• Hi Guest Just in case you were not aware I wanted to highlight that you can now get a free 7 day trial of Horseracebase here.
    We have a lot of members who are existing users of Horseracebase so help is always available if needed, as well as dedicated section of the fourm here.
    Best Wishes
    AR

CHELTENHAM 2026

No it aint cheap Dublin (the prices keep doubling every year - lol, oldies but goldies). I was there a few years ago but for a stag do, suppose it was cheaper than it could have been for me, I over did it too early and was feeling worse for wear for half of it.

Last ramblings until something else is confirmed or changes.

Haiti Couleurs, is running in the Denman Chase (Grade 2), Sat 07th Feb, up against Jango Baie and L'Homme Press, so should be tough opposition from Jango Baie, who is currently 4/1 for the Gold Cup, Haiti Couleurs 10/1 and Rebecca Curtis said he's running in the Gold Cup no matter what happens in the Denman (well, almost)....

She said: “Providing he runs a good race on Saturday, even if he was to get beat but runs a very good race, we’re still definitely going for the Gold Cup.

“You’ve got a track there (Cheltenham) that he absolutely loves – he loves going up and down hills and undulating tracks and you’ve got that extra two furlongs.

“I do think it takes a real stayer to win the Gold Cup, so whatever happens on Saturday, providing it’s not horrendous, we’ll still definitely be going to Cheltenham with him.”

If I was to join you with a punt Stedz, I think it would have to be before Saturday, just in case he runs a blinder and shortens, the Gold Cup is pretty open.

The Gold Cup is either weak as some say, or some being a little harsh and it's fairly strong, a lot of good horses who yes, can have a bad run, but also really good runs, and sometimes they just get beaten by another good horse on it's day (Gaelic Warrior n Fact To File for example, both smashed each other on different days, just maybe got out of bed on the wrong side/not primed/bit lame/ground etc.).

I still would quite like Galopin to regain his title, but I think I would prefer my original selection of The Jukebox Man 6/1 to cap off a great year for himself and Harry Redknapp, and he might just be the best bet now value wise.

Gordon Elliott said Brighterdaysahead is definitely running in the Champion Hurdle. I like to get clear confirmation (Mullins needs to confirm on Lossiemouth), Elliott still needs to confirm on Romeo Coolio though, surely he wont step up to 3m for the Brown Advisory and will run in the 2m Arkle.

Earlier in the thread I said IF, if Constitution Hill were to run in the Champion Hurdle and IF, if he managed to get around, he was a decent price at 11/1, however (and it could be partly due to it going from Antepost to NRNB), but he's now 3/1, so no longer worth the risk I think but someone's been backing him. Let's see if/how he runs at Southwell 20/2.

Something I thought was interesting which I heard on a podcast and hadn't realised, there's no odds on favourites at Cheltenham this year. I checked through and the shortest atm are Lulumba 5/4 Arkle, Majborough 5/4 Queen Mother, Fact To File 4/5 Ryanair Chase, but surely he's running in the Gold Cup (5/2 favourite for Gold Cup now). So there is nothing 1/1 or less this year, so far, could be sweet.

Finally, I've relented/got suckered in and put another bet on already. Only a few quid E/W on Nurse Susan. I've looked through the races and this stood out to me. Quite a lightly raced mare really, won twice at Cheltenham before but not at the festival, 4th in the Ryanair 2022, 11th in the Martin Pipe 2025. Ridden by Harry Skelton all but one ride. Won last two races in good style 2m4f @ Cheltenham and 2m3f @ Sandown. In form horse and yard, there's no way Mullins is catching Skelton this year. Skelton gets horses ready for Cheltenham and target races, and it sounds like they've targeted the Mares Hurdle 33/1 and not the Stayers 40/1, so I've had a few quid E/W on Nurse Susan 33/1 in the Mares Hurdle 2m3f 200y. That's a perfect distance for her in the Mares. Also, the favourite is Lossiemouth which SHOULD run in the Champion Hurdle, Woodhooh 2nd fav which COULD run in the Stayers, Brighterdaysahead 3rd fav & Golden Ace running in the Champion Hurdle, which leaves Jade De Grudy, Feet Of A Dancer, Kargese, Take No Chances, Nurse Susan, Murcia and possibly a few others 66/1+. Yes, no doubt a rule deduction coming, but I thought it might still be worth a bet now at 33/1. I think Nurse Susan 33/1 Mares Hurdle (but expect rule deduction) is possibly my pick of this year's festival.
 
