Andrew Halligan

Just like that, we arrive at the final day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, and what a dramatic Cheltenham Festival it has been.From the drama that was the Champion Hurdle to Jonbon and Ballyburn fluffing their line on Wednesday, the Cheltenham Festival has delivered on all fronts.Now, I'm all for drama in horse racing, but I would gladly do without any drama when Galopin Des Champs goes for his third Gold Cup on what should be the crowing of the greatest chaser ever to grace a racecourse.Cheltenham Festival 1:20 Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle - 2m1f (4yo) (new course)We kick off the final day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival with the traditional Triumph Hurdle.Lulamba has been all the rage for this even before he stepped foot on a UK race course. He was well-backed for this race before his debut for Nicky Henderson at Ascot and won that race with ease. The form of that race is nothing to get excited about (2nd well beaten since), but Lulamba couldn't have done it any easier.But even with that impressive start to life in the UK, he may find it hard to get the better of EAST INDIA DOCK.The James Owen-trained 4-year-old has impressed in all three of his starts over hurdles, looking dominant in each run. He has two course wins to call upon, which is a massive advantage here.This uncomplicated gelding has everything you need to win a race of this nature. He travels powerfully, jumps well, and picks up at his own pace.When they are sent on their way at 1:20, East India Dock may not see another rival until they pull up at the top of the hill.The Irish raider Hello Neighbour can be the one who follows home the selection.Selection: East India Dock 2/1Danger: Hello Neighbour 6/1Cheltenham Festival 2:00 William Hill County Handicap Hurdle - 2m1f (5yo+)Absure, who was an easy winner of this last season off an 8 lb lower mark, is back to defend his crown. But he hasn't been seen over hurdles since this day last year.He has since gone on to finish 5th in the Melbourne Cup, but there will be no fitness or sharpness worries with him, as we saw when Jimmy Du Seuil overcame a similar absence to win the Coral Cup on Wednesday.His stablemate Kargese has been all the rage in the betting since word surfaced that the County Hurdle may be her target and not the Mares Hurdle. She has been well found in the market, but she is a keen-going mare who will need to be on her best behaviour to win here.The one who I have had my eyes on ever since his eye-catching run at Leopardstown over Christmas is last season's Fred Winter winner, LARK IN THE MORNIN.He is no stranger to being targeted for a big handicap at the Cheltenham Festival and has been saved for this ever since that run. Lark In The Mornin gets in here off a mark of 132, which looks more than manageable for a horse that we have not seen the peak of his powers yet and could take a bit of stopping here.Selection: Lark In The Mornin 13/2 (e/w)Danger: Absurde 6/1 (e/w)Cheltenham Festival 2:40 Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase - 2m4½f (5yo+) (new course)The defection of Only By Night, who finished second in the Arkle Novices Chase on Tuesday, has made this look weaker than normal.Last season's 1st and 2nd will go head to head once again, but this time around, DINOBLUE should be capable of gaining revenge over Limerick Lace.Mark Walsh, who rides Dinoblue once again, did not have his finest moment in the saddle when giving Limerick Lace too much rope on the front end last season and failed to reel in her on the ground that was in favour of the winner.This year, the ground will be ideal for Dinoblue, and with her gradual progressive runs this season, she should be very hard to beat this time.Limerick Lace has looked like a shell of the mare that took this last season, but she has been given time to recover from her 25-length defeat on New Year's Day, and this five-time chase winner can fill the runner-up spot if she is back to her best.Selection: Dinoblue 6/5Danger: Limerick Lace 7/1 (e/w)Cheltenham Festival 3:20 Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - 3m (5yo+) (new course)The Albert Bartlett has been notorious for being a graveyard for punters. In recent years, shock results have been the name of the game, and it could be more of the same today.The Big Westerner could well be the most talented horse in the field in time, but this strapping mare may find this test coming too soon. Given that her trainer's runners haven't been firing on all cylinders this week, it can pay to overlook her today.French raider Jetblue comes here on the back of a course and distance win despite some questionable jumping. He has a good chance of following up here, but he may have to chase home a fellow suspect jumper in JASMIN DE VAUX.Last season's champion bumper winner made a winning