Road to Cheltenham 2026: Paging Doctor Du Mesnil…

Another thrilling week in the world of National Hunt racing began, at least as far as this column is concerned, at Market Rasen on Wednesday as C'Est Different bolted up in a Pertemps Qualifier.

Sam Thomas' five-year-old faces another significant hike in the weights, but he's thriving and is now joint-favourite at 14/1 for the Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

On the same card in Lincolnshire, Paggane continued her progression over fences, claiming another Listed event by over eight lengths, in a canter.

Her form over the bigger obstacles now reads 2312211 and I wouldn't discount her for a Mares' Chase. Not lightly, anyway. Faye Bramley is doing an incredible job with the former Willie Mullins inmate.

At Lingfield on Thursday another progressive chaser - Noble Park for Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley - surged a mere 24 lengths clear of a decent rival. He's climbing the ranks rapidly, and dare I say could be one for something like an Ultima if he continues the way he's going. He still looks a long way ahead of the handicapper.

Mossy Fen Road made a winning debut over hurdles just over half-an-hour later, beating the highly-rated Mondo Man. I have huge doubts about the latter's attitude, but the winner looks another nice type for Harry Derham.

Across the Irish Sea, at Thurles, Danny Mullins and Kappa Jy Pyke caused a huge upset by downing fancied stablemate Salvator Mundi in a beginners' chase. It was a canny ride on the winner, who has seemingly improved a lot over the summer, but you'd have to be disappointed by the runner-up at the same time. He's hard to trust going forward, even at revised odds of 18/1 for the Arkle.

Bigger tests await Mullins' Le Divin Enfant, who didn't get off the bridle in a maiden hurdle over two miles. It was a nothing race, but Paul Townend spoke highly of him afterwards and we'll know more after his next start, presumably in graded company.

I was very impressed by Moon Rocket on chasing debut at Doncaster on Friday. The five-year-old son of Doyen, a decent novice hurdler, bolted up by 13 lengths off a career-high mark of 134. Could he be this year's Ultima horse for Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls? Keep him in mind.

A few to discuss from Newbury, starting with Act Of Innocence who beat a smart Skelton inmate in a maiden hurdle over the minimum trip. Nicky Henderson's new recruit, who showed fine form in bumpers for Paul Nicholls last season, should take high rank in this division here in the UK. Time will tell if he's a Cheltenham contender, but my instinct is no.

Mambonumberfive could easily be one for a Festival handicap. Ben Pauling's four-year-old is thriving for jumping fences and he still looked ahead of his mark at Newbury on Friday. I like him a lot.

Gordon Elliott and Robcour have a couple of smart juveniles on their hands this year, including Highland Crystal who claimed Listed honours in Berkshire - the same race a certain Wodhooh won a couple of years ago. Triumph or Fred Winter? Aintree or Punchestown? There's a long way to go with these three-year-olds.

You'd love to own a horse like Wendigo, who stayed on strongly to win the G2 John Francome. More is required if he's to be competitive against the likes of Final Demand in a Brown Advisory (16/1) come March, but there's plenty of races to be won in the meantime.

The one I do give a huge chance to in just over three months time is Impose Toi. He justified significant support in the market to win the Long Distance Hurdle, beating the 156-rated Strong Leader who did little wrong, by half-a-length.

The winner can be marked up too, for he was keen, didn't jump great and was a bit awkward in the home straight. I think he's a great bet for the Stayers' Hurdle, even after Sunday's action from Fairyhouse. More on that shortly...

I'm going on a bit now, so let's stick to the big bits from the weekend.

Where to begin with the Fighting Fifth? Constitution Hill has completely lost the ability to jump a hurdle and I don't think I'll ever be able to back him again. He might put it all together one day and look exceptional, but I'd be happy to let him do so without carrying my money. I have no idea where his future lies after this.

I thought The New Lion was beat at the point of his departure, so I remain unconvinced about his ability over the minimum trip. Connections are adamant that's the way he's going, though, so if you disagree with me he's out to 4/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Anzadam clearly has a lot of ability but he's a bit of a headcase, and hard to keep sound. He's out to 16/1, just a couple of points bigger than the reigning champ Golden Ace.

For me, that's a bit of an insult. She's been there, done that and got the t-shirt. She jumps. She travels. She finishes her races. I love her.

I'm a big fan of French Ship, Tutti Quanti and Panic Attack, but I'm happy to pass on all three Newbury winners for Cheltenham on account of being over the hill or simply not up to that level.

La Conquiere, however, who landed the Listed mares' novices' hurdle that opened the card in Berkshire, is definitely a player in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle division. Jamie Snowden knows what it takes to win that race and he's suggested his six-year-old is even better than his winner of the race - You Wear It Well. She's open to so much improvement.

I loved what I saw from Coral Cup hero Jimmy Du Seuil on fencing debut at Fairyhouse on Saturday, beating The Big Westerner - who can be marked up due to the poor form of Henry de Bromhead - by four lengths. These are two smart staying chasers in the making, but once again, it's a big ask to put it up to Final Demand in the Brown Advisory. Should you run scared of just one horse, though?

The performance that pleased me most was that of Skylight Hustle in a two-mile maiden hurdle. Gordon Elliott's five-year-old, who could be the yard's Supreme (33/1) hope, bolted up by 21 lengths, franking the form of Paul Nolan's Thedeviluno who pulled over two lengths clear of him at Gowran Park in early November. Who beat Thedeviluno in a bumper? Doctor Du Mesnil - by 11 lengths.

The form of Thedeviluno received another handsome boost on Sunday as The Passing Wife, third at Gowran Park, was a fast-finishing third in the Royal Bond. A major eye-catcher, especially considering the form trainer Gavin Cromwell is in.

How good could the aforementioned Doctor Du Mesnil be? Very, I think. Don't be surprised to see Willie Mullins' five-year-old make an appearance in my antepost book very, very soon. I can't wait to see him.

Koktail Brut won the Royal Bond, from Noel Meade's Blake, and while I like the winner in particular, I don't it's Cheltenham Festival-winning form. We'll see.

I wouldn't be in a rush to say that about the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle, won by Mange Tout. She's a definite player in the Triumph at this stage, as is the runner-up Narciso Has. In fact, I fancy him to reverse that form if/when they meet again. Bear in mind though, there's a lot of water to go under the bridge in that division.

Finally, the Grade 1 double for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. Romeo Coolio was outstanding in the Drinmore and I'd give him a good chance in either the Arkle (11/2) or Brown Advisory (14/1). If he was mine, he'd be going up to three miles, but it seems like connections are favouring a drop in trip, if anything. He could even avoid the Cheltenham Festival, which would be a big loss.

Definitely bound for Prestbury Park is one of my favourite horses in training, Teahupoo, who won a third Hatton's Grace in dramatic style. He just repelled Ballyburn, who was finishing very strongly, and barring an accident, he'll put up a good fight in trying to win back his Stayers' crown come March.

As for the runner-up, I'm unsure. The obvious thing to say is that he'll reverse the form, but is he a proper three-miler who will be suited to three miles, on the New Course? Especially if there was a downpour of rain. I'd rather stick with the tried-and-tested runner in this case.

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