Cheltenham 2025: Festival clues aplenty post-November Meeting

Our horse racing expert Owen McMahon reflects on another busy week of Jumps racing as the build-up to Cheltenham 2025 continues.

The first to catch my attention last week was Califet En Vol. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old won a 2m5f novices' hurdle at Kempton on Monday in a canter, pulling 15 lengths clear of his five rivals. This was a serious performance and the sky's the limit for this lightly-raced youngster.

A couple days later, Gordon Elliott's Shecouldbeanything got up late under the Sean Bowen drive to deny 2023 Mares' Novices' Hurdle heroine You Wear It Well a winning debut over fences in a Listed affair at Bangor.

That was the former's fourth win on the trot and she's now 33/1 for the Mares' Chase at the Festival - while Jamie Snowden's seven-year-old has been installed at 25/1.

At Fairyhouse on Friday, Willie Mullins' Irancy ran out an impressive winner of a maiden hurdle over the minimum trip. The JP McManus-owned six-year-old was a remote third behind Firefox and Ballyburn at Fairyhouse last December before a setback put an end to his season, and he's very interesting if staying sound this term.

He's now had two runs over hurdles, so perhaps he'll be one for handicaps in the spring, but I wouldn't rule out Grade 1 targets just yet.

Later on the card, Willie Mullins' Sounds Victorious, who was fourth in the Champion Bumper in March, was beaten at 2/5f by a 40/1 shot in a 2m4f maiden and has drifted out to 25/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

I wouldn't give up on him so quickly. Despite his SP, it's not an outrageous thought that the winner, who was in receipt of nearly a stone, does the form justice throughout the season and I suspect the runner-up was nowhere near fully fit and should come on leaps and bounds for the run.

Let me remind you of Dancing City, who was beaten 17L on his hurdling debut this time last year before going on to win three Grade 1s...

Over at Cheltenham on Friday, Jonbon was the star attraction and he got the job done in the Shloer Chase. Unimpressive, I think it's fair to say, but he always looked to have his rivals covered and was doing his best work at the finish.

Both Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville suggested he'll come on plenty for it, and he'll need to if he's to win a Champion Chase. I love this horse, but odds of 7/2 for that race are of little interest to me at this stage.

Hyland, another Seven Barrows inmate, was excellent from the front in the Listed novices' chase over an extended three miles on the same card. He'll likely go down the Brown Advisory route, but he wouldn't make my list of likely winners.

The runner-up Resplendent Grey is one to keep in mind for the new National Hunt Chase at the Festival. He shaped like an out-and-out stayer at the weekend and if Olly Murphy can keep his mark under 145, he could be one for that now it's been changed to a handicap.

I'm no Cross Country fan, but I have to mention Gabriel Leenders' five-year-old Sweet David. He was very impressive and no doubt connections plan to return to Prestbury Park in March for the big one.

But the most impressive showing on Friday was undoubtedly Nigel Twiston-Davies' Potters Charm in the G2 Hyde Novices' Hurdle. He powered 11 lengths clear of Valgrand, who had Gale Mahler a further nine and a half lengths behind, and looks an immense prospect.

The five-year-old was cut to 16/1 for the Turners Novices' Hurdle and 18/1 for the Albert Bartlett. As of right now, the former rates his likely target, but if he's beaten in the Challow Hurdle, let's say, and something emerges from across the Irish Sea, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in the latter.

Onto the weekend action, starting with Gordon Elliott's many winners at Navan on Saturday.

Wingmen won the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle, shaping like an Albert Bartlett prospect (22/1). On the other hand, Bleu De Vassy looked like one for the Supreme (25/1) or Turners (16/1) after backing up his 25-length maiden success with Grade 3 honours.

Found A Fifty was another success story for Cullentra on Saturday. He won the G2 Fortria Stakes, but the race completely fell apart and I can't have him in mind at 20/1 for the Champion Chase. The Ryanair, however? That's more like it.

Down Memory Lane was impressive in what looked a warm beginners' chase over 2m1f on the same card. He pulled seven lengths clear of useful rivals and this could prove to be a strong piece of form. I think 22/1 for the Arkle is fair, but I would like to see him do it without dictating from the front on ideal ground before getting involved.

Meanwhile, at Cheltenham, East India Dock set a serious marker for the Triumph Hurdle by winning the Grade 2 Trial by a mere 18 lengths. James Owen's youngster looks a serious prospect and I couldn't put anyone off a bet at 8/1, for as much as we're yet to see anything from Ireland yet.

Similar comments apply to Dan Skelton's L'Eau Du Sud, who won the Grade 2 Arkle Trial by 11 lengths. He was undoubtedly impressive, but he beat modest opposition as far as I'm concerned and there's no rush to take odds of 9/1.

I think one of the standout performers this weekend, certainly in the novice hurdling ranks, came from Gordon Elliott's The Yellow Clay, who won the G3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan on Sunday by 10 widening lengths.

He's now favourite for the Albert Bartlett, but I would be very surprised if the Turners isn't his target. Connections have Wingmen as an option for the three-miler and given Elliott often hints at giving this horse a run on the Flat, I don't suspect they'll be stepping him up in trip anytime soon.

I rate him a solid proposition at time of publication, but must also advise a bit of caution. The Mullins horse in second, who was giving away three pounds, would be nowhere near the top of the pecking order at Closutton and I think it would be unwise to get carried away for the time being. He's got bags of talent though.

Hours later, Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead beat Slade Steel, the Supreme hero, in a beginners' chase over slightly further than 2m4f.

I don't want to draw many conclusions from this race, as it was a slowly-run affair and I think the winner was slightly flattered by the winning margin, but I must say Slade Steel didn't look a natural over fences. I've nothing more than mild interest in 14/1 about the winner and 20/1 about the runner-up for the Brown Advisory at this stage.

Burdett Road won the big race at Cheltenham on Sunday, the Greatwood, and I assume he'll now be routed towards the Champion Hurdle in March. He's 28/1 for that, but I wouldn't back him if there was a zero on the end of that. A nice horse, but he's a long way off the likes of Constitution Hill and State Man.

Finally, Il Est Francais was pulled-up in France having bled during the race. I would be surprised if he turns up at Kempton for the King George in December and even more so in regards to the Festival.