By Tony Calvin - 10 March 2026
Just the 20-runner Triumph Hurdle to kick off with.
I moan all the time about small fields, so I can hardly have a sulk about the racing being too competitive.
Or can I…..?
The fixed-odds market says it is about [11/8] on either Proactif or Selma De Vary winning this and you can half-see that, but they certainly don’t tower above their rivals form-wise (potential-wise, maybe) and an even a very basic look at the form figures of the 20 runners tells you this race is choc-full of progressive, unexposed winners.
And you have to remember the unbeaten Minella Study is actually the highest-rated horse in here by 1lb from Highland Crystal and Selma De Vary (who both admittedly get the 7lb sex allowance) – Proactif hasn’t got a mark, though – so the betting is giving a lot of credibility to the Willie Mullins pair sitting astride the market.
Ex-Frenchie Proactif is immensely promising after beating stablemate Macho Man (very weak in the market here and 16s+ on the exchange) on his hurdling debut for Big Willie, while the similarly former Gallic performer Selma De Vary was ridden with an eye to the future when second to the absent Narciso Has in the Grade 1 at the DRF.
Don’t get me wrong, she was there to win, and she briefly looked to have a real chance between the last two, but you sense that day wasn’t the be-all and end-all for her.
This race has a lot more depth than the betting suggests, though.
Is anyone going to be surprised if Minella Study wins this – I am rather hoping he does just that for Adam Nicol as everyone should root for the small man at a time when the sport is shovelling money to the top end – or Maestro Conti or even the maiden and general 33s poke North Shore, who shaped very well in fourth behind Narciso Has and Selma De Vary in that Grade 1 at Leopardstown?
North Shore is interesting if this turns into a real stamina test at the trip – there is rain about today and early tomorrow – and he currently trades at [55.0] to small money on the exchange.
He was a stayer on the Flat in France, at a decent level, and he caught the eye when staying on nicely from off the pace last time. He could be a big improver, and I may throw a few quid at him just in case. The expected rain would be a big plus for him, too.
However, I quickly came to the conclusion that this was too hard for me to have a serious bet or opinion outside of a score or so.
I can see Selma De Vary as the most likely winner but not for me at [7/2] – available with AKBets, who also go top about Proactif at [9/2], and everything in fact – in a race this competitive. This could be a very good renewal of the Triumph Hurdle.
Mullins famously won this race with the 100-1 newcomer Poniros last season and he fires an amazing nine bullets here, all of which would carry six-figure price tags on their shell cases, I am sure.
Three of the nine make their stable debut, and the other six are having their second starts for Mullins – that is quite something in itself.
I have now backed North Shore small. You can get 33s each way, four places.
BETTING UPDATE (8.10am): Very little between the first five in the market – Proactif, Selma De Vary, Minella Study, Maestro Conti and Highland Cristal – so anyone of those could top the betting once the serious market arrives later. AK Bets are top about the first four named at 5s, 9/2, 13/2 and 7s.
North Shore has been nibbled (a ridiculous 12s in places) but 28s with AKBets.
Hamlet’s Night is a NR as at 7.13am (going).
The County Hurdle is as competitive as ever but my speculative two against the field are Joyeuse and Jubilee Alpha at 14s and 16s respectively, with preference for the former.
You can obviously make a case for plenty but I think the first-time cheekpieces could be the final part of the solution to getting Joyeuse back to winning form, and the headgear will hopefully enable her to travel more kindly into her races than she has done of late.
Nicky Henderson flagged he may put the headgear on her in a Racing Post interview on February 18, so the pieces have been a long time in the planning.
She looked destined for Graded success when winning the old Betfair Hurdle by 8 lengths last season on soft ground (albeit off a mark of just 123) and indeed she was tried in the mares’ hurdle here afterwards. The market may have expected a bit better but she ran okay to finish sixth to Lossiemouth in Grade 1 company ,and the handicapper actually had her improving 4lb to a mark of 142 there.
