Tuesday March 11 – Cheltenham – Kopek Des Bordes – 81
Who would have thought the first race of the festival would produce a time that wasn’t surpassed all week and it was a race that certainly lived up to all the hype. Workahead, too keen off a big break, ensured the gallop was honest right from the start and Willie Mullins’ inmate was never too far off the speed. Tracking Romeo Coolio through once the front runner fainted at the top of the hill, the son of No Risk At All surged through to lead approaching the last and despite making a meal of the final flight, he had plenty left in the locker to power clear of William Munny on the run-in. Based on the data, he ran the fastest Supreme we have noted in recent times (only Constitution Hill quicker with an 84) and with the right horses chasing him home, there is no reason to contest the form. Interestingly, looking as his RaceIQ stats, he had a jump index as low as 6.9 (9th best) but he came out on top on his lengths gained over the field jumping data, suggesting he doesn’t lose any ground over his hurdles despite not having a great technique. Built like chaser, the immediate thought afterwards was he will go over fences new season but listening to his astute handler, that may not be the case just yet. Indeed, based on the numbers, he would have easily beaten the Champion Hurdle winner, Golden Ace, and also Lossiemouth for good measure and that suggests he wouldn’t be out of place among the elite two-mile hurdlers next season. His current odds of 10-1 for Champion Hurdle, therefore, would seem more than fair at this stage.
Of those beaten, William Munny came out of the race with great credit and he rates an interesting one going forward. Some way off the speed going down the back straight, he made up a good deal of ground to stalk the winner turning for home and it came as no surprise to find he had run the final mile, almost a second quicker (roughly five lengths) quicker the Kopek. Considering he was also short of room and got shuffled back early, this was an awesome run from a horse having just his fourth start over hurdles and it is testimony to how much natural ability he harbours. Unlike Kopek, connections have mapped out a definitive plan for the seven-year-old next year, citing a campaign that will terminate with the Arkle and that knowledge makes him a very enticing proposition at his current odds of 12-1.
What William Munny’s effort also highlights is how potentially smart Kawaboomga could be and it is a shame would didn’t get the chance to see Willie Mullins’ inmate at the festival due to a late setback. Looking forward, however, providing he receives a clean bill of health to start next season, the son of Tunis could easily make up into a top-class novice chaser. Considering connections were going down the 2m4f route with him at the festival, the logical approach would be to think he will start next campaign over at least that trip and he could easily develop into a contender for the Brown Advisory as the season progresses. With that in mind, odds of 25-1 currently for the three-mile novices event could well be worth taking.
Romeo Coolio also comes out of the race with a good deal of merit and he has makings of a fine novice chase prospect for next season. What trip suits him best only time will tell but the gut feeling is Gordon Elliott’s inmate probably needs further than two miles to seen to best advantage.
Tuesday March 11 – Cheltenham – Jango Baie – 77
A strange race to watch and a result that is still difficult to fathom even in the aftermath. Having backed the winner ante-post, any dockets on Nicky Henderson’s inmate were virtually ripped up at the top of the hill as his jumping went to pieces once headed. However, given time to recover, fill the tank and go again, the son of Tiger Groom flew once meeting the rising ground and in the end, he eventually won going away with a bit to spare. Looking back, quite why he needed to be blasted from the front in the early stages beggars belief and it was a definite case of the horse bailing out the jockey/connections obvious pre-race tactics. In simple terms, the one way to get a stayer beat is to go too hard too early and it was a decision that almost backfired. Before the race, the narrative – certainly on the preview circuit – was suggesting he would be ridden quietly with a view to coming through strong late on, yet despite that theory going out of the window, fair play to the horse for overcoming adversity. Unlikely to be kept at the minimum trip going forward, he looks the ideal candidate for next season’s Ryanair Chase and his current odds of 16-1 for that race appear more than fair.
