Previews, tips and trends for major horse racing fixtures across the UK. Detailed day-by-day reports and info on horses, races, courses, events and more.
More top action in June as the horse racing bandwagon turns its attention to the 2026 Royal Ascot Meeting. The five-day meeting (Tues 16th to Sat 20th June 2026) is always one of the highlights on the flat racing calendar.
Like all big race days, here at GEEGEEZ we've got it all covered with key trends and stats - use these trends to narrow down the field and find the best past profiles of recent winners - as the big meeting moves into day three on Thursday 18th June 2026.
Royal Ascot Trends Day Three – Thursday 18th June 2026
2025 – Humidity (4/1)
2024 – Bedtime Story (11/8 fav)
2023 – Snellen (12/1)
2022 – Holloway Boy (40/1)
2021 – Point Lonsdale (10/11 fav)
2020 – Battleground (11/4 fav)
2019 – Pinatubo (3/1)
2018 – Arthur Kitt (13/2)
2017 – September (11/8 fav)
2016 – Churchill (8/11 fav)
2015 – Suits You (14/1)
2014 – Richard Pankhurst (10/1)
2013 – Berkshire (16/1)
2012 – Tha’ir (9/2)
2011 – Maybe (5/2 fav)
2010 – Zaidan (7/1)
2009 – Big Audio (22/1)
2008 – Free Agent (7/2 jfav)
2007 – Maze (11/2)
2006 – Champlain (7/2)
2005 – Championship Point (4/1)
2004 – Whazzat (7/1)
2003 – Pearl Of Love (11/10 fav)
Chesham Stakes Key Trends
22/23 – Had no more than 2 previous career runs
20/23 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
19/23 – Had just 1 previous career run
19/23 – Were foaled in March or earlier
17/23 – Ran over 6f last time out (11 won)
16/23 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
16/23 – Won their previous race
8/23 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
7/23 – Irish trained-winners (Aidan O’Brien, 5 of the last 10 winners)
2/23 – Trained by the Johnston yard
2/23 – Trained by Richard Hannon
Ryan Moore has ridden the winners in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 & 2024
17 of the last 20 winners came between stalls 1-8
7 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 1 (3) or 7 (4)
15 of the last 20 winners returned 10/1 or shorter
The Cole yard have won the race 4 times before
3.05 - King George V Stakes (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo 0-105) 1m4f ITV
King George V Stakes Recent Winners
2025 – Merchant (3/1 fav)
2024 – Going The Distance (9/1)
2023 – Desert Hero (18/1)
2022 – Secret State (4/1 jfav)
2021 – Surefire (5/1)
2020 – Hukum (12/1)
2019 – South Pacific (22/1)
2018 – Baghdad (9/1)
2017 – Atty Persse (7/1)
2016 - Primitivo (13/2)
2015 – Space Age (9/1)
2014 – Elite Army (4/1 jfav)
2013 – Elidor (20/1)
2012 – Fennell Bay (12/1)
2011 – Brown Panther (4/1 jfav)
2010 – Dandino (7/1)
2009 – Cosmic Sun (66/1)
2008 – Colony (11/2 fav)
2007 – Heron Bay (20/1)
2006 – Linas Selection (9/2)
2005 – Munsef (14/1)
2004 – Admiral (9/1)
2003 – Fantastic Love (10/1)
King George V Stakes Trends
22/23 – Never raced at Ascot before
21/23 – Had at least 2 previous runs that same season
21/23 – Had between 2 and 4 previous runs that season
21/23 – Placed last time out
17/23 – Carried 8-13 or less
16/23 – Had won over at least 1m2f previously
13/23 – Returned 9/1 or bigger in the betting
13/23 – Won their previous race
12/23 – Favourites placed
4/23 – Won by the Johnston camp (4)
4/23 – Ran at Haydock last time out
5/23 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
3/23 – Godolphin-owned (Charlie Appleby has trained 2 of the last 11)
13 of the last 20 winners came between stalls 10-20 (inc)
8 of the last 20 winners came between stalls 10-16 (inc)
Ralph Beckett has trained 2 of the last 6 winners
Charlie Appleby has trained 2 of the last 12 winners
William Buick has ridden 2 of the last 12 winners
20/23 – Had never raced at Ascot before
19/23 – Had at least 2 previous races that season
18/23 - Placed in their previous race
17/23 – Had won over 1m2f or further before
16/23 – Placed favourites
14/23 – Returned 5/1 or shorter in the betting
11/23 – Had exactly 2 previous runs that season
10/23 – Irish-trained winners (9 of last 14)
9/23 – Won their last race
5/23 – Winning favourites
6/23 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (6 of last 12)
6/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
4/23 - Trained by John Gosden (5 wins in total)
3/23 – Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor (5 in total)
3/23 – Won by a Godolphin-owned horse
Just two winners from stall 1 in the last 19 runnings
10 of the last 19 winners came between stalls 3-6 (inc)
22/24 – Had no more than 2 previous runs that season
21/24 – Aged 6 or younger
21/24 – Had between 1-2 previous runs that season
19/24 – Had won over at least 2 miles on the flat before
19/24 – Favourites that were placed
19/24 – Won their last race
15/24 – Previous Group 1 winners
14/24 – Won by the favourite
11/24 – Aged 4 years-old (9 of the last 14)
10/24 – Irish-trained winners
9/24 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien
6/24 – Ran at Sandown last time out (Henry II Stakes)
4/24 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (4 of the last 13)
17 of the last 20 winners returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
13 of the last 20 winners returned 7/2 or shorter in the betting
11 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 1-5 (inc) (7 of the last 9 winners came from stalls 7 or lower)
Godolphin won the race in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2012 & 2025
Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner in 2024, 2022, 2016, 2014, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
John Gosden has trained the winner in 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2025
Since 1949 there have been 16 multiple winners of the race
Since 1930 only 4 winners aged 7+ (Trawlerman, Yeats x 2, Drum Taps)
France have won 15 Gold Cups (last Westerner)
2025 – Arabian Story (15/2)
2024 – Mickley (15/2)
2023 – Docklands (6/1 fav)
2022 – Thesis (14/1)
2021 – Perotto (18/1)
2020 – Khaloosy (9/2)
2019 – Biometric (28/1)
2018 – Ostillo (10/1)
2017 – Bless Him (25/1)
2016 – Defrocked (13/2)
2015 – War Envoy (10/1)
2014 – Born In China (14/1)
2013 – Beauty Flame (20/1)
2012 – Fast Or Free (6/1 fav)
2011 – Sagramor (8/1)
2010 – Ransom Note (9/1)
2009 – Fareer (20/1)
2008 – Fifteen Love (28/1)
2007 – Eddie Jock (33/1)
2006 – Sir Gerard (9/2 fav)
2005 – Mostashaar (10/3 fav)
2004 – Mandobi (8/1)
2003 – New Seeker (16/1)
Britannia Stakes Trends
21/23 – Had no more than 3 previous runs that season
19/23 – Had won a race over 7f or 1m before
19/23 – Placed last time out
15/23 – Carried 8-13 or less
15/23 – Had never run at Ascot before
14/23 – Failed to win their previous race
13/23 – Returned a double-figure price
13/23 – Unplaced favourites
9/23 – Had exactly 2 previous runs that season
9/23 – Had only won over 7f previously
4/23 – Ridden by Jamie Spencer
4/23 – Winning favourites
3/23 – Ran at Haydock last time out
3/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
Just one top three finish horse from stall 1 in the last 20 runnings
16 of the last 20 winners came from a double-figure stall (2 of the last 6 winners from stall 19)
In 2025 the first 5 horses from stalls 27+
The first 10 home in 2024 were all from a double-figure stall
Aidan O’Brien has only trained 1 winner (War Envoy, 2015)
8 of the last 11 winners drawn between stalls 10-19
Trainer John Gosden has won the race 4 times (last 2001)
22/23 – Had not raced at Ascot before
20/23 – Had at least 2 previous runs that season
20/23 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
15/23 – Had either 2 or 3 previous runs that season
12/23 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
12/23 – Had won over 1m2f before
9/23 – Unplaced favourites
8/23 – Winning favourites
5/23 - Ran at Epsom last time out
5/23 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien
5/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
No winner from stall 1 in the last 20 runnings
16 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 5 or higher
12 of the last 19 winners came from stall 5-9 (inc)
6.10 - Buckingham Palace Handicap (3yo+) 7f ITV4
Buckingham Palace Handicap Trends
10/11 – Aged 4, 5 or 6 years-old
10/11 – Had run in the last 6 weeks
10/11 – Had won over at least 6f before
9/11 – Returned 12/1 or bigger in the betting
9/11 – Unplaced favourites
9/11 – Had run at Ascot before
9/11 – Drawn in a double-figure stall
8/11 – Rated between 92-99
7/11 – Carried 9-4 or less in weight
6/11 – Had 5+ wins before
5/11 – Bred in Ireland
2/11 – Trained by Richard Hannon (2 of the last 6)
2/11 – Came from stall 29
2/11 – Ran at Ascot last time out
2/11 – Winning favourites
The last 6 winners were aged 4
Since 2002 only 2 winners aged 7+
7 of the last 8 winners from stalls 24+
2025: Never So Brave (4/1 fav), Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/MohawkKing_ChurchillBay_Minzaal_Mayaas.jpg319830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-06-17 13:01:462026-06-17 16:25:002026 Royal Ascot Betting Trends – Day Three (Thurs 18th June)
More top action in June as the horse racing bandwagon turns its attention to the 2026 Royal Ascot Meeting. The five-day meeting (Tues 16th to Sat 20 June 2026) is always one of the highlights on the flat racing calendar.
Like all big race days, here at GEEGEEZ we've got it all covered with key trends and stats - use these trends to narrow down the field and find the best past profiles of recent winners - as the big meeting moves into day four on Friday 19th June 2026.
Royal Ascot Trends Day Four – Friday 19th June 2026
24/24 – Had between 1 and 2 previous runs
24/24 – Never raced at Ascot before
23/24 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
20/24 – Won their previous race
18/24 – Won by either a Feb or Mar foal
16/24 – Placed favourites
12/24 – Previous winner over 6f
10/24 – Returned a double-figure price
7/24 – Winning favourites
5/24 – Won by trainers Channon (2) or Hannon (3)
3/24 – Ran at Sandown last time
2/24 – Trained by Karl Burke (2 of the last 6)
2/24 – Trained by Roger Varian (2 of the last 12)
Jockey Jamie Spencer has won the race 4 times
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the race 3 times (2 of the last 4)
Jockey Ryan Moore has won the race 3 times (2 of the last 4)
16 of the last 22 winners came from double-figure stalls
12 of the last 21 winners came from stalls 11-15 (inc)
11/11 – Won over 6f before
9/11 – Drawn 8 or lower
8/11 – Had run at Ascot before
7/11 – Won 3+ times before
7/11 – Ran in the last 5 weeks
4/11 – Rated 117 or higher
4/11 – Winning favourite
4/11 – Won last time out
3/11 – Won by a filly (Quiet Reflection, Campanelle, Time For Sandals)
2/11 – Came from stall 8
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the race once (Caravaggio, 2017)
3.40 - Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-105) 1m4f ITV
21/23 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
21/23 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
21/23 – Had at least 2 previous career wins to their name
19/23 – Carried 9-0 or more
16/23 – Placed last time out
15/23 – Had won over 1m4f before
15/23 – Had at least 2 previous runs that season
12/23 – Had run at Ascot before
9/23 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
7/23 – Trained by Hughie Morrison (4) or the Johnston (3) yard
7/23 – Ran at either York or Epsom last time (inc 7 of last 13 winners)
7/23 – Unplaced favourites
6/23 – Ran at Newmarket last time
6/23 – Winning favourites
16 of the last 21 winners came from a double-figure stall
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has never won this race
23/24 – Had won over at least 7f before
21/24 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
18/24 – Had between 1 and 2 previous runs that season
18/24 – Had won a Group 1 or 2 previously
15/24 – Had won over at least a 1 mile before
11/24 – Ran in that season’s English 1,000 Guineas
10/24 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
9/24 – Had run at Ascot before (3 winners)
8/24 – Unplaced last time out
7/24 – Ran in that season’s Irish 1,000 Guineas
3/24 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
3/24 – Trained by John Gosden
2/24 – Trained by Jessica Harrington (2 of the last 8)
16 of the last 19 winners returned 8/1 or shorter
1 winner from stall 1 in the last 20 runnings
15 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 5 or higher
11 of the last 20 winners were non UK-trained – French (5), Irish (7)
The Aga Khan IV has won 2 of the last 11
20/24 – Had between 2 and 4 previous runs that season
19/24 – Returned 14/1 or shorter in the betting
17/24 – Had never run at Ascot before
18/24 – Had won over at least 7f before
18/24 – Placed in their previous race
16/24 – Carried 8-10 or more
15/24 – Favourites that finished in the top 4
12/24 – Won their last race
11/24 – Returned a double-figure price
9/24 – Had exactly 3 runs already that season
8/24 – Winning favourites (1 co, 1 joint)
4/24 – Ridden by Jamie Spencer
8 of the last 12 winners came from stalls 11+
Charlie Fellowes has trained 2 of the last 7 winners
Richard Hannon has trained 2 of the last 11 winners
John Gosden has trained 2 of the last 10 winners
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has never won this race
5.35 - King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (CLASS 1) (3yo) 1m4f ITV
King Edward VII Stakes Recent Winners
2025 – Amiloc (11/8 fav)
2024 – Calandagan (11/2)
2023 – King Of Steel (11/10 fav)
2022 – Changingoftheguard (11/10 fav)
2021 – Alenquer (13/8 fav)
2020 – Pyledriver (18/1)
2019 – Japan (6/4 fav)
2018 – Old Persian (9/2)
2017 – Permian (6/1)
2016 – Across The Stars (7/1)
2015 – Balios (3/1)
2014 – Eagle Top (12/1)
2013 – Hillstar (15/2)
2012 – Thomas Chippendale (9/2)
2011 – Nathaniel (11/4 fav)
2010 – Monterosso (7/2)
2009 – Father Time (9/1)
2008 – Campanologist (9/1)
2007 – Boscobel (7/1)
2006 – Papal Bull (5/4 fav)
2005 – Plea Bargain (9/2)
2004 – Five Dynasties (11/4 fav)
2003 – High Accolade (5/2 fav)
King Edward VII Stakes Key Trends
22/23 – Had at least 2 previous runs that season
21/23 – Returned 9/1 or shorter in the
19/23 – Had never raced at Ascot before
17/23 – Finished in the top three last time out
16/23 – Placed favourites
15/23 - Had won at least 2 previous races during their career
14/23 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
12/23 – Had already won a Listed or better class race
9/23 – Winning favourites
3/23 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (2 of the last 6)
3/23 – Trained by John Gosden
3/23 – Trained by the Johnston yard
1/23 – Only 1 French-trained winner
Just 1 winner from stall 1 in the last 21 runnings
13 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 4-9 (inc)
17 of the last 19 winners returned 9/1 or shorter
6.10 - Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap (3yo) 5f ITV4
Just 6 previous runnings
6/6 – Carried 9-1 or less
6/6 – Drawn 11-25
1/6 – Winning favourites
Adrestia (10/1) won this race in 2025
Pilgrim (18/1) won this race in 2024
Rhythm N Hooves (12/1) won this race in 2023
Latin Lover (5/1) won this race in 2022
Trainer Simon & Ed Crisford won this race in 2025
Trainer David and Nicola Barron won this race in 2024
Trainer Harry Eustace won this race in 2022
Trainer Karl Burke won this race in 2021
Trainer Tim Easterby won this race in 2020
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/bluepoint_DiamondJubilee_RoyalAscot2019_830x320.jpg320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-06-17 12:01:212026-06-17 16:24:542026 Royal Ascot Betting Trends – Day Four (Fri 19th June)
More top action in June as the horse racing bandwagon turns its attention to the 2026 Royal Ascot Meeting. The five-day meeting (Tues 16th to Sat 20th June 2026) is always one of the highlights on the flat racing calendar.
Like all big race days, here at GEEGEEZ we've got it all covered with key trends and stats - use these trends to narrow down the field and find the best past profiles of recent winners - as the big meeting moves into day five on Saturday 20th June 2026.