start to his hurdling career despite so shoddy jumping, but his talent got him over the line.He was then sent off as a short-price favourite to take the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas Novice Hurdle, only for the jumping frailties to come to the fore once again. He was much better at the Dublin Racing Festival but was no match for Final Demand.The demands of the hurdles track on the new course added to the step up in trip can play to his favour. If Paul Townend can safely navigate Jasmin De Vaux around and have him there with a winning chance coming to the last, this talented gelding can pull more out of the fire and claim back-to-back Cheltenham Festival wins.Derryhassen Paddy looks like a horse to follow in the future, but even though he may find this challenging, he can run into a place, as can Ballybow.Selection: Jasmin De Vaux 8/1 (e/w)Danger: Ballybow 14/1 (e/w)Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase - 3m2½f (5yo+) (new course)After all the drama surrounding the short-priced favourites this week, we could do with a straightforward win for the two-time Gold Cup hero, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, to settle the nerves.The king of three-mile chasers is looking to add his name to the list of horses who have managed to win three Gold Cups on the bounce, and if avoiding accidents, this should be plain sailing for one of, if not the best three-mile chaser that we have ever set eyes on.Bar a fall in the Turners Novices Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Galopin Des Champs has looked unbeatable racing left-handed, and this generational chaser will blow the roof off the stands as he powers away up the Cheltenham hill.The supplemented Inothewayurthinkin and King George VI Chase winner Banbridge can fight it out for the runner-up spot. Still, Inothewayurthinkin may have too much stamina for the King George hero.Selection: Galopin Des Champs 8/15Danger: Inothewayurthinkin 8/1 (e/w)Cheltenham 4:40 St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - 3m2½f (5yo+)Run over the same course and distance as the Gold Cup, the Hunters Chase is the amateur's time to get their shine in their version of the Gold Cup.Over the years, this race has produced no end of drama and never fails to entertain the packed stands.Angles Dawn has worked her way into favouritism after a fruitful spell in the point-to-point scene. This former festival winner has her obvious claims but does have a tendency to make a bad mistake.Willitgoahead is having his first run for Gordon Elliott and brings good form to the table, but the sneaking suspicion is that despite two short-price defeats, Emmet Mullins may be playing the long game with ITS ON THE LINE.This talented 8-year-old was 3/4 of a length off doing the famous hunter-chase treble (Cheltenham, Aintree, & Punchestown), and if Emmet can produce him at the top of his game, Its On The Line will prove hard to beat.At a price, Rocky's Diamond looks more than capable of outrunning his odds for his young, up-and-coming trainer.Selection: Its On The Line 11/2 (e/w)Danger: Rocky's Diamond 16/1 (e/w)Cheltenham Festival 5:20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - 2m4½f (4yo+ 0-145)The conditional jockeys take to the track for the curtain closer of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. This race has a habit of producing some top-class winners like Sir Des Champs, Don Poli, Banbridge, and Galopin Des Champs. And there seems to be a graded horse hiding in plain sight again, with KOPECK DE MEE.The chat about how well-in this Willie Mullins French recruit could be has to be taken into account. The numbers suggest that he has more than a few pounds up his sleeve off 136, and if that is the case, he could be the latest winner to go on to bigger and better things.The mare Wodhooh has done nothing wrong in her career to day and looks a huge danger to all, as does No Ordinary Joe, who finished second in this race in 2023. He gets in off just a 1 lb higher mark, and if back on song, he has a part to play.Punctuation looks to be coming back into form, and if this former Aintree Grand National Festival winner can come on once more for his third run for Nicky Henderson, he is more than capable of outrunning his 50/1 odds.Selection: Kopeck De Mee 11/4Danger: No Ordinary Joe 12/1 (e/w)

