Cheltenham stable tours

[the wanderer]

As recently as last week, there were murmurings that Willie Mullins hadn’t unearthed his usual star novice or leading Champion Bumper hope.
Such suggestions were shown to be greatly exaggerated at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival as Final Demand, Kopek Des Bordes and Bambino Fever thundered on to the scene with scintillating performances, evolving from reasonably promising talents to Cheltenham bankers.
Come the spring, the champion trainer always emerges with a cluster of exceptional young talent to supplement, and eventually take up the mantle from, his proven stars. But last weekend also saw those established Closutton giants roar.
Galopin Des Champs blasted to a third successive Irish Gold Cup and will now bid to join the pantheon of staying chasers alongside Best Mate, Arkle, Cottage Rake and Golden Miller by landing a Gold Cup treble, while State Man took advantage of Lossiemouth's lack of concentration at one of the flights in the Irish Champion Hurdle and both are firmly on course for a showdown with Constitution Hill.
It's 103 Cheltenham Festival winners and counting for Mullins and another stellar squad is descending on the Cotswolds from County Carlow.

Allegorie De Vassy
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, 7-1
She'll definitely go for the Mares' Chase. She's in the Opera Hat at the weekend and will likely run. We've done things differently with her this season and I think it's paying off.
Argento Boy
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 33-1
He was good at Punchestown on Monday and could go for the Albert Bartlett.
Ballyburn
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 2-1
He’ll need to settle a little bit as he was very keen at Leopardstown, but I think that experience will be good. Paul [Townend] gunned him down to every fence at Kempton and when you’re doing that it puts it into the horse’s mind that ‘this is what I have to do today’. So when he came out in the race last Sunday, he thinks he has to go a huge pace. He tried to replicate that, but Paul was doing the opposite, trying to settle him. So we’ll be trying to settle him at home here, but I think, given the size of the Cheltenham fences and everything, he’ll be fine.
Bambino Fever: going for the Champion Bumper
Bambino Fever: going for the Champion Bumper
Credit: Patrick McCann
Bambino Fever
Champion Bumper, 6-1
She was excellent at Leopardstown and my choice would be to go straight to the Champion Bumper. Mares have a good record in it and she has a lovely pedigree.
Charlus
JCB Triumph Hurdle, 20-1
I was really impressed with him at Naas because he's had an in-and-out season at home. I hoped he'd run well but didn't expect him to be as impressive. He jumped like a handicapper and I was very impressed by that for a Flat horse.
Dancing City
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 10-3
The Brown Advisory is the plan. He’s a four-wheel-drive horse and I hope the ground is soft for him at Cheltenham. He just gallops and jumps and is a nice type for the race.
El Fabiolo
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, 12-1/Ryanair Chase, 14-1
I imagine he’s going for the Champion Chase or the Ryanair. My feeling is the Ryanair and that’s where I’ll be aiming if Simon [Munir] and Isaac [Souede] agree. His jumping has been disappointing. I think when he meets a higher grade of horse and goes a quicker speed he's just not able to change his mind and pop a fence. He might go for the Red Mills Chase.
Energumene
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, 10-1
It's simple enough with him – he only has one race which is the Champion Chase. The ground at Ascot last time was goodish whereas he might want much softer ground.
Funiculi Funicula Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 25-1/Turners Novices' Hurdle, 40-1
We'll go to Cheltenham with him. I'm not sure what race yet; he could go for the Supreme or the Turners.
Dinoblue
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, 5-1
She's another one we plan to run in the Mares' Chase.
Fact To File Boodles Gold Cup, 6-1/Ryanair Chase, 2-1
He’s a very good jumper and maybe we could make more use of his jumping, but they’re all things that have to be worked out and we'll look at other opportunities for him. The Ryanair hasn’t been touched on since the race.
Final Demand: impressed at Leopardstown
Final Demand: "will probably go for the Turners"
Credit: Patrick McCann
Final Demand
Turners Novices' Hurdle, 15-8/Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 6-1
He'll probably go for the Turners as I don’t want to put him under the stress of the Albert Bartlett given he’s had only two runs – I’d like a horse who started earlier in the season for that as it’s a tough race. I think two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham will be a big enough question to ask him at this stage of his career. He looks a chaser, he must be 17.2 hands, a big unit, and is as strong a horse as I’ve had. He looks like Florida Pearl, so strong through the body, whereas Galopin Des Champs is more evenly balanced, a lighter frame. I'm happy to do the Turners before going novice chasing next season.
Fishery Lane
Turners Novices' Hurdle, 66-1/Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 33-1
He's a good type who could go for the Turners or Albert Bartlett – all being well, probably the latter.
Fun Fun Fun
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, 14-1
She's in the Opera Hat and we'll see how she goes with a view to the Mares' Chase. She won well at Naas the last day.
Gaelic Warrior
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, 13-2/Ryanair Chase, 6-1
I was disappointed with him on Sunday. He looked to be going so average at the fifth-last and it looked like Paul might pull him up, and he said the same afterwards. He got his second wind and stayed on well then. The Ryanair now comes into the equation or he could wait for Aintree or Punchestown, but we'll see.
Galopin Des Champs wins the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown under Paul Townend
Galopin Des Champs: on course to bid for a third straight Cheltenham Gold Cup
Credit: Caroline Norris
Galopin Des Champs
Boodles Gold Cup, 8-15
His performance in the Irish Gold Cup was very good. They jumped off very fast but Paul slowly steadied it down. Paul can ride him anywhere he wants; he has complete faith in the horse. In his first Gold Cup I wanted him held up. At that time, he was keen, but he learned a lot. Now he’s very malleable and he settles. I think Paul was very good on him and conserved him. He had the pace of race that he wanted and didn’t get serious with him, even after the last. That’s the sort of reserves the horse has. I love it when I see horses take a huge jump and it doesn’t take anything out of him, as he did at the last at Christmas. Last Saturday he did it at the fifth-last, just stood off, landed on the far side and kept galloping. To us it’s unbelievable that we have a horse going for a third Gold Cup who could be in Arkle and Best Mate category.
Grangeclare West
Boodles Gold Cup, 18-1
We were kind of looking at the Grand National for him, but I spoke to the owners during the week and I said we're going to Cheltenham. Now the dust has settled I think we'll wait and see what weight he gets before deciding where to go next.
Ile Atlantique My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase, 33-1/Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 33-1