Royal Ascot Trends Day Five – Saturday 20th June 2026
2025 – Charles Darwin (8/13 fav)
2024 – Shareholder (12/1)
2023 – Valiant Force (150/1)
2022 - The Ridler (50/1)
2021 – Perfect Power (14/1)
2020 – The Lir Jet (9/2)
2019 – A’Ali (5/1)
2018 – Shang Shang Shang (5/1)
2017 – Sioux Nation (14/1)
2016 – Prince Of Lir (8/1)
2015 – Waterloo Bridge (12/1)
2014 – Baitha Alga (8/1)
2013 – No Nay Never (4/1)
2012 – Reckless Abandon (4/1)
2011 – Bapak Chinta (6/1)
2010 – Approve (16/1)
2009 – Radiohead (10/1)
2008 – South Central (11/4 fav)
2007 – Winker Watson (2/1 fav)
2006 – Dutch Art (11/4)
2005 – Masta Plasta (7/2)
2004 – Blue Dakota (5/4 fav)
2003 – Russian Valour (4/1)
Norfolk Stakes Trends
23/23 – Had at least 1 previous run
21/23 – Previous winners over 5f
21/23 – Had never raced at Ascot before
19/23 – Had a RPR of 105+
18/23 – Won their previous race
16/23 – Foaled in March or April
13/23 – Favourites placed
12/23 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
8/23 – Returned a double-figure (or triple) price
4/23 – Winning favourites
3/23 – Ran at Windsor last time out
3/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
2/23 – Trained by Wesley Ward
9 of the last 10 winners drawn 10 or lower
Aidan O’Brien has trained 3 of the last 11 winners (4 in total)
Richard Fahey have won 2 of the last 5 runnings
11 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 7-12 (inc)
The Hannon yard have won the race 4 times
23/23 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
22/23 – Had won a Group 2 or 3 previously
20/23 – Placed last time out
20/23 – Had won over 1m4f before
16/23 – Had run at Ascot before
15/23 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
15/23 – Had at least 2 previous runs that season
14/23 – Aged 4 years-old (inc 12 of last 15 winners)
12/23 – Placed favourites
12/23 – Won their previous race
8/23 – Winning favourites
7/23 – Ran at Epsom last time out (Coronation Cup)
6/23 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (4) or Johnston yard (2)
6/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
16 of the last 20 winners returned 8/1 or shorter
14 of the last 20 winners returned 6/1 or shorter
No winner from stall 1 in the last 20 runnings
Just one winner aged 7+ since 1923 (Rebel’s Romance, 2025)
9 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 2-5 (inc)
2025 – Naval Crown (33/1)
2024 – Khaadem (14/1)
2023 – Khaadem (80/1)
2022 – Naval Crown (33/1)
2021 – Dream Of Dreams (3/1 fav)
2020 – Hello Youmzain (4/1)
2019 – Blue Point (6/4 fav)
2018 – Merchant Navy (4/1)
2017 – The Tin Man (9/2)
2016 – Twilight Son (7/2)
2015 – Undrafted (14/1)
2014 – Slade Power (7/2 fav)
2013 – Lethal Force (11/1)
2012 – Black Caviar (1/6 fav)
2011 – Society Rock (25/1)
2010 – Starspanglebanner (13/2 jfav)
2009 – Art Connoisseur (20/1)
2008 – Kingsgate Native (33/1)
2007 – Soldier’s Tale (9/1)
2006 – Les Arcs (33/1)
2005 – Cape Of Good Hope (8/1)
2004 - Fayr Jag (12/1)
2003 – Choisir (13/2)
QEII Jubilee Stakes Key Trends
20/23 – Previous distance (6f) winners
20/23 – Previous Group Race winners
18/23 – Had run at Ascot before
17/23 – Aged 5 or younger
17/23 – Failed to win their last race
16/23 – Won by a UK-based yard
12/23 – Returned a double-figure price
11/23 – Unplaced favourites
6/23 – Ran in the King Charles III earlier at the meeting
5/23 – Winning favourite (joint)
2/23 – Trained by James Fanshawe
9 of the last 21 winners were Irish-bred
10 of the last 21 winners came from a low-figure draw
No winner from stall 1 in the last 21 runnings
10 of the last 21 winners returned a double-figure price
2 of the last 3 winners trained by Charles Hills
3 of the last 7 winners trained by Charlie Appleby
Ryan Moore has ridden 3 of the last 10
James Doyle has ridden 3 of the last 7
2025 – Noble Champion (25/1)
2024 – Haatem (7/2)
2023 – Age Of Kings (22/1)
2022 – Noble Truth (4/1 fav)
2021 – Creative Force (5/1 jfav)
2020 – Molatham (11/2)
2019 – Space Traveller (25/1)
2018 – Expert Eye (8/1)
2017 – Le Brivido (2/1 fav)
2016 – Ribchester (7/1)
2015 – Dutch Connection (14/1)
2014 – Mustajeeb (9/2 jfav)
2013 – Gale Force Ten (9/2 fav)
2012 – Ishvana (20/1)
2011 – Strong Suit (11/1)
2010 – Rainfall (8/1)
2009 – Ouqba (12/1)
2008 – Aqlaam (13/2)
2007 – Tariq (15/2)
2006 – Jeremy (9/2)
2005 – Proclamation (7/1)
2004 – Kheleyf (6/1)
2003 – Membership (20/1)
2002 - Just James (20/1)
Jersey Stakes Trends
22/24 – Had at least 1 run already that season
20/24 – Had 4 or more career runs
15/24 – Had won over 7f before
14/24 – Had won a Listed or better class race before
12/24 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
11/24 – Had run at Ascot before
10/24 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
9/24 – Horses from stall 8 placed
9/24 – Unplaced favourites
9/24 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
6/24 – Won their previous race
5/24 – Winning favourites
3/24 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (4 wins in total and 3 in the last 14)
2/23 – Trainer by Charlie Appleby (2 of the last 5 runnings)
The Irish have won 4 of the last 14 runnings
The horse from stall 11 has finished 2nd in 5 of the last 18 runnings
2025 – Get It (28/1)
2024 – Unequal Love (12/1)
2023 – Saint Lawrence (22/1)
2022 – Rohaan (18/1)
2021 – Rohaan (8/1)
2020 – Hey Jonesy (18/1)
2019 – Cape Byron (7/2 fav)
2018 – Bacchus (33/1)
2017 – Out Do (25/1)
2016 – Outback Traveller (10/1)
2015 – Interception (10/1)
2014 – Baccarat (9/1)
2013 – York Glory (14/1)
2012 – Dandy Boy (33/1)
2011 – Deacon Blues (15/2)
2010 – Laddies Poker Two (9/2 fav)
2009 – High Standing (8/1)
2008 – Big Timer I (20/1)
2007 – Dark Missile (22/1)
2006 – Baltic King (10/1)
2005 – Iffraaj (9/4 fav)
2004 – Lafi (6/1 fav)
2003 – Ratio (14/1) / Fayr Jag (10/1) (dead-heat)
Wokingham Stakes Key Trends
26/26 – Had won before over 6f or 7f
24/26 – Had no more than 4 runs that season
24/26 – Ran within the last 6 weeks
23/26 – Had won a race over 6f before
22/26 – Finished sixth or better last time out
21/26 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
17/26 – Had at least 2 runs already that season
17/26 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
16/26 – Had run at Ascot before (9 had won here)
13/26 – Ran at either Ascot, Goodwood or Newmarket last time
8/26 – Won their previous race
5/26 – Won by the favourite
13 of the last 20 winners carried 9-3 or less in weight
11 of the last 20 winners returned 14/1 or shorter
15 of the last 20 winners came from a double-figure draw
14 of the last 16 winners came from a double-figure stall
11 of the last 15 runnings - the top 2 finishers both came from double-figure stalls
Horse from stall 15 has been placed in 4 of the last 15 runnings
Since 1980 there have been only 9 winning favourites
Since 1980 there have been 36 winners returning a double-figure price
The Cole yard has won the race 3 times
5.35 - Golden Gates Handicap (3yo) 1m2f ITV
Just the 6 previous runnings
Quai De Bethune (12/1) won this race in 2025
Hand Of God (9/4 fav) won this race in 2024
Burdett Road (20/1) won this race in 2023
Missed the Cut (5/2 fav) won this race in 2022
Foxes Tales (13/2) won this race in 2021
Highland Chief (20/1) won this race in 2020
Trainer Andrew Balding won this race in 2025
Trainer Harry Charlton won this race in 2024
Trainer George Boughey won this race in 2022
Trainer Andrew Balding won this race in 2021
Trainer Paul and Oliver Cole won this race in 2020
5 of the last 6 winners came between stalls 13-17 (inc)
18/23 – Finished unplaced last time out
15/23 – Had won over at least 2m on the flat before
13/23 – Had run at Ascot before
13/23 – Aged 4, 5 or 6 years old
10/23 – Won by a NH yard
10/23 – Irish-trained winners
7/23 – Winning favourites
5/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (6 of last 16)
4/23 – Trained by Willie Mullins (5 of last 14)
2/23 – Trained by the Johnston yard (2 of last 11)
2/23 – Trained by Andrew Balding (2 of last 13)
2/23 – Trained by Gordon Elliott (2 of last 10)
2/23 – Trained by Joseph O’Brien (2 of the last 3)
15 of the last 20 winners returned 6/1 or shorter
13 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 9-16 (inc)
12 of the last 19 winners came from a double-figure stall
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Frankie_KingofSteel_ChampionStakes2023.png319830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-06-17 11:01:322026-06-17 17:42:532026 Royal Ascot Betting Trends – Day Five (Sat 20th June)
It's Gold Cup day, or Ladies' Day - or even Thursday, or Day 3. The hump day of Royal Ascot features the showcase event, the Gold Cup, a Group 1 run over two and a half miles. There is, of course, a further trio of top class shermozzles either side of that blockbuster, so let's get to it...
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2.30 THE CHESHAM STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed)
Presented by Matt Bisogno
In a change to the running order, the Chesham appears as the first race of the Ladies' Day card, a trappy seven-furlong juvenile heat for Listed honours.
The Chesham cheat code appears to be thus: either a once-raced Aidan that got beat, or one of the top three unbeaten-in-one horses in the market. That would have got you nine of the last 11 winners, one of the other pair being the unbackable Holloway Boy on debut and the other the dual winner Pinatubo. Those winners included 12/1 Snellen and 14/1 Suits You.
Taking that approach aligns quite well with the market, the nominated APO'B runner Aix La Chapelle heading the field. He was easy enough to back when sent off 4/1 on his debut (7f, good to yielding) a fortnight ago, and had plenty to do a quarter mile from home. But the further they went the more inevitable was the son of Justify's victory, eventually pulling away by a widening length and a half. He made up a good five lengths in those final two furlongs and looks the obvious one to beat granted normal improvement.
Richard Hannon sends Aperoll with a similar profile to the favourite. She, too, is a once raced winner from about a fortnight ago, though she was more handily placed when taking a Newbury novice over six and a half furlongs. A daughter of Ghaiyyath, she's a January foal and as such is entitled to a precocity edge on most of her rivals. Plenty of fillies have won the Chesham in recent times, including Bedtime Story (2024) and Snellen (2023) as well as September (2017).
Karl Burke won this race in 2022 with the unraced Holloway Boy - some feat - and he's since further advertised himself as one of the top trainers in the country, particularly when it comes to juveniles. He's represented by Revels, easy three length winner of a Redcar maiden a month ago on his sole start. The second has yet to run again but the third won by almost five lengths on his next outing. This son of Lope De Vega is, unsurprisingly perhaps, owned by a member of the Mars family - Ms L Mars, in fact - and she's another that can obviously step forward. [Proud of myself for resisting all kinds of sugar/confectionery puns there].
Time For The Moon shouted his credentials when blitzing a field of Musselburgh novices by 7½ lengths - yikes. However, that was on his second start so he's less scope to improve than the once raced brigade, and - respectfully - it was Musselburgh and the time was good but not great. Moreover, he's gone from the front in his two races so far, with only last year's winner, Humidity, managing to make all in the past decade. It's not easy to do. Still, he has credentials.
Sea Venture has had the sole start, bolting up by three lengths in a Haydock fillies' maiden four weeks, and she is another unexposed runner. The form awaits a boost, though, with none of the five runners since making the frame; that includes the second and fourth, both beaten more than five lengths on their next starts.
Another son of Justify, Nola Soul, travels across for trainer John Stack. He beat a couple of Aidan's as well as a horse called Chesham, presumably fancied at some point to wind up here; closest to him that day, however, was King Of Cloughan which runs in the Windsor Castle on Wednesday: that clearly will be a line of the merit of the form, with the third-placed horse already having won since.
The most expensive horse in the field is an Amo-owned Charlie Johnston-trained Frankel colt called Pikachu. Named after the cute little pokemon, he was second on debut at Thirsk, behind the more experienced Alfred Wallace - another headed for Wednesday's Windsor Castle - and should improve plenty for that. He's a place player at least.
Suggestion: Aidan won this in 2024, 2021, 2020, 2017 and 2016; but he didn't win in three of the past four years. Aix La Chapelle has a very good chance and I think I'll save on him; but I'm going to have a point apiece on a couple at prices, Aperoll and Revels. Not because I'm thirsty and hungry, you understand, but rather because both bring impressive unbeaten-in-one form to the party and look definite value at around 10/1.
Tix Pointers: Keep it Aidan on A, and unbeaten winners of one on B.
3.05 THE KING GEORGE V STAKES (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPLUS RACE)
Presented by Rory Delargy
The most interesting angle into this 1½m handicap is the effect of the draw. Logically, on a round course, the uneducated view (including among jockeys and trainers who should know better) is that being drawn close to the inside is a positive, and being drawn very wide is a negative. The truth is very different, as results of races over course and distance, and particularly the King George V, show. Here are the results since 2021 based on stall number:
As you can see, a very wide draw is no disadvantage (such results are borne out on a wider scale) and while those drawn low can and do get involved, they are the ones who tend to require a bit of luck in the run. When the field fans out in the straight, those who come widest tend to end up on the quicker ground and when races are run at a strong gallop as they usually are, those coming late and wide are at an advantage. 2022 was a year where the pace slackened mid-race, favouring those who were well positioned at that point, but it’s a rarity for pace to drop in that way with plenty usually keen to press on.
The pace map suggests that low-drawn horses should dominate the early stages but because those who want to lead are drawn close together, there must also be a decent chance that they get involved in a battle for primacy that produces some overly strong early fractions. Those on the front end can enhance their chances by dapping on the brakes at that point as a relentless gallop will play to the hold-up horses, but predicting mid-race tactics is almost impossible in advance and I’m relying on the pace map which predicts the gallop will be strong.
A strong pace isn’t just an indicator of where in the field the winner might emerge, but confirms that whatever horse wins will have had to show stamina for the trip; on that basis, I’d be keen to exclude those who appear best at up to 1¼m. A key trial for this is the London Gold Cup at Newbury, which this year saw Lost Boys beat Sahara King and Tierra Del Toro. That was over 1¼m and I thought Tierra Del Toro was the one of the principals who would most benefit from the extra quarter mile here, as he took time to hit top gear before staying on best of all in the closing stages. He was without a prep run for that valuable contest, so I expect him to improve a little more for that first outing of the season, and while I’d prefer him to be drawn wider, stall 10 looks a good spot to stalk the leaders while keeping out of trouble. Ralph Beckett’s Lope de Vega gelding is untried at the trip and his half-brother Alcaraz has won only at 1¼m, but their dam is a full-sister to dual Arc winner Treve, which gives plenty of confidence that he will relish 1½m.
Cannes is one who looks sure to benefit from a test of stamina having landed a decent maiden over the trip at Leopardstown last month. That form looked good at the time and has been franked by wins for the third and fourth placed horses since (second yet to race again), while Cannes is likely to do better still as his stamina is drawn out in a well-run race, his dam being a half-sister to Mojo Star, who was runner-up in the Derby, St Leger and the Gold Cup here. I don’t think the Leopardstown contest got to the bottom of Cannes and he remains completely unexposed. Joseph O’Brien had his handicap record at Royal Ascot questioned at the start of the week, but saddling the 1-2 in the Ascot Stakes answered such criticism in resounding fashion. Stall 21 is a cracking position based on recent results of this race and he should have the race run to suit.
Tix Pointers: High draws are where it's been at. One day it won't go that way, but usually that's the counter-intuitive route in Royal Ascot handicaps over 1m4f.
John & Thady Gosden’s Legacy Link seemingly holds all the aces here. Frankel’s full sister is already building a little legacy (pardon the wordplay) of her own, still looking far from the finished project when winning the Musidora at York, outbattling the smoother-travelling Felicitas; and then her second in the Oaks to Thundering On, where she saw out the mile and a half well enough, another step forward.
She is, on form, the one to beat. But look at the prices of the last five winners; 7-1, 12-1, 13-2, 11-4, 18-1. Not a favourite in sight, and we’ve seen the likes of Kalpana, Al Asifah and Noon Star, good fillies all, turned over after previous good runs in Musidoras, Pretty Pollys and Oaks's. Yes, it’s been a bit of a favourites' graveyard recently, and that gives you hope if you’re taking her on.
Gilded Prize has been made second favourite by the books but it’s hard to see what that's based on. Yes, she was impressive enough when winning a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud back in April; but that form would need improving on, and she looked a bit on the slow side when easily brushed aside at Longchamp last time. This step up in trip might help, but all in all she looks short enough.
Earth Shot is improving for William Haggas and her head second to Inis Mor in the Height Of Fashion at Goodwood looks better after the winner finished third in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly last weekend, a very good run. On the bare form she has a lot to find, but she’s going the right way and her pedigree offers plenty of hope she’ll improve again for moving up in trip, the dam a winner at a mile and three-quarters. I like her profile and she is on my shortlist.
Aidan O’Brien has won this for the last three years with lesser fancied fillies, and Composing fits the bill as far as that profile is concerned. She’s getting a pair of blinkers to try and get her back on track, and that did the trick for Port Fairy a couple of years ago when O’Brien equipped her with a first-time visor. Impressive when rattling off a hat-trick last summer, including in G2 and G3 company, she appears to have lost her way this year; but her last of six at Longchamp last time wasn’t a bad effort strictly on the figures, and given she’s looked a bit short on gears this mile and a half could help. I can’t quite bring myself to put the red pen through her, given her trainer's recent record in the race. I think she might keep drifting and if there’s some 20-1 around on the day, I can see myself having a small win-only bet.
I think, if there’s going to be an upset, then Ralph Beckett’s Lady Roisia might be the one to supply it. If there’s one horse that’s almost cast-iron to be guaranteed to appreciate a step up to twelve furlongs then it’s her: the dam was Oaks winner Talent (also trained by Beckett) and there’s stamina on the sire’s side, too. Badly in need of her first run of the season at Newbury when third to Esna, she’ll strip a lot fitter for that here and I liked her physically when she won at Nottingham at the back end of last year. In a race that keeps throwing up little surprises, let’s hope she’s the latest in that line; at 20-1, I make her the each-way bet here.