Her form has been a bit of a write-off since, including a spell chasing at the start of this season, but there was much more to like about her run at Ascot last time.
She hardly breezed through the race but she was knuckling down and battling and she could well have been coming to grab the spoils when a mistake at the last knocked the stuffing out of her and a 4-length last of four doesn’t give a true reflection of the merit of the run.
Put it this way, that effort certainly didn’t warrant a 3lb drop in her rating (she has come down a generous 7lb this season) and she has to be a leading player off 135 for a stable and owner having a great week.
The 14s, and across-the-board 12s, looks good business each-way.
BETTING UPDATE (8.20am): Sinnatra and Joyeuse have been cut into 11/2 and 8s respectively (the latter was 14s in a place early yesterday afternoon, and 12s across the board). Nibbles for Secret Squirrel too; 18s in a place yesterday and now 11s best.
Diva Luna is a NR as at 12.29pm (lame). Down to eight runners.
Dinoblue probably faces a harder task than when winning this race easily last season but I don’t think you can disagree too much with her heading the betting here at [9/4].
She should probably be going for a hat-trick in the race as she didn’t get the best of rides when a 3/4 length second to Limerick Lace in 2024, and she comes into this year having had easy successes at Fairyhouse and Naas.
The rain knocking about is a plus and she could easily make light of her 3lb penalty here (stablemate Spindleberry carries a 5lb burden).
Panic Attack is unpenalized for her three successes this season , backing up two great, big handicap success with a stroll at 4s-on at Newbury last time, and it’ll surprise no-one if she continues her progression here, as a price of [5/2] underlines, the 3s and [11/4] having been taken on Thursday.
This isn’t a two-horse race though, as you can give at least four others a winning chance, so I don’t like this race as a win-only or an each-way betting contest.
A quiet start to the punting day then.
BETTING UPDATE (8.22am): A static market from what I can see. AKBets are top about Dinoblue and Panic Attack at a catchy 21/10 and 11/4 respectively.
These novices’ hurdles have taken some solving this week, and your eyes glaze over when looking at the full-field of 22 in this Albert Bartlett.
Saying that, the market leaders Doctor Steinberg and Thedeviluno do have the best form and time credentials, while the supplemented The Passing Wife, third favourite at 11s, has to be respected.
This is clearly not a race to go overboard in – again, small stakes all round – but I see Thedeviluno has drifted to [11/2] and that is available each way, five places, and more generally four.
That’ll just about do me, but I suspect he may well drift a touch, so maybe only play half of your intended stake now and wait to see what occurs (he is trading at 7s+ win-only).
Up to you.
He is now available at 6s if you waited.
And now 15/2 at 10.15am.
He doesn’t tick the course form box but he has all the other bases covered.
Bar the 21 rivals, anyway.
He was actually beaten 4 ¾ lengths by one of those, the favourite Doctor Steinberg, over 2m4f at Navan in December but the step up in trip to 3m saw him improve at Donny last time.
He doesn’t lack pace, as he showed when beating subsequent Grade 1 winner Skylight Hustle over 2m in deep ground at Gowran in November, but he showed 3m held no fears when slashing up in a decent River Don last time on soft.
The Time Bandits loved his effort on the clock there and Paul Nolan has pedigree in this race, albeit not a winning one. The subsequently disqualified Sandor Clegane finished third in 2023, and he had a neck runner-up in Latest Exhibition in 2020.
Nolan could well be number one on the podium this time around but is a small-stakes bet, and a far from confident one at that.
He has plenty going for him though, and the rain is an another obvious plus.
BETTING UPDATE (8.24am): Pretty static market here too. Moneygarrow may have shortened from 20s to 11s but he is currently 18.5 to back.
Spillane’s Tower is a NR as at 10.52am (going).
Eh?
There may be more at play than the ground here (good to soft, soft in places – going stick reading of 5.3 from 6.1).
