Cheltenham Festival Longshots: Katie Midwinter picks out some under the radar horses to run well

• Katie Midwinter continues her 2026 Cheltenham Festival series

• This week she looks at the longshots worth noting

• Which horses could outrun their currents odds should they line up?

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Turners Novices' Hurdle: A pair of value plays 

Wednesday March 11, 13:20

A couple of horses make each-way appeal ahead of the Turners' Novices' Hurdle, with Betfair having introduced Non-Runner No Bet on races at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday.

The first of the pair is eye-catching grey The Last Cloud. Trained by Patrick Neville, the son of Cloudings enjoyed multiple success during the summer into the autumn at Perth, winning three consecutive races including a convincing maiden hurdle success. He was given an opening mark of 108 and is now rated 131.

At Prestbury Park in October, the grey was able to finish a creditable fourth to Fortune De Mer in Grade Two company, proving his capabilities at that level against tough opposition in a performance worth upgrading. He was supported late on when lining up in the Grade One Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree over the Christmas period, eventually finishing third at 18/119.00, unlikely to have been benefited by the omission of obstacles that day behind Idaho Sun and Mydaddypaddy.

When last seen, The Last Cloud was again the subject of significant market support, sent off as the 18/54.60 favourite for the River Don Novices' Hurdle. He had been as big as 16/117.00 in the lead up, and emerged with credit once again but lacked the finishing kick of the pair in front, including winner Thedeviluno, finishing a well beaten third at the line.

A drop to the intermediate distance should suit and he's unexposed over this trip. He has shown to possess enough speed to win over the minimum distance and has performed well enough over an extended three miles to suggest 2m5f could be perfect.

Whilst he'll need to show further progression to truly make his presence felt at the top level, The Last Cloud is an improving performer who should be capable of better in future. His best days may lie ahead of the larger obstacles, but he has shown to be effective enough over timber and has graded form coming into the race.

Another novice to consider in the Grade One contest is Shuttle Diplomacy for Tom Cooper. He sprung a surprise in the Champion Bumper last year when placing third to Bambino Fever at odds of 66/167.00, having previously run out an impressive winner of a Listed Limerick bumper the year prior.

The son of Dschingis Secret had spent a long period off track before returning in deep waters in that Cheltenham contest, but was unable to continue his good form in subsequent runs. He returned to form when second to King Rasko Grey, who has boosted the form, in a Limerick maiden hurdle when equipped with a first-time tongue-tie in December, before getting off the mark over obstacles in good fashion at Naas when last seen.

Lightly raced but having amassed plenty of valuable experience to date, Shuttle Diplomacy is a hardened performer who could outrun his odds. He's unexposed over the distance and has stamina in the pedigree, in the form of classy Flat performer Tac De Boistron, a dual Prix Royal-Oak winner, and De Boitron, an eight-time winner who stayed three miles.

Now read our full race guide to Day One of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Mares' Novices' Hurdle: Recent winner could continue her progression

Thursday March 12, 13:20

Six-year-old grey Kingston Queen impressed to beat White Noise at Warwick in a Grade Two contest last week, showing great tenacity and a gutsy attitude to prevail once headed. She stuck to the task well and there could be even more to come from the mare, who finished third to Old Park Star in her previous start.

Whilst she may need slightly softer conditions to be seen to best effect should she line up over this trip at Cheltenham, the daughter of Kingston Hill is far from a forlorn hope. She has the benefit of valuable experience against talented rivals such as when beating Charisma Cat in a Listed Market Rasen bumper last year, and when third to Seo Linn in an Aintree Grade Two bumper, too. 

Kingston Queen was a convincing winner of a Chepstow maiden earlier this term, in a race previously won by a number of familiar names including French Ship, and she has now proven herself at a high level over obstacles.

Now read our full race guide to Day Two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Mares' Hurdle: Proven contender may be a solid each-way option

Thursday March 12, 14:40

Jetara's recent form hasn't been as impressive as in past seasons and her current odds reflects that, however, she has form in the race, having finished fourth to Lossiemouth in last year's renewal, and is a Grade Two winner who possesses plenty of class on her day. In her latest runs, the eight-year-old mare has been seen over around three miles.

A drop in trip may suit as she bids to return to form, and, with some of the main protagonists in the current market perhaps likely to take the Champion Hurdle route, the race looks open bar a couple of talented mares. There's each-way potential in Jetara, who was able to be competitive for the places in 2025.

Last term, the Jessica Harrington-trained performer also placed at Teahupoo at Punchestown following on from a third-placed effort to Hiddenvalley Lake at Aintree. She impressed in both Grade One contests, proving her worth and also proving she still retains plenty of ability.

In an intriguing contest, Jetara could be able to perform better than her current price suggests with plenty of uncertainties surrounding the dominant forces in the current market.

Now read our full race guide to Day Three of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle: Novice has noteworthy form

Friday March 13, 17:20

Gavin Cromwell-trained novice Welonlyhavedone could be dangerous if he does line up in the final race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. The son of Diamond Bay has caught the eye this season, but things haven't quite panned out favourably for him, which may leave him on a lenient mark in handicap company. 

After falling in his first point appearance, the gelding then recorded a convincing success in a Liscarroll point before joining his current yard. He was unable to make an impression on Rules debut in a Galway bumper, for which he was sent off at odds of 7/24.50, but impressed on hurdling debut to beat Survivors Sister by a convincing 12-lengths. The runner-up has since landed a handicap hurdle by 22-lengths.

That maiden hurdle was previously won by Blazing Khal, who won a pair of Grade Two contests at Cheltenham subsequently, and, although Welonlyhavedone was pulled up in his sole appearance at Prestbury Park to date, he remains open to further improvement. 

In his second start over hurdles, Welonlyhavedone was sent off at odds of 7/18.00 and was travelling well, in contention when falling at the last obstacle in a race won by subsequent Grade One and Grade Three winner I'll Sort That, now rated 142. It's impossible to know how close the late faller would have pushed the eventual winner, but he was in the process of running an excellent race before coming down and the form has been significantly franked.

Although pulled up when last seen, Welonlyhavedone emerged with credit when third at Navan in his penultimate start, despite being a huge drifter, sent off at a price of 20/121.00 having been much shorter prior to the off. The yard hasn't enjoyed the most straightforward season to date, but could be able to improve in the spring and this novice is one to note should he head to Cheltenham in March.

Now read our full race guide to Day Four of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

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