10/03/2026
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======DAY ONE OF THE FESTIVAL=====
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It’s been a long time coming as I simply can not wait for the Cheltenham festival each and every year. For me there is no better racing on the planet than the festival. 🤩🤩🤩
Dreams will be made! But also shattered! There will be amazing highs! Devastating lows! But without doubt some incredible action over the next 4 days.
I shall be going on Friday for my birthday celebrations and I’m as excited as the first time I ever went way back in 1992 where COOL GROUND won a thrilling Gold Cup! Hooked from that moment onwards and try to visit as often as I can.
So down to business!
So so many noted runners in the trackers to get through ! 🙈
Winners do not come easy at Cheltenham!
It’s a minefield of potential and hard luck stories!
I’ll do my best to highlight the ones I feel could perform well.
I am a PUNDIT! not a TIPSTER!
I love this game!
But treat it as a bit of FUN!
I try to look for VALUE and get the FAVOURITES beat.
There will be SOME favs that I can’t see past though! Especially in the Graded races where the value is difficult to find and you will need the class acts to falter.
So let’s see how they go on DAY 1
============RACE 1==============
======THE SUPREME HURDLE=======
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13:20 OLD PARK STAR 5/2 WIN
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This one has long been on my shortlist for the Supreme, he appears to have everything you need for a Supreme. The most important thing for me in the Supreme is the ability to jump and cruise at high speed, not just that, but the extra gear to seal the deal. There is very little margin for error in the Supreme. This one has it all to me, he has a very high cruising speed, jumps extremely well, quick and efficient losing little if any momentum at his hurdles. He has the ability to quicken (and I feel better going will see an even better performance) when asked to and will have no problems getting up that punishing hill. He reminds me a little of Hendersons ALTIOR with the way he goes about his job.
There are obvious dangers from Ireland and in my opinion England! It does look quite an open Supreme and no surprise if there was shock in the opener!
TALK THE TALK has done very little wrong and is my idea as the serious danger here. He looked to be coming with a winning run when crumbling at the final hurdle at Leopardstown Grd1 novice event but soon back on track there when battling well to gain a deserved compensation win in Grd 1 company. He has plenty of gears too and rates the main danger to me.
MIGHTY PARK was so so impressive on hurdles debut winning by a country mile, but what did he beat? my worry for this one is the going, he may need it SOFT as he was a NON RUNNER on Better going at Leopardstown. There is no doubt he is a very smart prospect in the making but I feel he will need rain to enhance his chances here, that said, he will no doubt run a big race here as the market implies.
EL CAIROS 5th in the bumper last year and sold by David Maxwell to Gordon, he has a massive engine, but his jumping is a concern to me as he can walk through a hurdle and he will not be able to get away with that here! the going is a slight concern too, another who withdrew on better going and his win came on heavy.
For me if there was a surprise it could be
SOBER GLORY @16/1 he has been plying his trade at a much lower level but has been very impressive to date apart from a blip at Sandown where he just didn’t appear to turn up at all so forgive that run. He has taken a slow and steady approach to this event and could come in under the radar. He will need to improve to beat OLD PARK STAR mind you but there is still an untapped potential there in my opinion for the resurgence of the HOBBS&WHITE team.
My 123……
1st OLD PARK STAR 5/2 WIN
2nd TALK THE TALK 9/2
3rd MIGHTY PARK 6/1
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==========RACE 2========
======== THE ARKLE=======
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It looks like a match between the top 2 in the market and I think Willie holds the aces here. I’m siding with…. YES ANOTHER FAV! But it’s not a race I will be betting in as there is not much value that I can see.
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2:00 KOPEK DES BORDES 6/4 WIN
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Last year’s Supreme winner has proved his liking for the course and I think that will be the telling factor Tuesday. He was a very good winner here last year and has made the transition to chasing impressively with a bloodless victory. He didn’t beat much, but he has the WOW factor about him. He should take some beating granted a clear round of jumping.
LULAMBA obviously posses a huge engine but his jumping the last day at Newbury leaves me with doubts about his abilities to jump at speed early doors, there is normally a frenetic pace in the Arkle and if he doesn’t settle quickly into a good rhythm he will be in big trouble! But if he does settle into the race early no surprise to see him win either.
I’ll be sitting this one out from a betting point of view.
My 1,2…
1st KOPECK DES BORDES 11/8 WIN
2nd LULAMBA 13/8
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=============RACE 3=============
=====THE FRED WINTER JUVENILE=====
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A notoriously difficult race to solve! The form is sparse! It can also often throw up an outsider.
I have 2 noted I hear that I feel could be worth a 2nd look.
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2:40 QUINTA DO LAGO 22/1 EW
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This one went into the tracker with this race in mind back in October when winning and followed up at Punchestown showing a very willing attitude to get back up after being headed. He has been beaten in his last 2 runs but against some very useful types and that form is smart also, he could be nicely handicapped in my opinion and I just thought this stiffer track would suit so much better with his style of racing with the way he rallied at Punchestown, has won on Good and Heavy, ground will not be an excuse here and his willing attitude is something you really need at Cheltenham. Hope he will give me a good an account of himself for my EW support.
HARDY STUFF 20/1 was the other one of interest, he also showed a great attitude at Leopardstown when battling well to get up very late on and went into the tracker also with this race in mind. He came to Cheltenham in a GR2 event to no doubt gain some valuable experience but he did ran far too keenly and didn’t show his true worth that time. If that run can be forgiven he could go well.
My 1234.
1st QUINTA DO LAGO 22/1 EW
2nd HARDY STUFF 20/1
3rd GLEN TO GLEN 13/2
4th OLE OLE 18/1
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===========RACE 4===========
=========THE ULTIMA=========
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Love this race, always full of drama, nothing better than seeing seasoned handicappers in full flight over fences at Cheltenham. It’s one of my favourite races of the entire festival.
