Cheltenham 2025: Champion Chase clues and more

It's Monday, which means it's time to look back at the past seven days with an eye on Cheltenham 2025.

Willie Mullins enjoyed a couple of winners at Clonmel on Tuesday who could well be in the picture for the Festival in March - C'Est Ta Chance and Karafon, who both don the double green of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

The pair were victorious in separate divisions of a 2m3½f maiden hurdle and the former shaped like an Albert Bartlett potential, while the latter could be one for either the Supreme or the Turners. He's entered in the Grade 1 over two miles at Leopardstown over Christmas, so perhaps the shorter distance.

There's not yet a market for the National Hunt Chase - a 0-145 handicap of this season - but keep Three Card Brag firmly in mind for when there is one. Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old bumped into the likes of Corbetts Cross, Monty's Star and Spillane's Tower last term and the second-season novice enjoyed a spin over hurdles in County Tipperary. Keeping that all-important mark handy, I wonder?

On Wednesday, Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's White Rhino made it 2-2 over fences with an authoritative success at Haydock. I doubt he's a Grade 1 animal but he could certainly be one for the aforementioned National Hunt Chase, or perhaps the Plate or Ultima. Another one to keep in mind.

Royal Infantry landed the 'introductory' hurdle later on the card by a widening eight and a half lengths, and Dan Skelton is likely to give him a chance at the highest level. However, he got a bit of a freebie from the front on Merseyside and I couldn't advise odds of 20/1 for the Supreme.

A British contender I couldn't put you off is Bill Joyce for the Jonjo & A J O'Neill partnership. I thought the five-year-old was excellent under a brilliant ride by Jonjo Jr. in the G2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown, beating one of Paul Nicholls' better prospects in Quebecois by a comfortable five lengths. He looks tailor made for the middle-distance event at the Cheltenham Festival.

Just over half an hour later, Handstands bounced back from a fall on his chasing debut to win the G2 Esher Novices' Chase in Surrey in some style. He looks a fair prospect and rates another Brown Advisory contender - following The Jukebox the week prior - for Ben Pauling.

Onto the weekend, starting with 2024 Champion Bumper hero Jasmin De Vaux's maiden hurdle success at Navan on Saturday. I wasn't impressed by Willie Mullins' five-year-old, I must admit. His jumping needs plenty of work and I was disappointed The Enabler, beaten at odds-on in his first two starts over hurdles, finished as close as he did.

He'll no doubt come on plenty for the run, but he'll have to if he's to become a two-time Festival winner. The Turners is his likeliest target after that, but I'd say the Bartlett (18/1) is in contention too.

Another disappointment for me was Gordon Elliott's The Yellow Clay. I expected him to make easy work of modest rivals in the G2 Navan Novice Hurdle, but he made it look difficult, just about getting up in the final strides. I'd say the Bartlett (12/1) is very much in-play for him now too.

Ile Atlantique was anything but disappointing in a warm beginners' chase later on the card. Mullins' six-year-old, who I expected much more from over hurdles, jumped like a buck and put nine lengths between himself and useful rivals in Waterford Whispers and Good Land. He could be one for either the Arkle or Brown Advisory - I'd prefer the former.

The bumper at Navan was won by Gordon Elliott's He Can't Dance, who looks yet another exciting prospect for Gigginstown. But is he the Champion Bumper (14/1) winner? Not for me, at this early stage.

Two performances to discuss from Sandown on Saturday, starting with L'Eau du Sud who made it 3-3 over fences with a ready triumph in the G1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase. Dan Skelton's six-year-old is proving a much better chaser than hurdler and is no doubt a contender for the Arkle (13/2), but is he going to be able to put it up to the likes of Ballyburn and Inthepocket? Perhaps even Sir Gino and Majborough? Also not for me...

Jonbon, on the other hand, is a massive contender for the Champion Chase. I'll try not to be biased, as I adore this horse, but he's an excellent jumper for the most part and sets the standard in the two-mile chasing division for the time being. If he can translate the form of his eight-length Tingle Creek victory on Saturday to Cheltenham in March, it'll take a very good one to beat him.

Perhaps that could be Energumene? The dual Champion Chase hero returned from 593 days on the sidelines with success in the G2 Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.

It was a brilliant return from a 10-year-old who's had issues, but it's important to note he was getting 10lbs from Banbridge, who unseated at the last when looking to challenge. The mare Dinoblue, who would receive seven pounds from her stablemate in the big one, was giving three pounds back in second too. I wouldn't be rushing to take 5/1, put it that way.

Earlier on the card at Cork, Gavin Cromwell's Only By Night was mightily impressive in winning a Grade 2 mares' novices' chase, beating the well-backed Nara on the bridle. She's thrown her name into the hat for the Mares' Chase on the back of that. I like her a lot.

Finally, a word for Venetia Williams' Djelo at Huntingdon. The six-year-old made light work of the 166-rated Protektorat and Ginny's Destiny (154) to take the G2 Peterborough Chase by six lengths.

I have long been a fan of this horse and I think this was a serious performance. He's very much on my radar for the Ryanair Chase after that.

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