Time flies when you are having fun, and after the drama of the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival, we have reached the halfway point.On day three of the Cheltenham Festival, staying is the name of the game as the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle takes centre stage. But before that, the highly anticipated Ryanair Chase goes to post, where once Gold Cup hopeful Fact To File takes the step down in tip to try to make it back-to-back Cheltenham Festival wins.Grade 2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle - 2m1f (4yo+) (new course)The first shock on day three of the Cheltenham Festival happened well before the 24 mares took to the track as Paul Townend chose to ride AURORA VEGA over Maughreen, and I believe Paul may have made the right decision.She's 3/4 over hurdles, and her only defeat came when she was pulled up at odds of 1/10 at Wexford, but it was clear from a long way out that she was not right on the day. Since then, Aurora Vega has won back-to-back races at Fairyhouse, including an impressive Grade 3 win. Given Willie Mullins's record in the mares races at the Cheltenham Festival, expect to see a big performance from this daughter of Quevega.Sixandahalf has her clear chance after a facile win on her hurdles debut, as does Maughreen and the maiden Galileo Dame.At bigger odds, Art Of Entitlement showed a massive improvement at Down Royal in December when beating the now Grade 3 Ballybow and is not to be underestimated.Selection: Aurora Vega 9/1 (e/w)Danger: Galileo Dame 11/2Grade 2 ack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase - 2m4½f (5yo+) (new course)Nurburgring has been the talking horse for this race in the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival, but he has a lot of questions to answer, given his price. Yes, he is the Galway Hurdle winner and looks to have room to work with off this mark, but given that he was well-backed on his last run at Leopardstown, he could only manage a desperate 9th-place finish.The classy FIREFOX could have lined up in the Arkle Novices' Chase but is taking his chance here.Having won on chase debut, Firefox went on to be an unlucky 3rd in the Drinmore Novices' Chase when sent off an EVS money favourite. He dropped back down to 2m in the Racing Post Novice Chase, where he didn't have the gears to go with Ile Atlantique, but still managed a clear 2nd and was then behind Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival.The step back up to 2m4f will be in his favour, and I expect a big run from him today.Others to note are Pic Roc, course and distance winner Moon D'Orange, and Cadwell Potter, who would enter the picture if the ground eased.Selection: Firefox 8/1 (e/w)Danger: Pic Roc 12/1 (e/w)Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle - 3m (5yo+) (new course)JP McManus has a strong hand in this year's Pertemps with Jeriko Du Reponet and the Padraig Roche-trained WIN SOME LOSE SOME, and he is the one I will be siding with here.This progressive 6-year-old has run nine times in his short career, winning four, with the latest of those four wins coming when stepping up to 3m for the first time in the Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown. He hit the front after jumping the last and shot clear, only to idle when hitting the front, but he won with much more authority than the winning margin would suggest. Off a mark of 138, Win Some Lose Some will prove a lot better than his mark.D Art D Art finished a good 2nd in December at Carlise and has been put away for this ever since. One Big Bang and Lucky Lyreen, who was an eye-catching 3rd last time at Leopardstown, are interesting at bigger prices.Selection: Win Some Lose Some 8/1 (e/w)Danger: Lucky Lyreen 20/1 (e/w)Grade 1 Ryanair Chase - 2m4½f (5yo+) (new course)It's disappointing that we don't get to see last year's Arkle winner, Gaelic Warrior, line up here today. But we still have a high-class clash to look forward to as Fact To File, the French raider Il Est Francais, and the defending champion Protektorat line up in what should Ryanair run at a blistering pace.If Fact To File can show the form that saw him get the better of Spillanes Tower and Galopin Des Champs, then he will prove hard to beat. But, on the back of two defeats to the latter named in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, where he could only manage to finish 3rd, and looked to be feeling the effect of trying to get the better of Galopin Des Champs.Il Est Francais has only one way of running, and that is flat out from the front. He finished 2nd in the King George in December, but this test will be different. If taken on up top, he could spit the dummy out, and that's before knowing if he will act around Cheltenham. There are too many worries with the French raider to trust at the prices.This race has a habit of producing back-to-back winners, and it can be a case of Deja Vu with the defending champion, PROTEKTORAT.Even at the age of 10, Protektorat looked better than ever when running away with Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor in January, beating Djelo (he has won since). Given his record around Cheltenham, it's hard to see Protektorat being out of the top three.Selection: Protektorat 13/2 (e/w)Danger: Fact To File 5/4Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - 3m (4yo+) (new course)Teahupoo will set out to add his