Sam Turner on the Cheltenham Festival: Stars adorn Christmas as festive action delivers in style

• Oh Gino, Henderson super-sub proves a class act

• Wendigo emerges with reputation enhanced

• Reigning Champion remains the one to beat in March

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Welcome back to the sixth instalment of my Cheltenham Festival Focus and, with a host of superb action to sift through on both sides of the Irish Sea, we were certainly left to gorge on some brilliant performances over the festive period.

It is probably my age, but most of the days morphed into one from Boxing Day onwards, so I wondered if it might be useful to spin back through the marquee races and performances that we witnessed from Leopardstown to Kempton and Chepstow to Limerick to try and evaluate if the equine talent in question enhanced or damaged their Cheltenham credentials. This week's column is a weighty read, so many thanks for finding the time, Happy New Year.

 

Given I qualify for the Veteran Series these days and a day for Racing TV enduring Warwick's sub zero temperatures made a fire more enticing than a 33/1 quote for Sir Gino to land the Champion Hurdle, I was tucked up at home on New Year's Eve, ready to witness the London fireworks before calling it a night ahead of a competitive Cheltenham card the day after.

One of the negatives about being home early was catching the early throws of Ronan Keating's pre-midnight gig.

The ubiquitous former Boyzone frontman took us through some 'uplifting classics' which included If Tomorrow Never Comes, which I didn't think was the most appropriate choice for New Year's Eve or for those of us who find it hard to get an ante-post bet to the festival.

Keating's Hogmany karaoke also featured Life Is A Rollercoaster with the lines; "You've really got my tail in a spin, I don't even know where to begin" which pretty much summed up my thoughts when assessing the volume of action we were treated to pre New Year.

The cringing crooner did at least have one salient piece of advice when he warbled: "You say it best, when you say nothing at all", I thought initially he was referring to connections of Lossiemouth when posed the Champion Hurdle question, but I'll take the hint myself, cut short the gig review and press on with the festive appraisal.  

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Friday, December 26th

 

IDAHO SUN - Aintree

Those suggesting Aintree might hold future King George VI Chases haven't reckoned on Liverpool's low sun issues which reared their ugly head and caused the hurdles in the straight to be omitted in the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle.

Given Idaho Sun had gained 26 lengths on the field from his first two starts over hurdles, he may not have been favoured by the lack of a jumping test, however he gamely turned away the previous ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with determination here, vindicating those that see him as a legitimate top tier performer over hurdles.

A strong galloper with a touch of class, he remains of significant interest for both the Supreme and the Turners in March and it is worth recalling how he ran in last year's festival bumper from a modest position.

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MYDADDYPADDY - Aintree

Connections of the previously unbeaten Mydaddypaddy blamed the lack of hurdles as the reason for their gelding's first career defeat and it was easy to see why as the talented son of Walk In The Park was the last off the bridle, while his two previous RaceIQ jump index scores were a healthy 8.0 so being denied the opportunity to showcase his slick, nimble hurdling arguably cost him.

Given he was as low as 5/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle pre-race, quotes of double figures look an over reaction and, in a division shrouded in confusion, he remains of serious interest, especially as the performance represented a marked improvement from Haydock.   

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KITZBUHEL - Kempton

There were very few horses over the festive period which found a better rhythm at their obstacles than Kitzbuhel, a view vindicated by a RaceIQ jump index score of 8.3 and the fact he gained nearly 10 lengths on his field at his fences. He is now as low as 8/19.00 for the Brown Advisory, and in many ways that is understandable as his circuit time was only maginally worse than a pulsating King George while the overall time was  just 12 lengths slower. However, he will face a vastly different test at the festival and I'm yet to be convinced that a slog on the Old Course will suit him quite as well as this set-up did.

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WENDIGO - Kempton

Although beaten nearly four lengths by Kitzbuhel, this remained a terrific effort by Wendigo who found three miles on lively ground an insufficient test. Last of the six runners turning for home, the seven-year-old charged home in the straight to record a finishing speed percentage of 109.91% as the tempo slackened off a little and his closing four-furlong sectional was only just over a second slower than The Jukebox Man in the day's feature chase. Wendigo was unlucky not to finish closer in last year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle when hampered and stumbling two out and, with some of those ahead of him in the Brown Advisory market perhaps having alternative targets, the 20/121.00 on offer looks too big.  

