Cheltenham 2025: Could this be the Triumph Hurdle winner?

Christmas is right around the corner and my final antepost tip for Cheltenham 2025 before the busy festive period is one I expect to feature on Boxing Day and stake her claim for one of the most open-looking races of the Festival.

It's still early days, but it's looking like we're dealing with a relatively modest crop of juvenile hurdlers this season.

James Owens' East India Dock sets the standard in the division at time of publication after his 18-length trouncing of nine rivals in the Trial at Cheltenham's November Meeting, but nothing else has staked much of a claim yet.

Willy De Houelle, touted in some quarters to be Willie Mullins' big hope heading into the campaign, was beaten at 1/4f by Naturally Nimble, believed to be a Boodles type, in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse earlier this month - and those aside, the market is full of horses yet to appear on these shores.

Palladium, bought for a mouth-watering €1.4m (£1.1m) and sent to Nicky Henderson as a dual-purpose type, is yet to even receive an entry and he occupies second spot in the betting.

Likewise, I haven't seen Hello Neighbour, Charlus (it's been suggested he won't run until January/February in the new year), Olympic Story, Mondo Man and Sauvignon - five of the top 10 in Betfred's market - appear in any entry lists to date.

Gordon Elliott has unleashed nothing of note and there's little chatter about one waiting in the wings, which can also be said for the likes of Henry de Bromhead and Gavin Cromwell.

There's of course a chance of Majborough v.2 coming out of the woodwork at Closutton, but Mr. Mullins was already waxing lyrical about him at this point last season and there's been nothing in the numerous stable tours to receive those levels of praise.

He was, however, quite complimentary about a filly called MURCIA - a daughter of Doctor Dino bought privately by Kenny Alexander of Honeysuckle fame after four runs in France for David Cottin.

Mullins said she "came highly recommended" (per Sporting Life) and is a "lovely type" who "could be anything" (AtTheRaces). Dare I say he was more positive about her than the aforementioned Willy De Houelle.

The fact she was advised is promising enough, given the success her owner has had with juvenile fillies - namely Gala Marceau and Kargese - in the last couple of years.

It's not hard to see why, either. After finishing third on all of her first three appearances on the other side of the Channel, improving with each run and boasting a decent level of form, she absolutely bolted up in a Listed contest at Auteuil in June.

I thought it was an electric performance. She put a whopping 12 lengths between herself and a useful yardstick called Entourloupe, who just three months earlier beat the selection by nine lengths, showing quite how much she improved in a short space of time.

The time she clocked was very good too. It was 0.30 seconds slower than the colts and geldings' edition around half an hour earlier, won by a horse called Sauvignon who was bought by Johnny de la Hey and sent to Paul Nicholls. The runner-up, Sony Bill, fetched €200k and is in training with Mullins.

Considering all horses carried 10st 3lbs - fillies receive seven pounds in a Triumph - and Murica only needed to be pushed out and was eased at the finish, it's fair to say that reads very well in her favour.

Entries for races over the Christmas period are imminent and I believe she will one of several in the G2 South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Kargese was runner-up in the race last year on her debut for the yard.

She'd likely meet Willy De Houelle there and I'd be hopeful of a big run against him - beat him and we're laughing. The entry alone could see her price begin to shorten, to be honest, so now's the time to add her to the book.

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