Sam Turner on the Cheltenham Festival: Sam spies 25/1 Supreme value

• Masterful Act rates highly on debut

• Jimmy debut promises plenty for future 

• Romeo wins hearts of Fairyhouse punters

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Champion Hurdle: Sir Gino to the fore after Constitution Hill catastrophe

Just when you think you have seen it all, this game delivers another unfathomable scenario as March's chaotic Champion Hurdle was reprised at Newcastle with the north east venue playing host to Constitution Hill's latest catastrophe.

Not that the former Champion was on his own - The New Lion's Cheltenham Festival pretentions also hit the turf at the same flight a circuit later as Golden Ace was again on hand like a prime Ian Rush to poach a second Grade 1 prize.

However, unlike the Champion Hurdle when Jeremy Scott's admirable mare was bequeathed hurdling's marquee event, her challenge was gaining strength at the second last when The New Lion departed and her will-to-win and race fitness ensured she fought off Anzadam with a little in hand.

The runner-up weaved around a little when asked for his maximum effort which was more than a shade disconcerting, while the winner was surely favoured by the extra 144 yards this race was run over this year as she stays well and is admirably tough.

Revisiting last season's Turners Novices' Hurdle, not a great deal was made of The New Lion's leap at the final hurdle, but that in itself was heart in the mouth stuff and his propensity to believe he can clear anything - not unlike Constitution Hill in that regard - could be his undoing moving forward.

Plenty has been written about Constitution Hill,  but after three falls it appears there is no submission by connections, not yet anyway.

Stablemate Sir Gino looks like being parachuted in as the stable's primary hope if the latest Seven Barrows soundbytes are to be believed and his presence reinvigorates a division which is in danger of falling apart, pun intended.

William Munny's chance and reputation, much like that of a striker left on the bench for a bad defeat, has grown and burgeoned despite him remaining in his box, with the rug firmly on.

His run in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle gained further endorsement over the weekend with third-home Romeo Coolio starring at Fairyhouse in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novices' Chase, while Tutti Quanti in sixth, beaten 28 lengths, routed his rivals in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury on Saturday.

After a small setback last month which meant he missed the Morgiana Hurdle, trainer Barry Connell will aim his ace hurdler at a target this Christmas before focusing on Cheltenham in March.

He remains on the radar as a possible addition to Alexei in the Champion Hurdle ante-post portfolio once his name is confirmed in future entries.   

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Henderson hurdler enters fray

The opening novices' hurdle on Newbury's pre-Coral Gold Cup card is invariably a warm affair and this year looked no different with Act Of Innocence laying down a serious Cheltenham Festival marker even at this embryonic stage of the campaign.

While we are only just into December, the overall time figure stamped this race as the best novice hurdle run this side of the Irish Sea this season and the winner could not have been more impressive on his hurdling bow for Nicky Henderson, having been switched by connections from the unfortunate Paul Nicholls in the summer.

The Ditcheat trainer also had to witness runner-up, Sinnatra, a horse he trained to win a bumper last year and held in high regard prior to losing to the Skeltons, chase home the stylish winner as the two market leaders sprinted readily clear of their field from the final flight.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a horse blessed with plenty of gears, Act Of Innocence posted the fastest furlong of the race and the top speed (34.79mph) as he passed a rival with experience to hit the line strongly and earn quotes of 25/1 for the festival opener in three and a half months time.

His final circuit time was at least 20 lengths quicker than winning juvenile filly Highland Crystal who impressed later on the card and Henderson's son of My Dream Boat was also quicker on both the circuit and from four furlongs out than the 153-rated stablemate Impose Toi who landed a Long Distance Hurdle which was run at a crawl early on before becoming a sprint.

Whichever way you slice it, Act Of Innocence looked a quality prospect on just his fourth career start and victory here saw him emulate the likes of Lostintranslation, My Drogo and Jonbon.

While he still has some way to go to reach their levels, he will of course be minded by his handler and targets cherry picked which means the 25/126.00 currently on offer has a live chance of being too big if he gets there on the day.

