Road to Cheltenham 2026: Another rival for Final Demand?

New year, same question - will it be the Champion Hurdle or the Mares' Hurdle for Lossiemouth?

Willie Mullins' three-time Cheltenham Festival heroine beat Brighterdaysahead, who emerged with plenty of credit after her well-documented issues in the build-up to Christmas, by a length in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown last Monday and it feels we're still none the wiser about her March target.

For me, it'll be the Mares' again. She's better over that trip and there's no Sir Gino in the way. Wodhooh, who landed a Grade 3 earlier on the card at Leopardstown, is admirable, but she's no Lossiemouth.

Unless the latter does something extraordinary at the Dublin Racing Festival next month, I suspect a hat-trick bid is on the cards.

Another Mullins mare enhanced her Cheltenham claims on Monday - Spindleberry at Doncaster. The Grade 1 winner bolted up in the Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase and is now Betfred's 9/4 favourite for the big one at HQ.

A horse that failed to boost his Festival claims was Nicky Henderson's Act Of Innocence, beaten at 2/7f in an Introductory Hurdle at Newbury. That being said, the winner Minella Yoga, a three-year-old was in receipt of a stone and six pounds, so depending on what he goes on to achieve (he's 14/1 for the Triumph Hurdle) it might not look so bad in the end.

End. No Drama This End. Paul Nicholls' six-year-old extended his record over hurdles to 3-3, winning the Challow Novices' Hurdle with the minimum of fuss. The son of Walk In The Park looks a real top-notcher and he's hard to knock at the top of the betting for the Turners.

Fast-forwarding to Wednesday, New Year's Eve, which began with a dramatic beginners' chase at Punchestown that saw market leaders Slade Steel and Ballygunner Castle crash out four out, leaving Mullins' Argento Boy to pick up the pieces. If I'm taking any of them going forward, it's Ballygunner Castle, for something like the National Hunt Chase.

An hour-and-a-half later, former Arkle hero El Fabiolo bolted up back over hurdles, having reverted following three falls in four starts over the bigger obstacles. He's DRF-bound according to connections, and might just earn his spot in the Champion Hurdle. Paul Townend may need a ride...

On New Year's Day, Kabral Du Mathan was impressive in the Relkeel Hurdle, but Dan Skelton has since suggested he could wait for something like the Aintree Hurdle, as opposed to going to Cheltenham. If he does turn up in March, it'll surely be the Stayers' Hurdle (10/1).

Place De La Nation, fifth in last year's Triumph, will be Cheltenham-bound, all being well. She ran out an easy winner of a non-event at Fairyhouse on NYD and looks an obvious contender for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

The very next race in County Meath saw Gordon Elliott's Spinningayarn pull over seven lengths clear of 17 rivals in a maiden hurdle over 2m4f. He could be smart, though rates more of a handicapper than a graded horse if able to get another couple of runs under his belt.

Mares' Chase holder Dinoblue survived a scare at the final fence to land Grade 3 honours. She too beat nothing of note, but she's on the right path to defending her crown in March.

Willie Mullins and JP McManus followed up in the subsequent beginners' chase over 2m6f with Kaid d'Authie, who I must say I was very impressed with. He's always been held in the highest regard at Closutton, and he just might be starting to show why.

I thought he was the one to take out of the race on debut behind Kauto Star winner Kitzbuhel, and he was only going further away from the runner-up Wingmen at the line in Fairyhouse. I think he's well overpriced for the Brown Advisory.

The final takeaway from the opening day of 2026 was Heart Wood winning the Grade 3 New Year's Day Chase that Al Boum Photo used as a springboard to his Gold Cup successes. Henry de Bromhead's eight-year-old is more likely to go back to the Ryanair, though, having finished runner-up last year.

Finally, a few to discuss from Saturday. The Reverend - previously a 100+ rated flat horse for William Haggas - made a winning start for Willie Mullins and has been cut into 20/1 for the Supreme. He wouldn't be my pick, but it is a wide-open renewal and he's got plenty of class. Jumped well, too, despite alarming reports beforehand.

Back in England, Vanderpoel continued his progression as a novice chaser, winning a handicap chase by four-and-a-quarter lengths. Ben Pauling's seven-year-old is being targeted at the Grand Annual.

Finally, I've got Nurse Susan on my radar for a Cheltenham handicap after her gusty display in the Listed mares' hurdle in Surrey. She looked beaten a long way out, but stayed on strongly to clear the strong-travelling Jubilee Alpha by over two lengths. Coral Cup, for Colm Donlon of Langer Dan fame?

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