UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

From Danoli and Istabraq, through to Envoi Allen and last year's winner Impaire Et Passe, the roll call of past winner of this race over the last 20 years is impressive. BALLYBURN obviously has some big shoes to fill in his bid to emulate some of those greats, but the son of Flemensfirth is certainly going the right way and is very hard to oppose. Indeed, the six-year-old's smooth performance in landing a Grade 1 success at the Dublin Racing Festival could hardly have been more dominant and underlined not just his rapid progress since defeat to Firefox on his hurdles debut, but established his versatility regarding the trip, given he had comfortably landed a maiden at Leopardstown over 2m4f in between. Already with six previous winners of this race under his belt, Willie Mullins has a stranglehold on the 2024 edition with Ile Atlantique, Predators Gold, Mercurey and Jimmy Du Seuil all representing Ireland's champion trainer. However, the unbeaten Handstands may be the one to put it up to Ballyburn given he too is a rising star.
Prediction : 1st Ballyburn 2nd Handstands 3rd Ile Atlantique

Out of the last 20 renewals of this race, Willie Mullins has trained the winner four times and he looks to have the standout contender this season in the shape of FACT TO FILE. Last year's Champion Bumper second has challenged convention having skipped a novice hurdling campaign in favour of going chasing, and connections can reap the rewards of that decision. The seven-year-old created a spectacular impression when winning over an extended 2m5f on his last two starts, jumping like a seasoned professional, and this step up in trip could eke out even more improvement. American Mike may emerge as the main danger given he beat the selection over 2m4f at Navan in November and, even though it will be difficult to uphold that form with a more experienced Fact To File over this trip, he should make a solid fist of it. Stay Away Fay heads the British challenge and Paul Nicholls' gelding will no doubt be staying on when others have cried enough, but he may prove vulnerable to classier rivals who can do more work on the bridle.
Prediction : 1st Fact To File 2nd American Mike 3rd Stay Away Fay

Another bold showing can be expected from last year's winner Langer Dan, who arrives here on the same mark and subsequent treatment for ulcers since his 14th-placed finish in the Lanzarote at Kempton in January can only aid his cause. However, the Irish have won five of the last eight renewals and the sneaking suspicion is that the Dan Skelton-trained gelding could prove vulnerable to a less-exposed rival. Donning the famous JP McManus silks, SA MAJESTE is preferred. The six-year-old was quite taking when beating subsequent Cleeve Hurdle winner Noble Yeats at Limerick in December and an opening mark of 140 could prove to be on the lenient side. The son of Top Trip may take this en route to success at the highest level and can get the better of the hat-trick seeking Built By Ballymore. Martin Brassil has been responsible for the runner-up in the last two years and his handicap debutant is expected to be bang there at the business end. Doddiethegreat is bred to relish this stiffer test of stamina and he also warrants a second look.
Prediction : 1st Sa Majeste 2nd Built By Ballymore 3rd Langer Dan

Jonbon narrowly got the better of EL FABIOLO in their novice hurdle days but the latter readily exacted his revenge in last season's Arkle. Willie Mullins' charge hasn't put a foot wrong in three starts since, arguably producing a career-best performance when sweeping aside smart mare Dinoblue at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, and he can confirm his superiority over his main rival en route to making it seven from seven over the larger obstacles. Jonbon kicked off the season with two victories over Edwardstone and would almost certainly have won the Clarence House on the New course here in January but for a bad mistake four out. He is reunited with Nice de Boinville and demands respect, while all-the-way Game Spirit scorer Edwardstone should give a good account from the front but could be vulnerable to younger legs once the race begins in earnest turning for home.
Prediction : 1st El Fabiolo 2nd Jonbon 3rd Edwardstone

A former Gold Cup and Albert Bartlett winner, MINELLA INDO is arguably the classiest individual to turn up in this unique affair. It was only two years ago that he was runner-up in the Festival's blue riband event and it looks as though he has been laid out for this since a promising fourth over the course in December off top-weight. A winner of a Grade 3 at Punchestown earlier in the season, the son of Beat Hollow may not be ideally suited by the forecast heavy ground, but he stays all day and can give connections a first win in this race. Winner of the last two renewals, Delta Work should be thereabouts again following another light campaign into the Festival, while heavy ground would also be a plus for the son of Network. A bigger danger, though, may come from stablemate Coko Beach, who has won the Troytown and finished second in the Becher already this season. Sam Ewing's mount proved himself in this discipline when scoring comfortably at Punchestown last month and he is the highest rated in the field to boot. Runner-up in this last year and a previous winner at the Festival, Galvin is better suited to quicker ground, while Foxy Jacks did it well when scoring at the track in November and cannot be ruled out.
Prediction : 1st Minella Indo 2nd Coko Beach 3rd Delta Work

Libberty Hunter hasn't looked back since falling on his chasing debut with subsequent victories at Wincanton and here on the New course in January. Connections have managed to acquire the services of Harry Cobden and he commands a fair amount of respect. Madara was a successful UK raider at the Dublin Racing Festival when proving too strong for Path D'oroux, but the pair will need to improve following a hike of 10lb and 6lb respectively from the handicapper. Saint Roi caught the eye when fourth in the Dan Moore at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start and last year's Arkle third has to be a big player, but the vote goes to MASKADA. The winner of this contest 12 months ago off an 8lb lower mark, the authority with which she dispatched of Dinoblue after the final fence suggests that rise may not be insurmountable and her best effort this season, when third to El Fabiolo at Cork in December, gives every indication that she will be a major force to contend with once again. Others to note include the enigmatic Harper's Brook, who sports a first-time visor after finally getting his head in front at Sandown when his main challenger unseated at the last, Solness and Triple Trade.
Prediction : 1st Maskada 2nd Saint Roi 3rd Libberty Hunter

There have been no UK-trained winners of this prestigious race since Ballyandy's success back in 2016, so it looks best to focus on the Irish contenders, of which Willie Mullins boasts yet another strong hand. With three of the previous 12 winners coming out of the Grade 2 Future Stars INH at Leopardstown, YOU OUGHTA KNOW, who finished second in that contest, has excellent credentials. The son of Beat Hollow thumped a smart rival on his debut at Kilbeggan and it is impossible to know where the ceiling of his ability might be. Stablemate Jasmin De Vaux could hardly have been more impressive when routing his rivals at Naas in January, though, and he is favoured in the ante-post market. Gordon Elliott will be hopeful he can break the Mullins stranglehold and his Jalon D'oudairies, who was picked up for 425,000 pounds at the sales in March of last year, could be his best chance. Romeo Coolio was yet another to impress on his racecourse bow, despite being keen in a five-runner event, so he could be smuggled into contention in this larger field. Paul Nicholls can fly the English flag with the promising son of Westerner Teeshan, while it would be unwise to underestimate the Ben Pauling-trained Sixmilebridge, who gave the impression he had plenty more in the tank when winning at Sandown last month.
Prediction : 1st You Oughta Know 2nd Jasmin De Vaux 3rd Jalon Doudairies