Cheltenham 2025: No letting up with just a fortnight to go

Cheltenham 2025 is just a fortnight away and the likelihood is the last of this year's Festival hopefuls were seen last week. Here's my review of the action over that period.

Emma Lavelle's Bluey posted a career-best performance at Market Rasen on Tuesday, beating the 116-rated Siog Geal by seven-and-a-half lengths. She holds an entry for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle and very much deserves a shot at it. She's 25/1, despite being just a length behind Jubilee Alpha (8/1) last time out. Interesting.

At Ludlow 24 hours later, Ben Pauling's No Questions Asked won an egg-and-spoon race at long odds-on. Nothing was learned other than he's now qualified for a handicap hurdle at the Festival. The seven-year-old is 25/1 for both the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe.

If we saw a Cheltenham 2025 winner last week, I think it was at Punchestown on Thursday.

High Class Hero is a horse I'm very fond of and he wouldn't be hopeless in the Brown Advisory (25/1). Willie Mullins suggested that would be his next port of call immediately after his beginners' chase victory in County Kildare, but it's since been reported he could wait for the Irish Grand National instead.

Later on the card, Barry Connell's William Munny broke his duck over hurdles at the third attempt, having bumped into a couple of top prospects previously, with a 15-length success in a Listed affair over the minimum trip. He's bound for the Supreme and in my book has as good a chance as anything not named Kopek Des Bordes.

If the talk is true and Brighterdaysahead runs in the Champion Hurdle, Jade De Grugy should be very hard to beat in the Mares' after her Grade 3 return at Punchestown. Mullins' six-year-old defied a sizeable drift to give almost a stone and a beating to four rivals and is now 9/4 to do the business on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Another big market mover on Thursday was Gameofinches - yes, another Closutton inmate - who was slashed into 7/2 for the Champion Bumper after making a serious impression in the finale. He could be anything and I'll be surprised if Patrick Mullins isn't back on him next month.

There's plenty to discuss from the weekend, starting with the action at Kempton.

I was impressed by Philip Hobbs & Johnson White's Saint Anapolino in the opener - a competitive handicap hurdle over 2m5f - and he's of some interest in the Coral Cup or Martin Pipe. The former is my guess.

Mambonumberfive could be Fred Winter-bound after beating odds-on favourite Mondo Man in the Adonis, although it would be off-putting is the handicapper raises his mark too much on Tuesday. If you're interested in the 12/1 available, I'd advise waiting 24 hours or so.

I thought Fergal O'Brien's Tripoli Flyer was very good in winning the Dovecote and he deserves a run in the Supreme (33/1), but his participation is uncertain after bleeding from the nose after the race. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

The most impressive winner on the card was Katate Dori, who absolutely bolted up by 15 lengths in the Ladbrokes Trophy. He's got the option of the Ultima (9/1), Kim Muir (10/1) and the National Hunt Chase (11/1) at Cheltenham and all eyes are on the handicapper now. A bit of leniency and Sam Thomas' rapidly-improving seven-year-old would be of interest wherever he goes.

Up in Newcastle, Bust A Move qualified and enhanced his claims for the Fred Winter. He's a generous 33/1 for that juvenile handicap hurdle and I couldn't put anyone off.

I must also mention Spindleberry, who is 6/1 for the Mares' Chase after beating Bioluminescence (drifted out to 13/2) comfortably in a Listed race at Fairyhouse on Saturday, despite Willie Mullins suggesting Cheltenham comes too soon.

Finally, two to mention on Sunday - Gordon Elliott's Jacob's Ladder, who's 25/1 for the Albert Bartlett after his battling victory in the Grade 3 novice hurdle over 2m4f at Naas, and Will The Wise, who is 7/1 for the Pertemps after winning the Qualifier. I really like Gavin Cromwell's six-year-old's chances in that race.

*all Cheltenham 2025 antepost markets are now Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB)

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