Both of the horses who disappointed at the weekend, Ile Atlantique and Supersundae, ran at Naas and I think Leopardstown came too soon. We won't do that again. This horse will probably go to Cheltenham, but we'll see. He wants softer ground.
Impaire Et Passe
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 20-1
There's a good chance he might miss Cheltenham. He would have gone for the two-and-a-half-mile novice chase if it was still there, but he might go to Aintree or Fairyhouse instead. I think Aintree would be my preference for him at this stage.
Jade De Grugy
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 14-1
She hasn't been seen out yet this season as she got a setback. She'll return in a hurdle race at Punchestown in about ten days' time, the race Annie Power won a few years ago, which we've used before for some of our good mares. I'm very happy with all her homework and she's going for the Mares' Hurdle.
Jasmin De Vaux
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 25-1
He'll go up in trip and could be an Albert Bartlett horse. I think he needs more time at his hurdles.
Kaid D'Authie
Turners Novices' Hurdle, 50-1
He was disappointing at the weekend and he's not a two-miler. He'll go out in trip if he goes.
Kargese.
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 7-1
I imagine she'll go for the Mares’ Hurdle. She’s a very keen horse but has been fine since Ascot.
Kappa Jy Pyke
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 50-1/Turners Novices' Hurdle, 28-1
I'm keen to bring him over to Cheltenham. He's in the Supreme and the Turners. I'd say it will probably be the Turners, but we'll see.
Kawaboomga
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 20-1/Turners Novices' Hurdle, 8-1
He can run in either the Supreme or the Turners. I’d probably go for the Turners, but I don’t know what connections want to do as we haven’t discussed it. But he’s a good horse in anyone’s language. I thought he ran a cracker at Christmas and he confirmed that the other day so that books his ticket.
Kiss Will
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 25-1
He's a nice type who could go for the Supreme. He'll be a nice chasing type in the future.
Kopek Des Bordes: slashed for the Supreme after dominant success
Kopek Des Bordes: blew Willie Mullins' mind with scintillating victory at the DRF
Credit: Patrick McCann
Kopek Des Bordes
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 11-10
Ted Walsh rang me the following morning and he said he hadn’t seen a performance like that since Golden Cygnet, which is something huge for someone like Ted to say. Paul got down off him after the race and said he ran away with him three times. Usually if a horse runs away once, their winning chance is gone. When the loose horse came up, I thought it was going to drive him mad, which it did. He went on two or three lengths ahead at the bend before the second-last then Paul got a grip on him and away he went again. We would never ask a horse that question at home. It blew my mind against a field of top-class horses.
Lady Vega Allen
JCB Triumph Hurdle, 14-1
I think she's top class. She's Triumph Hurdle material rather than the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. She's put in two big runs on her last two starts.
Lecky Watson
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 14-1
He will take his chance in the Brown Advisory. He's a good type of horse and goes there with his chance.
Lossiemouth
Unibet Champion Hurdle, 5-1
I don’t know what happened to her on Sunday, I was looking at the head-on video of the back stretch and a flock of seagulls just took off before. Something took her eye off it because she pricked her ears two strides before it and then just didn’t get up. It was as if she was looking at something ahead of her and just didn’t get up high enough. Thankfully she’s good after the race. She was taken out of her comfort zone at Kempton only because she’s not used to running over two miles. At the moment we’re going for the Champion Hurdle. We’ve been training her for this for two years.
RATOATH, IRELAND - DECEMBER 01: Paul Townend riding Lossiemouth (pink) clear the last to win The Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse Racecourse on December 01, 2024 in Ratoath, . (Photo by Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)
Lossiemouth: the Champion Hurdle is still the plan
Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)
Majborough
My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase, 5-2
He's fantastic and looks like a real nice horse in the making. He's only five and does things so naturally. I was watching Saturday's race live on binoculars. He got a bit close to a few fences but he did everything right. I didn't mind his jumping, I thought it was great that he was learning on the job. He hasn't genuflected and he didn't have any real scare. Then when he wanted one at the third-last he flew it. I'm happy with his jumping and I'm happy that he learned a lot from the other day.
Maughreen
Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, 7-2
She put in a huge performance the other day and jumped like a handicapper. She was taking on a very experienced horse in Familiar Dreams. Cheltenham is going to be a tough ask for a horse having her second run over hurdles, but since we started schooling her everyone said she was a brilliant jumper. She’s our top mares’ novice.
Mystical Power
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 33-1
He could run in the Red Mills Hurdle next week and will likely go for the Stayers' Hurdle if he travels over to Cheltenham.
Sainte Lucie JCB Triumph Hurdle, 33-1
I was very disappointed with her on Saturday – she just got very hot before the race. She pulled too hard and if we ran the race again we would make the running with her – I didn't think they were going to go that slow.
Salvator Mundi Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 6-1
He'll go for the Supreme Novice. He has a very tender mouth, as we saw at Punchestown. I think he has a lot of tactical speed, but he didn’t jump so well last time because they were going so slow. After looking like he had blown up, once he got his second wind he just came through and won convincingly. I loved it. It takes a good horse to do that in good company. It’s going to be interesting to see which one Paul rides, but I think this one will need to do a lot at home.
State Man: won the Irish Champion Hurdle
State Man: likely to be the choice of Paul Townend in the Champion Hurdle
Credit: Patrick McCann
State Man
Unibet Champion Hurdle, 13-2
I haven't really chatted to Paul, but it was probably inconclusive on Sunday whether he was back to his best. The minute he had no company, I thought he had pulled up. He only does what he has to do so I’m hoping he had a lot more in reserve. Paul thinks he has anyway, all the time; has never hidden his admiration for State Man. Obviously a lot will happen before Cheltenham with bits of work between now and then and we'll see how both horses are, but I can’t see Paul, on anything that’s happened up to now, getting off him.
Storm Heart
County Hurdle, 10-1/Coral Cup, 14-1
He ran a cracker at the weekend and will go to one of the handicaps at Cheltenham.
Willy De Houelle
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 8-1
We changed tactics with him at the weekend. I wanted those tactics to be carried out at Christmas, but it didn't work out. We can work on him now after that run at Leopardstown and you'd have to think the Boodles might be the race for him.

