Feel free to post anything related to the Cheltenham Festival of 2025 here. Other Cheltenham Festival Dedicated Threads Index Cheltenham ante post thread (year removed in the title - first 7 pages are 2024, 2025 starts on page 8) 2025 Champion Hurdle I'll start with the race programme. Very encouraging to see the novice chasers being forced into either the Arkle or RSA (well the 3 miler whatever it is called these days - it was always the RSA CHase to me). If this proves successful in terms of the quantity and quality of runners in both races then it should lead to further such changes in the future. Also a lot of chatter again about the mares hurdle and it diluting the champion hurdle - with Brighterdaysahead being the latest "will she or won't she" saga. Whilst the mares programme has been really good in terms of upping the profile of mares generally, the Champion Hurdle is a poorer event without the very best mares running in it. Not sure of the solution here - some have talked about a maximum handicap rating to compete in the mares hurdle - forcing the really good mares to go champion hurdle.
Zara Tindall and her awful branch of that horrendous family will be attending. I've disagreed with many of the Cheltenham Executives decisions so far this century (I may have mentioned that once or twice!!!) but why they have this infatuation with this 'branch' I've no idea. Naming a Stand after her Mother (Why?!?) and making Tindall a Director (Why?!?). Unless, of course, they plan to rename the Cheltenham Festival - 'Royal Cheltenham'!!! Plus, the Civil Servant that remains within me ponders the question how much (in direct and indirect costs) will the Racecourse (and the people of Cheltenham though their Council Tax) pay for this branches attendance and association with the Racecourse???
I see that Mr Nicholls has been most bullish, these past couple of days, about recent Warwick Bumper winner No Drama This End. The old boy has stated some very nice words re the 5YO son of Walk In The Park and highlighted that he is very, very much a Cheltenham Bumper possible in '25. Somewhat shocked therefore to see that you can still get 33/1 about No Drama This End and that Cheltenham race.
He looked very, very smart to me. It also has to be said that the Champion Bumper market is extremely open right now and we haven't seen a "Oh my goodness what on Earth was that?" performance anywhere so far this winter.
Does anyone know the handicap range for the new 2m4f novices handicap chase? I assume it will be 0-145 like the old race that used to be the card closer on the Tuesday? Some memorable winners of that race by the way - Hunt Ball (what scenes!), Rajdhani Express (forum's favourite Corinthian on board) and of course future Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard in 2019. I think it is a real positive move bringing this race back and ditching the Grade 1 race - they may have named that Grade 1 after Golden Miller but if you look back at the 14 winners of the race you'd probably only pick out the ill-fated Vautour as a true top-notcher. It would have been a much better contest had he run against Un De Sceaux in that year's Arkle.
The first entries are out today and are headlined by a record-low British entry in the Gold Cup of just 5 runners - Grey Dawning, Ahoy Senor, Royal Pagaille, The Real Whacker and L'Homme Presse. Shocking. 19 entered in total (that in itself remarkably low) with 13 from Ireland plus Il Est Francais. 26 are entered for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and 34 for the Ryanair with, as always, multiple entries for several horses.
It all comes down to a lack of ambition by owners and trainers of talented mares. When it comes to prestige, there is no contest between the Mares Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. Both Honeysuckle and Benie Des Dieux kicked themselves in the foot by opting for the Mares Hurdle - and, by competing against each other, allowed an inferior mare, Epatante, to win the Champion. As for Brighterdaysahead, I have no idea how good she is, but let’s not be fooled by last year’s winner, State Man. He takes low rank among Champion Hurdle winners. Nevertheless, he’s probably the best horse (among a second rate lot) Constitution Hill has faced. All which tells me, despite the latter’s talent, that he’s never been tested by a really good horse. So if I owned Brighterdaysahead, going for the Champion Hurdle would be a no brainier.