Sinnatra, the runner-up, was given a mark of 128 following his fine effort which saw him pull the best part of 10 lengths clear of West Hill Verde in third.

It will a surprise if the Skeltons don't have a masterplan for the Walk In The Park gelding with the valuable handicap over course and distance next February an appealing target.

I loved the way Park Talk hurdled throughout and the experience (lost ground at just one hurdle and that was marginal) won't be lost on Harry Derham's gelding so he is added to the tracker along with Constellation Walk who was again too keen in the hood and needs to learn to settle if he is to realise his potential.

However, there is an engine there plus he hurdled creditably so he could pay his way once assessed and despatched to a tighter, less galloping track.

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Jimmy may prove more than just a second string

The beginners chase which opened the Fairyhouse card on Saturday went under the radar somewhat with the majority of UK racing fans focussed on events Newbury and Newcastle.

There was also the little matter that it was staged so early that folk were still finishing their bacon sandwiches, but the performance of Coral Cup winner Jimmy Du Seuil on his chasing debut certainly satisfied the appetite.

Partnered by Patrick Mullins who was celebrating his 900th career winner over jumps, the Galiway gelding displayed loads of class and scope to record an extremely healthy RaceIQ jump index figure of 8.8 in gaining 23 lengths on his rivals and announcing himself as a live Brown Advisory contender.

Standing in his way for that prize is of course his formidable stablemate Final Demand among others, however Jimmy Du Seuil posted a graded performance in all but name here, going quicker than the two milers over the final circuit as well as clocking a swifter overall time.

The Faugheen Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas would seem a sensible option and it will be a surprise on this showing if he isn't highly competitive at the top level.    

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Arkle Chase: Cool as you like for Romeo in Drinmore

The Arkle Chase market has seen a shake up in recent weeks with debut successes for Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba.

Both have been impressive in different ways, but I'm not sure either jumped with the alacrity and precision of Romeo Coolio in winning the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase on Sunday.

This display was a brilliant appetiser for a pulsating Hatton's Grace Hurdle which featured a titanic tussle on the run-in between Teahupoo and Ballyburn.

While a nose separated the two staying hurdle powerhouses, Romeo Coolio sauntered to an eight-length success, confirming the impression he created at Down Royal on his debut back in October.

The quickest of the chases from four out, the Supreme Novice Hurdle third earned a RaceIQ jump index of 8.2 and his final three leaps when Jack Kennedy released the handbrake saw his speed recovery time clock rapid figures of 0.46s, 0.50s and 0.48s.

This trio of figures were much quicker than at any other point of the race and appeared to vindicate Kennedy's view that Romeo Coolio was happier going half a stride quicker than he allowed him in the first portion of the race.

Of course, there is no two-and-a-half mile event at Cheltenham this year so he won't be able to run over Sunday's trip there, while I guess his rather one-paced effort at last year's festival in the curtain raiser may still be fresh in the minds of punters and connections alike.

However, a furiously-run Arkle could be a live scenario if the headstrong Kopek Des Bordes is in opposition and, looking at his jumping data and the speed in which he exits the jumping envelope, the two-mile route could be the best option.

I was in two minds about putting him up for the Arkle as I'd ideally like to see how connections perceive his season panning out, but Lulamba runs in Grade 1 company at Sandown on Saturday against a couple of talented novices and if he were to taste defeat or labour to success, Romeo Coolio's price may contract even further.

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Sam Turner's Cheltenham 2026 Ante-post Ledger

Champion Hurdle - Alexei each-way @ 33/134.00  

Gold Cup - Gaelic Warrior win @ 8/19.00

Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Act Of Innocence win @ 25/126.00

Arkle Chase - Romeo Coolio @ 11/26.50

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Talent Tracker

Aeroplane Blonde

Bespoke Tailor

Constellation Walk

Destination Dubai

El Capitaine

Final Demand

Heads Up

Jimmy Du Seuil

Lord Of All Saints

Park Talk

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Now read Katie Midwinter's latest tips here

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