I have a number of noted runners in here! 🙈 I can make a case for most of them! I am bound to make the wrong choice! 🤣
Now I LOVE JAGWAR! My banker for last year’s entire festival, I have already backed him for a repeat win at the festival… Bit now I am swayed slightly with another who I think has been plotted for this race and will be my NAP for the day.
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3:20 QUEBECOIS 10/1 EW (NAP)
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Noted as “A real staying prospect over fences” he was put in the tracker in 2024! after running at Sandown over hurdles with chasing in mind for the future. A BIG/STRONG chasing type. I think this has been a plan in the making for sometime now. So hopefully it all goes to plan today. He ran a cracker over 2m4f here 2 starts back hitting the front far too early and nabbed on the line, forget his last run over 2 miles, that was in my opinion just a piece of work to jump at speed. Now he steps up to 3m1f and hopefully we will see the real deal today from him as he looks a stout staying type to me.
JAGWAR 4/1 has to go very very well but his price is skinny now for a race of this nature. He is a class act mind you and if he was to win I wouldn’t mind one jolt. I have backed him. He is stepping up in trip here and that looks sure to suit too! I can wait to see him run at Aintree over the national fences, he is entered this year, but I think next year will see him go there with a BIG chance.
BLOW YOUR WAD 14/1 is another very interesting one, he moved from Tom Lacey to the Moores and he is a smart chaser and the switch has seen a little resurgence in his form he stays 3 miles well but not sure the extra distance will suit but if he does stay he will be a BIG danger in my opinion.
My 1234.
1st QUEBECOIS 10/1 EW (NAP)
2nd JAGWAR 7/2
3rd BLOW YOUR WAD 14/1
4th HYLAND 10/1
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============RACE 5=============
=====THE CHAMPION HURDLE=======
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One opinion.
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4:00 LOSSIEMOUTH 15/8 WIN
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I think the fact Willie has decided to go for this race instead of the mares speaks volumes to me, She is class, she can reverse form on this better going with BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD and she doesn’t seem to enjoy Cheltenham either. I think she will be an impressive winner and will have to quick a burst of speed for THE NEW LION here. The 7lbs allowance is a massive bonus too. ALEXI 20/1 has an EW chance should any falter here, he is progressing well and although basically a handicapper he won well here in a good time and could surprise a few of them.
My 123.
1st LOSSIEMOUTH 15/8 WIN
2nd THE NEW LION 11/4
3rd ALEXI 20/1 EW
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==========RACE 6===========
=========THE PLATE=========
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3 noted in here that could go well.
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4:40 JIPCOT 16/1 EW
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Noted 2 starts back at Leicester, this one was very very impressive, jumped for fun and won with plenty in hand that day and looked one to follow over fences. Upped to 3miles the last day he simply didn’t stay, he ran well though to a point and was sent off fav for the race. He just faded 2 from home there, he is dropping in trip here to 2m4f and this could be ideal for him, he will stay which is a good starting point, I just want to see him settle just off the pace in around 7th/8th and pop away, he should be travelling well into the race and have plenty for the hill at the finish. He’s only had 5 starts over fences and should have more to come.
MCLAUREY 5/1 is a big danger, he looks to have been trained for this but 5/1 looks short to me, he was very progressive over hurdles and has taken a slow and steady approach over fences protecting his mark. He could be seriously well handicapped here and no surprise to see him go very very well.
THEATRE NATIVE 40/1 EW
I’ll have a couple of quid EW on this one too, this mare was very very impressive last April here and I thought she would progress, but she has not done so so far, but a return to Cheltenham may spark a revival, she could just be a spring horse? She looks overpriced to me, has a light weight, jumps really well in the main. She could outrun her big odds.
My 1234…
1st JIPCOT 16/1 EW
2nd MCLAUREY 5/1
3rd THEATRE NATIVE 40/1
4th DOENMEXICOWAY 8/1
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==========RACE 7==========
=========NH CHASE========
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2 Noted in here…
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5:20 WADE OUT 10/1 EW (NB)
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WADE OUT is one some remember that I posted as a NAP here at Cheltenham 2 starts back and it was the ride of the ages from Sean Bowen. Off the bridle early and Sean certainly earned his fee that day, he was pushing and shoving from the start, but boy did he stay! He done his best work in the final 2 furlongs and stormed up the hill, he is clearly a lazy horse and has his own way of going about the game but this test over 3m6f looks tailor made for him with his endless stamina reserves. I just hope he doesn’t get tailed off too early as it will be fast run race. Don’t expect to see this one early, expect to see him in the last 2 furlongs staying on well and hopefully challenging at the last fence and grinding it out up that punishing hill. He does have top weight to contend with but he is a novice and top weight for a reason. He is the best horse in the race, cheek pieces on for the first time has to be a positive thing and hopefully that will aide him to settle and travel better today.
KING OF ANSWERS 14/1 EW
Could go very well also, he was super at Kelso, he really attacked his fences and jumped brilliantly the last day and looked the winner from some way out, he has plenty of stamina, it was heavy that day and it took some getting but he went through it easily and looked very impressive there. He should stay well and could put them all to the sword with his jumping and no surprise to see him go very very well here and these 2 are my bets against the field
My 1234
1st WADE OUT 10/1 EW (NB)
2nd KING OF ANSWERS 14/1 EW
3rd ONE BIG BANG 11/1
4th WILL DO 28/1
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So that’s DAY 1 done..
Have a great first day my good people.
Fingers crossed for a good day.
MrB4V