Suggestion: Try Lady Roisia each way at 20/1
Tix Pointers: Aidan and Team Gosden have won ten of the last dozen renewals. They were unplaced in the other two though, so maybe leave a trailing leg?
The Gold Cup is historically the centrepiece of the entire Royal Ascot meeting, and chronologically precisely that fulcrum, with 17 races before and the same number after. It might be that races like the St James's Palace Stakes have become a little more fashionable with speed admired over resolve these days, but this is always a compelling watch and frequently the province of the returning champ - who doesn't love that?
This century has given us the brilliant four-time winner Yeats, triple scorer Stradivarius, and dual champs Royal Rebel and Kyprios. Where better to begin, then, than with the defending Gold Cup hero Trawlerman? It's fair to say that I was a little unkind to him in the aftermath of last year's Gold Cup, opining that a seven-year-old couldn't be improving and that he'd been given a very soft time of it on the front end that day.
While there was some truth in my brickbats, Trawlerman went unbeaten in two further races last term, the G2 Lonsdale Cup and the G1 Long Distance Cup on Champions Day. A feature of his wins has been a mid-race injection of pace and then even finishing fractions: in plain English, he gets his rivals out of their comfort zone early and then keeps them uncomfortable.
It's probably fair to say that it was far from a vintage renewal last year, and indeed that the staying crop was below par as a whole. That counts against the dependable but (relatively) limited Sweet William, stablemate of Trawlerman, who possibly doesn't quite stay this far either. He did win the Doncaster Cup over 2m2f and kicked off 2026 with a win in the Sagaro here over two miles. A very likeable chap, he's not on my mind for this.
Of the other golden oldies, Dubai Future stayed on into a never dangerous 3rd a year ago and he's 50/1; he will presumably again be ridden to pick up pieces. And Al Nayyir has been consistent, mainly in defeat and usually at slightly below top class.
Joseph O'Brien showed his talents with stayers on the flat on Tuesday when saddling a 1-2 over the course and distance in the Ascot Stakes, so his Al Riffa is worth a second glance. Now six, he was a Group 1 winner in Germany in 2024, and he doubled his top tier tally when bagging last year's Irish St Leger over 1m6f. Since then, he's been racking up the Avios (and almost £300,000 in prizemoney), with good runs in defeat in Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai and France. This will be a half mile trip increase and he's not certain to stay, but he does bring a level of form few of his rivals can boast.
It's been quite the journey for Caballo De Mar, beaten 15 lengths in a novice stakes this week two years ago - to be fair, the winner was Ombudsman! - and a seven-race maiden before breaking his duck, off 64, in an Ayr handicap in September 2024. What fun connections have had since, as this unfashionably bred and cheaply bought son of Phoenix Of Spain has totted up nine wins via that starter at Ayr, then Southwell four times on the bounce (!), Haydock, Dortmund and Longchamp twice - both Group 1's. Additionally, he ran second in the Chester Cup, the Copper Horse Stakes here last year, the Dubai Gold Cup and in Sweet William's Sagaro. Wow. I do have a niggle that some of those overseas wins were a little below the level needed here, and I suspect Al Riffa will reverse the French form from last time if he sees out the extra yardage.
The other new kids on the block and, aged four with a bit more improvement potentially, are Rahiebb and Scandinavia. Rahiebb is trained by Roger Varian and, after a three-year-old season of knocking on the door - most notably when a neck second to Scandinavia in the St Leger - the more mature four-year-old model was an unequivocal winner of the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup in mid-May. That was 1m6f and he'll go almost a full Wokingham further here, which is the major question mark. His late sectionals certainly lend credence to the idea that he will stay but it's a risk that needs factoring into his price.
Rahiebb's old rival Scandinavia comes here on a five match unbeaten run that started in the G3 Bahrain Trophy last July and has taken in the Goodwood Cup, the St Leger (Doncaster), the Vintage Crop (Navan) and the Saval Beg at Leopardstown. As a result of that nap hand he's a very short price here, but he's not actually stepped forward on his level of form across that quintet of scores. He definitely looks under-priced to me and I'm taking him on, for all that he obviously has a sexy knack of getting the job done.
In the end, it looks a three-horse go between the top trio in the market: Scandinavia, Rahiebb and Trawlerman. Although he still sets the standard, my feeling is that Trawlerman, on seasonal bow and now aged eight, is vulnerable to the more progressive four-year-olds. There was only a neck between Scandinavia and Rahiebb in the St Leger last autumn, the latter finishing well and just failing to get up. With both of them needing to prove they stay this far, the value call is definitely Rahiebb.
I expect that Al Riffa could get into the first four if he stays, and maybe onto the podium. He's clear best of the rest for me.
Suggestion: Back Rahiebb to win at 4/1. Have a look at Al Riffa e/w at 10/1.
Tix Pointers: Another Aidan/Gosden benefit. Probably keeping it simple here as plenty of problems to follow...
4.50 THE BRITANNIA STAKES (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap)
Presented by Sam Darby
I shared the historic draw and pace data in yesterday’s Royal Hunt Cup preview, so if you want to reference that before having a bet, you’ll find it in the Day Two preview article here. As I am writing this before Wednesday’s racing begins, I have less information than you’ll have by the time you read this. But on Tuesday it definitely looked as though high draws were advantageous on the straight course; it will be interesting to see if that changes on Wednesday. The spread of the early pace could have an impact on any potential draw bias here, so the pace map should be insightful.
The pace is pretty evenly spread across the course - and there looks to be lots of it! Given the straight course tends to favour patient rides anyway, this really could be a race where you want to be held up out back and played late. It goes without saying that any amount of these horses could be well ahead of their marks, such is the nature of these big field 3yo handicaps where pretty much every runner is lightly raced. This is more of a race to follow going forward, rather than to bet on, but that doesn’t mean we can’t back the winner as well! There are two horses that I like in this one. My more favoured pick would be Outback Heat, who was well backed following the final decs on Tuesday. He won a course and distance handicap on his most recent start, coming from last to first. Winning that race before landing the Britannia Stakes is a path this trainer took with Docklands back in 2023 and Harry Eustace also saddled the runner up in this race last year (La Botte). After just three starts, Outback Heat is entitled to improve as much as anything in this field and he beat the subsequent Silver Bowl winner (who reopposes here on worse terms) in that race, alongside some other runners who have placed since in good races. He’s drawn in 18, which might be a bit closer to the middle than ideal, but it does give him the obvious option of switching to the near side. My main question mark is Kaiya Fraser keeping the ride. He’s been on board for all three runs so far, so at least knows the horse well, but I’d have preferred one of the top jockeys. The other one who catches my eye is Wechaad for Roger Varian. He’s a bit more exposed than some of these, with six runs under his belt, and whilst I’m on the negatives, maybe he wants a bit more cut in the ground. He caught the eye on seasonal reappearance at Goodwood though, in a race that is often a good guide for this (2021 winner Perotto took the same route), where he not only did best of those held up but he did best of the high draws, too. Any draw/pace students out there will know how detrimental stall 15 is over 7f at Goodwood, so that effort can be massively marked up. He’s drawn in stall 28, whereas many of the market fancies appear to be low drawn. If the higher drawn horses are at an advantage, like I think they could be, then there should be some really nice value to be had.
Suggestion: Try each way Outback Hero at 11/1, and Wechaad at 9/1.
Tix Pointers: One of the top four in the market has usually won this, but a couple of wacky placepot results involved the joint fifth and joint seventh in the markets being the highest betting rank placed horse. Spread out!
- yet to win at Group level (15 of the last 15 winners)
- an official rating of 103+ (14/15)
- raced 3-7 times in their career (14/15)
- came from the top 4 in the betting (13/15)
- returned less than 8/1 (14/15)
13 of the last 15 winners had won at least one of their last three starts and had finished top 6 in all of those three starts (14/15).
3 of the last 15 winners last raced at Epsom (from just 9 such runners).
In the last 15 years, all 22 runners that had their last start in a class 3-5 race, all 15 horses that last ran in the 2000 Guineas, all 12 horses that last ran in a Group 2 and all 6 horses that last ran on the all weather have been beaten.
Traditionally this is a race for those who missed the Derby due to stamina doubts or those that did run in the Derby but didn't stay. The trends are pretty strong and leave us looking at easy Listed winner Endorsement or Lingfield Derby Trial flop Maho Bay.
By Dubawi out of a Dandy Man mare, Maho Bay is probably not bred to stay, especially since everything in his pedigree ran (well) at up to a mile. He'd looked good when taking a Newmarket novice over ten furlongs in handsome style but stopped quickly over the Derby trip in the Lingfield trial. This step down will certainly suit but he needs to find more than his demonstrated level of form.
The form of Endorsement is rock solid having run a 1/2 length second to Derby winner Christmas Day and filling the same position by the same margin behind Derby third James J Braddock in two of the top Irish Derby Trials ealier in the Spring. He was last seen trouncing his field in a 12f Listed contest by over 7 lengths and is another favourite who has the level required to win this Group 3 with the only question to answer being whether he can perform just as well back over 10f.
Suggestion: Back Endorsement at 9/4
Tix Pointers: Every one of the last 13 winners started in the first four in the betting. Only one of the last eight winners also won last time out. So a fancied runner that perhaps doesn't look like one?
6.10 THE BUCKINGHAM PALACE STAKES (CLASS 2) (Handicap)
Presented by Dave Renham
This race was taken off the calendar in 2015 but reinstated in 2020. Hence in terms of trends, I am looking at the last ten renewals, which cover 2011 to 2014 and 2020 to 2025.
Two wins for horses from the top four of the betting, with both being favourite (last two years). Five winners priced between 12/1 and 18/1; the other three were 25/1, 33/1 and 50/1.
4yos have won six of the last ten (60%) from 40% of the total runners. 4yos do have the best placed record (roughly double compared with the other age groups combined).
7yos and older have a poor record win 0 wins and just 5 places from 45 runners.
Seven of the last 10 winners were priced 15/2 or shorter on their most recent start. This equates to 70% of the winners from just 42% of the total runners.
Draw
The number of runners each year has fluctuated between 23 and 29 so for my draw analysis I am using the Nick Mordin technique of ‘reversing’ the draw because the very highest draws are berthed next to the stands’ rail. Hence, I am looking at how far the stall position has been away from the stands’ rail to hopefully give the most accurate draw history.
Looking at the last ten renewals, I have collated Percentage of Rivals Beaten figures (PRBs) for different sections of the draw. I have looked at the PRBs for all runners and then focused on those 33/1 or shorter in price, ignoring the complete rags. For the record, non-runners have been taken into account, so the draw positions have been adjusted to allow for this. My findings are as follows:
As the numbers show horses drawn within ten stalls of the stands’ rail have had a significant edge in this race over the past ten years. Indeed, last year’s race saw a huge draw bias as the race result below shows:
Now, draw bias can come and go at the Royal meeting, but personally a middle to higher draw would be my preference in this race unless the ground came up soft.
Run Style
In terms of run style 29 of the 40 win/placed runners over the last ten renewals were held up or raced mid division. Hold up horses have the best record when we analyse the PRBs hitting 0.58. Generally, a horse coming off the pace would be preferred.
For a field this size there is a surprising lack of genuine front runners. River King looks the most likely from 14, but it will be interesting to see therefore how quickly they go early.
With a maximum field declared here are my thoughts on a few of them.
Defence Minister – has been unlucky with the draw several times in the past with a prime example being his most recent race, over course and distance. There he was drawn on the wrong side, finishing third of his group but 17th overall. The two runners in his group that finished in front of him both ran well next time so his run was far better than the finishing position suggested. However, based on recent renewals of this race, he could have been unlucky with the draw again as he has a low berth in 8.
Hickory – definitely has age against him in terms of past trends for this race, but with two wins and five placed runs at Ascot he clearly loves it here. Having said that he was disappointing over C&D first time up this season. Was not suited by the run of the race at Sandown last time as it was dominated by horses that were up with the pace that day. Will need a career best to win, but may be worth a look in markets offering lots of places. Has the right type of run style and he is drawn in the middle so has options.
Cosi Bello – Lightly raced four-year-old with just five career starts (three wins, one second, one fourth). Up 2lbs for his seasonal debut win at Haydock in May after which trainer Charlie Fellowes said, "the Buckingham Palace Stakes is the obvious target. I think we’ll go straight there and keep him fresh. The stiff seven will suit him perfectly." Tends to race from off the pace which should be a plus, and he is drawn in 26.
Great Acclaim – Has raced over course and distance three times including when second of 28 last time out. He has been raised two pounds for that effort but his mark of 100 looks fair. His other two runs over course and distance also saw good efforts with another big field second and a 4th of 15. He has a very consistent profile and if excluding his 2yo career he has won six and been placed seven times from 24 starts. Could be well drawn in 23.
The Wizard Of Eye – Beat Great Acclaim over course and distance last time which was his second track/trip success. Raised five pounds for that win and would need a career best at the age of seven to win this. Could be ideally drawn though in 29.
Dance In The Storm – Has had seven runs on the turf with two wins and two placed efforts. Won first time up this year at Chepstow before disappointing at Epsom on Oaks day when fifth of 16. Epsom might not have suited her and if we can forgive that run then she should be there or thereabouts. Looks the best of the very low drawn runners.
River King – Not been out of the first three in five turf starts and has a PRB of 0.91. Comfortable winner from the front at Newbury LTO over 1 mile and likely to press on early here dropped a furlong. It’s hard to win from the front at Ascot but has a clear form chance. Drawn 14.
Suggestion: The draw could play a big part here again, but we can never be 100 per cent sure how that will pan out. In such a big field I am happy to try three against the field. I’m taking 20/1 Great Acclaim and 8/1 Cosi Bello from the higher draws and from the lower draws I will take a bit of a flyer on 25/1 Defence Minister as I have always been a fan of negative draw bias.
And that's a wrap for Ladies' Day. It doesn't get any easier, does it? But it should be another cracking day of sport, and one good winner will apologise for many other wagering missteps.
More top action in June as the horse racing bandwagon turns its attention to the 2025 Royal Ascot Meeting. The five-day meeting (Tues 16th to Sat 20th June 2026) is always one of the highlights on the flat racing calendar.
Like all big race days, here at GEEGEEZ we've got it all covered with key trends and stats - use these trends to narrow down the field and find the best past profiles of recent winners - as the big meeting moves into day two on Wednesday 17th June 2026.