[the wanderer]

Slade Steel and Captain Guinness brought Henry de Bromhead's tally to 23 winners at the Cheltenham Festival last season and the Knockeen stable's stars are always cherry ripe for their Cotswolds assignment.
Although Captain Guinness hasn't fired yet this season, he will be a force to be reckoned with if bouncing back to his best as he bids to retain the Champion Chase, a race his trainer has landed four times. The Big Westerner, Sky Lord and Workahead are exciting novices to be sending over, while July Flower is a leading fancy for the Mares' Hurdle.
Of the remainder, De Bromhead holds a strong hand in the Ryanair Chase with three intriguing contenders, including the 2023 winner Envoi Allen. The lightly raced Monty's Star will face Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup and dual Festival winner Bob Olinger could take a crack at the Stayers' Hurdle for the first time.

Bob Olinger
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 25-1
He ran well at Leopardstown but was beaten by a better horse on the day in Home By The Lee. I thought he could overturn the Navan form with him, so it was a little disappointing, but he ran a good race. He has a great record around Cheltenham and is being aimed at the spring, so we'll see about the Stayers'.
Captain Guinness
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, 33-1
It's been a disappointing season so far with him but I saw a glimmer of hope at Leopardstown. He doesn't like Leopardstown but Navan in November was disappointing. We thought it might be his heart but it wasn't. You're better looking at him at the second-last at Leopardstown rather than the line as that extra furlong doesn't suit him, we thought he was running well until then and he just about gets two miles. He'll be back to defend his title and we'll have him as best as we can, I definitely thought the spark was coming back into him. Last year's win was incredible and he deserved it, he loves Cheltenham and when you get into that scenario when they're jumping at speed, it suits him.
Envoi Allen Ryanair Chase, 16-1
He won at Down Royal and didn't run his race in the King George, not for the first time. He always strikes me as a real King George horse, but he's proven at this stage he's not. We freshened him up and he's in some form at the moment. He won the Ryanair two years ago and was second in it last year. Protektorat looked very good at Windsor. The nicer the ground, the better for us as I thought the ground beat us last year.
Envoi Allen: winner of the Ryanair
Envoi Allen: bids to repeat his Ryanair win of two years ago
Credit: Patrick McCann
Heart Wood Ryanair Chase, 16-1
The Ryanair is the plan with him. He was very good at Wexford and I thought he ran really well in the Savills, he travelled everywhere but didn't just see it out. The Ryanair looks an ideal race for him as three miles seems to be just catching him out.
July Flower
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 5-1/Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 50-1
She is in great form since Leopardstown. She's a lovely mare and I'm delighted for Duncan [Angove, owner] as he backed us to get her. We had her as a young horse and she moved back to France. We really liked her as a bumper horse at home, she did a piece of work with Slade Steel in their bumper season and worked really well with him. We followed her in France as I knew how much I liked her and she was third in the French Champion Hurdle which is rock-solid form. She could go to the Mares' Hurdle or the Stayers' but I imagine it'll be the Mares'.
Hiddenvalley Lake Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 20-1
He ran very well at Ascot in the Long Walk when just chinned by Crambo. I think he came back too soon at Gowran in the Galmoy and our form was a bit out, so it may be a combination of both. He was in great form beforehand, so it was obviously disappointing. He's been doing well since though and is in good form.
Jungle Boogie
Ryanair Chase, 16-1
He was great at Ascot. There were a couple of other options but we said we'd wait for Cheltenham. I don't think we need to run him too often as he's an older horse now. He went a bit left at Ascot, which Cheltenham will hopefully help with. He's in the Champion Chase, Ryanair and Gold Cup, but I think we're leaning towards the Ryanair, although I will need to discuss it further with Malcolm [Denmark, owner]. He ran really well in the Gold Cup last season, he was right there at the second-last. He's a high-class horse. Even his first run for us in the Hilly Way last year, he ran really well and has plenty of ability.
Monty's Star: pleased Henry de Bromhead at Punchestown
Monty's Star: "The extra couple of furlongs should suit him"
Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Monty's Star
Boodles Gold Cup, 14-1
He's had a frustrating season training-wise. We just haven't had a clear run with him due to a few setbacks. He was always going to need his first run at Tramore but I hoped he'd have the class to win it anyway. Embassy Gardens was very good on the day and we turned around that form at Leopardstown. I thought he jumped and travelled really well in the Irish Gold Cup before getting a bit tired turning in. If we can get a clear run between now and the Gold Cup, I think he'll run really well. He ran very well in the Brown Advisory last season and has good form with Fact To File and Spillane's Tower. The extra couple of furlongs should suit him.
Salt Bay
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 20-1
It was great to get him. Alex Elliott and Valmont sent him over. Robbie Power had him for a month and he got him jumping really well and enjoying it. His schooling has been good and we hope to run him on Sunday at Navan, so we'll see. It's a long way to the Supreme but it was easier to have him in it than not. He's obviously a high-class horse on the Flat.
Sky Lord
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 50-1
He was good the first day at Cork but didn't really act around the inside track at Punchestown last time. He was only beaten four lengths by Salvator Mundi so he's not far off it and the Supreme is the plan.
The Big Westerner Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 8-1
She's a lovely mare who is unbeaten so far. She's done nothing wrong and was impressive at Limerick with the way she picked up. She travels and stays well and is exciting. Ground-wise, I don't think it was that soft at Punchestown the first day and she handled softer ground well at Limerick. We put her away after Limerick as she could have gone to Leopardstown but, like Workahead, she was in a bit earlier so we decided to back off her.
Quilixios
BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, 33-1
He ran well to a point at Leopardstown and his form prior to the race was rock solid. He ran well to the second-last and faded after it. He's been a bit tender since, so we're checking him out, but if he's all okay, then he'll head to Cheltenham.
Workahead
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 12-1
He looked really exciting at Christmas. He ran nicely when third at Navan having not run for a while but looked different gravy at Leopardstown and I thought he did it very well. The form has worked out really well. It looks a very good Supreme again but I think we're bang there. We could have run in a Graded hurdle but that might have taken the edge off him as I wasn't able to back off him as he came in early. We decided to go there fresh. He winged hurdles at Leopardstown, he jumped really well.

[the wanderer]

