Cheltenham 2025: New contenders emerge from action-packed week

It's been a busy week on the road to Cheltenham 2025 and I've reviewed all the action, looking ahead to those unrivalled four days in March as always. 

Little emerged from the first two days of the week, but I do want to mention Will The Wise's maiden hurdle success at Punchestown on Monday. This was a significant boost to the form of my 14/1 Albert Bartlett selection Final Demand, who has since halved in price.

On Wednesday, Beckett Rock beat the 135-rated and well-backed Bunting in the Munster Hurdle at Clonmel, in spite of Henry de Bromhead's poor form. The thrice-raced six-year-old left his reappearance a long way behind and is very much on my radar for a handicap at Cheltenham 2025 after that.

Later on the card, Willie Mullins unleashed Funiculi Funicula. His only noteworthy rival, rated 123, fell at the last, but he was going backwards at that point anyway. This was a smart effort on debut and I'd imagine he'll appear in a Supreme (20/1) or Turners (25/1) as the yard's second or third-string. The curtain-raiser would be my guess.

I was more impressed by the yard's Kiss Will at Fairyhouse the following afternoon. Again, he beat modest opposition but the manner in which he did so was extremely taking. Bar a bad mistake at the last, he looked very professional. The five-year-old is another I expect to see in any one of the Grade 1 novice hurdles.

The Winter Million Festival at Windsor began on Friday and the winner of the opening race, Derryhassen Paddy, shaped like a very smart prospect. Lucinda Russell's imposing six-year-old stayed on best to edge out a lovely mare for the Skeltons, who had 120+ rated horses over eight lengths behind. He could be one for this year's Albert Bartlett (40/1), but I suspect we won't see the best of him until he tackles fences next season.

Just over an hour later, Gidleigh Park bounced back to take Grade 2 honours. Despite taking a walk in the market beforehand, having been pulled-up on chase debut with an irregular heartbeat, Harry Fry's talented seven-year-old proved much too good for the expensive Caldwell Potter. He's got options for March, but my assumption is he's one for new novices' handicap chase over an intermediate trip.

I'm far from convinced we saw Teahupoo's conqueror in Berkshire, though I would give Gary & Josh Moore's Salver - who finished half a length behind 40/1 hope Nemean Lion on Friday - a squeak in the Stayers' Hurdle.

Did we see the Triumph winner at Ascot on Saturday? Nicky Henderson's Lulamba, subject to a significant gamble earlier in the year, gave 10lbs and a beating to 111-rated Flat horse Mondo Man and looks yet another Seven Barrows star in the making. He's going to be very hard to beat unless something emerges from the Dublin Racing Festival.

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

Last year's Triumph runner-up Kargese was beaten at 2/5f in the Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle later on the card. She was far too keen and Dan Skelton's Take No Chances took full advantage. The latter makes nothing more than slight appeal for the Festival and the former needs to improve plenty - especially if Brighterdaysahead shows up - to re-enter calculations. I wouldn't be scrambling to take 6/1.

At Navan, Coral Cup-possible James's Gate did it nicely in the opening Rated Novice Hurdle over the minimum trip. My Albert Bartlett tip Ballygunner Castle finished a modest fourth, shaping like a stayer running over an inadequate distance. Who'd have thought it? He'll surely be stepped up in trip now, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Three Card Brag got back on track with victory in a beginners' chase later on the card. He's being targeted at the Grand National, but could definitely take in one of the Cheltenham handicaps beforehand. The fourth, who qualified for the National Hunt Chase, is the one I'm taking from the race.

Meanwhile, I'm not quite sure who to take from the bumper, won by Gordon Elliott's Spinningayarn with well-regarded rivals Eachtotheirown and Sine Qua Non in behind. They're all of interest going forward and in an average year, odds of 25/1, 50/1 and 33/1 respectively for the Champion Bumper seem generous. Perhaps the former, given the race has already been name-dropped, is the one.

Finally, let's skip through Sunday's action. Jubilee Alpha enhanced her claims for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle after defying a penalty to win at Windsor - 7/1 is fair at this stage.

Matata is apparently Champion Chase-bound (33/1) after bolting up off a mark of 155 in a handicap chase later on. It's worth a go, especially given how that race has fallen apart over the years, but I wouldn't take this particular piece of form literally as the majority of the beaten horses appeared to have another day in mind. One of them - I won't say who yet - is very much on my radar for when Betfred's handicap markets open...

If we saw a Cheltenham 2025 winner on Sunday, I'd say it was Protektorat who took the Fleur De Lys Chase by a whopping 23 lengths. He'll return to defend his Ryanair crown and while I expect a much stronger renewal, I couldn't put anyone off at those odds.