Road to Cheltenham 2026: Durkan delivers after informative week

A fortnight ago, Dan Skelton unleashed Supreme favourite Mydaddypaddy over hurdles on a Monday afternoon at Carlisle. Last week, it was point-to-point winner Harry Lowes at Exeter.

It's hard to know what the four-year-old son of Walk In The Park beat in Devon, but he won in the style of a good animal and the JP McManus-owned gelding is as short as 14/1 for the Turners. The New Lion vibes, anyone?

Half-an-hour later, Lulamba bolted up by 10 lengths on his chasing debut. He was entitled to beat the likes of Tripoli Flyer, Salver and Fingle Bridge (the eye-catcher of all eye-catchers), but he was impressive enough and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on in better company.

I'm unconvinced he's a proper two-miler, especially in the jumping department, but he could easily make it to the Cheltenham Festival unscathed, as there's not a whole lot in the way of opposition.

The first name to note from the rescheduled Navan card on Monday is Classical Creek for Gordon Elliott. He's always been held in high regard at Cullentra and this was the perfect start to his jumping career, surging eight lengths clear of a useful sort of Willie Mullins'. He's very much on my radar for an Albert Bartlett (20/1).

I was not at all surprised to see Theflyingking, my 50/1 selection for the aforementioned three-mile novice hurdle at the Festival, beaten in the Grade 3 over two miles. He's a proper stayer and needs a lot further. Hopefully that will now be the plan, as opposed to being laid out for something like the Martin Pipe. I must admit, I fear the latter...

I'll Sort That, who reeled in Theflyingking at the death, is a smart sort yet to taste defeat over timber. I suspect he'll struggle in the new year, but I could be very interested in him for one of the handicaps at the Festival.

The Yellow Clay is a horse I've never been able to warm to, even after he split The New Lion and Final Demand in the Turners last season, and he was beaten at 2/5f in the Lismullen Hurdle by a 10-year-old Colonel Mustard. He's drifted out to 16/1 for the Stayers' Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott and Bective Stud's disappointment was short-lived, though, as Found A Fifty won the Fortria Chase. Fortunately, as far as I'm concerned, for Dinoblue would have been a tough nut to crack but for a couple of bad mistakes. She'll be of interest in the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham, whereas the winner has probably had his day in the sun this season.

Last but certainly not least, Supreme hero Kopek Des Bordes lit up Navan on chasing debut. He dotted up by 13 lengths and strengthened his position at the top of the market for the Arkle. I wouldn't want to be on anything else, put it that way.

Two to discuss on Thursday. Firstly, Place De La Nation - one of my Five to Follow for the Jumps season. Willie Mullins' four-year-old, who retains her novice status, was a fine fifth in the Triumph Hurdle and she opened her account at the first time of asking at Thurles. She was unimpressive, but I don't think she's a three-miler. She'll be better judged next time out over a shorter distance.

I was impressed, meanwhile, with £400k point-to-point buy Cristal d'Estruval at Warwick. Harry Derham's four-year-old son of Crystal Ocean put three lengths between himself and the runner-up Baron Noir, who is likely a 130+ horse. He had the right two horses trailing him, too. I think this is a VERY strong piece of form. Follow it closely.

Is he a Cheltenham 2026 horse? My instinct is no. Only the elite British horses win the Grade 1s at the Festival and it's too early to say if this is one of them. I do like him a lot though.

Just the one to discuss from Friday's action - Unflinching in the bumper at Fairyhouse. Gordon Elliott has been talking him up a bit in various stable tours but I thought he was underwhelming. He'll come on plenty for the run and I'm not discounting his future, but the Champion Bumper? Not for me.

Right, onto the weekend. And what a weekend it was.

The star of the show at Ascot was Arkle hero Jango Baie for Nicky Henderson. That's a fair endorsement given Wodhooh, the Martin Pipe winner and Aintree Hurdle runner-up, won the Ascot Hurdle on the same card. She'll be hard to beat in a Mares' Hurdle if Lossiemouth goes to the Champion Hurdle. More on that in a mo...

'Jango' was better than I ever imagined he could be in the 1965 Chase, surging nine lengths clear of the second-placed Gidleigh Park who had course specialist Pic D'orhy a further 27 lengths behind. It was a serious performance from a horse I've probably underrated a bit. He's a big player in the King George, even after Sunday's antics, and the Ryanair too.

Oh, and for the third week in a row, I have to ask - how good is Majborough?

I was at Haydock on Saturday and I actually felt Kabral Du Mathan was the most impressive winner. It looked likely from a long way out and unusually for Harry Skelton, he was fully extended to win by 12 lengths. That gives the handicapper a decision to make, but he had so much in hand I wouldn't be convinced he'll get it right. He could be the yard's Coral Cup or County Hurdle horse.

The Jukebox Man put in a superb round of jumping to win the graduation chase on his return from injury. That should put Ben Pauling and Harry Redknapp's seven-year-old spot on for the King George (9/2) and he can't be discounted. I think he's got a bit to find on Jango Baie and the potential Irish raider(s), but I doubt anything will jump better than him.

Over at Punchestown, Kitzbuhel beat Closutton stablemate Kaid d'Authie in a beginners' chase over 2m3f. They're two nice horses who can pick up some nice races throughout the season. However, as far as the Brown Advisory is concerned... Final Demand won't be losing any sleep.

What did we learn about Mullins' star mare Lossiemouth? She's alive, for one. All four legs are intact. She's still grey. A bit lighter, perhaps?

She beat the 143-rated Glen Kiln as a 1/5f should in the Morgiana Hurdle and I don't think it told us anything about her capability over the minimum trip. She's at her best over middle distances in my opinion, but she's probably going to prove the yard's best two-miler too, so I'm leaning towards a Champion Hurdle bid.

The highlight on Sunday was of course Sortudo, advised at 40/1 for the Turners by yours truly, bolting up in a two-mile maiden hurdle at Cork. He beat Jalon d'Oudairies, third in the 2024 Champion Bumper, by eight-and-a-half lengths and Danny Mullins didn't have to get at all busy. He's smart. I'd say Albert Bartlett backers will have a bit of a sweat on now.

He's into 16/1 for the 2m5f race and I'd say his next target will either be the Grade 1 over the minimum trip at Christmas or the Lawlor's Of Naas over further in the new year.

Jade De Grugy was bitterly disappointing in the mares' beginners' chase won by Kala Conti, a nice type herself, and I suspect a return to hurdling is on the cards. She's out to 9/1 for the Mares' Hurdle.

Finally, the John Durkan. It was a renewal for the ages as Willie Mullins' Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File fought out a thrilling finish, with the former coming out on top in gritty fashion.

I do question the decision to give an Arkle winner such a lead, but it was impressive that he was able to keep up the gallop and not get reeled in by his stablemate who looked a huge danger approaching the final fence.

Instead of getting into the fallout, why don't we just enjoy that finish again? These races don't come about too often.

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