He is best on deep ground possibly/probably but Timeform have him a winning a Grade 1, and finishing 1/2 length second to Fact To File in 2024 John Durkan, on good to soft.
The latter form, with Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in his rear view mirror, is a career-best.
You almost feel duty bound to have a betting opinion in the Gold Cup, but I am not so sure.
You have five horses trading in single figures, and I can see any of them winning to be honest.
And I wouldn’t be in a mad rush to dismiss the claims of 14s pokes Spillane’s Tower and Grey Dawning, either.
I’m not sure how I will feel if Inothewayurthinkin wins this, as I suspect he will if reproducing last year’s 6-length defeat of Galopin Des Champs in this race.
In fact, if he does then he will win this having laughed at this opposition.
But you are banking on the rejuvenation powers of Gavin Cromwell and then some if backing him at 8s here.
Last year’s preparation was one of obvious steady progression coming into this race – blatant even – but this campaign has been a write-off and he was a tired and beaten horse when falling at the last in the Irish Gold Cup last month.
The ready-made explanation for a miraculous return to form is the return to Cheltenham and first-time cheekpieces.
You know what – I am going to have a small win-only bet on him at 10s+ on the exchange (available at 11.5 as this goes live).
He could go off at 5s or 20s, though.
Jango Baie would clearly be a much safer conveyance as I think he is an improver-in-waiting at this trip (he was big at 6s+ win-only on Thursday evening, which lured me into a small bet) but he will have to progress around 10lb to master a peak Inothewayurthinkin.
We seen with the likes of Kitzbuhel and Il Etait Temps that horses can come back from last-time-out non-completions, and the Cromwell horse is my minimal interest here.
If he runs a shocker, then so be it.
BETTING UPDATE (8.27am): As with the opener I think it is hard to say with any confidence what we will go off favourite here. AKBets are top price about the top three; Gaelic Warrior is 10/3, The Jukebox Man 15/4 and Jango Baie 5s. Haiti Couleurs is 6s and Inowthewayutthinkin is best at 9s,
Wrappedupinmay is a NR as at 3.40pm (going).
There are three certainties in life – I won’t bet or tip in the Cross Country, the Bumper and Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Darran Pearce is the expert in this field so check out his thoughts on X on @DarranPearce. I’ll try to get you a link to his analysis.
Here it is: https://forum.punterslounge.com/topic/193742-road-to-the-cheltenham-festival-hunter-chase-2026/
That’s all I have got.
BETTING UPDATE (8.30am): Pearce has moved the market a little. Con’s Roc is best at 13./2 from 8s yesterday.
It’s been one of the quietest Cheltenhams I can remember from a betting point of view – maybe it is time to hang up the old, well-worn punting boots… – but there is usually an Irish plot job in this, and we just have to work out which one it is this year,
The roll call of winners in this race in recent years really is something else.
Galopin Des Champs , Banbridge, Iroko , Better Days Ahead and Wodhooh have won the last five runnings of this conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.
Ridiculous.
So all we have to do is spot next season’s Grade 1 winner in waiting, though it is harder to plot one now with the new qualification rules.
The early market is suggesting it could be Kel Histoire at [9/2] for Willie Mullins and JP McManus (everyone is raving about his jockey), but I struggle to see too much Graded upside in many of these, which possibly isn’t too surprising looking at the profile of these.
I have added this line from Mullins, from his Sporting Life column, about Jump Allen as I thought this was interesting. He has been cut into 9s (but is 14.0 on the exchange).
He said: “He improved hugely at Sandown last spring under Harry Cobden to win and surprised us that day. He was going to go chasing this season but had a little problem and we thought the opportunity was there to go back hurdling and save fences for next season.
We ran him in the charity race for stable staff at Punchestown where Natalia Kubacka gave him a lovely ride to win and I hope Anna McGuinness will go close on him.”
Possibly Air Of Entitlement could be the future class act. She obviously disappointed badly when sent off favourite at Leopardstown over Christmas and she trades at 11s for this.