name to the list of duel winners of the Stayers Hurdler and has a massive chance of doing so. But he isn't bombproof. He wasn't at his best when well beaten by Lossiemouth in the Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, and that is a slight worry when he is targeted for two races a season.The Wallpark has been highly progressive this season, and if he can take another step forward here, he may be able to put it up to his stablemate. But, the one I want to side with is the 10-year-old HOME BY THE LEE.This season, he has looked the best version of himself when beating Bob Olinger over 2m4f, a trip well short of his best, and followed that up with a strong staying performance to beat the same rival over 3m in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.Now that trainer Joseph O'Brien has managed to unlock the secret to Home By The Lee's talent, there is every reason to believe that he can turn over Teahupoo, who is only rated 3lb better.This 5-year-old Rocky's Diamond was 3rd behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger in the Christmas Hurdle but has since taken a big step forward when comfortably taking the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gorwan Park on Thyestes Day. He will need another sizable step forward today, but this light-raced gelding has time on his side.Another to note is last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2nd, Mystical Power, who is stepping up to 3m for the first time. If he can get back on track today, it has enough ability to trouble the ones at the top of the market.Selection: Home By The Lee 6/1Danger: Teahupoo 5/4TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase - 2m4½f (5yo+) (new course)Last year's winner, Shakem Up'arry, is back to defend his title, but he has not been at his best in his two runs this season. But there is every reason to believe that this has been the long-term plan for the Harry Rednapp-owned gelding. Even off just 2 lbs higher than when taking this last year, it will prove hard for this 11-year-old to hold off his younger rivals.And one of the younger rivals that has a standout chance is JAGWAR.Currently, he is 3/4 over fences; Jagwar comes in here on top of his game after a win over course and distance last time out. He has been put up 7 lb for that win, and given his running style, there is sure to be more in the locker. He jumps and travels well in big fields, and today, Jagwar can give his young trainers another day to remember at the Cheltenham Festival.Jordans of Joseph O'Briens flew home behind Impaire Est Passe in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novices Chase at Limerick. If that was not a fluke, this consistent novice chaser should have more than enough ability to play a part in the finish of 148.Selection: Jagwar 9/2Danger: Jordans 10/1Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase - 3m2f (5yo+ 0-145)The amateurs get their first chance of the week to shine in the Kim Muir.Last season, we saw one of the biggest Cheltenham Festival gambles in living memory as Inothewayurthinkin was sent off 13/8 and won like a future Grade 1 horse, which he has since proven to be.JP McManus has the favourite again this year in the shape of Johnnywho, but for all that he looks well in here off a mark of 139, he is a horse that has yet to convince that he wants to put it all in. And at his current odds, it's advisable to look elsewhere.Git Maker, who was a clear 2nd to Inothewayurthin in this race last season, can play a big part in finishing off just a 1 lb higher and is not one to overlook. But the one I will be siding with is MIDNIGHT OUR FRED.Trained by John Flavin, Midnight Our Fred has been better than ever this season. An 8-length win at Gorwan Park in October was followed by a 2nd place finish to the rejuvenated Perceval Legallios in the Paddy Power chase. He also has course form to fall back on, where he has managed three 2nd place finishes in three visits to Cheltenham.Given that he has looked as good as ever, and there is a probability of a lot more improvement to come, Midnight Our Fred can make it fourth time lucky at Cheltenham.Selection: Midnight Our Fred 9/1 (e/w)Danger: Git Maker 16/1 (e/w)

