Jake Price reviews the results of some key Cheltenham Festival trials and picks out a Ante Post tip in the Triumph Hurdle.
It has been a manic period of Festive action once again, and I am buzzing to be back writing as we have a lot to catch up on!
Following a quick break over Christmas, from here until March I will be providing a weekly column covering all things Cheltenham 2026.
This piece is mainly going to focus on the results of the trials that I highlighted in the first article, and as ever we will finish with an Ante-Post selection.
KEY TRIALS REVIEWED
Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on the 26th December
The first of the trials I highlighted as being a good pointer to the Cheltenham Festival was the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on the 26th December, and this term it was emphatically won by Willie Mullins’ only entry NARCISO HAS.
It was a nice performance from the JP McManus charge who seemingly stepped forward fitness wise for his seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse when beaten, but it is worth noting that the distance between him and the re-opposing Adrienne only increased from 9.5 lengths at Fairyhouse to 11 lengths at Leopardstown.
Whether you think he deserves to be 5/1 favourite for the Triumph or not can certainly be debated, but what is for sure is that Gordon Elliott’s Barbizon is not up to Grade 1 level – at least not for now.
St Stephen’s Day Drama in the Maiden Hurdles
All the St Stephen’s Day drama came in the Maiden Hurdles, firstly with BALLYFAD absolutely bolting up in the 4yo only race despite Willie Mullins saddling 6/5 favourite Leader d’Allier.
All eyes were on the French Recruit despite a late drift in the betting, but in what would prove to be a prelude to the wider Christmas meeting as a whole, Gordon Elliott’s horse was much the best on the day.
His odds of 20/1 for the Supreme could yet prove to be a bit of value compared to stablemate EL CAIROS, who ramped up the drama levels in the following 5yo+ Maiden.
On the turn for home the sweeping camera tracked his progress through the field to perfection, but having hit the front at the last he took one of the strangest falls I have ever seen.
Punters were suitably impressed however, and he is now into 5/1 favourite for the Supreme – but that does look on the skinny side considering it is likely he will only go for another Maiden Hurdle before March.
2m7f Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Limerick
The final trial I highlighted as being a good pointer was the 2m7f Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Limerick, but I have to confess the fact that The Big Clubman went off 2/1f suggests to me that it was not an up to par renewal. In the end Gordon Elliott’s KAZANSKY managed to just about get up after the last and hold on come the line, but the narrow second placed County Final is only rated 128 in Ireland – which considering he has had 5 runs over hurdles actually makes him more of an interesting prospect for something like the Martin Pipe or Pertemps, rather than the Albert Bartlett as is the intention of the Trial.
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TRIALS TO BE CAUTIOUS OF REVIEWED
Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase
The Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase received an early boost with Willie Mullins entering both Jimmy Du Seuil and KITZBUHEL, and the latter was a well supported 13/8f when running riot.
This race is not traditionally one that Willie would send a runner to, but the fact he did would suggest to me that we can treat this race with more respect than usual – even if the best of the home team was only Thomas Mor, who has to race right-handed and therefore will not be seen at the Cheltenham Festival.
The winner jumped with notable aplomb however, and perhaps one of the biggest questions he has to answer is whether he can jump that exuberantly around a track like Cheltenham, which as mentioned previously, is a polar opposite test to quick ground at Kempton.
Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on the 27th December
The Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on the 27th December very much lived up to cautious expectations however, as the most likely winner Talk The Talk fell at the last when taking the lead. That left SKYLIGHT HUSTLE to pick up the pieces, but in my book he was a fortunate winner of the race.
His future may well end up being over further too, as Jack Kennedy suggested that perhaps the intermediate trip would be for him – which makes sense considering the other ammunition Gordon Elliott has. It is probably worth touching on both Le Divin Enfant and Love Me Tender too as Willie Mullins had a quieter Christmas period than what we have become accustomed to, but the rumour is that his gallops were flooded in December, which set his string back on work. It might be fair to forgive some of his runners performances as a result.
2m1f Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown
The final trial I put under the microscope was the 2m1f Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown, and this is another one which very much looks to be living up to the expectations of needing to tread with caution. ROMEO COOLIO eventually got the job done from a gallant Irish Panther, but the learnings were that the winner is an out-and-out 2m4f horse, with even the Ryanair Chase floated as a future idea.
He in fact received that Ryanair entry on Tuesday, and it looks very unlikely that he would even run in an Arkle unless the ground came up bottomless in March.
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NEW TRIALS REVIEWED
Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick
Lastly I touched on the newer trials in the racing calendar, and the first of those was the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick which increased in distance to 2m5f for the first time.
