Road to Cheltenham 2026: Festival pointers, whatever the weather

The not-so-great British - and Irish - weather led to a host of abandonments last week, but that's not to say there wasn't a Cheltenham clue or two.

At Clonmel on Thursday, Santo Sospir won the Munster Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and Robcour by a mere nine lengths. The five-year-old was in my mind as a potential Albert Bartlett horse, but in County Tipperary he didn't look in need of that sort of test.

With connections having Skylight Hustle for the Turners, most likely, I suspect this one will stay away from the Festival this year. He's more of a long-term prospect, anyway.

Across the Irish Sea at Ffos Las, Dan Skelton's Bossman Jack beat the well-regarded Starzand in cosy enough fashion over two miles. Again, he looks a nice type with a fine future, but he's still very raw and I would be surprised if March was in their minds.

Twenty four hours later, Willie Mullins' Future Prospect made an impressive start over hurdles at Naas. An Order Of St George mare in the famous Ballydoyle silks, she looked every bit as good as she did on bumper debut and if she can kick on, I can quite easily see her making a splash in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle division.

Later on the card was the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. I'll Sort That beat Sortudo, my 40/1 selection for the Turners, in a slow-motion finish, leading the majority to declare it a poor Grade 1. I'm not entirely convinced, though.

Classical Creek and Saint Baco underperformed, but the 1-2 finished 13 lengths clear of the third. I think the winner is smart, smarter than he's getting credit for. He'd line up in a Turners or Albert Bartlett with a fair chance - and I'd say the same about Sortudo, too. Though he's unlikely to be Willie Mullins' first string, which dampens enthusiasm.

One of my big takeaways from the race was the form boost for Theflyingking, my 50/1 hope for the Albert Bartlett. I suspect that three-mile novice hurdle might be back on the agenda, as opposed to a handicap, for he's running out of time to get three more runs in.

Perhaps the most likely Cheltenham winner of the week was Quiryn, who landed the bumper at Naas for Willie Mullins and son Patrick. The four-year-old bolted up by nine lengths and was subject to positive reviews afterwards. He's in at 12/1 for the Champion Bumper.

On Saturday, Alan King's Baron Noir booked his Supreme ticket at Kempton. Could he win the curtain-raiser? Wouldn't be for me, I must admit - even in a weak year.

Precious Man marked himself as a juvenile of considerable potential, but trainer Dan Skelton has already said he'll be skipping Cheltenham for Aintree.

The Silviniaco Conti Chase went to 12-year-old Edwardstone, but unfortunately the race was marred by the fatal injury to Kalif Du Berlais. Desperately sad stuff. Thoughts go out to connections.

Iberico Lord sprung a bit of a shock in the Lanzarote Hurdle. If that's a sign he's back to his best, the eight-year-old, rated 144 at his peak, could be very interesting in a handicap at Cheltenham - the Coral Cup, perhaps?

Finally, a couple of Willie Mullins inmates at Punchestown on Sunday - Kappa Jy Pyke and Sober.

The former, responsible for upsetting odds-on stablemate Salvator Mundi on chase debut last year, was a ready winner of a Grade 3 novice chase over 2m3f. He could go for either the Arkle or Brown Advisory. My guess is the former, albeit as the second string.

Royal Ascot hero Sober was a fairly straightforward winner of the Moscow Flyer to put himself in contention for the Supreme. In a 'normal' year, I'd be lukewarm enough on his chances, but he's far from hopeless given the division's lack of depth.

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