On to day two of the Cheltenham Festival, and another staked day of horse racing ahead of us.Can The New Lion break the Challow Hurdle curse, or will he become just another victim? If he is to break the Challow Hurdle curse, he will need to get the better of the talented Final Demand and The Yellow Clay in the Turners Novices' Hurdle.The feature on day two comes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase as Jonbon looks to put his Cheltenham Festival hoodoo to bed. But is he vulnerable?Grade 1 Turners Novices' Hurdle - 2m5f (4yo+) (old course)A cracker to start off day two of the Cheltenham Festival as three Grade 1 winners go head-to-head in what promises to be one of the races of the Festival.The New Lion has been impressive in his three hurdle wins to date but has to carry the burden of the Challow Hurdle curse. No winner of the Challow Hurdle has ever gone on to take the Turners Novices Hurdle (0/21), and that is a stat that can not be ignored.Final Demand put in a breathtaking display on the pace when blitzing his rivals by 12 lengths in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. That win shot him to the top of the Turners Novices' Hurdle market, but he may have to settle for second best to THE YELLOW CLAY.The Yellow Clay comes in here with a perfect 4/4 record over hurdles, which includes a facile Grade 1 victory in the Lawlors of Naas Novice Hurdle. That is a race that has been won by Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen, who both followed up that win by taking the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and there is every chance that The Yellow Clay will be adding his name to that list.One who can outrun his odds is the Willie Mullins-trained Kappa Jy Pyke. He won his maiden in convincing style last time out and looks like an outsider to keep on the right side of.Selection: The Yellow Clay 13/2 (e/w)Danger: Final Demand 15/8Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - 3m½f (5yo+) (old course)Like many races at the Cheltenham Festival, this could come down to a clash at Closutton as Ballyburn puts his lofty reputation on the line against his stablemate DANCING CITY.Ballyburn processes a huge amount of talent, but I'm still to be convinced that this is the kind of test that he is looking for. For one, he overraces, which will not help his cause running over 3m+ for the first time, and that's before we get onto his safe jumping.He can be slow when getting from A to B over his obstacles, and given that he can make a race-ending mistake just like the one we saw at Kempton behind Sir Gino, he has to be taken on, especially at his current odds. When he won over 2m5f at the Dublin Racing Festival, he didn't strike me as a horse that was crying out for an extra 3 furlongs, whereas Dancing City will relish every inch of this 3m½f. Let's not forget that Dancing City is a three-time Grade 1 winning Novice Hurdler and is a horse that has improved with every run throughout his career. Yes, he is nowhere near as flashy as Ballyburn, and he will never win by double digests, but as history has shown us, you don't need to be flashy to win a Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.One at a price who may be able to improve for the step up in trip is Gorgeous Tom. He was last seen flashing home in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, and he could trouble the top two if on song.Selection: Dancing City 9/2Danger: Ballyburn 11/10Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle - 2m5f (4yo+) (old course)As always, we have a wide-open Coral Cup handicap hurdle puzzle to solve. Be Aware has been all the rage in the betting over the past few weeks, which has cemented him as the market leader. He has his obvious chance for a stable looking to win their third Coral Cup in a row, but at the price, I'm not convinced.Ballyadam is a horse who thrives at Cheltenham, and last year's second is an each-way player off a 4 lb higher mark this time around, as is Jimmy Du Seuil, who is having his first run since last season's Punchestown Festival, but a mark of 146 looks workable on his seasonal return.The one I'm going to side with is the Henry de Bromhead-trained BECKETT ROCK. This lightly raced 6-year-old is making up for lost time this season. He has already beaten Bunting this season but does meet that rival on 1 lb worse terms. But Beckett Rock arguably bettered that win with a 2nd at Fairyhouse when the step up in trip brought out even more improvement. He goes up an extra furlong here, and with the promise of so much more to come, Beckett Rock looks like a lively outsider.If Classic King were to get a run (first reserve), he would be the kind of horse that would come to life for the hustle and bustle that comes with the Coral Cup.Selection: Beckett Rock 33/1 (e/w)Danger: Jimmy Du Seuil 14/1 (e/w)Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase - 3m5½f (5yo+) (X-Country)The cross country race is the Marmite of horse racing; you either love it or hate it. I'm one of the many who love these races.Gavin Cromwell has a strong hand here, with favourite Stumptown turning himself into a cross-country specialist. He has won three of his four races over the banks and comes in here after a cheeky win at Cheltenham's December meeting.The handicapper didn't take lightly to his 1 length win and has hiked him up 8 lbs for that. That rise in the weights may not be enough to stop him from winning today, but I want to give a chance to his stablemate, VANILLIER. This former Cheltenham Festival winner and