Our star columnist with a horse-by-horse information to his crew for day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday
13:20 Free Spirit (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)
He completed third in the Moscow Flyer on his first run for us and was very eager that day. It was an excellent race and hopefully Mark Walsh can get him settled this time and if he does then his French expertise and kind over hurdles may come into play late in the day. I believe the floor might be a big assist to him.
13:20 King Rasko Grey (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)
I believed he ran very effectively in the Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival and he should be completely revered on this. Paul has opted to experience him and I’m completely satisfied to observe him. I believe he’s improved since the final day so is one that you must have on your thoughts.
13:20 Laurets d’Estruval (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)
He had an excellent run at Christmas when crushed by a extra skilled horse and got here again and confirmed his wellbeing at Thurles when the floor was rather a lot higher. He has each proper to be in the race and received’t be a backmarker by any means.
13:20 Saint Baco (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)
He upset at Naas final time however I don’t assume he clicked that day for some cause. He appears to be again to his outdated self and if he’s, he’ll be in that first group coming down the hill to the second final and who is aware of what can occur from there.
13:20 Sober (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)
I believe the additional journey right here will give him an opportunity. We know he’s effectively capable of deal with this type of distance and it’s going to be his floor. His inexperience over hurdles is the solely damaging however his leaping at dwelling has been superb and his tactical velocity at the end might be a giant asset. He’s certain to be there or thereabouts and I wouldn’t put anybody off backing him.
13:20 Sortudo (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)
I believed his run at Naas the final day was superb in a race when the final two hurdles had been taken out. The reality there have been no jumps in the final 5 – 6 furlongs of the race would have been a giant damaging for him and that run places him effectively into rivalry right here.
14:00 Argento Boy (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
A great, strong horse who fell earlier in his profession however has received the final twice. His kind seems to be good and strong, and I believe he’s one who we haven’t seen the greatest of but. He’s lazy and Danny might be the man to work him out.
14:00 Final Demand (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
I believe he’s turned the nook and appears rather a lot higher at dwelling so if he’s again to himself as we hope he’s, he ought to run a extremely good race and presumably be exhausting to beat. But he has upset the final twice so issues must go proper however I believe it’s all about his wellbeing on the day. He travelled over effectively, is completely satisfied and in good kind on the gallops over right here.
14:00 Joystick (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
He received in good type at Navan final time and is getting higher with each race over fences. He wants a career-best by some margin to win this however he’s going the proper method.
14:00 Kaid d’Authie (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
He did every part proper in Leopardstown, jumped and galloped and appeared to get pleasure from himself with the cheekpieces again on. If he can do the similar at Cheltenham it offers him an actual likelihood.
14:00 Kitzbuhel (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
Harry Cobden takes the experience on Wednesday. We’ll should put a line by his run at Sandown and for those who achieve this, you’re left with that implausible exhibition of galloping and leaping at Kempton over Christmas. He beat Kaid d’Authie at Punchestown the time earlier than and if he’s in that kind of kind, he can serve it as much as the principals right here.
14:00 Predators Gold (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
He was an excellent novice hurdler, ending second to Dancing City in a Grade One at the DRF. He’s taken effectively to fences, successful at Navan earlier than being collared late when third to Kappa Jy Pyke subsequent time. I believe he’ll like each the drying floor and step as much as three miles. Don’t put a line by him.
14:40 Bunting (BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle)
He’s been pleasing me at dwelling since his run in the DRF. I believed he’d run effectively in the Coral Cup final season, however he pulled up there. However, I’m completely satisfied to present him one other likelihood in the race. The floor is coming proper, he’s working effectively and must be seen in a significantly better gentle.
14:40 Chart Topper (BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle)
He was underneath stress a great distance out however regarded like he may take a hand in the end when falling in a Pertemps Qualifier at Haydock final time. With first-time cheekpieces on he’s succesful of operating effectively down in distance if that have hasn’t left a mark.
14:40 Kopeck De Mee (BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle)
He was all-the-rage for the Martin Pipe at the assembly final season however didn’t run as much as expectations. However, he did go on to run very effectively at Aintree. We made the resolution to go chasing this time period however after he fell at Navan in December we determined to return over hurdles and look forward to that. He’ll be a stunning novice chaser subsequent time period and is in good kind at dwelling proper now. He might run effectively.
14:40 Sony Bill (BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle)
He had the possibility of operating in the Martin Pipe however would have had rather a lot of weight for a five-year-old so we’ve elected to come back right here. On higher floor he might run effectively at an honest value.
14:40 Storm Heart (BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle)
He picked up effectively to win a really tactical Red Mills Hurdle final time and I favored the method he was capable of overcome a bit of hassle in operating to win as he did. He’s bettering and whereas he has lots of weight, I do assume going again as much as this journey will go well with him.
16:00 Il Etait Temps (BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase)
He by no means travelled or acquired concerned for no matter cause in the Clarence House at Ascot earlier than taking a drained fall. We’re hoping the actual Il Etait Temps comes again at Cheltenham on Wednesday and he appears in superb kind.
16:00 Majborough (BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase)
I’m very pleased with him. The cheekpieces and the method Mark rode him at the DRF actually helped him to discover a rhythm out in entrance. He comes right here in good kind and if he’s in the similar rhythm as final time, he’ll take lots of beating.
16:40 Western Diego (Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual)
A great winner of a aggressive handicap chase at Fairyhouse two begins in the past, he then ran an honest race at the DRF on floor that might have been as testing as he’d like. Back right here on drier situations, for all he’s taken fairly a hike in the weights, he ought to have a sporting likelihood for his house owners.
17:20 Love Sign d’Aunou (Weatherbys Champion Bumper)
He received on extraordinarily testing floor on his first begin for us. He did every part proper, stayed on very strongly to win and Patrick has elected to experience him which is clearly a optimistic. He’s an unknown amount and a really good kind.
17:20 The Irish Avatar (Weatherbys Champion Bumper)
Harry Cobden is available in to experience right here. He’s a horse who works very effectively at dwelling and was good when successful at Navan in January. That kind has acquired a significant enhance since and my horse is open to lots of extra enchancment.
17:20 The Wager (Weatherbys Champion Bumper)
He received in a really robust battle final time, in actual fact I believed he was crushed midway up the straight. That exhibits me that he was studying on the job in Fairyhouse and that he’s a horse that may enhance rather a lot. He discovered an terrible lot that day about the way to race and might outrun his value.
17:20 Our Trigger (Weatherbys Champion Bumper)
A full brother to Gaelic Warrior and created an excellent impression at Gowran on debut. It’s a troublesome process for a four-year-old however he’s a stunning prospect.
17:20 Quiryn (Weatherbys Champion Bumper)
Paul Townend rides and it’s very vital that he has put his hand up to take action. Four-year-olds don’t have the greatest document in the race however he was very spectacular when he received at Naas and should have given Paul an excellent really feel on the gallops for him to have elected to take the experience.
Cheltenham Festival 2026: Stable Tours
Cheltenham Festival protection
More from Sporting Life
Safer playing
We are dedicated in our help of safer playing. Recommended bets are suggested to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager solely what they’ll afford to lose.
If you might be involved about your playing, please name the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further help and data will be discovered at (*2*) and gamblingtherapy.org.