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SIR GINO - Kempton

Parachuted into the Champion Hurdle division following a year off the track after a winning chasing debut at this meeting 12 months ago, Sir Gino produced a 9/10 performance on his comeback to give Nicky Henderson a staggering eighth success in this Grade 1 in the last decade. Understandably fresh and exuberant, his hurdling wasn't as slick and efficient as it could have been (his jump index was the worst of the field) while he actually lost ground at his hurdles. More importantly though, he outclassed last season's Champion Hurdler and has so much natural ability that Constitution Hill may be rendered a distant memory.   

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THE JUKEBOX MAN - Kempton

Hands up, I didn't particularly fancy The Jukebox Man for this race. Yes, he had already won on good ground over course and distance in novice company last Boxing Day, but his previous three speed ratings prior to this dramatic success were all of a similar standard and I wasn't certain he could take the leap to this level. Winning in a course-record time, The Jukebox Man is now 4-4 over fences, but I remain yet to be convinced by his Gold Cup claims - currently the 6/17.00 joint favourite - especially as those that score both at Kempton and Cheltenham in the spring have been rare in the last decade.  

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GAELIC WARRIOR - Kempton

Although vanquished, Gaelic Warrior's reputation remained intact following this effort and he would ideally have loved more of an end-to-end gallop. His rider nearly mislaid his whip on the run-in too and those one percenters contributed to an agonising defeat. Given a number from his yard produced listless performances over the Christmas period, this was another admirable effort and he seemed to cope better with a tough examination in the John Durkan Memorial Chase than his stablemate Fact To File who never fired here.  

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JANGO BAIE - Kempton

I wonder if connections will view this as a chance missed for Jango Baie who posted one of his worst rounds of jumping since being sent over fences and yet was only beaten half a length. The Arkle winner was fifth (of eight) on the 'length gained jumping' metric and occupied the same position on the jump index rating (7.3) so will need to sharpen up on both counts to become a legitimate Gold Cup aspirant.

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NARCISO HAS - Leopardstown

Posting a jump index of 9.2, it was always going to take something special to beat Narciso Has and so it proved as the Doctor Dino gelding followed in the hoofprints of Hello Neighbour, Lossiemouth and Espoir D'Allen in winning this informative Grade 2. Making just his third career start, Willie Mullins' gelding stepped forward markedly from his Irish debut at Fairyhouse to pay a handsome compliment to his conqueror Mange Tout. Well regarded, it will take a smart one to lower his colours and the Dublin Racing Festival should tell us more.  

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ROMEO COOLIO - Leopardstown

This was another hugely likeable display from Romeo Coolio although connections remain luke warm about the Arkle Chase which is probably understandable given he took all of Leopardstown's straight to get by the resilient Irish Panther. The son of Kayf Tara did however fly the last two fences when he needed to, nicking three-and-a-half lengths on the field in the process, so it was encouraging those were his premier leaps, especially as his recovery time was lower than at any other stage of the race. If he was mine and it was at least good to soft on day one of the festival, there is only one race I'd be running in.

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Saturday, December 27

 

MOSSY FEN ROAD - Chepstow

The opening novices' hurdle on Welsh National day looked a tidy affair, but the progressive Mossy Fen Road demolished his rivals to rack up some impressive figures. The Flemensfirth gelding left behind the level of his Lingfield win over hurdles to impress with an eight-length defeat of the hat-trick seeking Spectacularsunrise, gaining more than 21 lengths jumping and recording an index of 8.8 in the process. The winner's four-furlong sectional was also the best on the card, while his overall time and speed figure were also mightily healthy to stamp him a hurdler to follow this spring.

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KARGESE - Leopardstown

While stablemate Kopek Des Bordes is on the easy list, Kargese announced herself as a legitimate Arkle Chase contender with a scintillating 14-length triumph on her second chasing start. In a race marred by the sad demise of James's Gate, Kargese's jumping was sharper than at Cork on debut and the time of this race was quicker than the Grade 1 won half an hour later by Solness for the second successive year. Admittedly, Kargese didn't need to jump the last because of the low sun, but it was still a superb display and last year's well-backed County Hurdle winner looks a fair price at 10/111.00 if connections want to head to an Arkle, she certainly wouldn't be out of place on this showing.  