Grand National 2nd comes in here with a new lease of life after the application of blinkers sparked him back to life when running away with a Punchestown cross-country race, leaving Coco Beach 18 lengths in his wake.If the blinkers have the desired effect once more, Vanillier could take a lot of catching on the front end around here.The ground also looks to be coming in favour of the Grade 1 winning chaser Galvin, and if he rediscovers his form, then he will be a massive player today.Selection: Vanillier 8/1 (e/w)Danger: Stumptown 5/2Grade 1 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase - 2m (5yo+) (old course)Jonbon is many people's idea of the banker of the Cheltenham Festival, but is he at his best at Cheltenham?For me, he isn't, and we have plenty of evidence to back that up. It's no coincidence that all of Jonbons' three career defeats have come at Cheltenham, and is he an odds-on shot that you want on your side, considering the recent record of odds-on favourites in the Champion Chase?I'm going to take him on with the rapid improver, SOLNESS. For all that he has won back-to-back Grade 1 chases at Leopardstown, you are still getting a good each-way price on him. You would be forgiven to think that his first front-running win at Leopardstown was a fluke, that the field left him get clear and couldn't reel him back in, but he did the exact same thing at the Dublin Racing Festival, holding Marine Nationale at bay.There is every chance that he will get loose on the front end now that Il Est Francais is taking up his entry in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday. And if he does get a break on the field, we know that he can keep going and may give his rivals too much to do in the closing stages.At the prices, Solness is a standout each-way bet.If significant rain were to fall, and the ground became heavy, then that would bring two-time Champion Chaser Emergumene right into the picture.Selection: Solness 8/1 (e/w)Danger: Jonbon 10/11Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase - 2m (5yo+) (old course)The inclusion of JPR One here keeps the weight down to the joy of his rival's connections. Last year's winner, Unexpect Party, is expected to put up by far his best performance of the season, and off a 6 lb higher mark, he has every chance of going back-to-back.My Mate Mozzie looks like he is going to get his favoured ground and is one that has always threatened to take a prize like this, but he hasn't been missed in the market. The one I'm siding with, though, is former festival winner JAZZY MATTY.Jazzy Matty won the Fred Winter under the late Michael O'Sullivan in 2023 when trained by Gordon Elliott, but he went off the boil after that win. A change of scenery has done him wonders as Cian Collins has brought a new lease of life into this 6-year-old gelding.He got back to winning way a Wexford in August and wasn't beaten far by Gorgeous Tom on his following run. He left a poor run at Listowel when getting back in the winner's enclosure at Sligo, where a trip to Cheltenham's October meeting was up next. He was unlucky on the day and only went down a head off just 2 lbs lower.Jazzy Matty has had a spin over hurdles at Thurles since, where he finished 2nd, and that should leave him spot on for a crack of claiming his second Cheltenham Festival win.Selection: Jazzy Matty 9/1 (e/w)Danger: Unexpected Party 6/1 (e/w)Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper - 2m½f (4-6yo) (old course)We close off day two of the Cheltenham Festival with the Champion Bumper.Only two of the past 14 winners had run in just one bumper, so that doesn't bode well for either Copacabana or Gameofinches, who sit at the top of the betting. But stats are made to be broken. Even with their impressive wins, I'm going to look elsewhere.KALYPSO'CHANCE is the one that I will be siding with. He is 2/2 in bumpers and has looked good both times. He isn't flashy, but he is a big, powerful gelding who can pick up and keep going at a strong pace.There is substance to his form through Heads Up, who finished 2nd to Kalypso'chase at Navan.Heads Up came into his clash with Kalypso'chance on the back of a 24-length win, but prior to that, he chased home Colcannon, who went on to take the Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival. That line of form gives Kalypso'chance strong claims, and with that bit more experience, he should be bang there when the taps are turned on.At a bigger price, He Can't Dance can improve upon his 3rd to Colcannon at the Dublin Racing Festival and will find this race run more to suit his strong staying style.Selection: Kalypso'chance 13/2 (e/w)Danger: He Can't Dance 33/1 (e/w)

