Cheltenham 2025: 10/1 Arkle hope receives significant form boost

Our horse racing expert Owen McMahon reflects on another week of National Hunt action as we continue along the road to Cheltenham 2025.

As far as I'm concerned, the first notable performance of the week was Croke Park's victory in a three-mile beginners' chase at Fairyhouse on Tuesday. Gordon Elliott's six-year-old son of Walk In The Park beat Willie Mullins' Iris Emery, giving 7lbs, by a narrow margin in the end.

That form is nothing more than okay and it's a worry he was reportedly bleeding from both nostrils afterwards, but he's thought plenty of at Cullentra and ought to improve plenty throughout the season. He's priced at 50/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

At Chepstow the following day, Dan Skelton's Royal Infantry and David Pipe's Jurancon won two-mile maiden hurdles. Both are very nice types for the season ahead and should win plenty of races on these shores, but come the Festival in March? Wouldn't be on my mind.

Let It Rain - also for the Skeltons - is the one I'd give another chance to. She was weak in the betting for a 2m3f maiden hurdle later on the card in Monmouthshire, and after travelling through the race in the style of a good horse she didn't find much at the business end and was soon minded.

As a result, the daughter of Kayf Tara has drifted for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. I'd say she's better judged next time out.

The standout performer on Thursday was Saint Sam, who won the Clonmel Oil Chase. Willie Mullins' seven-year-old posted a career-best effort, giving weight and a beating to the likes of Fil Dor, Solness and Fakir d'Oudairies on his way to Grade 2 honours.

He's a very inconsistent horse but is brilliant on his day and 33/1 for the Ryanair Chase is far from the worst bet around. However, he's unlikely to be the choice of Paul Townend come game day, for I suspect one of Gaelic Warrior or El Fabiolo will end up in this race too.

That same afternoon, Bowtogreatness beat Destroytheevidence in a novice handicap chase at Newbury. The latter, who is following a similar campaign to this year's Ultima winner and stablemate Chianti Classico, remains of interest for that very race in the spring.

Speaking of handicaps, keep Skyjack Hijack firmly in mind providing he isn't done too dirty by the handicapper for his 26-length victory in a 2m5f novices' hurdle at Exeter on Friday.

Jeanie Candlish's six-year-old son of Jet Away has now won five on the bounce, and this was by far his best performance to date. Carrying a 10lb penalty, he made all under a fantastic front-running ride by Jonjo O'Neill. He jumps for fun and shouldn't be overlooked this season. I'd like to see him entered in a Pertemps Qualifier next, but he could very easily be campaigned towards the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle instead.

A quick mention too for JPR One, who landed the Haldon Gold Cup later on the card. He did so in good style and should fare very well in the big two-mile Graded races here in the UK. Can he put it up to Champion Chase favourite Jonbon and Mullins' lot, though? I can't see it.

A British prospect I wouldn't underestimate at this stage is Mister Meggit, who cruised to victory on his hurdling debut at Aintree on Saturday.

Jonjo & A J O'Neill's six-year-old son of Shantou was, ignoring a mishap at Aintree in April when he bled from the nose, a very exciting bumper horse and he clearly has a huge future over obstacles. After the race, O'Neill Sr. made a comparison to his 2012 Gold Cup winner Synchronised. High praise indeed.

I wouldn't completely rule out the Supreme (40/1), but the Turners (25/1) rates a likelier target for him in terms of Cheltenham 2025. He could even develop into a Bartlett type, depending how his season pans out, but to my eye he looks a middle-distance horse all day long.

The last one to mention from Saturday is Paul Nicholls' Rubaud, who won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. He's now set to go novice chasing and he's one to keep an eye on in that discipline.

Onto Sunday, which saw The Kemble Brewery go 2-2 over hurdles with a win at Ffos Las. He was long odds-on so there's nothing to take from that, but his form in general is stacking up and he's an interesting prospect for the winter months.

The big story was Quilixios beating Marine Nationale by a fair distance in the G3 Barberstown Castle Chase. The winner did it nicely and is quoted at 33/1 for the Champion Chase, but I struggle to imagine him being good enough for that. That being said, the current two-mile chasing division is an unpredictable one, and there's few better trainers than Henry de Bromhead with such types.

As for Barry Connell's 2023 Supreme winner, I can't have him in mind going forward. Going by his high head carriage, recent wind op and application of a tongue tie, he appears to be struggling with a breathing issue and now has a lot to prove. 16/1 for the Champion Chase is of no interest to me.

Over at Sandown, Anno Power made no mistake at the first time of asking over hurdles. She must improve, especially in the jumping department, but she's clearly got a huge engine and is one to follow with the Mares' Novices' Hurdle (16/1) in mind.

For me, the horse whose Cheltenham 2025 credentials were strengthened the most last week didn't even run!

Inthepocket, who cantered 15 lengths clear of Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Farren Glory in a beginners' chase at Wexford last month, received a significant form boost when the latter beat Ho My Lord, who is no slouch, by seven widening lengths at Naas on Sunday.

After the race, Gordon Elliott suggested Farren Glory will now line up in the G1 Dinmore Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse's Winter Festival on the first day of December.

I'm warming to Inthepocket for the Arkle every day, with Betfred's industry-best 10/1 at time of publication appealing greatly.

Finally, off the track Willie Mullins mentioned the Stayers' Hurdle as an option for 2022 Triumph Hurdle hero Vauban.

He's far from guaranteed to stay three miles over jumps, but the Stayers' division is incredibly weak outside of Teahupoo and he would certainly add some spice. I couldn't put anyone off adding him to their antepost book.