Paul Nicholls will send a small-but-select team to the Cheltenham Festival next month, and rest assured those who make the cut will have earned the right to be there.
The 14-time champion trainer, successful last season with Monmiral in the Pertemps, has never lost sight of the fact there are big races to be won outside the festival. That has led to a more targeted approach in recent years and, although there may not be a Kauto Star or Master Minded in the mix, the yard still has some interesting contenders.
"We're not going to have loads of runners and some of our younger horses still have a bit to prove before going to the festival, so we're going to be selective," says Nicholls.
"It's about finding the right horses with the right chances and I'm not one for social runners. I've still got some nice chances but we won't have loads of horses lining up there."
Nicholls needs just one more winner to bring up his half-century at the meeting, a milestone he admits he could never have dreamed of reaching when he started in 1991 with just eight horses.
Among his best chances this year are Caldwell Potter, who has a "lovely chance" in the novice handicap chase, and the promising mare Jubilee Alpha.
Interview by Jonathan Harding
Afadil
County Hurdle, 25-1
He ran well when second at Musselburgh this month. He will be given an entry but would need the ground to be good to run and he's probably better on a flatter track, so Aintree may suit him better.
Caldwell Potter
Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, 14-1
Arkle Chase, 33-1
He's on a mark of 147 and I'd say he'll go for the limited handicap chase, which looks the perfect race for him. If he didn't have the [€740,000] price tag people wouldn't be having the debate about him, because he's run okay this season. We'll have a lot of fun with him and he'll win plenty of races. The only way he'd run in the Arkle is if the ground became very heavy, but I'm not convinced he's a two-miler.
Caldwell Potter (Harry Cobden) at Windsor
Caldwell Potter: "He'll win plenty of races"
Credit: Edward Whitaker
Ginny's Destiny
Ultima Handicap Chase, 20-1
Ryanair Chase, 50-1
We'll keep the option of the Ryanair but I feel as though he's crying out for three miles. He's a bit like Stage Star in the sense he's struggled a bit carrying top weight in handicaps over two and a half miles, which can be a bit sharp for him. He finished down the field at Cheltenham last month and I don't think he's been quite right this season after a couple of hard races at the end of last season, but he's just starting to show signs of being back to his old self. He could be an interesting contender.
Henri The Second
Pertemps Network Final, 12-1
He's done really well this season. He won a qualifier at Sandown in October and ran a solid race there this month when second off effectively an 11lb higher mark, taking into account Freddie Gingell's 3lb claim. He's best suited by soft ground and I expect him to have an entry for this.
Il Ridoto
TrustATrader Plate, 20-1
He always runs well at Cheltenham and won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. He went up 8lb for that and has found things a little bit tougher since, but he could run here, provided the ground is decent.
Jubilee Alpha
Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, 8-1
She was unlucky on her reappearance at Newbury before bouncing back to win at Taunton. She deserves to be prominent in the betting after her winning performance at Windsor last month. This has been her number one target.
Jubilee Alpha clears the last to win The Byerley Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Taunton
Jubilee Alpha: "This has been her number one target"
Credit: Alan Crowhurst
Just A Rose
Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, 12-1
She'll be entered and the plan is to run in the Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Sandown on Thursday. She won impressively at Taunton on her debut for us and we'll learn a lot more this coming week.
Kabral Du Mathan
County Hurdle, 14-1
He's had a great season, winning at Kempton before just being touched off at Ascot and finishing second at Windsor last month. We opted against giving him another run at Newbury and have kept him nice and fresh for a race I think should be perfect for him.
Monmiral
Pertemps Network Final, 16-1
Stayers' Hurdle, 25-1
He gave us all a great day when winning the Pertemps last season and has two options next month – I'll make a decision closer to the time. He's consistent and would have to carry a big weight in the Pertemps or we step him back up to Grade 1 level. I'm not saying he'd win the Stayers' if he lines up in that, but he could run into a place.
No Drama This End
Champion Bumper, 12-1
He won his point-to-point last year before winning comfortably on his debut for us at Warwick in December. I would want the ground to be soft, but we're looking forward to running him and we believe he's an exciting horse.
Sans Bruit
Grand Annual Chase, 25-1
He's gone up in the handicap since winning the Red Rum but has run some solid races this season. He's a good, fun horse who always runs his race. He'll have a Grand Annual entry but is more likely to go to Aintree again.
Shearer
Hunters' Chase, 14-1
I'm trying to qualify him for Olive [Nicholls' daughter] to ride. He has to be first or second in another hunter chase before the end of the month after winning well at Ffos Las on Thursday.
Threeunderthrufive
Ultima Handicap Chase, 33-1
We've entered him in the Grand National, which is his main aim, and he's going to Ascot this month for the race he won last year, but I've put him in this as an option. He's run only once this season, finishing third at Ascot.
Tutti Quanti
Turners Novices' Hurdle, 33-1
Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 66-1
He won very well on his reappearance at Ffos Las and we really like him. He'll come on for his second at Newbury on Saturday, which was his first run after a setback, and we're considering running in the Supreme.

[the wanderer]

A carbon copy of last year's Cheltenham Festival would do very nicely for Dan Skelton, who led the British resistance from the front with four winners.
On target to win his first trainers' championship this season, Skelton's team at Lodge Hill Farm in Warwickshire seems to get bigger and stronger every year and that is reflected in his squad for the biggest jumps meeting of the season.
"I think we've got a nice team this year," he says. "Last year I thought the same going into it and all the stars aligned. It was magical and we're going to need the stars to align again for the same thing to happen.
"I think we've got some really nice chances but we're not going there thinking we'll have exactly what we had last year because you need plenty of luck for it to go your way."
If luck is one part of a winning festival formula, then talent is another, and that is exactly what The New Lion, Skelton's big hope for the Turners Novices' Hurdle, has in spades.
"I'd say he's the most exciting horse we've had at this stage of his career," says his trainer, who has yet to categorically rule Grey Dawning out of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after sending a team to work at Huntingdon after racing last week. However, the captain's armband for his team rests with Protektorat, who returns to defend his Ryanair Chase crown after a storming victory at Windsor last month.
Throw in a healthy mix of handicappers, some talented mares and one or two for the Champion Bumper, and it is easy to start believing that more of the same from last year might be achievable after all.
Interview by Lewis Porteous
Asta La Pasta
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, 25-1
Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, 25-1