Royal Ascot Trends Day Two – Wednesday 17th June 2026
2.30 - Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) 5f ITV
23/24 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
23/24 – Had between 1 and 3 previous runs that season
19/24 – Had won over 5f (or shorter) before
19/24 – Won their previous race
17/24 – Placed favourites
16/24 – Won by a horse foaled between Jan-Mar
10/24 – Won from non UK-based yards
9/24 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
8/24 – Returned a double-figure price
5/24 – Trained in the US
4/24 – Trained by Wesley Ward (including 3 of last 11 runnings)
2/24 – Won by trainer Richard Hannon
10 of the last 12 winners came from stalls 12+
6 of the last 12 winners came from stalls 20+
10 of the last 11 winners came from stalls 10+
Trainer Karl Burke has won 2 of the last 4 runnings
Trainer Aidan O’Brien won the race for the first time in 2025
21/23 – Had never raced at Ascot before
17/23 – Placed last time out
15/23 – Had run over at least 1m4f before
14/23 – Had at least 2 previous career wins
13/23 – Placed favourites
9/23 – Winning favourites
8/23 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
8/23 – Ran at either Lingfield or Haydock last time out
6/23 - Ridden by Ryan Moore
5/23 - Trained by the Johnston yard
No winner from stall 1 in the last 20 years
The horse from stall 7 has been placed in 8 of the last 19 runnings (4 wins)
19 of the last 20 winners came from a single-figure stall
7 of the last 20 winners came from stalls 7 or 8
Trainer John Gosden has won 2 of the last 9
3.40 - The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 1m ITV
21/22 – Had won over a mile (or further) before
20/22 – Had at least 1 previous run that season
19/22 – Won by a 4 year-old
17/22 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
16/22 – Had won a Group 3 or better race before
14/22 – Favourites that were placed
14/22 – Had run at Ascot before
8/22 – Had won at Ascot before
7/22 – Returned a double-figure price
6/22 – Winning favourites (1 co)
5/22 – Owned by Cheveley Park Stud
5/22 – Ran at Epsom last time out
5/22 – Trained by John Gosden (5 of the last 14 and 4 of last 6 runnings)
3/22 – Ridden by William Buick (3 of last 14)
2/22 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (2 of last 14)
2/22 – Won by trainer James Fanshawe
2/22 – Winners from stall 1
2 French-trained winners since 2016
Only 6 placed horses (2 winners) from stall 1 in the last 22 runnings
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has NEVER won this race
4.20 - Prince of Wales´s Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f ITV
Prince of Wales´s Stakes Recent Winners
2025 – Ombudsman (7/1)
2024 – Auguste Rodin (13/8 fav)
2023 – Mostahdaf (10/1)
2022 – State Of Rest (5/1)
2021 – Love (11/10 fav)
2020 – Lord North (5/1)
2019 – Crystal Ocean (3/1)
2018 – Poet’s Word (11/2)
2017 – Highland Reel (9/4)
2016 – My Dream Boat (16/1)
2015 – Free Eagle (5/2 fav)
2014 – The Fugue (11/2)
2013 – Al Kazeem (11/4)
2012 – So You Think (4/5 fav)
2011 – Rewilding (17/2)
2010 – Byword (5/2 fav)
2009 – Vision D’etat (4/1)
2008 – Duke of Marmalade (Evs fav)
2007 – Manduro (15/8 fav)
2006 – Ouija Board (8/1)
2005 – Azamour (11/8 fav)
2004 – Rakti (3/1)
2003 – Nayef (5/1)
2002 - Grandera (4/1)
Prince of Wales´s Stakes Trends
24/24 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
23/24 – Returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
23/24 – Won by a 4 or 5 year-old
20/24 – Finished in the top three last time out
20/24 – Had at least 1 previous run that season
16/24 – Were previous Group 1 winners
16/24 – Placed favourites
13/24 – Had run at Ascot before
12/24 – Won their last race
12/24 – Won by a non-UK based trainer
8/24 – Winning favourites
5/24 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (4 of the last 14) (5 in total)
4/24 – Trained by John Gosden (6 wins in total)
3/24 – Won by a Godolphin-owned horse (6 wins in total)
3 of the last 18 runnings have gone to a French-trained horse
Ryan Moore has ridden 3 winners since 2017
No winner aged 7+ since the race was reintroduced in 1968
The last back-to-back winner Muhtarram (1994-95)
5.00 - Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 1m ITV
Royal Hunt Cup Recent Winners
2025 – My Cloud (3/1 fav)
2024 – Wild Tiger (11/2 jfav)
2023 – Jimi Hendrix (22/1)
2022 – Dark Shift (13/2)
2021 – Real World (18/1)
2020 – Dark Vision (15/2)
2019 – Afaak (20/1)
2018 – Settle For Bay (16/1)
2017 – Zhui Feng (25/1)
2016 – Portage (10/1)
2015 – GM Hopkins (8/1)
2014 – Field of Dream (20/1)
2013 – Belgian Bill (33/1)
2012 – Prince Of Johanne (16/1)
2011 – Julienas (12/1)
2010 – Invisible Man (28/1)
2009 – Forgotten Voice (4/1 fav)
2008 – Mr Aviator (25/1)
2007 – Royal Oath (9/1)
2006 – Cesare (14/1)
2005 – New Seeker (11/1)
2004 – Mine (16/1)
2003 – Macadamia (8/1)
2002 – Norton (25/1)
Royal Hunt Cup Trends
21/24 – Had won over at least a mile before
21/24 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
18/24 – Carried 9-1 or less
16/24 – Unplaced favourites
16/24 – Returned a double-figure price
15/24 – Had run at Ascot before
15/24 – Won by a 4 year-old (inc 12 of the last 16 runnings)
13/24 – Had 2 or 3 previous runs that season
8/24 – Won their last race
3/24 – Winning favourites
3/24 – Won by trainer Saeed Bin Suroor (3 of the last 16)
2/24 – Won by trainer James Fanshawe
2/24 – Won by trainer John Gosden
2/24 – Won by trainer Charles Hills (2 of the last 7)
Overall, high number stalls have dominated in recent years (the first 6 home in 2024 were ALL double-figure stalls)
2025 winner from stall 32
16 of the last 20 winners came from a double-figure stall
We’ve seen 3 winners from stall 33 in the last 17 runnings
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has NEVER won this race
5 previous runnings
No winning favourite yet
All five past winners aged 4
All five winners drawn between 8-21
All five winners returned a double figure price
Miss Information (11/1) won the race in 2025
Villanova Queen (25/1) won this race in 2023
Rising Star (40/1) won this race in 2022
Trainer Ralph Beckett won the race in 2024 (Doha)
Trainer Mrs John Harrington won this race in 2023
Trainer Marco Botti won this race in 2022
Trainer David Loughnane won this race in 2021
24/24 – Had at least 1 previous outing
23/24 – Won by a foal born April or earlier
20/24 – Had 2 or 3 previous runs
18/24 – Had won over 5f before
18/24 – Placed last time out
18/24 – Had never run at Ascot before
13/24 – Unplaced favourites
12/24 – Returned a double-figure price (inc a 100/1 winner)
11/24 – Won their previous race
9/24 – Won by a Feb foal
5/24 – Winning favourites
3/24 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (3 of last 11)
2/24 – Trained by Wesley Ward
Just 2 horses placed from stall 1 in the last 18 runnings
12 of the last 18 winners came from a double-figure stall
Trainer Kevin Ryan has won 2 of the last 14
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Oxted_KingsStand_RoyalAscot2021.jpg319830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-06-17 03:01:032026-06-17 06:01:452026 Royal Ascot Betting Trends – Day Two (Weds 17th June)
It's Day Two, Wednesday, at Royal Ascot and we have seven more top class races to watch / puzzles to solve. They are led off by the juvenile fillies but, before that, a couple of reminders...
Reminder 2: we've got a free £50 Tix competition every day. Bet £5 or more into the placepot/jackpot pools via Tix and, if you played the highest ROI ticket on the day, you'll get an extra £50 - on top of the 5% bonus paid to ALL winning bets placed through Tix. Click here to take part
Our friends at the tote are refunding stakes (up to a tenner) if your pick runs second in any Royal Ascot race
(*opt in required and, as ever, check the terms, etc).
The going for day two of Royal Ascot, Wednesday 17th June, is: Good to Firm.
GoingStick at 8.30am: Stands’ side: 8.9 Centre: 8.7 Far side: 8.5 Round: 7.6
Stalls: Straight Course: centre Round Course: inside
Rail movements: The rail on the Round Course will be positioned approximately 4yds out from approximately 9f out to the home straight. This will remain in place until after racing on Wednesday.
Weather: Dry overnight to Wednesday morning. It is forecast to be generally dry through the week, with an occasional shower possible on Friday. Max temp expected to be between 22 and 26 to Thursday when they could increase further.
2.30 THE QUEEN MARY STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2)
Presented by Gavin Priestley
Trends
All of the last 11 UK and Irish trained winners had run in the last 50 days.
10 of the last 11 UK and Irish winners had won at least one of their last two races.
9 of the last 11 UK and Irish winners had won 50% of their races.
11 of the last 15 winners had their last run over 5f (or less).
14 of the last 18 winners were sent off 4/1 or shorter last time out.
8 of the last 11 UK and Irish winners won their last race.
7 of the last 11 UK and Irish winners had suffered at least one defeat.
11 of the last 15 winners had run once or twice in their career.
All 33 horses that last raced at Windsor have been beaten.
Since 2003, all 28 runners that last ran on the UK AW have been beaten.
Race Analysis
It's the race that Wesley Ward has had most success in (four wins) and it seems to have spurred a couple of his compatriots to join him on a trans-Atlantic mission this year. With a runner from France also set to line up it gives a truly international feel to the race.
We'll start by removing the maidens, those outside the top 3 last time, those which haven't won 50% of their career races and any that last ran on the all-weather. 11 of the last 12 winners have been drawn 10 or higher (6 of the last 11 were drawn 20+) with the US Speedball Campanelle the only one to recently defy a low draw when coming out of stall 1 in 2020.
If we apply these trends and look for those with a high draw we can reduce the field down to nine possibles.
Wesley Ward runs two with Ruiva subject of a few good reports and apparently his number one hope after trouncing her field over 4 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs. As is usual for the Ward juveniles she made all that day and I'm guessing we can expect similar tactics here from a favourable draw. She's yet to race on turf although Ward assures us she worked fantastic on the surface the other day. Only time will tell if she can handle the start, the surface and a jockey who has never raced outside of North America before.
That's too many maybe's for me and I'm happy to look elsewhere.
His other runner, Shining Moment, was equally impressive when also making all the running at Churchill Downs but she did it on the 5f turf track and that may be in her favour. The booking of jockey Oisin Murphy is eyecatching and I think she'll run a big race at a big price from an even more favourable draw (21).
But the Ward runner was really put in her place on debut by another American raider, MORE CHAMPAGNE, and has 6 1/2 lengths to find with that rival from their encounter on the turf at Keeneland back in April. Shining Moment pulled far too hard that day and set a ferocious pace up front making her a sitting duck as she swung into the straight. It was therefore no surprise to see her fold tamely in the last half furlong or so which allowed More Champagne, who had enjoyed the perfect run through the race, an easy victory as she came up alongside beautifully before quickening away to the line. The front two were miles clear of the rest of the field.
Coming out of stall 14 the Thomas Morley-trained filly should get another fast pace to aim at and, unlike the Ward filly, her jockey, John Velazquez, is no stranger to Ascot with four wins to his name at the Royal meeting. I think she's a cracking each way bet with five places on offer with most of the bookmakers.
Suggestion: More Champagne 1/2pt EW 14/1 (5 places)
Tix Pointers: In the past 11 years, there were four winning favourites and three second picks coming home in front. The jolly placed in two of the other four years, with another second choice making the frame in 2018... but in 2024 we got 22/1 (co 10th fav of 4), 50/1, 50/1. Incredibly, the placepot only paid £916.60 that day, the rest of the results being much more punter-friendly.
High drawn horses have an excellent record, especially on quicker ground.
Formerly a two-miler the Queen's Vase was foreshortened to a mile and three-quarters in 2017, and at the same time was elevated to Group 2 status in recognition of the importance of the staying Pattern for the health of the breed. That decision was instantly vindicated as the first winner of the new version was the mighty Stradivarius, who would go on to carry all before him for the next six seasons.
If hoping for the emergence of another such luminary seems somewhat fantastical, it is a more realistic aspiration that the list of Group 1 winners - including Queen's Vase / St Leger doublers Kew Gardens and Eldar Eldarov - might be extended.
Favoured this time is the Andrew Balding-trained Galiyan, stepping out of maiden company after a solid staying effort at Chester's May meeting over a mile and a half. Three of the last five winners were unraced at two and twice raced at three, so there are precedents. That said, two of that trio won Listed contests on their previous start, and the third was sent off a more agreeable 15/2 when claiming his QV. Galiyan looks very short on what he's achieved to date - he must be really good at home.
There's a bit more form meat on the Limestone bone, Joseph O'Brien's New Bay colt having won the Listed Yeats Stakes last time. That was the same stepping stone deployed by connections of last year's winner, Carmers, which add further to this one's appeal. Limestone has a nice level of experience, which perhaps means he lacks the upside of some of his peers; nevertheless it was a significant step up in form when significantly stepped up in trip for the first time at Navan. He's yet to race on good or quicker.
Aidan rolls the stamina dice with Port Of Spain, a lesser Ballydoyle light heretofore, and beaten in a handicap last time out. In his defence, that handicap was the kingmaker London Gold Cup at Newbury, where he didn't get the smoothest of trips and was beaten four lengths. By St Mark's Basilica out of a Duke Of Marmalade mare, there's a murmur of robustness in the blood lines; mostly, though, this is a trust play: Aidan has a hundred - literally - colts to aim at this race, and Port Of Spain is the nomination. He's got it right six times in the last 13 years meaning a win this time would grant him 50% of the winners over 14 years. Still, I'm having to squint pretty hard, and away from the actual form book to make his case.
Asakir looked all over the winner of the Yeats Stakes before ceding to Limestone late on. Limestone had led the field for more than half the race before three horses went by him; then, in the final quarter mile, Asakir cruised to the front before getting chased down by the winner. The pair pulled eight clear of a fancied APO'B runner and the form looks good. In the back of my mind I'm wondering if a different ride on Asakir could reverse placings with Limestone - at the respective prices, I want to crystallise that image. He is another yet to race on a sound surface and is not necessarily bred for it; but I'm getting out of my lane with that sort of chat.
The stoutly bred Del Maro - by Camelot out of a Maxios mare who herself won the German Oaks - was born to be good. Unfortunately, the numbers on his form profile don't quite match that smart pedigree, yet. The extra three furlongs and a bigger field should place more emphasis on staying power, and that should elicit improvement notwithstanding this will be his eighth start compared with some having only their third. He is another who can conceivably go well.
There's a Royal runner in this field's midst, too. Point Of Law was a clearcut winner of a Newbury maiden last time despite looking very green on his second career start. Always handy, they quickened off a steady early tempo and I'd be inclined to mark up a couple of the beaten horses more than the winner. None of the four to race again from that day has won, the third and fourth both finding one too good since. The Gosden stable won this, as referenced, with Stradavarius in 2017 and also with Gregory in 2023. The latter's profile was not dissimilar though he'd already secured Listed honours by the time he arrived at Ascot.
Still they come. Unbeaten in two Ravenspire runs for the Executors of the Late Sheikh Mohamed Obaid and Karl Burke, and he's probably a tad over-priced for all that he's achieved very little in those two small fields novice scores. And Archie Watson's decent Royal Ascot record means Wareeth - two from three either side of a clunk in Listed company - cannot be wholly ignored. He's bred stoutly and could enjoy this half mile longer trek.
Suggestion: Lots of possibles, including Port Of Spain for which I'm hard pressed to make a case (which normally means I've missed something material). That Yeats Stakes form is probably above average and both the winner and second, Limestone and Asakir, have cases to be made assuming they handle the terra firmer. Of the rest, Galiyan is too short but has obvious potential; and Del Maro could make the frame.
Try 7/2 Limestone for the win, and/or 9/1 Asakir or 14/1 Del Maro each way.
Tix Pointers: Consistently one of the more predictable races at the meeting, with five winning favourites joined by the same number of second favourites prevailing, and a brace of third choices since 2013. Indeed, the longest priced winner bar one was 15/2 (beat the favourite). When Aidan shocked us with 33/1 Sword Fighter in 2016, the 8/1 fourth favourite hit the frame, too.
As well as Aidan (obvs), look out for Charlie A and Andrew B, both of whom have saddled more than a third of their runners into the frame.
3.40 THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2)
Presented by David Massey
A bigger field than is normally the case for the Duke Of Cambridge this year, although we did have fourteen runners a couple of years ago. Which was nice.
John & Thady Gosden have won this three times in the last five years so it makes some sense to start with Friendly Soul. Yes, the Mare That Closed Haydock DownTM, or something, thankfully returns here in one piece, and for all her quirks she looked in good form at Haydock before the incident, bowling along happily on the front and yet to be asked to go about her business when the hole appeared, and she was quickly pulled up. Essentially, take Haydock and the Musidora run - when she hung her chance away - out of the equation and you’ve got a very talented mare with some top-class efforts to her name. And that includes a defeat of Kalpana in the Pretty Polly back in the day, lest we forget. Nicely drawn in stall 5, she’ll have the hard-pulling Falakeyah to take her into the race and she looks the one to beat, assuming all is well after that last day mishap.
Blue Bolt has been made early favourite for this. Her best piece of form to date came when second in the Sun Chariot last year, that run capping off a season where she did nothing but improve and gave the impression she’d be even better at four. She didn’t need to be at her best to win the Listed Conqueror Fillies Stakes on her reappearance and she won with plenty in hand, backed off the boards to do so (Kon Tiki, She’s Perfect and Arisaig in behind). She’s clearly smart and, for all she’s bred to get a bit further than a mile, she isn’t short of speed; she is just about the right favourite if short enough on balance, though.
Hold-up performers have had their share of success in this in recent times (think Crimson Advocate last year, Rogue Millenium in 2023 and Indie Angel in 2021) and if they do go a step too quickly then the strong-travelling Catalina Delcarpio looks the one to be with. Her only disappointment (I say disappointing, it really wasn’t a bad effort) came in the Ribblesdale last year when she appeared not to quite see out the twelve furlongs. I think it was that, rather than the firm ground, that caused the defeat, but in any case she looked a much-improved filly when winning the Listed Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown last month. Responding well to pressure, she took it up with half a furlong to run, and was strong at the finish. There was a lot to like about the way she went about things there, and as long as Billy Lee finds room on her - a low draw could make things a little tricky in that regard - I think she looks the main danger to Friendly Soul.
I do like to try and make a case for an outsider, as you know, but I have to be honest with you here and say that’s proving something of a struggle. I don’t suppose it’s impossible to see Arisaig dropped out the back and Jamie Spencer trying to bring her with a late run but stall 1 is going to make that difficult, a lot of luck will be required. I have a soft spot for Dash Of Azure though, and she did run well enough in the Sandringham last year (a closing fifth at the line) to suggest a mile is within her compass, for all she’s generally been kept to seven furlongs. Stall 13 and Rossa Ryan both look positives, and maybe if there’s an each-way swing with the extra places to be had, it’s her. Watch for her late on the scene.
Selection: Dutch 9/2 Friendly Soul and 8/1 Catalina Delcarpio, or take a wild swing at 66/1 Dash Of Azure
Tix Pointers: John & Thady Gosden three times, and Sr. once in his sole name, have four of the most recent six renewals.
Although four-year-olds have won 12 of the past 13, five-year-olds actually have a superior place strike rate (36% vs 24%) and PRB (0.54 vs 0.5). To wit, aside from a year when the two 5yos were 33/1 and a year when there were none of that age, there's only been a single year when a mare of that age has missed the frame - of course, it was last year. The vast majority of runners are younger, but don't dismiss the fives.
Four jollies got it done since 2013, but only one since 2017. However, the first or second market choice has made the frame every year in that time.
4.20 THE PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)
Presented by Rory Delargy
In terms of pure class, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is one of the highlights of the Royal Meeting and class tends to come to the fore, with only two winners at double-digit odds since Lear Spear sprung a 20/1 surprise in 1999. Six winning favourites in the last 20 runnings isn’t far behind market expectations, but there is clearly no edge in either backing or laying market leaders blindly.
Ombudsman won this last year having suffered defeat in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (to the reopposing Almaqam, albeit conceding that rival 3lb), and he arrives here having won that prep this time around, and that despite suffering a setback since scoring in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. He is at his best on good or quicker ground, so conditions are again in his favour and he has strong form claims on balance.