She won the mares’ novices hurdle here last year and there could be plenty of upside in her mark for an owner and trainer combination that won the Ryanair on Thursday.
However, maybe this is one year to side with something steady and solid who has good course form and comes here in good nick – and East India Express fits the bill at 1os each-way.
He is ridden by regular pilot Freddie Gordon and he looked an unfortunate loser when just touched off at Windsor last time.
The handicapper hit him with a 4lb rise for a neck defeat there but they were 4 ½ lengths clear of a next-time-out winner in third (albeit that came in a four-runner race) and this horse ran better than it appears when a 13-length seventh in this race last season.
He looked like winning at one stage and traded at [11/10] in running, but the jockey went far too early in a race that was dominated by closers. He will ride a more patient race here, as he did when winning here afterwards in April, in fact (led run-in and bolted up by 6 lengths).
I think he is a solid each-way proposition.
He could have done without so much rain though, but the 12mm was forecast, so I knew what was coming and hopefully the ground won’t be too bad now it is set to be dry.
Good luck on Day 4.
BETTING UPDATE (8.33am): I couldn’t see any early move of note here. East India Express is a general 8s from 10s, but nothing much has gone on here at the moment.
Joyeuse at 14s and 12s each-way in 2pm (get the best each-way and place terms your accounts allow)
Thedeviluno 11/2 each way in 3.20pm (get best place terms your accounts allow – five places in one spot, and general four) – now 15/2 in a place
East India Express at 10/1 each way in 5.20pm (get the best each-way and place terms your accounts allow)
GOING – Hurdles: Soft, good to soft in places: Chase: Good to soft, soft in places
GOING STICK – Hurdles: 5.1; Chase: 5.3; Friday 9.30am (was 6.1 yesterday)
Rails: Chase rail +6y
Friday morning course update: 240mm since January 1st. 12mm in total yesterday and overnight (2mm during the afternoon and then 10mm overnight). Forecast mainly dry today with a risk of shower during the day.
WEATHER (yr.no latest, 6.45am Friday): Maybe just the odd shower this morning, largely dry
WATERING: Last watered Wednesday night
2pm – Captain Ryan Matt, Wellington Arch, Serious Challenge, Helnwein, Charlus, Khrisma, Mondo Man, Messerschmidt, The Kemble Brewery, Rubber Ball, Jack Hyde, Wreckless Eric, Welsh Charger, Afadil, Brendas Asking
3.20pm: Kasino Des Mottes, Treasure Memory
4.40pm: Haven’t Time, Yippee Ki Yay, D’Jango
5.20pm – He Can’t Dance, Glynn Brae, Coyote Spirit, Intosomethingood, A Pai De Nom, John Barbour, Lisnagar Fortune, Lavender Hill Mob, Newbrook Diamond, De Temps En Temps , Siog Geal, Turndlightsdownlow, Kalium, Rubber Ball, Spirits Bay, The Nagger Reidy, Hamsiyann, Fasol
3.20pm: The Passing Wife
Nicky Henderson cheekpieces; Fantasy World, 1.20pm & Joyeuse 2pm; 20-102 (since 2016)
Gavin Cromwell cheekpieces; Inowthewayurthinkin, 4pm: 15-106 (2016)
Terence O’Brien, cheekpieces; Con’s Roc, 4.40pm 2-8 (2016)
E Bolger visor; Solitary Man, 4.40pm; 0-0 (I’ll double check that…)
Faye Bramley cheekpieces; Stattler, 4.40pm; 0-2 (2025)
Olly Murphy cheekpieces; Act Of Authority, 5.20pm; 15-102 (2017)
1.20pm: Kai Lung, Minella Academy, Minella Study, Mon Creuset, One Horse Town, Proactif, Highland Crystal, Noemie De La Vis
2pm: Karbau?, Wilful, Murcia, Bowmore, Tellherherthename, Sinnatra, Ooh Betty
2.40pm: Spindleberry, Dinoblue, Diva Luna, Panic Attack, Telepathique
3.20pm: Doctor Du Mesnil, Doctor Steinberg, Fruit De Mer, Jalon D’Oudairies, Kripticjim, Moneygarrow, Road Exile, Spinningayard, Swindon Village
4pm: Firefox, Gaelic Warrior?, Grey Dawning, Haiti Couleurs, Jango Baie?, L’Homme Presse, The Jukebox Man
4.40pm (not too sure here): Golden Son?, Gracchus De Balme, King Alex, Panda Boy, Paul Marvel, Pyleigh Court?, Shearer
5.20pm: Farfromnowhere, Fiercely Proud (prom), Intellotto, Stede Bonnet, Andashan, Hot Fuss?
