The pre-race talk of young pretenders in the Stayers' Hurdle proved wide of the mark with two 11-year-olds, Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger, finishing first and third respectively.
Also noted - since Cath Williams took over the training licence from husband Evan who has been found guilty of assaulting a dog walker, she has had, to date, just the two runners, both at Cheltenham. Ask Brewster won the Kim Muir earlier today at 22/1 while Libberty Hunter finished second in the Champion Chase yesterday at odds of 50/1.
At the time of writing the going is described as good, good to soft in places, with rain forecast overnight and light showers during the afternoon tomorrow.
4.00 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Last week Galopin Des Champs, Gold Cup winner in 2023 and 2024, and second behind Inothewayurthinkin in last year's renewal, was declared a non-runner for this year's race after suffering a setback. Stablemate Gaelic Warrior was immediately promoted to the head of the market but presently The Jukebox Man holds that spot priced at 100/30, with Gaelic Warrior 7/2, Haiti Couleurs 11/2 and Jango Baie on the drift at 6/1.
In this year's King George at Kempton - a race for the ages that rescued this Christmas - The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, famously pipped Banbridge a nose, with Gaelic Warrior a further nose away in third and Jango Baie half a length adrift in fourth.
An extended three and a quarter miles around the New Course at Cheltenham is a very different proposition to three miles at Kempton.
Maddy Playle writes in the RP Weekender:
"If I had a list of horses to oppose at this year's festival Gaelic Warrior would be towards the top.
"I cannot fathom why he is favourite for the Gold Cup as, despite being an Arkle winner, he does not seem particularly well suited to Cheltenham. He was beaten in the Fred Winter off a mark of 129 before being bested by Impaire Et Passe in the following year's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
"...in my view [he] seems better suited to intermediate distances due to his tendency to race enthusiastically..."
The Jukebox Man is unbeaten over fences and looked a shade unlucky when collared by Stellar Story in the shadow of the post in the 2024 Albert Bartlett.
Jango Baie rallied to win last year's Arkle and then won the 1965 Chase at Ascot in November in a quick time.
Haiti Couleurs disappointed on his first try in Graded company, pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock won by Grey Dawning. Just after Christmas he won the Welsh National carrying 11-13 and then the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury five weeks ago.
In a recent Straight from the Stable article [RP Weekender 25.02-01.03.26] handler Rebecca Curtis said:
"He didn't particularly like the heavy ground in the Denman at Newbury but won by seven lengths and it will have sharpened him up for the Gold Cup. That's the one we all want to win."
In receipt of six pounds Spillane's Tower beat L'Homme Presse threequarters of a length and Grey Dawning five lengths in the Cotswold Chase on Trials Day.
Both L'Homme Presse and Envoi Allen are at the veteran stage; the last horse older than nine to come home in front was ten-year-old Cool Dawn in 1998.
Inothewayurthinkin has run poorly on his three starts this season following last year's exploits.
At one point trainer Gavin Cromwell indicated it was doubtful whether his charge would defend his crown but the gelding was backed at around 18/1 last week and sports first-time cheekpieces. The yard is emerging from a torrid season; several have run well in recent days and Final Orders won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Wednesday.
Firefox stayed on from the rear to claim fourth behind Fact to File in the Irish Gold Cup last month but all his previous form has been gained over shorter distances.
Gold Tweet caused a shock when winning the 2023 Cleeve Hurdle; that will seem as nothing if he were to win the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A very open renewal. Only two of the top five in the market have form over the trip: Haiti Couleurs and Inothewayurthinkin; of the pair I prefer the former.
Maddy Playle wrote, 'Gaelic might win but not with my cash, and' I'm in the same camp. Jango Baie's drift in the market this evening is disconcerting so The Jukebox Man gets the vote.
The Jukebox Man is the win selection, 3/1 generally at the time of writing.
Pushed for time but a very quick footnote on Pipers Park in the Mares' Chase (2.40). She's is on the 'dark horse' list after a creditable second behind Jasmin Bliss in a Listed Mares' Chase at Huntingdon five weeks ago; two out she looked the likely winner.
Quoting the form analysis:
"Sporting a first-time tongue-tie, she'd only had two previous starts under rules but evidently has bundles of ability and could even step forward for this first start in 405 days. An intriguing prospect."
By my reckoning she'll need to step forward in excess of 20lbs to have even a remote chance here but at 125/1 - I missed 150/1 - I thought she was worth some of my hard-earned shrapnel.
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