The problem that Ombudsman faces here is that he has yet to meet a contender of the calibre of Daryz, winner of last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Well, that isn’t strictly true, as the unfancied Daryz was well behind Ombudsman in the International Stakes at York last summer, with Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge seeming to find the step up to Group 1 company too much after wins in four lesser races since making a belated debut in April last year.
If that defeat seemed to burst Daryz’s bubble in the minds of some pundits, they might have been nodding to themselves when he was beaten again by Croix du Nord in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange at Longchamp in September; but others sat up and took notice, seeing an improved effort even in defeat and noting that the fast-finishing Daryz would have won in a couple more strides and would have learned plenty from the experience. His supporters had plenty to cheer about when a more battle-hardened Daryz showed up for the Arc and turned the tables in no uncertain terms to prove himself to be a genuine superstar, catching Minnie Hauk with a strong late run and pulling 5½ lengths clear of the field as the pair battled it out.
That was a big improvement from Daryz, and one which could have been put down to the emphasis on stamina given it was his first try at 1½m, so it’s been noteworthy that he has been imperious in two Group 1 wins this season while stepping back in trip, winning the Prix Ganay (1m2½f) by 3½ lengths before scoring by the same margin in the Prix Aga Khan IV (formerly Prix d’Ispahan) when dropped to an extended 1m1f. I was with him in the Arc on the basis that he would be suited by the trip, but I must say he has taken a big leap forward in my estimation, looking to have the measure of his rivals in the Ganay and the Ispahan before unleashing a devastating late kick.
He’s neither a one-dimensional stayer nor a mudlark – Timeform have the going as good for his Ganay win and only a little slower for the Ispahan, and his wins this season have set a remarkable precedent. In the last century, no three-year-old has won the Arc and then gone on to do the Ganay/Ispahan double despite the prestige of those races, and that’s largely because most Arc winners tend to get a little slower with age, or at least better suited to 1½m than shorter; but Daryz is that absolute rarity – a top class middle-distance performer who is getting quicker with age.
*For the record, the Arc/Ganay/Ispahan treble had only previously been completed by two outstanding horses: Sagace (who won the Arc as a four-year-old and took the other pair of races the following season) and Allez France (second in the Arc at three before landing the Ganay/Ispahan/Arc treble the following season).
The prospect of “firm” in the going description is the one unknown for Daryz, but while it’s easy to suggest he’s best on ground softer than good, that is partly down to the fact that French going descriptions almost always err on the soft side. It’s very possible that he might prove even better on quick ground – that is certainly the case for stablemate Calandagan despite that horse’s early wins coming on softer, while Daryz’s most talented half-brother, Dariyan, won the Prix Ganay on ground that Timeform described as good-to-firm. Their dam, Daryakana, also gained her biggest success when beating Spanish Moon on a sound surface in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase, so I think ground concerns could well be wide of the mark.
Suggestion: Back Daryz at 2/1
Tix Pointers: It's been very close between the four- and five-year-olds since 2013, younger leading 7-6 in wins and 22-9 in win/places... but the junior cohort was much more strongly represented. Looking instead at percentages, which we must, fives beat fours 20.7% to 13.5% on the win angle; but fours beat fives 42% to 31% on win/place, and 56% to 53% on PRB.
Six-year-olds and up were 0 from 18, two places, and a lamentable 11% PRB.
One of the top pair in the market has made the frame every year since 2003.
5.00 THE ROYAL HUNT CUP (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap)
Presented by Sam Darby
It feels like it’s always said you want a high drawn hold up horse for races like this, but is that backed up by historical data?
There is no clear advantage from the above, so we need to dig a bit deeper.
This is a bit more insightful. The top seven stalls, based on PRB3, are all 17 or higher, with four of those being no lower than 24. Looking solely at the last ten renewals of this race, five were won by stall 21 or higher, but three have been won by 7 or lower. This doesn’t necessarily prove that no draw bias exists, but it does suggest that the draw bias can change from year to year. The strange thing about the Ascot straight course is that you can be sure a certain side is favoured, and then in the next race, or on the next day, the complete opposite appears to be the case. Last year is a good example of this. In the 2025 Royal Hunt Cup, the 1st and 4th were drawn 32 and 30 respectively, whilst the 2nd, 3rd and 5th were drawn in the three lowest stalls. Then in the Buckingham Palace Stakes (7f) the next day, the first six home were all drawn 25 or higher. So on the Wednesday extreme draws were favoured (either side) and on Thursday you absolutely had to be on the stands’ side rail. You can go poor very quickly trying to focus on the draw too much in straight course races here, but a very high draw is rarely a big negative. As for pace, the above image shows that wherever you are drawn, being delivered late is a pretty hefty advantage.
It’s always important to analyse the pace map, too. It’s very interesting that many of the early pace angles here seem to be clustered around the middle, with Linwood (16) the most likely front runner and One Smack Mack (13) and Archivist (18) other possibilities. This further muddies the draw waters, as the pace setters might come up the middle, or they could go either side from those draws. From the lower draws, I think the market is correct in making La Botte and Indalo the two most interesting contenders. The former was runner up in last year’s Britannia off just a few pounds lower and since a poor run in the Lincoln, it looks to me as though connections have been looking after his mark for this. As for Indalo, he’s been amazingly consistent and has proven himself in some of the biggest cavalry charges, so his credentials are pretty solid. With the pace setup as it is, I can’t rule out the middle draws, and the one I’d be interested in is Irish challenger Jagged Edge. He’s won his last three starts at this trip, was hugely impressive when winning last time out and he’s another with a favourable run style. From the high draws I really like the look of Blue Brother, but as first reserve he needs one to come out so he can get a run. He was a massive eye-catcher in this race twelve months ago, when getting no run throughout, and having not run since he’s back off the same mark. Rogue Diplomat is one of only two horses drawn higher than Blue Brother and he’s assured of a run. He ran very well against a draw and pace bias in the Spring Cup at Newbury and can probably be forgiven a lesser effort since in France. I do think he might want a bit more juice in the ground, but I’ve seen plenty of horses that enjoy cut run well on fast ground on this straight course. So that’s five horses on my shortlist, which is too many to back.
Suggestion I definitely want to have JAGGED EDGE (16/1) on my side. He’s gone up 9lbs for his latest win, but I don’t see many ‘potential group horses in a handicap’ in the field, and he definitely looks like he could be one. Stalls 15 and 11 have won this in the past six years so he has a massive chance as long as it’s not like last year’s race where you have to be very high or very low. I hope the positioning of the early pace stops that from happening. If BLUE BROTHER (12/1) gets a run, he’s the other one I want to back, but assuming he doesn’t get in I’d take a chance on ROGUE DIPLOMAT at the prices (20/1) as my second bet. The handicapper has struggled to get a hold of him as he often only just does enough, and his Spring Cup run, which has worked out well, was eye-catching enough. The ground wasn’t exactly slow that day either. Any of these could turn out to be badly drawn once the race is run, so I’d be keeping stakes win only, despite bookies paying plenty of places. With that in mind, I’m sure you’ll get even better prices on the day on the Exchanges. I’ll have to leave the low draws. If it’s evident the far side is favoured before this race is run, you’d hope Jagged Edge could tack over from 15 to give us a chance.
Tix Pointers: It usually pays to focus away from the top of the weights and on more lightly raced four-year-olds, ideally held up for a late run. It is a very, very tricky race though, where spreading out seems the only way to go.
5.35 THE KENSINGTON PALACE STAKES (CLASS 2) (Fillies' Handicap)
Presented by Dave Renham
The Kensington Palace is a 1-mile handicap open to four-year-olds and upwards for fillies and mares only. It is a relatively new race for the meeting, inaugurated in 2021. In terms of trends, then, with only five renewals there aren’t really enough races to have built up firm patterns; and for the first three years the contest was run on the round course, with only the last two on the straight course. The two straight course races have both shown a high to middle draw bias so it will be interesting to see what happens today. One trainer has done well from a small sample, that being Ralph Beckett. He has saddled four runners from which he had one winner and two others placed.
The pace map for the race looks like this:
Here are some of the main contenders:
Radiant Beauty – four wins out of her last seven runs including a very decent win over course and distance last time on 9th May. Won that from the front and generally runs close to or up with the pace. Has gone up 6lb for that run but her revised mark does not look insurmountable. Drawn 14.
Alobayyah – trained by William Haggas and was an impressive winner on debut on soft ground at Yarmouth in the Autumn of 2024. Her 3yo year was disappointing but she was a real eyecatcher last time when third over course and distance to Radiant Beauty, finishing very strongly after being given too much to do. If she comes on for that run, she will be a big player. Drawn 16.
Stateira – a four-time winner from ten starts with three wins from her last five. Stateira is the highest rated runner in the race having been raised 27lbs since November, and it could be tough carrying that much weight. Drawn 13.
Zgharta – was disappointing at Ascot last time in the race already mentioned won by Radiant Beauty. She was well beaten in sixth that day despite being favourite but looks feasibly weighted if she can put that run behind her. It's interesting that Oisin Murphy remains on board given another runner from the Balding yard he would be eligible to ride. Draw 6 is possibly not ideal.
All Moonshine – yet to race on the turf but has been super impressive on the all weather. Third on debut and three wins on the bounce since. It is difficult to predict how she will perform on the turf for the first time especially having not been seen since February, but Andrew Balding is respected and is one to consider. Jason Watson rides after Oisin opted for Zgharta. Drawn 12.
Song N Dance – yet another horse from the Ascot race won by Radiant Beauty, Song N Dance finishing second. Ridden by the excellent Saffie Osborne and could have a good draw in 19. Looks slightly better value than some of the other horses that contested that Ascot race.
Suggestion: Most of the horses at or near the head of the betting are drawn in the middle (stalls 12 to 16). In races like this I tend to split stakes and at least back two, sometimes three if bigger prices. However, I am drawn here to the top section of the market and therefore I am sticking with one and that is 11/1 Song N Dance. She looks a bigger price than she should be. Back each way with as many places as you can get.
Tix Pointers: Only two of the 23 mares aged 5+ have placed; the other 18 places in this race's five year history were taken by four-year-olds (a cohort which dominate entries annually).
The shortest priced winner was 10/1 (5th favourite) and no placed horse has returned shorter than 13/2 so it's tricky again. Keep some powder dry for these last two legs!
6.10 THE WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race)
Presented by Matt Bisogno
Much to the frustration of some - notably 2021 and 2025 winning trainer Eve Johnson Houghton, though she was far from alone - the Windsor Castle has seen its distance increase from five to six furlongs but, more materially, with a condition that eligibility is only to those whose sire won over seven furlongs-plus as a juvenile or a mile and up at three. None of those flashy pure speed types here, then...
A look at the represented stallions make for odd reading, to be sure. In place of Ardad and Blue Point are the likes of Dubawi, Wootton Bassett and, slightly hilariously, Cracksman. The one sire amongst the entries that makes most sense on traditional readings of such things is Kodi Bear, a getter of legion swift juvies. Unhelpfully, though not unsurprisingly, he is responsible for more runners - four - than any other stallion in the lineup.
Let's kick off with the massive-priced Troublesome Guest, then. A daughter of Kodi, obvs, she made a lovely debut in a valuable novice event at Newmarket a month ago. Drawn very high, as with very low presumed a help, she'd be a dream result for two of the wiliest old hands in town, Messrs Margarson and Egan Sr. I hope she runs very well for them - and can actually see her outperforming her price, too.
Staying high, the Territories colt Ruler's Control moves from a win over five on heavy to six on good to firm. The way he travelled through the race gives hope that he'll have no bother in this melting pot setup and he's another Joseph runner with prospects.
On the other side of the track, favourite Sergei Diaghilev has box two. Trained by Aidan O'Brien - four from 11 with 6f 2yos, two more placed, in the past four Royal Ascots - and ridden by Ryan Moore, the pair have form in that context of 41120119. A son of Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare he is a Coolmore archetype, and he justified odds of 4/6 when taking a six furlong Curragh maiden (good) three and a half weeks ago. Assuming low is a fair place to be, he looks certain to go well.
Down the middle - ish - is Controlla, a daughter of Night Of Thunder who started out in stakes company, narrowly failing to reel in the leader in a Naas Group 3. She was a 25/1 chance that day and has demonstrable class as well as the sort of speed and stamina combination needed to get competitively to the line in a race like this. Like Troublesome Guest, she gets a five pound concession from the colts.
Middleham Park Racing have been at it a while now and they know very well what they're about. Two runners here, with two of the foremost trainers of juveniles - including at the Royal meeting - in Archie Watson and Clive Cox. Archie sends Alpe d'Huez, for whom it was all downhill (geddit?) in the Woodcote at Epsom last time. This son of Kodi Bear was staying on at the finish at the Derby meeting and ought to appreciate this stiffer test.
I think Clive Cox could be the best trainer of juvenile sprinters in Britain and we get to test that theory with Boleto, another Wootton Bassett, who did plenty wrong on debut at Pontefract a fortnight ago but still got up under a cute Callum Rodriguez ride. This lad needs to step forward a bundle and probably doesn't have a brilliant draw either, but in Clive and CalRod we can trust.
Lots of others with some sort of a chance that I find it very hard to quantify.
Selection: I'm mainly staying close to the top of the market here. Huge respect for Sergei Diaghalev who may just win, but 5/2 or so in a field of 25 feels wrong. It may not be, of course! Controllalooks a pretty fair each way alternative at 4/1. She brings the best form, though has nothing with which to back it up, and she could be smart. Interesting that connections opted for the newly extended Norfolk against the boys rather than the fillies only Albany at the same trip. In the long grass - the very long grass - are 20/1 Boletoand 66/1 Troublesome Guest, both of which are wildly speculative and should be staked commensurately!
That's Day 2, then. Mostly really tricky, on paper at least. Best of luck wth your Wednesday wagers and we'll be back for Ladies' Day tomorrow.
For most flat enthusiasts, it's the best week of the racing calendar as five days of elite action unfold in the presence of royalty at the 2026 Royal Ascot festival.
There are plenty of domestic runners from the pointiest part of the ability pyramid, alongside a select smattering of international players and a veritable glut of young, unexposed could-be-anythings. Yes, it will be an exciting sensory overload and punting will not generally be straightforward; but winners, where they're found, are likely to reward well. So let's see if we can't shine a light on two or three.
I have enlisted some expert support in previewing the racing from Dave Renham, David Massey, Rory Delargy, Gavin Priestley and Sam Darby, all familiar names to long-term readers of the blog and, crucially, all great judges with their own approaches to solving the puzzle. To round out each day's septet of previews, and as editor across all content, you're lumbered with me, I'm afraid.
To Tuesday, Day 1 of Royal Ascot, then, a perennial feast of Group 1 action, kicking off as tradition dictates with the Queen Anne Stakes, a straight mile G1 race for older horses.
Side note 2: we've got a free £50 Tix competition every day. Bet £5 or more into the placepot/jackpot pools via Tix and, if you played the highest ROI ticket on the day, you'll get an extra £50 - on top of the 5% bonus paid to ALL winning bets placed through Tix. Click here to take part
Our friends at the tote are refunding stakes (up to a tenner) if your pick runs second in any Royal Ascot race
(*opt in required and, as ever, check the terms, etc).
Royal Ascot Day 1 Going/Weather News
The going for day one of Royal Ascot, Tuesday 16th June, is: Good to Firm.
GoingStick at 8.30am:
Stands’ side: 8.6
Centre: 8.6
Far side: 8.3
Round: 7.6
Stalls: Straight Course: centre Round Course: inside
Rail movements: The rail on the Round Course will be positioned approximately 4yds out from approximately 9f out to the home straight. This will remain in place until after racing on Wednesday.
Weather: Dry overnight to Tuesday morning. 0.4mm rain on Monday. 5mm rain recorded through the past 7 days to Tuesday. Dry, warm day is forecast. It is forecast to be generally dry through the week, with an occasional light shower possible on Wednesday and Friday. Max temp expected to be between 22 and 26 to Thursday when they could increase further.
2.30 THE QUEEN ANNE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)
Presented by Dave Renham
A few race trends for the last 15 years of this four-year-olds and upwards mile Group 1 contest:
Age
4yos recorded 11 wins from 83 runners (13.3%); 31% placed.
5yo have had 3 wins from 58 runners (5.2%); 22% placed.
6yo and up had just 1 win from 36 runners (2.8%); 11% placed.
4yos have provided the most runners albeit from the biggest sample. However, their win strike rate is comfortably the best and their placed performance has also been best.
Market factors
8 wins for favourites, four of which started odds on
Horses priced 11/8 or shorter have won 7 races from just 9 qualifiers. To BSP backing all such runners would have yielded a 40p in the £ profit.
However, since 2018 there have been four big-priced winners – two at 33/1 and two at 14/1.
Course form
Course winners secured 10 wins from 58 runners (17.2%) with 36% placed.
Those without a course win had 5 wins from 119 runners (4.2%) with 18% placed.
A win at the course has definitely been a strong positive over the past 15 years.
Course LTO
9 winners ran LTO at Newbury from 68 runners (13.2%) with almost all of them (65) having raced in the Lockinge. Hence, the Lockinge has been by far the best trial for this contest in recent years, and backing ALL runners blind who ran in the Lockinge LTO would have produced returns just under 50 pence in the £.
Race Class LTO
12 of the last 15 winners raced in a Group 1 race LTO. LTO Group 1 runners have provided roughly 55% of the total runners in the race and 80% of the winners.