Good: Willie Mullins (four-timer on Thursday – and just the five wins on the first two days), Lucy Wadham, Nicky Henderson (treble on Saturday – three winners on the first two days), Ben Pauling (5-4 winner on Monday – and took the Jack Richards on Thursday), Rebecca Curtis, Dan Skelton (won the Plate on Tuesday and the Pertemps on Thursday), Declan Queally, James Owen, Bailey and Nicholls (40-1 winner of the mares’ novices hurdle), Christian Williams (small sample – two from five), Chester Williams (small sample), Alan King, Neil King, Daisy Hitchins (three winners; six runners)
Fair: Gordon Elliott (12-1 winner on Saturday but a Festival to forget so far, though seconds in Champion Hurdle, Cross Country and mares’ novice – but Wodhooh got him on the board in Race 17), Paul Nolan, Gary and Josh Moore (double at Sandown on Saturday), Henry De Bromhead (15-2 winner on Wednesday – and off the mark in the Ryanair on Thursday), Paul Nicholls (winner on Saturday – fair/moderate), Gavin Cromwell (maybe turning corner after yet another quiet spell – 4-1 winner on Wednesday and the 12-1 winner of the Leinster National on Sunday and the Cross Country on Wednesday), Faye Bramley, Venetia Williams (winner on Friday; and big winner on Wednesday), Olly Murphy (winner on Saturday; fair/moderate), Nigel and Willy Twiston Davies (winner on Monday), Jonjo and AJ O’Neill (won Ultima), Anthony Honeyball (double on Monday, including an 11s poke), Jamie Snowden, Adrian Keatley, Mrs C Williams, wife of Evan (a Champion Chase second on Wednesday and a winner on Friday), Andrew McNamara (one winner; four runners), Tom Lacey, Charlie Longsdon (fair/good), Alastair Ralph (fair/moderate), Emmet Mullins, Noel Meade (exits the Moderate field after his Bumper win…), Fergal O’Brien (double at Huntingdon on Wednesday)
Moderate: John McConnell (horse ran well here on Tuesday – and 16-1 winner at Limerick on Thursday), Mickey Bowen, Chris Gordon (had third in the Bumper), Harry Derham (won a three-runner race at weekend), Joe Tizzard, Ewan Whillans, Gabriel Leenders, Tim Vaughan
Don’t know (small samples – no idea with Hunter Chase trainers tbh though I am sure plenty have had recent P-T-P winners like JJ O’Shea): Tom Dascombe, Hughie Morrison, Martin Keighley, Martin Brassil, Enda Bolger (two runners, one 12-1 winner), Samuel Drinkwater, Adam Nicol (small sample but not great), Philip Fenton, Ben Clarke, Tony Martin, Jimmy Mangan, Padraig Butler, S G Carey, JJ O’Shea, Terence O’Brien , Miss S McQueen, G Ahern, C W J Farrell, Miss M Filby, Kelly Morgan, Myles Osborne, Tom Britten, S Curling, Mrs M Sheppard, Miss V Collins, R C Pudd
SUNDAY MORNING intro The Flat takes over on Saturday, with action from Doncaster and Kempton.…
1pm Kelso – Top two could have this race sealed off When I agree with…
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