Last edited:
I like Nurse Susan myself. I backed her last year but she seems to be getting better with age and I like her against own sex. Thanks for the reminder just got on at 28/1.
 
Day One / Off to a Flyer

Sorry one more, and I'm sure people already know, but I always try to get off to a good start and the obvious bet for day one is Nicky Henderson.... Early Double......

  • Old Park Star in the Supreme around 7/4 + Lulamba in the Arkle, around 5/4.

You could also add Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle around 3/1 and Jeriko Du Reponet in the Ultima around 6/1 for a Nicky Henderson 1st day Yankee.

To hedge against, you could add a Gordon Elliott early double with bigger odds.....

  • El Cairos in the Supreme around 11/2 + Romeo Collio in the Arkle around 6/1 (and hope he doesn't run in the Brown Advisory).

Or I might just have the two Henderson horses in the same bet with the two Elliott horses and play win doubles, hopefully that increases the chances of hitting an early double.
 
Got more time for study next week , I always have a hard look at Jonjos horses in the handicaps. He usually has something up his sleeve.
 
The Matt and Paddy Unbridled is quite entertaining too, Tom Bellamy and Nico De Boinville on the phone is quite funny.
 
Jango Baie skips the Denman and heads straight to Cheltenham, Henderson won't risk him, much easier race for Haiti Couleurs Saturday.
 
Cheltenham - Top Picks (atm)

Day One

Supreme Novice Hurdle - Oldparkstar, El Cairos, Talk The Talk (if either Mydadyypaddy or Ballyfad win this I'll be amazed, how they're both 8/1 I don't know, they're rubbish)
Arkle - Lulamba, Romeo Coolio, Irish Panther, Mambonumberfive, Sixmilebridge
Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - no selections, lottery
Ultima Handicap Chase - Myretown, Wendigo, Jeriko Du Reponet, The Wallpark
Champion Hurdle - The New Lion, Lossiemouth, Golden Ace (Brighterdaysahead is 10lb worse at Cheltenham compared to Punchestown, don't fancy her)
Plate Handicap Chase - Madara, Waterford Whispers, Matata 25/1
National Hunt Novices Handicap Chase - Backmeorsackme, The Wallpark (also entered in the Ultima)

Day Two

Turners Novices Hurdle - Doctor Steinberg, Talk The Talk, Sober, I'll Sort That
Brown Advisory Novices Chase - Kaid d'Authie, Romeo Coolio (but surely running in the Arkle), Wendigo, The Big Westerner
Coral Cup/Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle - Bowensonfire, Nurse Susan (damn, I didn't know she was entered for this race as well!), Storm Heart, The Yellow Clay, Murcia
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase - Stumptown, Vanillier (pointless race no.1)
Queen Mother Champion Chase - Majborough, Marine Nationale, Il Etait Temps, Solness, JPR One
Grand Annual Handicap Chase - Madara, Downmexicoway, Jazzy Matty
Champion Bumper - no selection, lottery/Mullins favourite (pointless race no.2)

Day Three

Mares Novices Hurdle - Bambino Fever, Old School Park, Cousin Kate (short favourite, pointless race no.3)
Jack Richards Handicap Chase - Sixmilebridge, Jeriko Du Reponet, Waterford Whispers, Mambonumberfive, Steel Ally (some in Arkle or Ultima & last two racing against each other Saturday 07th Feb Warwick @ 13:50)
Mares Hurdle - Nurse Susan, Kargese, Feet Of A Dancer, Murcia (top 4 in market Lossiemouth, Brighterdaysahead, Wodhooh & Gold Ace could/should run elsewhere)
Stayers Hurdle - Teahupoo, Bob Olinger, Ma Shantou
Ryanair - Impaire Et Passe, Panic Attack, Protektorat, Matata
Pertempts - Absolutely Doyen, Electric Mason, C'Est Different, Supremely West
Kim Muir Handicap Chase - Backmeorsackme, Konfusion, Johnnywho, Jeriko Du Reponet, The Wallpark, Mossy Fen Park, Herakles Westwood (open lottery handicap but most horses also entered elsewhere - pointless race?)