Career win percentage
British or Irish runners with career win percentage of 60% or more provided 7 winners from just 22 runners.
Queen Anne Stakes Pace Map
Before we look at some of the leading players, we can see there is not much pace on here, with only one of the nine horses, OperaBallo, having led in one of his last four starts, and he did that just once. Hence, this could be run at a false pace, which often complicates matters somewhat.
This year’s contenders
Notable Speech – fourth in the race last year where things didn’t go to plan. He pulled hard that day, was short of room at the 2-furlong pole, then lost ground going sharply right before the jockey dropped his whip. He was beaten just over two lengths. A year later he comes here as favourite having been in very good form recently, winning three of out his last four races, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Lockinge. He is trained by Charlie Appleby and clearly has a strong chance. The slight concern is that he has not been seen at his best at this venue.
Docklands – did this column a huge favour last year having been tipped up each way at 25/1 in the morning. He loves Ascot's straight mile with his record reading three wins, three seconds, a third, and a close-up fourth of 16. Despite now being six, he looks as good as ever based on his two runs this year – a Listed win at Doncaster in March and then an excellent third at Sha Tin in the Group 1 FWD Champion’s mile in April. The only slight negative is that he has a few pounds to find with Notable Speech on Official Ratings. The lack of pace in the race shouldn’t be a problem as last year they went off quite slow and that did not inconvenience him.
Opera Ballo – the second string from the Appleby yard but a leading contender. A regular winner having taken seven of his nine career starts. He won the Bet365 mile at Sandown last time and is joint highest rated in the field with Notable Speech on 125.
More Thunder – This time last year he was running in the Wokingham handicap at the Royal meeting but has since progressed to Group 1 level, finishing second last time to Notable Speech in the Lockinge. He struggled to lay up with the pace early then and gave himself too much to do; if he can sit more handily this time his chance increases, which if the pace map is anything to go by he should be able to do. Further, that was his first run of the season so we can expect him to come on for that.
Suggestion: Notable Speech looks the one based on recent form, but at the prices I’m happy to split a point between two against him with More Thunder and Docklands.
Tix Pointers: The favourite has placed in seven of the last 10 years.
However, in 2018 (15 ran) the result was 33/1, 10/1 (4th fav), 20/1; and in 2019 (16 ran) we had 14/1 (co 6th fav of 3), 20/1, 20/1.
Four- and five-year-olds have won 12 of the last 13 renewals.
Older horses are 1 from 32 with a PRB of only 37% during that time. Four-year-olds have by far the best record.
17 of the last 18 winners had won their last start.
17 of the last 18 winners had won a race at Class 4 or higher.
All of the last 18 winners had their previous run in a Class 4 race or higher race.
15 of the last 18 winners were unbeaten over 6f.
16 of the last 18 winners were 1st or 2nd favourite on their last run.
16 of the last 18 winners had run 1 or 2 times.
14 of the last 18 winners were unbeaten coming into the race.
13 of the last 15 British trained winners had their previous run over 6f.
Race Analysis
If we look for one or two runs and a win last time out we can reduce the field by half and then by removing those that weren't well fancied in the betting last time we can lose a couple more. That gives us a nice shortlist to look through.
Archie Watson won the Coventry in 2022 and on the whole his runners have run well in this race (although all three of his runners last year were unplaced - best performance was 6th at 100/1). If we simply concentrate on his runners that had had just one run, over 6f on the turf which they had won, we see that these types have finished 31220. That's a winner at 8/1 and places at 40/1, 20/1 and 6/1.
Following the same trainer didn't work out for us last year but I'm going to give him another try as his sole entry SIOUXPERB looked very promising when skating home on his debut by four lengths at Yarmouth as the well fancied 4/6 favourite. The Yarmouth race was run on similar ground to what he'll encounter here and the form has been advertised since with the second home, who was a further three lengths clear of the rest of the field, going on to win his next two starts. Those two wins included a decent looking class 2 Novice event at Newmarket last time out which he won by more than three lengths under a 6lb penalty.
His form looks sound and if able to post a similar performance it should give him excellent each way chances.
Suggestion: SIOUXPERB 1pt EW 14/1 (4 places)
Tix Pointers: Aidan O'Brien has won with four of the five winning favourites in the past decade.
During that period, the fav placed only five times with two second favs hitting the board in the other five.
Of the remaining trio of Coventry's, it's been a random number generator of a podium: 2017 saw 11/1, 33/1, 8/1 (jt 3rd fav); in 2021, it was 11/1 (jt 6th fav), 66/1, 25/1; and in 2024 the impossible 80/1, 40/1 (jt 15th fav!), 66/1.
It might be worth playing a few tickets with the some wildness here.
3.40 THE KING CHARLES III STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)
Presented by Rory Delargy
A huge field means the draw will surely influence the result and that’s much the same as last year when stalls 14-17 filled the first four spots in a 20-runner affair (three of the last four spots went to stalls 19-21, for balance, so it’s not simply a case of higher is better, but that smart horses drawn together can help each other in straight-track races).
Last year’s winner American Affair is a great starting point as he was drawn 16 last year and now has an eye-catching berth in stall 18, with speedsters Big Mojo and favourite Overpass on either side. In terms of overall pace, the presence in high stalls of speedy sorts Jakajaro and Mission Central helps fill out the pace profile of the high-drawn group, and it will be a surprise if that speed does not hold up throughout the race.
Not only does American Affair find himself drawn where the best of the pace is in the King Charles III, but we already know he’s best when asked to come late off such a strong pace, so having genuine contenders to set the race up for him means he can have no excuse. He will, in truth, need to be at least as good as he was last year to prevail, and he’s easily forgiven a rare below-par run in the Minster Stakes at York. Jim Goldie has long been a master at getting his sprinters to retain their form well beyond the first flush of youth.
In terms of dangers, there are several obvious ones, with Big Mojo and Overpass unlikely to roll over even if getting involved in a strong gallop. The latter has done much of his running in Australia over 6f, giving the impression that a stiff five might be his perfect scenario at a track like Ascot. His presence on the stands flank counts against those early pacers around him who need to dominate, but if they go very hard then there are some among the lower stalls who will be finishing strongly.
My pick of that half of the field is last year’s Commonwealth Cup heroine Time For Sandals, who will relish a strongly run five here and will be doing good late work. She’s another who can be forgiven her modest run in the Minster Stakes, with 6f on softish ground blunting her speed, especially when short of peak fitness. She appeals as the value danger, and indeed for exotics, while outsider Behike is another for that list having made a big impression at Lingfield. He is very much in the “could be anything” category, and is sure to do better still, for all Newmarket or Goodwood later in the summer may be more appropriate.
4.20 THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)
Presented by Matt Bisogno
Never mind the width, feel the quality... a short field of six for this year's St James's Palace Stakes, the usual rendez-vous point of European Guineas winners. The winners of the English and Irish 2000 Guineas are in attendance, so too the beaten favourite in the French version, but the Poulains victor is a late absentee having caught a cold (or some such) at the weekend. Pity.
No matter, though, because in Bow Echo and Gstaad we have a proper match, with a couple of spicy curve balls in play to boot.
Both the aforementioned graced Newmarket's 2000 Guineas in early May, Bow Echo charging clear of Gstaad by most of three lengths - fully eight lengths back to the third - to stretch his unbeaten run to four in the manner of a generational talent. If that sounds hyperbolic, it might yet be; but the ratings guys fell of their perches with excitement at what they witnessed. Timeform went 131, Racing Post Ratings plumped for 127 and the BHA, racing's official scorer, went 126. These were the best, or joint best, ratings since Frankel's electric performance in the race in 2011.
Gstaad, for his part, franked the form emphatically when coming three lengths clear in the Irish 2000 Guineas three weeks later.
If there is a problem, and there may not be, it's that the depth of both races is highly questionable. Prior the Newmarket race, pundits and ratings outlets alike were decrying the absence of star quality; and when Gstaad lined at the Curragh he was 4/11 favourite, with the only credible rival on market telling (Distant Storm, the distant third horse from Newmarket) running up, against at a respectful distance. The fifth, seventh and ninth from Newmarket have been well beaten since, though the 11th placed horse did win next time out... in a Class 4 handicap at Kempton.
If the form has the substance the ratings lads say it does, Bow Echo ought to win on all known evidence. But if it's been overrated by flattering defeats of sub-standard horses then the door is just ever so slightly ajar for a runner with a different profile. The obvious one on that score is Puerto Rico, whose juvenile level was solid and who disappointed connections in Paris in their Guineas. Still, he did finish fourth that day shaping as though he'd come on for the run: he was handy enough but just got outpaced before staying on at the one pace. The quick ground is an unknown but he was a dual Group 1 winners as a two-year-old (both in France, both very soft going).
Less exposed but more left field and with more to find is Talk Of New York, a four-time raced triple winner. Having started with a five length romp at Kempton he fell slightly short when taking on the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas in Meydan in late February. After that came a three-length score at Newmarket in conditions company before an impressive five length rout in the Heron Stakes, Listed, at Sandown nigh on three weeks ago. That was a progressive effort and, like the favourite, he's got more scope than the rest to again step forward; but perhaps that's fully reflected in current quotes of 9/2.
As a 2yo G1 winner Power Blue deserves a mention. He could be ridden from the front in a race where, unless Puerto Rico is sent on for Ballydoyle, there would be no obvious pace contention; and, with that sprint speed in his corner, he might offer a run for tiny stakes on this turning track - but it's still a very long climb to the line when the fuel gauge is in the red zone.
It'll be a nice day out for the new training partnership of Ismail Mohammed and Jose Santos with their lad, Lord Britain.
Suggestion: I think it's very likely that Bow Echo reasserts his class, but if there's a bet it might be a small 'without the favourite' stab at Puerto Rico whose juvenile form was close to Gstaad's and better than Bow Echo's.
Try Puerto Rico without the favourite for pennies, or perhaps a Bow Echo/Puerto Rico forecast (pays 10.8 with bet365 as I write).
Tix Pointers: Ten of the last 13 winners returned first or second favourite. Of the remaining three, two were third choice, and the jolly was placed behind 10/1 Circus Maximus in 2019.
5.00 THE ASCOT STAKES (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPLUS RACE)
Presented by Sam Darby
I do love these extreme distance handicaps, even if they are arguably just as unpredictable as races over the minimum trip.
Before I get stuck into the form, we need to have a look at possible draw and pace angles. At the very least they should tell us which horses are most/least likely to be favoured, even if the data can’t be used to completely rule anything out.
The quick takeaway from the above is that early leaders tend to not do brilliantly (judging by the PRB of 0.36) whilst there isn’t much between the other run styles. As for this particular race, it looks unlikely to be a gruelling contest with very little early pace on offer. Ismahane is pretty much the only front runner or prominent racer in the field, so I can see this being steadily run and tactical. That’s not only bad news for those likely to be dropped out early on (and there are a few of those), but I can also see this being an extremely rough race turning for home. A steady pace means a very well grouped field and there are sure to be plenty of hard luck stories, especially with those that get locked in on the rail. That brings me on to the draw data here.
These races are rare, so there isn’t a massive sample size, but the data point towards higher draws being slightly disadvantaged - not a great shock over such a distance on a round course. Perhaps the most telling insight comes from the draw and pace combination data. Again, it's not a huge sample size but it looks as though non extreme rides are great for low drawn runners and patient rides are best for those drawn middle to high. Given the likely pace set up for this race, I’m not massively keen on those likely to be held up so a low draw and prominent ride might be the recipe for success. As for the form book, in a ‘fair’ race the two I’d be most interested in would be Reaching High and Beylerbeyi. Reaching High was well backed for this last year but he never got any sort of run at any stage and he was one of the most unlucky horses at the meeting. He hasn’t run since, so it’s pretty evident he’s been put away to win this race off the same mark. I have two issues with him, though, and they are his price (around 9/4) and, related, the chance he’s unlucky once again. I’d be getting him prominent from stall 8 to give him the best possible chance but I think you’ll find more likely winners at this price at the likes of Ripon and Hamilton this week, so I wouldn't be interested in backing him just to try to get a Royal Ascot winner at any cost. As for Beylerbeyi, you only need to watch his winter runs on the all weather over inadequate trips, off this sort of mark, to know he’s a well handicapped horse. My worry with him is that he’ll be dropped out from stall 16 and he wants a decent gallop to aim at, which might leave him inconvenienced here. He’s halved in price since the final decs and whilst he’s another possible winner, I think the likely disadvantage provided by the run of the race is enough to make me reluctantly overlook him. Simply put, I want a horse who might be able to pinch a bit of an advantage. It’s not easy to predict what will slot in behind Ismahane, the likely front runner, but Kizlyar and Glenroyal may be seen to best effect. Kizlyar won a relatively uncompetitive race in Ireland last time out, but the 2nd and 3rd have finished 2nd and 1st since. He doesn’t have too many ground question marks (often a worry for some of the Irish runners in this) and seems to have a nice mix of speed and stamina. If you can throw out a poor run at Galway last year when turned out again within 24 hours of winning, Glenroyal has effectively won his last three races on the flat. He’s got quite a bit to prove in terms of stamina in the form book, but he’s a full brother to an Irish Cesarewitch winner and a half brother to a winner of this race and it should aid his chance if this becomes a relative speed test for the trip. I think it’s impossible to be confident about the Ascot Stakes as a betting race, but in terms of value I’d be backing Kizlyar at around 16/1 and Glenroyal at around 20/1 (both win only, there are enough question marks to put me off the place market). Reaching High has a really obvious chance, especially if able to get a good early position, and I’ll be kicking myself if Beylerbeyi wins but I just can’t back him in this sadly.
Suggestion: Split a point between 14/1 Kizlyar and 16/1 Glenroyal.
Tix Pointers: In 2015 and 2017 Ryan rode the winner for Willie - both returned fav. No other market leader has won since 2002!
Nine of the 13 winners were aged 6+, though placed percentages are a lot more evenly spread.
Willie hasn't won since 2018, and Ian Willie-ams (sorry) has claimed two prizes since then. Williams and Alan King (as well as the unrepresented this year Hughie Morrison) are the UK trainers on which to focus. Joseph O'Brien ran one (unplaced) in the 2024 Ascot Stakes; five (including 2nd 16/1, 3rd 33/1 and 4th 25/1) last year; and saddles seven this time!
Nevertheless, the worst market rank performance in the past decade was a fourth choice making the frame... until last year when the result was 20/1, 16/1 (6th fav), 33/1, 25/1 - as mentioned three of which were Joseph's, though that doesn't help much this year.
Run as a handicap until 2017, the Wolferton is one of the trappier races at the Royal meeting. Two years ago, Israr won and returned 11/4 favourite; he was the first since Mahsoob in 2015 and, therefore, the first of the non-handicap era. Roger Varian has two wins since 2020 and John (now with son Thady) Gosden has enjoyed five wins and five places from 21 starters. Both are represented this year.
The specific race conditions - that no horse shall have won a G1 or G2 since at least the previous August - makes it one of the few races not for progressive animals; that of course makes it more inscrutable, not less.
Although horses have won from very wide, five of the eight non-handicap winners were drawn 7 or lower. As the PRB3 (average percent of rivals beaten of a stall and its immediate neighbours) chart clearly outlines, inside is better all other things equal.
One thing I did notice when reviewing the run style of placed horses will probably become apparent to you when I share the following string: MMHMMMMHMLMPMMMMMMPHMHMLMPPMMPMM
All eight winners raced midfield and, as you can see, most of the placed horses did, too. The inference, borne out by the victors' odds and doubtless painful memory, too, if you habitually play this race, is that hard luck stories abound and it is very often the best trip that wins. That, clearly, makes life difficult.
Roger runs Enfjaar, a six-year-old with limited mileage. This lad ran fourth in the race last year when enduring a troubled passage from an inside stall. Trap seven is fine and, though he's older than probably ideal, this will have been a clear plan and he comes here off a lovely prep in a similar grade at Goodwood four weeks ago.
The Gosdens run Nahraan, unbeaten in three UK starts and third in a Group 3 in France last September. He lacks a run this season, which is a small negative, but the team know what they're doing (duh) so he can be expected to be plenty fit enough. I'm far from convinced by his form, however, for all that he retains obvious upside.
Last year's winner, Haatem, has an obvious chance again. Drawn 2, we know conditions suit and he backed up his Wolferton score with a good third in the Summer Mile over a trip shy of optimal. Given what looked an obvious sighter in the same Goodwood race contested by Enfjaar last time, he's a Wathnan wunner with weal pwospects.
Another string to the Wathnan Wolferton (enough with the W alliter-wation alweady!) bow is King's Gambit, third in the race a year ago. He ran a nice race from an unpromising position at Newmarket on his '26 debut before blowing out completely at Chester three weeks later. That was a too bad to be true effort but his typically held up run style may be suboptimal with so many mid-pack runners with gear changes ahead of him. No better man than Jamie for this gig, for all that the straight track is his muse.
Charlie saddles a couple at prices that look the types to be competitive in a race like this. The first is Ancient Wisdom, who will don first time cheekpieces in his quest to convert some consistent Pattern level form into a win. He'd probably prefer a bit more juice in the ground though he did win his novice on good to firm back in 2023. He's run 222 at ten furlongs, in G2, Listed and G3 company, and he'll probably settle midfield and hope for the gaps from stall 3. Billy Loughnane will be steering.
William Buick opts for Arabian Light, fourth in the Brigadier Gerard (G3) on his UK seasonal debut. He ran on well there having never been put in the race after missing the kick, and does have some solid upgrade figures to get him out of any pockets after the home turn.