Many a wide sage will tell you that a National Hunt trainer being honest is about as rare as a member of the British Royal Family paying their way. However, yesterday was really impressed by Gavin Cromwell's honesty re Sixandahalf who made a superb hurdling bow at Fairyhouse. He said that this was highly likely to be her one and only season over hurdles during which time they hoped to win at the Cheltenham Festival and/or secure Graded race success. Then its back to the Flat where, I guess, ultimately they have to looking at an Ebor, Melbourne Cup path (although whether or not Sixandahalf proves up to that, sort of class, only time will tell). Was impressed by Sixandahalf as well who to my mind has to be the most likely winner, at this stage, of the Mares Novices' at the Festival. Unless, of course, the rarely spotted Maughreen proves to be the reincarnation of Pegasus (and this time last year there was more than one report indicating that the old girl was).
I do, of course, agree with this. However, a significant proportion of the blame also lies with the Cheltenham Executive for giving owners the chance to show this lack of ambition. If 'lesser' races such as the Mares Hurdle didn't exist at the Festival (and were run instead at either the January or April fixtures) then owners of mares such as those you have mentioned would have one option and one option only - namely The Champion Hurdle.
The market for the Supreme Novices Hurdle looks very skewed at the moment and I wouldn't be rushing to take the general 3/1 to 7/2 about Salvator Mundi. To me he seems to be priced up on his 2nd to Sir Gino in France and seemingly had his limitations exposed in the Triumph when only 6th. A penalty kick at Tipperary and victory in a very modest looking Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novices Hurdle (neither with very high RPR or TS ratings) haven't really convinced me he has what it takes to win a Supreme and it is possibly lack of alternatives that has prompted the layers to make him favourite. Romeo Coolio has better figures and an official rating of 148 and his Christmas defeat of Bleu De Vassy looks much more rock solid form. As seems normal these days there is a complete lack of British challengers at the top of the market so we await the DRF (and maybe trials day at Cheltenham and Newbury's February meeting) to see this market really develop but it could be a year for a big-priced outsider.
Meanwhile the big hurdle entries are out with the following numbers: Champion Hurdle 16 Mares Hurdle: 24 Stayers Hurdle 36 Brighterdaysahead, Kargese and Lossiemouth all have dual entries in the Champion and Mares Hurdles
And July Flower, what a lovely name for a mare by the way, has entries in both the Stayers and the Mares Hurdle. A best priced 7's for the latter but as big as 100/1 for the Stayers Hurdle.
Maughreen finally reappeared yesterday then - winning a Maiden Hurdle by 5 lengths. The market for the 'Mares Novice' at the Festival now dominated by both her and Sixandahalf. My preference is for the latter at this stage. Meanwhile, I see that old boy, Langer Dan, has finally been downgraded by the handicapper! Albeit only 2 lbs to 158. Better in the spring and all that...
If anyone gets a spare few minutes I'd recommend a look at the 'Pertemps Qualifier' being run in God's own county, Devon, at the weekend (Exeter, Sunday). Lieutenant Henderson has entered a couple including the once touted 'reincarnation of Pegasus' Jeriko Du Reponet. Although given his recent form this must surely be viewed as an attempt to get the 6YOs career back on sort sort of even keel rather than an attempt to shoot at the old stars. Gordon Elliott also has a couple in the race whilst even Lossiemouth gets an entry (although not THAT Lossiemouth). And with a very respectful nod to the 2nd race on the card I'll ask if anyone thinks there are any 'plots' contained within Sunday's Pertemps Qualifier?!?
Not saying he is a plot but Hititi has very good course form figures of 134122 and the penultimate 2 was 2nd place in last year's renewal of the race (beaten just half a length off a mark of 137). Hititi actually qualified 3 times for last season's Final (finished 4th at Newbury, 2nd at Sandown and 2nd at Exeter but swerved the final). Goes off 135 this year which might give him a squeak. Meanwhile Elliott's Minella Sixo has the typical profile for horses he likes to plot up for the final - won a couple of novice events earlier in the season before placed efforts in a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 novice hurdle. He also has Turners and Albert Bartlett entries at the festival and would be very dangerous here off 137 if making the trip across. Others with potentially decent marks are Phantomofthepoints, Fred Winter fourth Harsh and Strackan who comes into the race on a four-timer. Certainly looks a deep set of entries.
Bit of a long shot I know but I’ll try! Got stuck in the car park debacle due to the mud last year. So I was wondering if anyone knows of any private car parks that are close to the course????? Has anyone used the leisure centre? Old bloke with dodgy knees so need to be fairly close thanks