Day Four

Triumph Hurdle - Narciso Has, Proactif, Meastro Conti, Mange Tout
County Handicap Hurdle - Bowensonfire, Karbau, Murcia (pointless race no.4)
Mares Chase - The Big Westener, Panic Attack, July Flower, Diva Luna, Kargese, Dinoblue
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle - Doctor Steinberg, No Drama This End, I'll Sort That (I think we've had enough novice hurdles by now, pointless race no.5)
Gold Cup - The Jukebox Man, Fact To File, Haiti Couleurs, Gaelic Warrior, Galopin Des Champs
St James Place Hunter Chase - Its On The Line (love that horse), The Goffer, Unexpected Party, Stattler (pointless race no.6)
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle - Bowensonfire, Iberico Lord, Bunting, Absolutely Doyen (I think we've had enough handicaps by now, pointless race no.7 or keep this and ditch Kim Muir which is just the same as the Ultima)

I do think it could easily be cut back down to three days, at the same time, I do like a four day festival, so I'm a bit torn but there is some pointless/naff/mickey mouse races just there as filler, otherwise, some crackers which are pretty open this year.
 
Last edited:
Nice win for Haiti Couleurs although not best jumping to start with, did get into a nice rhythm though. I tried to double him with the Gold Cup but it wouldn't let me so I just put him in all my acca's. I thought it would be a favourites day yesterday so I had Haiti Couleurs, Lulamba, Sober Glory etc. (the obvious short priced horses) and got a reasonable profit, hit 9 in one bet (put 10/11/12 horses in and played win 8/9/10-folds), just needed one more on one bet and/or two more on another bet for bigger returns but close (Todo Bien 5/4f for Gordon Elliott let me down & Knight Of Allen 7/2 2nd).

I don't think many more horses that are entered for Cheltenham are running before the festival now, other than Constitution Hill and Myretown (Haydock 14/2/26 @ 15:15).
 
The Wallpark ran yesterday, beat Western Walk and Gold Dancer but beaten by Oscars Brother, 3m race and finished strongly, so should be ok for the Ultima (3m1f) or Kim Muir 3m2f), it might be that the National Hunt Novices Handicap Chase @ 3m6f is too far, but if he runs in either the Ultima or Kim Muir he might have a chance.
 
It’s The Jukebox Man in the Gold Cup for me, I’m on at 8/1 as a Single and have him in two Doubles, one with Impose Toi for The Stayers Hurdle but that now looks like it will be difficult for Hendersons recruit to win and another Double with Panic Attack at 10/1 (now half that at 5/1) for the Mares Chase on the Friday.

I also have a Double on Talk The Talk (Supreme) at 10/1 (now 4/1 or 9/2) and Skylight Hustle (Turners) at 25/1 (now 7/1 or 8/1).
 
Good luck with the doubles. I do hope The Jukebox Man wins (2018 since a British winner-Native River). My head always says to just go for Irish horses over British these days, especially for the Gold Cup, but my heart says go for The Jukebox Man (& Haiti Couleurs).

Jonbon 8/15 - Ascot Chase 15:35 tomorrow. I like Jonbon but not at that price. He does get some stick but 26 runs, 19 wins, 7 2nds, 5 of the 2nd's at Cheltenham, he just can't seem to get around. He deserves a Cheltenham win and he's entered for the Ryanair and Queen Mother, but I have a feeling they're going to swerve it and go to Aintree after Ascot tomorrow.

Also now worried about Nurse Susan, she's listed tomorrow in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle 15:50 at Haydock @ 11/2. Sometimes I feel 4 weeks isn't enough time to recover for another race, especially Cheltenham, especially if it's a slog tomorrow (soft + 3m), and then run either 3m1f, 3m2f or 3m6f at Cheltenham, that might be too much, so hopefully she doesn't run tomorrow or I'll have to trust that Skelton knows how long she needs to recover/how to get her fit for Cheltenham.

Update from Gordon Elliott...

Fancies Teahupoo for the Stayers, Romeo Coolio most likely to run in the Arkle, unless the ground gets really dry then more likely the Brown Advisory, Wodhooh definitely running in the Mares Hurdle not the Stayers, thinks Brown Advisory should be the perfect trip for Western Fold and fancies his chances, Ballyfad not certain but should be Turners over the Supreme.
 
No way, there's a horse called Heart Over Head 5/1 (Fergal O'Brien) running tomorrow - Ascot @ 16:10, I'm going to have to back that now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top