The filly Survie is interesting. Although there are plenty of options for her sex, connections have opted to take on the fellas and Ryan will ride for connections of connections (Mrs Doreen Tabor, no less). She - Survie, not Mrs Tabor - has been mixing it in the best company: in the past twelve months she's run third in the Pretty Polly, second in the Prix Jean Romanet, fourth in the Prix Vermeille and third in the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia - all of those Group 1 races.
This is a sizeable step down then, though she was a well beaten third in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket when last seen. There was also a stable switch at the turn of the year - from Nicolas Clement to George Boughey - and this former G2 winner and multi-G1 placer has a class edge if she's, erm, man enough against males. There is a slight question mark about the ground, too; her best form is with some cut and that last day clunk was on similarly good to firm terrain as she'll encounter here. If not for that, I'd have fancied her chances.
It pays to respect anything Francis-Henri Graffard brings over, but Map Of Stars has looked decidedly out of sorts since running well in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes over the same course and distance at last year's Royal meeting. Similar respect comments apply to Joseph O'Brien runners - he seems to be operating at another level this campaign - but his pair have car parked in 14 and 15 of 16 which greatly tempers enthusiasm.
I'm not seeing the case for making Wimbledon Hawkeye a single figure price even if it was a badly needed prep race last time. It could be argued that his best form is over ten furlongs on quick ground, so there's that; but it's not easy to see him reversing Sandown form with Arabian Light, particularly from stall 13. Not without a chance but looks short enough to my eye.
Ditto Ghostwriter, making his debut for Kevin Philippart de Foy and his first run since last year's Royal Ascot when he was third in the Hardwicke (1m4f G2). He has back class and this looks his trip, but it'll be a heck of a training performance after 360 days off the course.
Suggestion: As you'll have gathered it's a messy old race. I'm going to split a small stake three ways: I do quite like Arabian Light (20/1 Coral) and expect he'll step considerably forward from his prep run. I also feel like Enfjaar (12/1 Coral) has a chance to redeem a difficult transit a year prior, and I can't resist a tiny bit on Survie (14/1 Hills) despite the going concerns. Very far from confident with any of those, it should be said.
Tix Pointers: Only two winning favourites and one second pick since 2013.
However, nine and a half jollies have hit the frame, the wrong joint fav for placepot purposes placing in 2024.
They were joined by two second picks, a third choice and two fourth in. Probably still need to spread out a little in the 'lucky last'...
6.10 THE COPPER HORSE STAKES (CLASS 2) (Handicap) (GBBPLUS RACE)
Presented by David Massey
When I watched Klassleader beat Sing Us A Song in the Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap at York last month I was convinced I’d seen a very strong piece of handicap form, much as I had when I witnessed Merchant winning a similarly competitive York handicap the season before. William Haggas loves sending these potential blots to York - we saw another at the weekend with Extremely Zain - and the form from those races almost always works out well.
So whilst we aren’t seeing Klassleader here (and I'd not be shocked if his next outing was in Group company) we do get Sing Us A Song, and I make him the one to beat. He needed his first run of the season at Epsom when third to Night Breeze in the Metropolitan, the track possibly not suiting him either, and showed the benefits of that when going to York last month. He made a lot of the running there, doing plenty of the donkey work and never given a moment’s peace from Will Scarlet on the front; when you think that, at the line, Will Scarlet was some 17 lengths behind Sing Us A Song, it shows what an excellent shift the latter put in. He’s probably been beaten by a very good horse and the 2lb rise he got for that looks lenient to my eyes. James McDonald takes the ride here.
That’s because James Doyle jumps Wathnan ship to their other contender, Valiancy, who is the Haggas representative. He did nothing but improve as a 3yo, and started this season on the right foot, successful over 13f at Hamilton and barely coming off the bridle to win. He was put up 8lb for that, which looks fair, but if you think James Doyle never chooses the wrong Wathnan one, you only have to go back a year to recall Fallen Angel finishing third to Crimson Advocate in the Duke Of Cambridge to find some evidence of that. McDonald was the beneficiary that day so, with apologies to the Doyler, here’s hoping history repeats itself…
I will be having a saver - and a reverse forecast - with Daiquiri Bay though, because if he wins, having convinced myself there’s a big 14f handicap in him for over a year now, it might just ruin my week. I somewhat fell for him after he won at Chester last year, amazed that one his size was able to handle the Roodee's tight turns as well as he did, and when he turned up in the King George V Stakes here last year, was sure he was going to run a big race. Eighth doesn’t tell you how well he actually ran, the trip just looking on the short side, and a third in the Melrose at York later in the season backed up that impression.
Gelded last autumn, he came back to run a career best when beating Gamrai at Newmarket over a mile and a half in May, stamina once again looking his long suit, and I feel a step up to this trip can only be a plus point. A real trier, which is always half the battle, he’ll have his conditions and can go well.
Suggestion: Back Sing Us A Song at 17/2, and/or Daiquiri Bay at 7/1. Maybe even try a small stakes reverse forecast.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/royalascot2017_gates.jpg320830Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2026-06-15 12:37:042026-06-16 13:00:56Royal Ascot 2026: Day One Preview, Tips
More top action in June as the horse racing bandwagon turns its attention to the 2026 Royal Ascot Meeting. The five-day meeting (Tues 16th to Sat 20th June 2026) is always one of the highlights on the flat racing calendar.
Like all big race days, here at GEEGEEZ we've got it all covered with key trends and stats - use these trends to narrow down the field and find the best past profiles of recent winners.
Royal Ascot Trends - Day One, Tuesday 16th June 2026
2.30 - Queen Anne Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 1m ITV
23/24 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
21/24 – Previous winners over 1 mile
18/24 – Returned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
18/24 – Had between 1 and 2 previous runs that season
17/24 – Won by a 4 year-old
16/24 – Had already won a Group 1 race
16/24 - Returned 11/2 or shorter in the betting
12/24 – Ran in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last time out
11/24 – Trained by either R Hannon (3), A P O’Brien (4) or owned by Godolphin (4)
11/24 – Had never run at Ascot before
10/24 – Won their previous race
10/24 – Favourites that were unplaced
9/24 – Winning favourites
Godolphin have won the race 8 times in total, but Charlie Appleby is yet to win the race
Only 2 winners from Stall 1 in the last 18 runnings
15 of the last 18 winners came from stalls 4 or higher
22/24 – Won their previous race
22/24 – Had never raced at Ascot before
21/24 – Had between 1 and 2 previous career runs
19/24 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
18/24 - Foaled in either Feb or March
17/24 - Came from the top three in the betting
14/24 – Won over 6f before
12/24 – Winning favourites (3 joint)
8/24 – Ran at either Newbury or Newmarket last time out
8/24 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (11 in total)
5/24 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (5 of the last 15)
2/24 – Trained by Richard Hannon
2/24 - Won by a Jan foal
15 of the last 18 winners came from stalls 6 or higher
10 of the last 18 winners came from stalls 9-19 (inc)
3.40 – The King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) 5f ITV
Known as King's Stand Stakes prior to 2024
Recent King Charles III Stakes Stakes Winners
2025 – American Affair (11/1)
2024 – Asfoora (5/1)
2023 – Bradsell (14/1)
2022 – Nature Strip (9/4)
2021 – Oxted (4/1)
2020 – Battaash (5/6 fav)
2019 – Blue Point (5/2)
2018 – Blue Point (6/1)
2017 – Lady Aurelia (7/2)
2016 – Profitable (4/1)
2015 – Goldream (20/1)
2014 – Sole Power (5/1)
2013 – Sole Power (8/1)
2012 - Little Bridge (12/1)
2011 - Prohibit (7/1)
2010 - Equiano (9/2)
2009 - Scenic Blast (11/4 fav)
2008 - Equiano (22/1)
2007 - Miss Andretti (3/1 fav)
2006 - Takeover Target (7/1)
2005 - Chineur (7/1)
2004 - The Tatling (8/1)
2003 – Choisir (25/1)
King’s Stand Stakes Trends
23/24 – Aged 7 or younger
22/24 – Had won a Group race before
20/24 – Aged 4 or older
20/24 – Had won over 5f before
17/24 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
14/24 – Finished first or second last time out
14/24 – Had run at Ascot before (9 had won at the track)
13/24 – Favourites placed
13/24 – Won by a non-UK based trained horse
6/24 – Ran at either Flemington (3) or Chantilly (3) last time out
7/24 – Favourites that finished third
5/24 – Won by an Australian-trained horse
4/24 – Winning favourites
4/24 – 3 Year-old winners
A horse from stalls 9, 11 & 14 has been placed in 14 of the last 18 runnings
3 of the last 8 winners stall 10
Charlie Appleby has won 2 of the last 9
Robert Cowell has won 2 of the last 15
10 of the last 22 won by a non-UK trained horse
24/24 - Returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
21/24 – Had won over a mile before
20/24 – Favourites that were placed
19/24 – Had either 2 or 3 previous runs that season
19/24– Previous Group 1 or 2 winners
17/24 – Previous Group 1 winners
17/24 – Returned 3/1 or shorter in the betting
15/24 – Won their previous race
14/24 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
13/24 – Ran in the Irish 2000 Guineas (Curragh) last time out (10 won it)
10/24 – Irish-trained winners
7/24 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien (9 total)
7/24 – Had run at Ascot before
Just 4 winners from stall 1 or 2 in the last 18 runnings
7 of the last 18 winners came from stalls 4 or 5
3 of the last 12 winners ridden by Ryan Moore
Trainer Richard Hannon has won 2 of the last 9
Trainer John Gosden has won 3 of the last 9
21/24 – Carried 8-13 or more
18/24 – Had at least 1 previous run on the flat that season
17/24 – Won by a stable better known for their NH runners
17/24 – Had won over at least 2m on the flat before
14/24 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
13/24 – Aged either 4 or 5 years-old
11/24 – Won their previous race
4/24 – Trained by Willie Mullins (4 of the last 14)
3/24 – Trained by the Pipe stable
3/24 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (3 of the last 14)
3/24 – Winning favourites
2/24 – Trained by Ian Williams
William Buick has ridden 2 of the last 5 winners
2 of the last 6 winners ridden by a claiming jockey
Just two winners (or placed) horse from stall 1 placed in the last 18 runnings
18/23 – Had between 1 and 3 runs already that season
17/23 – Had won 3 or more races during their career
16/23 – Finished unplaced last time out
15/23 – Had won over 1m2f or further before
14/23 – Aged 4 years-old
14/23 – Had run at Ascot before
11/23 – Unplaced favourites
11/23 – Returned a double-figure price
7/23 – Ran at either York (4) or Goodwood (3) last time out
5/23 – Trained by John Gosden (5 of last 15)
4/23 – Trained at Kremlin House Stables (Roger Varian/M Jarvis)
3/23 – Winning favourites
15 of the last 20 winners returned 7/1 or bigger
5 of the last 10 winners came from stall 5
9 of the last 11 winners aged 4 or 5
6.10 - Copper Horse Handicap (4yo+) 1m6f ITV
Copper Horse Handicap Recent Winners
2025 – French Master (5/2f)
2024 – Belloccio (4/1)
2023 – Vauban (Evs)
2022 – Get Shirty (16/1)
2021 – Amtiyaz (33/1)
2020 – Fujaira Prince (3/1fav)
Just the 6 previous runnings
6/6 – Carried 9-1 or more
6/6 – Carried between 9-1 and 9-8
6/6 – Aged between 4-6 (3 winners aged 6)
3/6 – Winning favourite
Trainer Willie Mullins won this race in 2023 and 2024
Trainer David O’Meara won this race in 2022
Trainer John Gosden won this race in 2021 and 2025
Trainer Roger Varian won this race in 2020
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/whodareswins_RoyalAscot2020.jpg319830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-06-11 15:01:352026-06-17 06:01:312026 Royal Ascot Betting Trends – Day One (Tues 16th June)
Some Long Range Ante Post Picks for the 2027 Cheltenham Festival
Straight after the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, I had a crack at putting together some ante post plays for last week's jamboree. In the end, none of the picks hit their mark; but that really does only tell half the story, as you can read for yourself here.
The management summary is that you could have had The New Lion at 7/1 (SP 3/1) and Majborough at 8/1 (SP 5/6) from only five suggestions. The other three were Fact To File at 6/1 for the Gold Cup (wrong race, late non-runner anyway), Inothewayurthinkin for the same race (recommended to wait until he'd run as suspected bigger price would be available - eventually ran 3rd at 11/1), and Marine Nationale at 7/1 for the Champion Chase (clear 2nd favourite when scratched a week before the Festival).
It's very much a case of "system working well, send more money" and what follows will be along similar lines.
Champion Hurdle 2027
A year ago the ante post market for the 2026 Champion Hurdle had Lossiemouth at 8/1 in a place but generally 6/1; Brighterdaysahead was 20/1 and Alexei not quoted.
The race was won by Lossiemouth, and in some style. But the bare numbers were relatively workaday: she'd recorded much higher TS figures three times in Ireland earlier in the season and was only 3lb ahead of her triple 160 RPR's in spite of the visually impressive nature of the win. Brighterdaysahead also under-performed against her Irish level while The New Lion improved his RPR but produced a significantly lower TS number than in his Turners win a year prior.
Where I get to with all that is that Lossiemouth is not improving but sets a strong standard; Brighterdaysahead is a capable fly in the ointment but her Festival preps seem to have taken her chance away the last couple of years (she'll be interesting if rested after her Christmas run but I suspect they might 'bottle it' and go Mares Hurdle anyway); and The New Lion continues to slightly underwhelm me.
Sir Gino shouldn't be expected to come back to his best, but if he did he'd have a chance. Not a robust proposition at this stage. Poniros has improvement in him and will be a more likely candidate next year than this, but still doesn't excite.
But one for which half a case at a price could be made is Alexei, who might well have been third but for a very bad error at the last. He's progressive, has strong Cheltenham form and is 20/1.
Of the novices, the only Supreme winner to take the Champion Hurdle the following year in the last 54 years is Constitution Hill, though both Jezki and Buveur d'Air went close in the former en route to the latter twelve months hence. My guess is that Sober Glory will go chasing, so too Old Park Star and Mydaddypaddy. None of them would be on my Champion Hurdle radar in any case.
The Turners has been a better pointer to the following season's Champion but it looked a quantity over quality renewal to my eye. The winner, King Rasko Grey, had been beaten in three of his four previous races, and the 3rd and 4th placed horses were 50/1 and 150/1. I might be wrong - again?! - but this looks, if not pinch of salt form then at least not Champion Hurdle kingmaker form, behind the winner. King Rasko has scope to step up a fair bit off so few runs to date.
The Triumph produces a five-year-old contender most years, and that age group has a physical maturity deficit against their elders without any compensating weight for age allowance. Nothing there is of interest.
State Man will be ten next year - no thank you - and there is nothing else obvious on the radar: perhaps Kabral du Mathan will drop back to two miles but will he have the speed? Maybe...
In what is a deeply unoriginal suggestion, Lossiemouth looks pretty fair at 3/1 assuming she gets to the start line - a big assumption, natch. Of the others, Alexei is mildly tempting.
Champion Chase 2027
The favourites' graveyard at the Festival, it's a race you almost want to land on the second or third in on the day. Obviously that statement makes no sense and we want to get as close as possible to backing the favourite on the day, because that horse will, in the opinion of the market, have the best chance.
This year, Majborough was sent off 5/6 having been 8/1 ante post a year before, and the winner Il Etait Temps was heavily backed into 5/2 on the day - he was 33/1 the week after the 2025 QMCC. The reason for his whopping quote was that, at that point, he'd been off the track since running 3rd to Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle and then going back to back in the Aintree/Punchestown equivalent Grade 1's. He returned at Sandown and took out the end of season Celebration Chase six weeks after the Festival.
In 2027, it seems likely Majborough will go the Ryanair or Gold Cup route, his jumping frailties exposed at the tempo of a Champion Chase. Kopek Des Bordes would be a natural horse in here but Arkle winners have a much better record than placers. Kopek can be expected to win at Punchestown though he may again have to lock horns with the excellent jumping of Kargese. She seems over-priced because there's not really another race for her, Mares' Chase aside (please, no).
The 16/1 about Marine Nationale is also too big an overreaction. He was second choice before absenting a few days ahead of the '26 Fez and he'll surely go very close at Punchestown, in so doing halving his current quote.
L'Eau du Sud is clearly not up to this, Only By Night will probably try to win the Mares Chase in which she was second this year, and Lulamba will be going up in trip. If there's a forgotten horse in this market - an Il Etait Temps if you will - it could be Salvator Mundi. His season was left at the start after defeat at 1/7 odds in November, following which he ran a middling race in the St Stephen's Day Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown (though sent off only 9/2). He absolutely bolted up in a Thurles beginners' chase last month (by 28 lengths from a 128-rated horse) and he was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler this time last year. He's 50/1.
You could almost dutch 4/1 Kopek des Bordes, 9/2 Il Etait Temps, 12/1 Kargese and 16/1 Marine Nationale at close to even money - and I will be doing a variation of just that - and perhaps try a tiny win only speculative on Salvator Mundi at 50/1.
Gold Cup 2027
This felt very much like a changing of the guard in the Gold Cup ranks. Galopin Des Champs missed the gig, Inothewayurthinkin was wrong all season, Fact To File was re-routed and ejected. Next year, Haiti Couleurs and Grey Dawning will be ten, which is too old.
It would be hard not to be with Gaelic Warrior, a horse which prior to winning the Gold Cup last week had been second in a Fred Winter and a Turners and won an Arkle. Festival form. He'll be nine next year, the same age as Don Cossack, Synchronised, Imperial Commander and Kauto Star (second time) were for their wins - but the years of those victories were 2016, 2012, 2010 and 2009. In other words, the only winner older than eight since 2012 was Don Cossack. Even Galopin Des Champs was beaten as a nine-year-old. So, hard as it is, I'm still looking...
