miles and half of a furlong. As is the case with all of the handicaps this week, it’s extremely competitive, with twenty-two runners currently set to go to post. I’m taking a chance on one at a big price here, and that’s MADNESS D’ELLE for the team for Willie & Danny Mullins. Sporting the famous silks of the Riccis, he’s a French recruit who was actually turned over at 4/11 on his debut for Closutton at Punchestown in January when finishing second of fifteen, however, made up for that defeat at Gowran Park last month when winning a ten-runner affair by two and three-quarters of a length, with the front two pulling seventeen lengths clear of the horse in third. His opening handicap mark of 133 may be on the high side here; however, I do think that there should be bundles of improvement to come from him, and he could run well at a nice price here.
There is a whole host of dangerous and potentially well-handicapped horses here; the JP McManus-owned pair of Saratoga and Manlaga have to be feared, and a mention can also go to Glen To Glen for Joseph O’Brien, who’s another one who has the potential to improve significantly.
Madness d’Elle (16/1) (Each-Way) (6 places) – 2.40 Cheltenham.
It’s more handicap action at 3.20, this time over the larger obstacles, with the Ultima Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong, and this is another Premier Handicap. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero hold a very strong hand in this year’s renewal of the race, and I think that they can get the job done here with JAGWAR, who’s set to be ridden by last year’s Gold Cup winning jockey Mark Walsh. He won the Plate at last year’s meeting in good style and has returned to the track this term with a couple of very solid efforts. He was third of ten in the December Gold Cup here, just a length and three-quarters behind Glengouly, and then followed that run up when going down by just a head here on Trials Day, when he travelled all over eventual winner Donnacha for large parts. He steps up in distance here, which is highly likely to suit, and he looks very solid.
Stablemate Iroko is a very big live danger under Jonjo O’Neil Jr. He returned to form last time out when getting the better of the smart Firefox by four and three-quarters of a length. Blow Your Wad is also worthy of a mention for Gary & Josh Moore; he’s a player at a big price here off the same mark as his second-placed effort in the Greatwood Gold Cup last time out.
Jagwar (4/1) (Win) – 3.20 Cheltenham.
The feature race on the opening day is the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle, which is set to take place at 4.00 over two miles and half of a furlong. The race has a very open feel to it this year, even more so now that Constitution Hill won’t be taking his place. I’m siding with the grey mare LOSSIEMOUTH, though, for the powerful combination of Willie Mullins, Paul Townend, and the Riccis, who teamed up to win this back in 2016 with the great Annie Power. Whilst I don’t think that this mare is quite at the standard of hers, she’s still a very talented horse. She’s unbeaten at Cheltenham, with four wins from four starts, including three festival victories. She’s already added a further two Grade 1s to her CV this season; however, she’ll need to turn around the form with Brighterdaysahead from the Irish Champion Hurdle last time out. She appears to act around here much better than that rival, though, and I think that she can finally taste success in this race, as if she’s anywhere near her best, it’ll take a big performance to stop her.
As stated previously, Brighterdaysahead beat Lossiemouth by three and a quarter of a length last time out, and is an obvious big danger for Gordon Elliott. Home challenger The New Lion is another obvious player for the Skeltons; he won the Turners at last year’s meeting and is still firmly on the upgrade.
Lossiemouth (2/1) (Win) – 4.00 Cheltenham.
The penultimate race on Tuesday is the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase at 4.40, and this is another Premier Handicap, this time over two miles and four furlongs. I’m taking a chance on the Gordon Elliott-trained DOWN MEMORY LANE here, who’s currently trading at a best price of 10/1 with Jack Kennedy on board. He returned to the track following a break to win a Listed handicap at Naas back in December, getting the better of Search For Glory by a length and a half in comfortable fashion. He’s been put away since that success, so he comes here fresh, and despite being raised eight pounds by the handicapper, he’s likely to be still on the upgrade. He’s got every chance of running a big race here for a powerful team, and he’s a nice price to do so.
McLaurey is likely to be a big danger, also in the McManus silks; he’s a possibly well-handicapped horse and will be a popular play with punters under Mark Walsh. Downmexicoway is another Irish challenger who can go well; he should be very competitive back in handicap company for Henry De Bromhead.
Down Memory Lane (10/1) (Each-Way) (5 places) – 4.40 Cheltenham.
Signing us off on Tuesday will be the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase at 5.20, which is contested over three miles and six furlongs. I’ve tried my hand with two selections in this particular contest, the first of which comes in the form of ICEBERG THEORY for Paul Nolan, who’s set to be ridden by Conor Stone-Walsh, who takes off three pounds. Nolan’s runners often give their running here, and this seven-year-old comes into this contest in fine form, winning his last two outings, with the most recent coming when beating O’Toole by six and a half lengths at Gowran Park in November. That rival recently won a competitive Listed handicap, giving the form a strong feel, and this marathon distance could unlock further improvement in the progressive Nolan charge.
I also think that James Owen’s ONE BIG BANG will really appreciate this distance, and he’s currently a 10/1 chance under another three-pound claimer in Alex Chadwick. He beat the useful Kamsimas by five lengths over three miles on his penultimate start, and is only a couple of pounds higher for this particular assignment. He’s also got some very strong form to his name over hurdles within competitive handicaps, including when finishing fifth in the Pertemps here last year, as well as placing in a twenty-three-runner Listed event at the Punchestown Festival. He’s a good horse and has every chance here,
Dangers are likely to come in the form of Newton Tornando and Wade Out, both of whom are progressive seven-year-olds and have every chance of going well for Rebecca Curtis and Olly Murphy, respectively.
Iceberg Theory (9/1) (Each-Way) & One Big Bang (10/1) (Each-Way) (5 places) – 5.20 Cheltenham.