He's been looking like he's not quite staying over two and a half miles, so it might be that we drop back in trip for the Grand Annual. He's had plenty of experience for a novice, so that shouldn't be a concern. 
Be Aware: exercises after racing at Huntingdon last week where he was 'wild and just in too good health'
Be Aware: exercises after racing at Huntingdon last week where he was 'wild and just in too good health'
Credit: Edward Whitaker
Be Aware
Coral Cup, 10-1
He was second in the Greatwood and third in the Ladbrokes and ran really well in both. It looks like a step up in trip is absolutely what he wants and I'm looking forward to running him. He was wild when working at Huntingdon last week and was just in too good health, but I've got a month now to put a lid on him. He's got so much ability and we've set our stall out to run in the Coral Cup. Hopefully, he's a big player. 
Country Mile
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 50-1
He might be one for Aintree but we've given him the Cheltenham entry to have a look. He was very good when winning a novice hurdle at Cheltenham in December, but the ground was too soft and I ran him back too quickly in the Grade 1 Formby at Christmas. He's a lot better than that.   
Fortune De Mer
Weatherbys Champion Bumper, 33-1
We could have quite a few entries in the bumper and I'm really happy with the young horses we have. I guess Fortune De Mer is the most obvious one, having won a Listed race at Cheltenham handsomely in November. He didn't stop pulling until he turned in at Huntingdon on Thursday and he was just way too fresh. It was inevitable he was going to get beaten, but in the Champion Bumper they will go flat out and I'll have him a bit more cooked, so I've no issue going to Cheltenham off the back of that. The race will probably come a bit too soon for Realco, who was second at Newbury on Saturday, but if it was really soft and he was in sparkling form, I think you'd have to run.   
Grey Dawning and Harry Skelton win the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham
Grey Dawning: last year's Turners Novices' Chase winner could go for the Gold Cup
Credit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)
Grey Dawning
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, 25-1
We'll have a conversation, maybe next week, and see how the horse is. My intentions at this stage are still Kelso and Aintree, but the Gold Cup might be something we have to have a little bit of a think about. The race looks like it's cutting up a little bit and I've left him in it because I'm not ruling it out. He started the season well when second in the Betfair Chase but the King George was a complete disaster after he made a mess of the first. After Haydock, I think you can say confidently he stays 3m1½f but there's always a question mark over the extra furlong in a Gold Cup. We all want to do what's best by the horse and that's what we'll do, but he looked in great physical condition when he worked at Huntingdon.
Gwennie May Boy
Pertemps Final, 16-1
He won three races last season, including two big ones at Uttoxeter and Aintree. A fast-run race is what he wants, and he just hasn't had that this season. The faster they go the better, and he'll probably run in the Rendlesham before the festival.

Harper's Brook
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, 33-1
He'll get an entry in the Grand Annual but I don't know whether Cheltenham really suits him. He made a bad mistake at Windsor and couldn't really get into the race, but he won well the time before at Wetherby and has had a productive season. He's got loads of experience in these big fields and is not without talent.
Langer Dan
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 20-1
I think he'll end up running in the Stayers', but we're taking it on trust that he's going to turn up for us because he hasn't looked good all winter, although he never does. I can't even explain it, but he just gets to Cheltenham in March and does it. He's been running terribly, so realistically the handicapper should have dropped him more than the 2lb that he has this season. But the handicapper is as confused as his trainer and all the other pundits and punters because this horse doesn't operate under normal rules. We'll get him out there and hope he can do his best. That's all we can do.     
L'Eau Du Sud: now 3-3 over fences for Dan and Harry Skelton
L'Eau Du Sud: "I think he's a player"
Credit: Alan Crowhurst
L'Eau Du Sud
