Cheltenham 2025: Salvator strengthens Supreme claims

The weather put paid to the majority of National Hunt meetings last week, but a few went ahead over the weekend and provided some clues for Cheltenham 2025.

I think there's been an underreaction to the performance of Sixandahalf at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Gavin Cromwell's highly-rated Flat operator, who finished third in the Irish Cesarewitch in September, was an emphatic 12-length winner on hurdling debut, putting two fair yardsticks firmly in their place.

The five-year-old has been cut into 7/1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, but I think she deserves to be shorter. As far as I'm concerned she put in the best performance of the season in a modest division and yet remains below Willie Mullins' Maughreen, who's yet to be seen this term, in the market. I like her a lot.

Later that afternoon in County Meath, I was impressed by Mullins' Mistergif - fifth in the Supreme last March - on chasing debut.

The six-year-old son of Zarak came from a long way back to get the better of stablemates Tullyhill and Asian Master, who finished behind Triumph hero and Arkle hope Majborough last time out. It's hard to get overly excited about his chances in a red-hot Arkle, but it was a highly-encouraging start. One to watch.

Over at Ffos Las, Evan Williams unleashed a good one in Juby Ball. The six-year-old fared well in a couple of bumpers last season and, after 343 days off the track, made a really good start to life over hurdles.

He beat the 120-rated Lud'or, hard fit after two runs, by four lengths and the third-placed Knead A Win had the rest of the field over 15 lengths behind. He looks a very nice type that ought to progress plenty throughout the season.

Also in South Wales, Ben Pauling's Handstands enhanced his reputation with an authoritative victory in a messy Towton Novices' Chase. The Grade 2 contest fell apart in the end, with three fallers and one unseat, but I'm confident the winner wouldn't have been any different, for he was always travelling best of all.

If Pauling didn't already have The Jukebox Man, I'd imagine the son of Getaway would be bound for the Brown Advisory, but it looks like he has alternative targets in the spring.

Speaking of the Brown Advisory, another contender emerged at Punchestown on Sunday as Lecky Watson won the Grade 3 novice chase over 2m3½f by eight widening lengths.

He is a strong stayer who appears to have improved a good amount for jumping fences. In a 'normal' year, I'd be sweet on him for the Brown Advisory, but Mullins already has Ballyburn, Impaire Et Passe and Dancing City for this and all three rank higher. He's not without a chance, though.

*You can check out all of Betfred's Cheltenham Festival Odds over on our main hub page over on betfred.com

Last but not least, the divisive Salvator Mundi.

The five-year-old, who finished sixth in the Triumph Hurdle on his debut for Willie Mullins, has been all the rage for the Supreme this season, despite not appearing since his 62-length maiden success in May.

Going into Sunday he was trading at around the 5/1 mark for the Cheltenham Festival's curtain-raiser, and he's shortened a little after his three-length triumph at Punchestown.

I was much more positive about his performance than most. He was quite keen, but I think that's understandable given it was his first run in a long time and the pace was mundane. He also didn't jump great, which would be more of a worry, but that wasn't an issue on any of his previous three starts, so I'm inclined to think it was a result of running enthusiastically at slow speeds.

He'll need to take a step forward to win the Supreme, but it's looking a weak renewal. Bar Romeo Coolio and Kopek Des Bordes or Kaid D'authie, who are set to clash at the Dublin Racing Festival in a few weeks, there's little for him to worry about.

He's too short, that I'll admit, but he has every chance in March. Every chance.