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MARINE NATIONALE - Leopardstown

Quite what happened to Marine Nationale in the early stages of this event is open to conjecture - some felt he made an error at the second, others felt his rider anticipated a mistake which didn't come and still nearly went out of the side door. The fact that he could remain in the contest, lose many lengths yet still launch a concerted challenge after the last on his comeback stamps him as the one to beat in this division and I can't wait to see him again at the DRF. The general 5/23.50 on offer for the Champion Chase looks very fair.   

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TALK THE TALK - Leopardstown

There is little doubt Talk The Talk can walk the walk and he was in the process of showcasing his class and talent when capsizing after the last in unfortunate circumstances. Make no mistake, he has a real engine and pace to burn and could still be a major player at Cheltenham and the other spring festivals.

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Sunday, December 28

 

TEAHUPOO - Leopardstown

Gordon Elliott enjoyed a Christmas Santa would have been proud of and the mighty Teahupoo is finally gaining the recognition and plaudits his efforts on the track deserve. A seventh Grade 1 success in this Christmas Hurdle was achieved with his customary workmanlike proficiency and, while there is nothing flash about his run style, he has won 14 of his 21 career starts and is on the verge of winning a million pounds in prize money. Like all of those multiple Stayers' Hurdle winners before him, he races behind the bridle and finds plenty off it and he will take some stopping in March, even if the runner-up here, Bob Olinger is 4-4 at Cheltenham.

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BALLYBURN - Leopardstown

This effort from Ballyburn left more questions than answers and the school of thought that believes he doesn't see out three miles is gaining more and more traction with each defeat.

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AFFORDALE FURY - Leopardstown

The market was arguably the most illuminating aspect of this year's Savills Chase with Affordale Fury landing a wholesale gamble while reigning Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin was as popular as Ruben Amorim at the Manchester United Christmas party. With I Am Maximus finishing second, I'm not sure what to make of the form, especially as the winner failed to gain a length on his rivals from his jumping and finished well down the JI metric too.

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GALOPIN DES CHAMPS - Leopardstown

Although he failed to add an eighth course win to his cv, this remained a promising comeback from Galopin Des Champs who momentarily looked as though he might retain his unbeaten chase record at the track. Missing the John Durkan with a setback looked to have cost him here, but he will be a lot sharper for his date in the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF - a race he is looking to win for the fourth time.

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FINAL DEMAND - Limerick

A lot was made of Final Demand's routine win in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase, with many, including those close to the horse in question, underwelmed by the eight-length success. With stablemate Jimmy Du Seuil not running his race and some of the stable's horses underperforming, a lack of fireworks was perhaps understandable, but to win a Grade 1 comfortably when you're not at your best must surely be a good sign. He remains top dog in the novice staying chase division.

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Monday, December 29

 

LOSSIEMOUTH - Leopardstown

The December Hurdle produced yet another Grade 1 win for Lossiemouth, her ninth to date, but any talk of her tackling a Champion Hurdle was once again dismissed quicker than an England opener. Of course, that option remains on the table for this most reliable of mares, but connections have a well established track record of choosing the easiest option when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival so her presence continues to muddy the ante-post markets of not one, but two races in March.  She is 9/25.50 in the Betfair Sportsbook's Champion Hurdle betting.

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WODHOOH - Leopardstown

Much as Final Demand managed in Limerick, champions just win even when they are not at their best. Wodhooh was another in that category in lifting the Kerrymount Mares Hurdle, making it nine hurdle wins from a possible 10 in the process. She is favourite to win the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle in March where she may meet both Lossiemouth and stablemate Brighterdaysahead. Until running plans are firmed up, it is impossible to gauge her chance, but that definitely looks the ideal target on this evidence.  

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KEEP HIM COMING - Leopardstown

And finally. Such was the volume of high-class racing over the Christmas period, that Keep Him Company's performance may get lost among all the other gifts and wrapping paper, however that would be a mistake. Yes, the six-year-old probably needs genuine cut in the ground to be truly effective - conditions he isn't certain to get at Cheltenham - but I loved the manner of this display and the way in which he hit the line in a good time stamped him as a class act.

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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

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - The Blue Room win @ 40/141.00

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