The wait is finally over; the 2025 Cheltenham Festival is here.Four days of world-class national hunt action await us, during which we will make memories that will last a lifetime.The star attraction on day one is the Champion Hurdle. Constitution Hill is looking to regain his Champion Hurdle crown as he takes on defending champion State Man and the wonder mare Briyghterdaysahead.Cheltenham Festival 1:20 Grade 1 Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle - 2m½f (4yo+) (old course)The anticipation will be at an all-time high as the 12 runners make their way to the start for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but who will be coming home in front?Romeo Coolio is somewhat of a forgotten horse in here. Last season's Champion Bumper 2nd has already secured himself a Grade 1 prize when taking the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown Christmas Festival and has since been put away with this race in mind.Workahead is another who hasn't been seen since his maiden win at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival, but that has been by design. The form of that race has worked out well, with the 2nd and reposing William Munny going on to take a listed race since. The 3rd Sping De La Mare has since won two chases, the 4th Redemption Day won his maiden last Sunday, and the 5th Jacob's Ladder won two, including a Grade 3. But even with that taking form, he and the rest of the field may have to battle it out with minor honours as they will find it hard to get the better of KOPEK DES BORDES.There were many questions for Kopek Des Bordes to answer as he lined up for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle after a less-than-convincing jumping display when winning his maiden hurdle. Still, he answered them with an emphatic 13-length win. That was a 'wow' performance and a performance that shot him right to the top of the Supreme Novice Hurdle market. He gets the aid of a hood today, and that should help negate any worries about him boiling over in the parade ring. If he settles and jumps as he did at the Dubing Racing Festival, he should be getting punters off to a flying start for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.Selection: Kopek Des Bordes 1/1Danger: Workahead 8/1Cheltenham Festival 2:00 Grade 1 My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase - 2m (5yo+) (old course)Only five will line up for this year's running of the Arkle Novices' Chase, where, in all truth, the winning of this revolves around the 5-year-old MAJBOROUGH.This strapping son of Martinborough looked like a horse that would excel over a fence in time, but we haven't had to wait long to see what he can do. A facile beginners' chase win was followed by an impressive win over the reposing Touch Me Not at the Dublin Racing Festival. For all of Majorbough's unlimited talent, there is room for improvement in the jumping department, which spells trouble for his rivals.Given that he will improve even more on what will only be his third chase start, it is impossible to oppose Majorbough here.The mare Only By Night brings a different dimension to the race, but she still needs much more, as does Jango Baie. So it may be left to old rivals L'Eau du Sud and Touch Me Not to fight it out for 2nd place.Selection: Majourbough 4/7Danger: Touch Me Not 14/1Cheltenham Festival Ultima Handicap Chase - 3m (5yo+) (old course)A deep and competitive renewal of the Ultima Handicap Chase is next, where you can't confidently rule out any of the 24 max field.The Changing Man sits at the top of the market, but he is there to be taken on, given that he has only managed one win in his ten career chase starts. His win came last time out in a race that fell apart, and he will do well to back up that here with another win.Course specialist Broadway Boy loves it around here, but he does need to bounce back from a below-par run when last seen here on New Year's Day. Even so, he still looks well weighted to run well, being only 4 lbs higher than his latest win and only 2 lbs higher for an unlucky 2nd in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, but he may have to settle for minor honours.The one who appeals to me the most is KATATE DORI. Trained by former Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas, Katate Dori comes here on top of his game. He has had four starts over fences, winning three. The latest of those wins came in an ultra-competitive handicap chase at Kempton, where he ran out a 15-length winner over the Grade 1-placed Hyland.He must contend with a 12 lb rise in the weights for that win, but this talented 7-year-old looks to have so much more to offer. And in a race where six of the past 11 winners have been novices, Katate Dori ticks all the right boxes.At an each-way price, the Henry de Bromhead-trained The Short Go was in front of Broadway Boy when they met at Cheltenham's October meeting and looks to have room for improvement off his current mark.Selection: Katate Dori 17/2 (e/w)Danger: The Short Go 20/1 (e/w)Cheltenham Festival 3:20 Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle - 2m4f (4yo+) (old course)The Champion Hurdles loss is the Mares Hurdles gain, as connections of LOSSIEMOUTH have made a late u-turn and rerouted this superstar mare here.You can see why they chose to do it after a horrible fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month. This race is by far the easiest of her two options since Brighterdaysahead was declared for the Champion Hurdle the previous week.If Lossiemouth shows no ill effects from her fall at Leopardstown, then we will see a repeat of her facile win in this very race last season. She may get the most to think about from her stablemate Jade De Grugy and the Henry de Bromhead-trained July Flower.But when everything is said and done, Lossiemouth should be winning back-to-back Mares Hurdles.Selection: Lossiemouth 4/6Danger: Jade De Grugy 5/1Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy - 2m½f (4yo+) (old course)Constitution Hill vs Brighterdaysahead. The clash that we all hoped for is about to happen.One of the best hurdlers we have ever seen looks to regain his Champion Hurdle crown, which he couldn't defend last season, but is he as good as he once was? We know that Constitution Hill has had his health issue over the past 12 months, and it's fair to say that his return to action in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle did nothing to suggest that he is as good as he once was. This hugely talented gelding is given the utmost respect, but he may find it hard to give BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD 7 lbs and a beating.Gordon Elliott has never shied away from what he thinks about his 6-year-old wonder-mare, and she took giant strides forward this season, taking two Grade 1s in the process. None more impressive than her 30-length demolition job in the Grade 1 Nevill Hotel Hurdle at Leopardstown Christmas Festival.This massive striding mare will have her pacemaker, King Of Kingsfield, once again, and if Brighterdaysahead can repeat her Leopardstown performance, then there is every chance that she can add her name to the list of mares to win the Champion Hurdle.Selection: Brighterdaysahead 9/4Danger: Constitution Hill 8/13Cheltenham Festival 4:40 Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered As Fred Winter) - 2m½f (4yo) (old course)The impossible puzzle that is Fred Winter has a maximum of 22 runners, and all are in with a realistic chance.Stencil and Total Look have been the most popular options for punters in the lead-up to this race, but I want to look outside the box for a race that throws up big price winners, and the one that fits the bill is KOOL ONE.Currently a 50/1 shot, Kool One would be more than half that price if any of the more well-known trainers trained him. Conor Maxwell has done a great job so far with Kool One, and he has placed in all three of his hurdle starts to date.He started with a 3rd place finish to the Willie Mullins-trained Charlus, who was a three-time winner on the flat in France. Then, on his next start, he bumped into another Willie Mullins-trained gelding, but this time to the 99 flat-rated Blue Lemons, and made him work hard for that win. It was on to Grade 3 company on his latest start where a change of tactics with a view to how they would ride Kool One in the Fred Winter. He jumped and settled well to chance home the experienced Bacchanalian, setting himself up well for a crack at the Fred Winter.His odds do not reflect his chances, and in a race that will be run to suit Kool One, there is every chance that he will be bang there at the finish.Luker's Tipple and Liam Swagger are others at bigger prices who are not to be ignored.Selection: Kool One 50/1 (e/w)Danger: Total Look 6/1 (e/w)Cheltenham Festival 5:20 Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase - 3m6f (5yo+ 0-145)For the first time ever (bar the COVID running), the National Hunt Chase has been opened to professional jockeys. The BHA's decision has been controversial, given the steeped history this race has held for amateur jockeys.However, it is shaping up to be one of the most competitive runnings in a long time. Transmission, who amateur Partick Mullins will ride, has his chance but must turn around the form with Haiti Couleurs on their meeting here in December off the same terms, and if anything, this further distance will suit Haiti Couleurs.Now Is The Hour has been the money horse for the past few weeks, but the one I find more interesting is CAPTAIN CODY, who finished just ahead of Now Is The Hour at Navan.That was Captain Cody's first run over 3m that day, and it brought out more improvement from him. He has been given a mark of 140 for his handicap debut, and with the extra distance looking sure to suit, this Willie Mullins-trained gelding has a live chance under Danny Mullins.Selection: Captain Cody 15/2 (e/w)Danger: Haiti Couleurs 9/2