My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase, 5-1
The Arkle looks a hot race, despite the absence of Sir Gino, but I've no intention of swerving it. He might not have Grade 1-winning novice hurdle form like Majborough, but he's a very good chaser and I think he's a player. I thought he won in spite of the soft ground in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, which was a good performance, and I was chuffed to bits with his win on Saturday at Warwick. He probably got lonely and a bit tired going to the last, but when he heard Rubaud coming he picked up again at the line. He's versatile and has won over fences at Cheltenham, which is a positive thing to have in your locker.
Live Conti
JCB Triumph Hurdle, 25-1
He runs at Wetherby on Wednesday and we really like him. We'll just have to see whether he's a horse for the Triumph and Harry [Skelton] will tell us if he feels he's suitable for a race like that after he runs. He looks a very nice horse at home and long-term I'd say he's a proper chaser in the making. 
Nurse Susan
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 40-1
She's had a couple of setbacks along the way, which has been frustrating, but she's a high-class mare. I don't think I'm going to have time to get a run into her before, but I'll be doing lots and lots with her at home and it might be that we end up running in the Mares' Hurdle.
Panic Attack
TrustATrader Plate, 16-1
She enjoyed going over fences when winning at Windsor in January and everything clicked together perfectly on the day. It was another good run when she was second back over hurdles at Warwick on Saturday but she wants a fence really. The handicapper has put her up 10lb over fences, so we'll look at the Plate and I think she'll be competitive.
Protektorat
Ryanair Chase, 6-1
The Fleur de Lys Chase and the Ryanair were always the two big ones for him this season and he looked great when winning at Windsor. He's come out of that race really well and I'm looking forward to going again with him. There's a good chance this becomes a very deep race with everyone looking to avoid Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, but Protektorat has always turned up when he's run at the Cheltenham Festival and was brilliant when winning last year's Ryanair. I've no doubt he'll run the same sort of race again.     
Take No Chances
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 10-1
She's had a fantastic season and put up a great performance to beat Kargese at Ascot last time. She's in flying form and is versatile between two and three miles, so she's a likely runner in the Mares' Hurdle. 
The New Lion: Challow Hurdle winner under Harry Skelton
The New Lion: strong fancy for the Turners Novices' Hurdle
Credit: Edward Whitaker
The New Lion
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 5-1
Turners Novices' Hurdle, 3-1
He's also entered in the Supreme but is highly likely to run in the Turners. He gives us the impression he has everything you need and it's great to have one like him. We've always thought highly of him and to go and win a Grade 1 like he did in the Challow was more than you hope to see. He's never been to Cheltenham but he's a very versatile horse and he's in good form. I thought Final Demand was very good at Leopardstown and you can throw The Yellow Clay into the conversation as well, but as a novice hurdler we've never had one as short as The New Lion for one of the festival Grade 1s, so I'd say he's the most exciting horse we've had at this stage of his career. He delighted me when working at Huntingdon and I thought he looked in great shape.
Unexpected Party
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, 12-1
He won the Grand Annual last year and will go there again. He's higher in the handicap this time, so it's not going to be any easier, but he ran really well when second at Windsor last time. I'm not saying I think he'll win but he knows how to run well in races like this and I do think he'll go well.
Valgrand
William Hill County Handicap Hurdle, 10-1
His chance in the County hinges on what the ground is. Soft ground is not for him at all, but if it starts to dry out by Friday, he'd come into the reckoning. He tried two and a half miles against stronger opposition and carried top weight in handicaps on soft ground and hasn't been up to it, but I think on decent ground and as a fresh horse, he'd have a bit of a squeak. I'm not saying he's going to go there and win, but he's definitely got a chance.