Unfortunately the final declarations were a bit of a farce considering Willie Mullins had three runners up against 100/1 shot Western Walk, but you would have to imagine that the winner FINAL DEMAND would have scared a fair few off.
Due to his position in the Brown Advisory market of being the 5/4 favourite there is every chance this trial works out well, and he did put in another good jumping display when beating Gold Dancer by 8 lengths. The disappointment of the race was undoubtedly Jimmy Du Seuil though, and it was a shame we did not get to see him serve it up to the favourite, who will likely have his next port of call in the 2m5f Flogas Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Grade 1 Formby Novice Hurdle
Arguably the trial I was most looking forward to before entries were made however was the Grade 1 Formby Novice Hurdle, which rather falsely promised to be a big bust up between the best of the British Novice Hurdlers.
Upon Tweed picked up an injury, Diamond Hunter skipped Christmas, and Act Of Innocence ran scared – but even so, former Supreme favourite Mydaddypaddy had his colours lowered on his first true test. It was a smart performance from IDAHO SUN who took up the running and ground it out from the front, but the Skelton team must have been disappointed with how ineffective their horse seemed to be off the bridle.
SELECTIONS SO FAR REVIEWED
HONESTY POLICY
Prior to Christmas I was extremely pleased with the return of HONESTY POLICY in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, where on his first start in open Grade 1 company he faced a tougher task than I initially appreciated against rivals with two prior runs under their belts.
In the end Impose Toi just did his customary ‘enough’ when seeing off Strong Leader, but having hit a bit of a flat spot Gordon Elliott’s youngster stayed on really strongly to the line under a second wind – and he was only beaten 1.5 lengths on the line, closing with every stride.
He immediately was cut from 16/1 into 8/1 for the Stayers Hurdle with plenty of punters assuming future improvement, but that price has since been cut into a best price of 5/1 owing to the fact that
Ballyburn was very much put in his place in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown by Teahupoo. Part of my reasoning for putting up Honesty Policy was the fact that the Willie Mullins charge was so short in the Ante-Post market at the time, but he is now out to 16/1 with plenty of stamina concerns to prove. Overall Teahupoo will still clearly take the beating in this division, but I am delighted with out position on the JP McManus newcomer.
ACT OF INNOCENCE
The fortunes of our second selection are very contrasting however, as my case for ACT OF INNOCENCE pretty much relied on him running in the Grade 1 Formby Novice Hurdle, which would have truly tested his credentials.
Connections bottled that engagement and instead turned to the soft option of an Introductory Hurdle at Newbury however, and in the end he was beaten by Minella Yoga. That Juvenile was in receipt of 20lbs, but ultimately due to the presence of stablemate Old Park Star, this was the nail in the coffin for our selection having any hopes in a Supreme. Back to the drawing board here.
Cheltenham Festival Triumph Hurdle Ante Post Tip
A Horse who had her reputation enhanced over the Christmas period without even leaving her box was MANGE TOUT, and as such I want to get this exciting Filly into the team. Gordon Elliott quite sensibly decided to test stablemate Barbizon in the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle on the 26th December, but ultimately he proved not to be good enough when comfortably put away by Narciso Has.
This Robcour half-sister to Impaire Et Passe had previously beaten that rival by 2.75 lengths at Fairyhouse however, and whilst she certainly had a fitness advantage that day, she was only in receipt of 3lbs from the Willie Mullins horse rather than the usual 7lbs.
It was great to see Narciso Has enhance that Fairyhouse run as it very much marks the two as having the best Juvenile form we have seen so far this season, but the reason I want to bet Mange Tout despite having the fitness advantage that day is because in any future Grade 1 encounters she will be receiving the full 7lbs allowance – meaning she will be 4lbs better off with Narciso Has despite beating him quite comprehensively.
Whilst equal fitness will likely bring them closer together, that weight swing could be more than enough to uphold the form should the pair meet at the Dublin Racing Festival, or even the Triumph Hurdle itself in March.
The likes of Proactif and Macho Man have finally received entries this week and I would not rule out having another play in the Triumph should one of them particularly impress – but Mange Tout already sets a very good standard in the division, especially in receipt of the Mares allowance. Gordon Elliott hasn’t had a top-class Juvenile in a while but he certainly knows how to train them, and I like that she missed Christmas to ensure she does not have to dance every dance prior to March.
2026 BETS SO FAR
HONESTY POLICY – Stayers Hurdle @ 16/1 – Now 5/1
ACT OF INNOCENCE – Supreme @ 20/1 – Now 50/1
MANGE TOUT – Triumph @ 10/1 – Now 10/1