Wednesday March 12 – Cheltenham – The New Lion – 74
Billed as the battle between the big three, the narrative played out as the market suggested it would and Dan Skelton’s inmate emerged as the top dog in this division with a performance of some merit. Noted travelling well in behind his two main market rivals, The Yellow Clay and Final Demand, he was eased out to challenge turning for home and although it took him a long time to finally wear down his prey, he ultimately did well to get the job done. Showing a different side to his game than what we had previously witnessed, the son of Kayf Tara has a variety of options for him next season but with the common theme pre-race and afterwards, suggesting he has enough speed to go back in trip, chances are he may end up going for next season’s Champion Hurdle. As for the runner-up and third, they are more likely to be asked to go over fences next term and they should both look to have bright futures.
Wednesday March 12 – Cheltenham – Marine Nationale – 77
The big talking point here was the demise of Jonbon, let down by the combination of a slow start and poor jumping throughout the first mile. Whether he would have won without these negatives is open to debate as the winner on the day was very good in all departments. Always in the right place, Barry Connell’s inmate jumped and travelled like the winner throughout and even though he got the race handed to him on a plate when Quilixios departed the scene at the last, he looked to have in the race under control at that point. Unlikely to be seen out again this season, all roads lead to next year’s Champion Chase and he sets the standard the others need to try and match.
Thursday March 13 – Cheltenham – Fact To File – 80
We witnessed plenty of drama and great races on the first two days but if anything, what was lacking was a real ‘wow’ moment until along came Willie Mullins’ inmate in this Grade 1 2m4f affair. At no stage did the son Poliglote ever look like losing and he simply was in a different league to his rivals, similar to Vautour when he landed this prize back in 2015. On this evidence, he might well have been the only one to offer any resistance to Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup but hindsight is a wonderful thing and if anything, running him in the blue riband would have deprived us of seeing him in full flow over his optimum trip. Either way, the sky is the limit for this extremely talented chaser and he remains one of the most exciting prospects for next season, whatever distance he contests.
Friday March 14 – Cheltenham – Poniros – 75
Billed as a straight fight between East India Dock and Lulamba beforehand, not many of the rest of the field were given too much of a chance, not least a debutante over hurdles having his first run for 167 days. As things panned out, Willie Mullins’ inmate, used to running at pace on the Flat, turned out to be in his element and having jumped extremely well for one so inexperienced, he came through strongest of all to steal the prize late on. Only Willie Mullins would have the audacity to run a horse of his profile in a race of this nature in the first place and from now on, all the pre-race stats and chat that coincide with previous renewals all go out of the window. As for the vanquished, East India Dock didn’t jump as well as he did on trials day, although it is worth pointing out, we have him running a similar speed figure to what he posted that day and on his previous start there back in November. Lulamba, on the other hand, stepped up markedly on what he previously achieved at Ascot on debut and he has to be marked down as one to follow for the rest of his career.
Friday March 14 – Cheltenham – Dinoblue – 78
For unbridled dominance, not that many matched the performance of Willie Mullins’ inmate in this Grade 1 for mares and her time figure was matched only be Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup. The way she jumped and travelled throughout oozed class and she only had to be nudged out to pull clear of her toiling rivals. Versatile between two miles and 2m4f, she could go back in trip for the Champion Chase at Punchestown and while in this sort of form, she is likely to have some sort of say in the outcome.
Friday March 14 – Cheltenham – Inothewayurthinkin – 78
All eyes were on Galopin Des Champs in his bid to land a hat trick of Gold Cups but as things panned out, it just wasn’t to be for Willie Mullins’ star. Right from the start, he never looked comfortable and once hampered at the 15th, he was always fighting a losing battle. The winner, on the other hand, he always travelling sweetly from the start and when he locked on the bridle coming down the hill for the last time, there was an air of inevitability about the result. A good jump at the last sealed the deal and the way he powered on up the hill was a sign of a horse right at the peak of his powers. Where he goes from here remains to be seen, but reading between the lines, it seems unlikely he will head to Aintree despite being potentially well in at the weights, instead, the prospect of Punchestown seems a much more suitable option.
Recommendations
WILLIAM MUNNY – 1-point win@12-1 – Arkle Chase 2026
KAWABOOMGA – 1point win@25-1 – Brown Advisory Chase 2026