[the wanderer]

Nicky Henderson has been around long enough to have experienced most of the lows of a festival that provides us with the greatest highs, and his approach to them is a simple one. Yes, he's just lost Sir Gino from his squad, but the only way for a trainer to go barely three weeks before the main event is onwards and upwards.
"Sir Gino won't be running, and it's tough when one of your big bullets is ruled out – you're always looking over your shoulder – but we're lucky enough to have a few of them and now is a time to be positive," he says.
"This kind of thing has happened before and it'll happen again. I just hope it's not us next time, but it'll be somebody, that's for sure.
"Of course, him not being there means we have to take another look at our plans for certain races, but the focus is on getting them all there fit and ready."
As he says, there are big bullets like Constitution Hill and Jonbon, not to mention Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba and the colossally expensive and highly promising Palladium in the same race, so the cupboard is far from bare.

The past week has, he says, been busy rather than difficult, and now it's time to begin the final phase of preparation, as he's done so many times before.
You won't find any misplaced optimism or unnecessary flag-waving going on at Seven Barrows, but if there are good horses with firm plans, he'll tell you. This is what he told us.
Interview by Peter Thomas
Constitution Hill
Unibet Champion Hurdle, 4-7
I said recently, tongue in cheek, that I could probably do without public gallops because his last two didn't end well, but doing these things in public makes sure everybody is kept properly informed, as long as people take these things in context.
After his last gallop at Newbury, which everybody slammed him for, the horse he was working with, Sir Gino, came out and won the Fighting Fifth and was mind-boggling at Kempton. So everybody then says Sir Gino is the best thing they've ever seen, but they forget he was the horse Constitution Hill was working with. It's not always straightforward.
I don't want to keep him hidden away – I'll have people coming to see him every day before the Champion Hurdle, half media and half private – but although he may go away for a gallop, where and when is yet to be decided, and I'm not even sure he needs to. Nico [de Boinville] will sit on him this week and we'll make our minds up from there.
The star hurdler hits the top of the flight under Nico de Boinville
Constitution Hill clears the last under Nico de Boinville at Cheltenham in January
Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Beyond that, though, he's very well, couldn't be better, and I have a plan, working back from the festival, knowing how many pieces of work I want to do with him and when I want to do them.
That's where we are, and I can't spend all my time worrying about what's going to take us on. He'll run how he runs, we've just got to get him, and all the others, in the best shape we can on the day, whatever lines up against us. Whatever they throw at us, we'll throw it back.
Jango Baie
My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase, 10-1
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 16-1
In the absence of Sir Gino, it's very possible he'll switch from two and a half miles, which is what he's been running over, to two miles for the Arkle. The idea originally was to see if he stayed three miles, but our line of thought has changed, and although you can't make a horse go faster or further just by giving them speed work or running them over a longer trip, you can look at what they're naturally capable of.
He did win a Grade 1 novice hurdle over two miles and half a furlong, so he's not slow, and our feeling is that he's got more chance of being very competitive at two miles than he has of staying three miles in the Brown Advisory.
Jingko Blue
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 16-1
With us leaning towards the two-miler for Jangio Baie, Jingko Blue's run over three miles in the Reynoldstown at Ascot on Saturday was a bit of a fact-finding mission, but with him unseating Nico at the third fence, it didn't tell us an awful lot.
Those two horses are in the same ownership, so it would be a logical step to try to persuade Jango Baie that he's a two-miler and send Jingko Blue for the Brown Advisory, but we'll have to wait and see. I'd like to run Jingko Blue in the Pendil over two and a half miles at Kempton this Saturday, but he was a bit stiff this morning [Sunday], and don't forget he galloped three miles at Ascot, albeit riderless; so we'll see how he is later in the week and make a decision.
Jonbon
BetMGM Champion Chase, 5-6
He's done his racing, it's all been very good and he's in great form for the Champion Chase – everybody's very happy, so now we wait for the invasion, from Ireland or France or wherever. We could be hassled from all angles, but that's what the festival's about and I love it, as long as the Russians aren't coming! As ever, though, there's no point worrying what's going to turn up against us. We'll try to get him there at his best and that's that.
Jonbon (Nico de Boinville) wins the last fence to win the Clarence House Chase at Ascot
Jonbon (Nico de Boinville) wings the last fence to win the Clarence House Chase at Ascot
Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
He hasn't always impressed everybody and there are still some who have a theory he doesn't act around Cheltenham, but I can't see what he's done wrong – he's won two Shloer Chases, so he can't do much more on that score – and he's in great nick with three weeks to go, terrific shape.
Lucky Place
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 10-1
A horse you have to love. He's very straightforward and has done nothing but improve. He was earmarked to go novice chasing, but through lack of opportunities I couldn't find anywhere to launch him – among our big team of novice chasers queuing up for places at the start of the season – so we switched him back to hurdles and he won two races.
At Ascot over just shy of two and a half miles he was very good, and when we moved him up a little bit in trip for the Relkeel he was good again and very tough. He was looking like a stayer, but we resisted the temptation to find out because we'd have had to give him a hard race on Trials day, and luckily the horse he beat in the Relkeel [Gowel Road] went and won the Cleeve.
So we know pretty much where we are in the British pecking order, and although we're unproven over three miles, we have to take that on trust, and maybe take the view he could even improve for the extra distance.
He's in great form, and is one of those who could go away for a racecourse gallop at Kempton on the Tuesday a fortnight before the festival, which would do him the world of good. Yes, you'll have the likes of Teahupoo and Home By The Lee against you at Cheltenham, but we'll go there in a positive frame of mind.
Lulamba
JCB Triumph Hurdle, 7-4
He's a strong favourite for the Triumph on the strength of one run in France and one in England, but he did look very good at Ascot, very polished and extremely uncomplicated. He seems straightforward, schools well, doesn't pull and doesn't need to be pushed, and he's won on heavy ground and good ground. I'm sure something will happen to prove me wrong, but my gut feeling after Ascot was not to run again beforehand, so we go there full of hope.
Punting-wise, I haven't had a bet at Cheltenham for about 30 years and I'm not about to start, but with him at 7-4 and Palladium at 16-1, I'd have to say they aren't that far apart in ability – quite probably one's too short and one's too long.
Mister Coffey
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, 10-1
He'll go for the Cross Country Chase, having been second in the two races on the course this season, and I think he'll go well. I know he has a reputation for having his own ideas about the game, but I think that's completely wrong. He lost his way running in the Grand National as a novice a couple of years ago – I think it took a lot out of him – and it's taken him quite a long time to get back to where he was.
We thought about retiring him at the end of last season, but I suggested having one more go, either hunter chasing or in cross-country chases, so we took him to Cheltenham for a practice, he had a ball and Nico had a ball, and we ran him in the first of the two races, where he was having a good school and finding his feet, then flew home in a way he hadn't for two years.
Mister Coffey (right) jumps the last in the 2023 Randox Grand National alongside Corach Rambler
Mister Coffey (right) jumps the last in the 2023 Grand National alongside the winner Corach Rambler
Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)
We'd got him back, which was the most important thing, but in the second race in December thinking we had a proper chance, we probably rode him too prominently and he did a bit too much. So we'll drop him in a bit more and, although it'll be more competitive at the festival, I've seldom seen him look better. He's a very happy horse again, so away we go.
Palladium
JCB Triumph Hurdle, 16-1
You could look at his [British debut] win at Huntingdon two different ways, but those who liked it liked it a lot, and we were perfectly happy because it means he goes to the Triumph under the radar. He was ready to do what he had to do, but he was hardly wound up for it and did it very well, despite getting a bit lonely in front. I was very pleased with his jumping as well – you've got to learn to do it both ways, stand off but also get into the bottom of some of the hurdles, and that was what Nico was trying to do, to educate him.
He's a colt, they can look very different to the rest, and he looked in the paddock as though he was ready to go to Royal Ascot, where I hope he will be going in time.
The rest: day-by-day plan
Tuesday
We'll have several in the Ultima, but that probably won't include Hyland, who will most likely go to Kempton this coming week, with a view to taking the Grand National seriously. He'll need 15 to come out at Aintree, but I can't see the Ultima being the right route to take there.
Chantry House (33-1) will be in the Ultima squad, and I've got to think also about Fantastic Lady (not quoted), who will struggle to get into the National, which was our original plan, needs three miles and will be off a good weight for a race like that.
Wednesday
I think I have a squad of about nine for the Coral Cup, many of whom will be in the Martin Pipe as well. Among the possibilities would be Captain Morgs (50-1 Coral Cup), No Ordinary Joe (33-1 Coral Cup), Punctuation (not quoted), Impose Toi (a toss-up between the two races – 16-1 Coral Cup, 20-1 Martin Pipe), Bo Zenith (33-1 Coral Cup), East India Express (more likely the Martin Pipe – 16-1, 25-1 for the Coral Cup) and Jeriko Du Reponet (16-1 Coral Cup, 6-1 Pertemps Final, 25-1 Martin Pipe, who will quite possibly run over three miles in the Pertemps).
Thursday
First Street could be our challenger for the Jack Richards Novices' Chase (25-1). I was very pleased with him when he was fourth at Kempton on Boxing Day, where the wind surgery he'd had seemed to help and he finished very strongly.
I'll have two or three in the Pertemps, including Shanagh Bob (20-1), who was good when runner-up in his qualifier at Huntingdon, and quite possibly Jeriko Du Reponet (6-1).
Friday
In the County, Iberico Lord (20-1) would have to be in contention – he's a very good horse but is below Champion Hurdle class and at the top of the handicap. Remember, though, three years ago First Street finished a close second in the County giving a pound to State Man, which is how stupid it can get.