...and the place to look is in the ranks of the rising stars. Half of the Gold Cup winners this century were second season chasers: the shortest of those in the lists currently is 16/1.
That horse is Final Demand, second in the Brown Advisory off a difficult prep. He wasn't noticeably staying on compared to the winner - Kitzbuhel, made all - but perhaps with a better lead up he might be able to improve. Both will need to, as will one of the most under-rated horses in training, Salver. You couldn't put him in multiples but his Brown Advisory run has to be seen to be believed.
In the image below, I've highlighted the furlong by furlong sectional percentages of the winner, Kitzbuhel, and third placed Salver. The faint grey line is 'normalised par' - in other words anything above the faint grey line is above par.
Below the chart is a table of furlong by furlong data. A mile out Salver is eleven lengths off the lead having had to jump Kaid d'Authie when that one fell, and he jumps three from home in last place. His numbers from there are better in every single furlong than the two horses which finished in front of him.
It was an excellent staying performance and implies the three furlongs longer trip of the Gold Cup could bring out more improvement. Third to Majborough in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle (missed '25 Festival) and a dual Grade 2 novice chase winner this term, if the Moores campaign him like a Gold Cup horse he'll have a good chance. He's currently 100/1 (not shown in the image below).
I'm siding with the 1-2-3 in the Brown Advisory against the will-be-nine-year-olds, the beaten-in-the-Gold-Cup-this-years and the will-probably-run-in-the-Ryanairs. Kitzbuhel is 20/1, Final Demand 16/1 and Salver is 100/1.
*
It goes without saying - but I'll emphasise it anyway - that any number of things can go wrong over the course of 360 days, and at least some of them will. Working on a loose basis of a horse having a 65% chance of making the next Festival, you'd be looking at anything from 2/1 Lossiemouth (what price is she if lining up in twelve months' time?) to 66/1 Salver...
Caveat massively emptor!
Matt
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Salver_BrownAdvisory_Sectionals.png7051213Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2026-03-16 13:35:322026-03-16 14:31:43Taking A Flyer on the 2027 Cheltenham Festival
• 24 of the last 32 winners won last time out
• 9 of the last 17 winners were unbeaten over hurdles
• Irish have won 10 of the last 13 runnings
• French-breds have filled 16 of the last 27 places (last 11 runnings)
• 15 of the last 21 came from the top 4 in the betting
• 14 of the last 18 winners returned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
• Respect Nicky Henderson (7 winners), Willie Mullins (6 winners), Paul Nicholls, Philip Hobbs and Alan King-trained runners
• The Spring Juvenile Hurdle is a good guide (2022 winner Vauban won that race and 2023 winner Lossiemouth was runner-up in it, 2024 winner Majborough was 3rd in it)
• JP McManus has owned 3 of the last 10 winners
• 2 of the last 6 winners were fillies
• 9 of the last 14 winners ran in the Spring Hurdle (3 winners)
• 10 of the last 14 winners had raced by Christmas time
• 8 of the last 11 winners began their careers in France
• Nicky Henderson has trained 7 winners of the race
• Gordon Elliott has had 2 wins and 3 seconds in the last 12 years
• Willie Mullins has won 5 of the last 6 runnings (2 with Rich Ricci-owned horses)
Negatives….
• Take on horses that have won at 2m2f or further in the past
• Avoid horses that last ran 56 days or longer ago
• Avoid horses that had run 3 or more times over hurdles
• Just 3 of the last 21 winner returned bigger than 12/1 – last year’s winner 100/1
• Be careful of horses rated 138 or lower – no winner in the last 16
• Last 8 Adonis Hurdles winners (to have run in the race) have all lost (all unplaced too)
2:00 – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y ITV
• The Irish have won 13 of the last 19 runnings
• 10 of the last 11 winners were trained by Willie Mullins (6) or Dan Skelton (4)
• Willie Mullins has won 8 of the last 16 runnings
• 20 of the last 25 winners were novices or second season hurdlers
• 15 of the last 20 winners were rated in the 130’s
• 9 of the last 18 winners returned 20/1 or bigger
• 8 of the last 17 winners had run in 6 or less hurdles races
• 20 of the last 27 winners were aged 5 or 6 years-old
• 13 of the last 27 winners aged 5
• 8 of the last 12 winners had run at Cheltenham before
• 13 of the last 19 winners Irish-trained
• 11 of the last 18 winners started their careers in France
• 15 of the last 20 winners were priced in double-figures
• 14 of the last 22 winners began their careers on the flat
• Look for Mullins, Skelton, AJ Martins & Nicholls-trained runners
• Respect the Imperial Cup (Sandown Park) winner
• 10 winners since 2002 ran in the Ladbrokes or Betfair Hurdles that season
• 13 of the last 25 winners came from the top 5 in the betting
• 14 of the last 19 winners DIDN’T win last time out
• 5 of the last 10 winners hadn’t raced in the last 72 days
• Paul Nicholls is 4 from 33 (+14pts) since 2004-2014
• Willie Mullins is 6 from 61 (+42.25pts) – he’s won 8 of the last 16
• Trainer Dan Skelton has trained 4 of the last 10 winners
• 14 of the last 22 winners were ex-flat horses
• No back-to-back winners ever since first run in 1920
Negatives….
• Strangely, previous course winners have a bad record
• Only 2 winners since 2000 winning with a mark of 150+
• Gordon Elliott has a poor record (0-from-27) since 2011
• Nicky Henderson has a poor record (0-35) this century
• Horses aged 9+ are 0-from 40 in last 18 runnings
• Since 1960 only 6 winners carried more than 11st 2lb
• Since 1961, only 11 winners had run at the Festival before
• Since 2005, just 2 winners rated 146 this season
• Avoid runners that hadn’t raced at least 4 times that season
• Avoid horses making their handicap debuts, although last 4 winners have defied this stat
• Just 3 winning outright favourites in last 24
• Just 4 of the last 18 winners returned a single-figure price
• Only 5 previous runnings
• Willie Mullins trained 3 winners
• Willie Mullins has a good record in ‘mares’ only’ races at the Festival
• 4 of the last 5 winners have been 2nd favourite
• All 5 winners won last time out
• 4 of the 5 winners rated 150+
• 4 of the 5 winners owned by JP McManus (past 4)
• All 5 winners aged 7-8
• All 5 winners Irish-trained
• 4 of the 5 winners had run well at the Cheltenham Festival before
• Just one winning favourite (2025)
Negatives….
• UK-trained runners are 0-16
• 9+ year-olds are 0-12
• Gordon Elliott is 0-6
================================================
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2025 Winner: JASMIN DE VAUX (6/1) Trainer – Willie Mullins Jockey – Paul Townend UK/Irish: Irish
Pluses….
• 11 of the last 21 winners had run at Cheltenham over hurdles before
• 18 of the last 21 winners contested a Graded Hurdle last time out
• 3 of the last 5 ran in the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle (Nat Lacy) DRF
• 17 of the last 21 winners won or placed in a Graded Novice before
• 7 of the last 21 winners had run in the Hyde, Bristol or Classic earlier that season
• 10 of the last 14 winners had won a Point
• Horses rated 152+ are 3-5
• 9 of the last 12 winners trained in Ireland
• 10 of the last 17 winners had won at least twice over hurdles
• 11 of the last 15 winners had won or been placed in a bumper
• 10 of the last 21 came from the top 5 in the betting
• 10 of the last 21 winner ran 47 days (or more) ago
• 16 of the last 21 had run in a race over 3m
• 18 of the last 20 winners were aged 6 (11) or 7 (7) years-old
• 15 of the last 21 winners were 1st or 2nd last time out
• 17 of the last 21 winners finished in the top 3 last time out
• 13 of the last 21 winners had 4+ runs over hurdles
• 16 of the last 20 winners finished in the top 3 last time out
• 4 of the last 20 favourites won
• Respect Jonjo O’Neill runners (2 wins, from 3 runners!)
• Trainer Willie Mullins has won 4 of the last 9 runnings
• No winning fav in the last 11 runnings
Negatives….
• Horses that ran in the last 23 days haven’t fared well
• Challow Hurdle winners have poor Festival record
• Avoid horses that DIDN’T finish 1st or 2nd last time out
• Be wary of horses that have raced less than 3 times over hurdles
• Gordon Elliott is 1-from-16
• Be wary of ex flat horses (1 from 21)
• Nicky Henderson is 0-from-15 in the last 13 years
• 5 year-olds have a poor record (1 from 20)
• Only 4 of the last 20 winners hadn’t raced that calendar year
• 21 of the last 26 winners ran in the Savills Chase or King George that season
• 21 of the last 25 finished 1st or 2nd last time out
• 21 of the last 26 winners were 2nd or 3rd season chasers
• 13 of the last 20 winners had run 9 or less times over fences
• 25 of the last 26 winners were Grade 1 winners
• Every winner since 2000 only had one season hurdling
• 21 of the last 25 had won or placed at the Festival before
• 21 of the last 25 winners hailed from the top 3 in the betting
• 23 of the last 26 winners had raced no more than 12 times over fences
• 16 of the last 18 winners ran 3 or less times that season
• 18 of the last 29 winners were bred in Ireland
• 18 of the last 25 winners won last time out
• 12 of the last 23 winners were favourites (52%)
• 14 of the last 21 winners yet to win beyond 3m 1/2f
• ALL of the last 26 winners were aged 9 or younger
• 25 of the last 26 winners aged between 7-9 years-old (12 of last 13 aged 7 or 8)
• 23 of the last 26 winners were in their first three seasons over fences
• Horses placed in a previous Supreme Novices’ Hurdle have a good record
• 5 of the last 15 winners ran in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase the previous season
• Trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend have won 4 of the last 7 runnings
• Willie Mullins and Henry De Bromhead have won 6 of the last 7 between them
• The last 7 winners Irish trained (9 of the last 10 Irish-trained too)
Negatives….
• Non-Grade One winners have a poor record
• No winner older than 10 years-old since 1969 (0 from 79)
• Just one winning 6 year-old since 1964
• Just one past winner for Gordon Elliott (Don Cossack)
• Horses rated 166 or less are only 7 from last 59 – but last year’s winner rated 160
• Avoid horses that had run on ‘heavy’ ground that season
• Horses wearing headgear have a bad recent record
• Only 3 winners since 2000 returned 9/1 or bigger
• Just 2 of the last 17 winners had raced more than 3 times that season
• Horses that were beaten in their first Gold Cup don’t fare well
• Only 2 winners since 2000 had previously been beaten in the race
• Just 3 of the last 25 winners placed in the race before
• No winner since 2000 ran in that season’s Cotswold Chase
4:40 - Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 3m 2f 70y ITV
2025 Winner: WONDERWALL (28/1) Trainer – S Curling Jockey – Mr R James UK/Irish: Irish
Pluses…..
• 31 of the last 35 winners were aged under 11 years-old
• 29 of the last 40 won last time out
• 9 of the last 11 winners aged 10 or 11
• 15 of the last 18 winners ran in February
• 21 of the last 23 winners Irish or French bred
• The last 19 winners were yet to win over this trip (rules)
• 8 of the last 16 winners finished in the top 5 in the race last year
• 10 of the last 17 winners came from the first 4 in the betting
• 29 of the last 37 started out in Points or Hunter Chases
• 15 of the last 20 winners ran 34 days or less ago
• Respect the Irish runners (won 10 of last 15)
• 15 of the last 20 winners were aged 8-10 years-old
• 9 of the last 11 winners aged 10-11
• 10 of the last 17 winners returned 8/1 or shorter
• 16 of the last 18 winners finished in the top 3 last time out
• 11 of the last 16 winners rated 134 or higher (7 of last 13, rated 138+)
• 3 back-to-back winners in the last 14
• 4 of the last 19 winners owned by JP McManus
• Trainer Paul Nicholls has won the race 4 times
Negatives….
• Horses that ran in a handicap race that season haven’t got a good record
• Avoid horses that hadn’t won a race under rules
• Just 2 winners in the last 49 years aged 12 or older
• 30 of the last 39 horses aged 11+ (priced in single figures) have lost – but the 2019 winner – Hazel Hill – defied this trend
• Just one 6 year-old winner in the last 38 runnings
• Only 2 winners aged 7 since 2000
• Avoid ex-handicappers rated 140+ in their careers
• Avoid horses that raced 35 days or longer ago
• British bred horses are 1-90 (last 23 runnings) (Sine Nomine, 2024)
• Just 2 winners since 2000 hadn’t run within the last 53 days
• Horses aged 11+ are just 5 from 276 since 1990
• Just 4 winners since 2000 didn’t finish in the top 3 last time out
• Gordon Elliott has never won the race
5:20 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y RTV
2025 Winner: WODHOOH (9/2) Trainer – Gordon Elliott Jockey – Danny Gilligan UK/Irish: Irish
Pluses….
• 15 of the last 17 winners were 2nd season-hurdlers
• 12 of the last 15 winners placed in the top 3 last time
• All of the last 17 winners carried 11-1 or more
• 3 of the last 8 winners had top-weight
• 7 of the last 10 winners carried 11-7 to 11-10
• All 17 winners aged 7 or younger (5-7)
• 14 of the last 17 winners aged 5 or 6
• 11 or the last 14 winners rated 138+
• 15 of the last 17 winners had 8 or less runs over hurdles
• 7 of the last 12 winners were Irish-based Novices
• Irish have won 10 of the last 15 (7 making handicap debuts)
• Look for Henderson, Nicholls, Mullins, Elliot-trained horses
• 14 of the 17 winners were placed in the top 4 last time out
• 9 of the 17 winners won last time out
• 7 of the last 12 winners had run over a longer trip that season
• 9 of the 17 winners were rated 133-139
• 9 of the 17 winners returned at a double-figure price (13 of the last 17 were 16/1 or less)
• 5 and 6 year-olds have won 15 of last 17 runnings
• Look for jockeys that have ridden 20+ winners
• Willie Mullins is 4 from 31 runners in the race (won 4 of the last 15 runnings)
• Respect any Gigginstown House Stud-owned runners (4 winners, 5 places)
• Paul Nicholls has won the race twice in the last 13 years
• Gordon Elliott has won 4 of the last 9 runnings
• Trainer Joseph O’Brien has won 2 of the last 7
• Nicholls, Elliott, Mullins and O’Brien have won 11 of the last 13 between them
• JP McManus has owned 2 of the last 7
Negatives….
• Despite being named after his father the David Pipe stable has a poor record so far (0 from 23, inc 3 favs)
• Horses aged 8+ are 0-from 77
• Only one winner in last 14 rated 136 or lower (since become 0-145)
• Just 1 winning fav in the 17-year history (9-15 returned in double-figures)
• Only 4 winners have previous Festival experience
• Horses with 11st or less are currently 0-from-121
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/sizingjohn_2017goldcup.jpg320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-03-13 05:00:272026-03-13 09:43:502026 Cheltenham Festival Trends: DAY FOUR (Fri 13th March 2026)
And so to Friday, Gold Cup day, on what has - for me at least - been a chastening week. The Chastening Festival: I hope that doesn't catch on.
Regardless of where you are against your ledger, we have seven spectacular servings of sport to savour so let's wash our hands and dig in...
1.20 Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m1f)
Previewed by Dave Renham.
Let me start with the strongest past race trends:
- 14 of the last 18 winners were priced with an SP 10/1 or shorter.
- There have been 5 winning favourites in the last 11.
- 9 of the last 18 winners raced at Leopardstown LTO. This means that 50% of the winners have come from only 22% of the total runners.
- 30 horses have come into the race unbeaten and 7 have won. Backing all 30 would have yielded a BSP profit of £18.77 and returns of 62p in the £.
- 5 winners for Willie Mullins, albeit from 55 runners, and 4 from 19 for Nicky Henderson.
- Female horses have won 2 of the last 6 races and they had a 1-2-3 in 2023
Poniros was a shock 100/1 winner last year but generally, as the trends have suggested, this race tends to be dominated by horses nearer the top of the market. It looks wide open this year and here are the main contenders:
Minella Study - Minella Study is three from three over hurdles, including an impressive win at the course last time out. That race has worked out fairly well and other positives are that he has generally jumped well and seems to stay. He looks a very fair price to me as I think if he was trained by either Henderson or Skelton, he would be shorter.
Maestro Conti - Maestro Conti is part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and trained by Dan Skelton. He started off his life in France, winning at Moulins before making it two from two at Kempton just after Christmas. Last time out he won the JCB Triumph Trial at Cheltenham, finishing off strongly to make three from three in his career, which as noted earlier is a positive trend for this race. Along with Manilla Study, he represents a second decent chance for the Brits.
Proactif - Unbeaten in two starts, so that’s a positive trends-wise. His win at Fairyhouse in January looks the best trial and he won that quite impressively. Comments after that win from connections were positive, despite them feeling he was still a little green. Trained by the master Willie Mullins, he looks a solid enough market leader.
Selma De Vary - Had five runs in France before moving to Willie Mullins, the last of which was super impressive when coming from last to first and sluicing up by nearly 10 lengths. Her first run for the Irish maestro was a decent second at the beginning of February at Leopardstown. She is expected to come on a bundle for that. Matches most of the trends so is definitely one to consider seriously.
Macho Man - A third Mullins runner with a chance. Was second to Proactif at Fairyhouse and hence has around 3 lengths to find on that run.
Triumph Hurdle Recent Winners
Triumph Hurdle Pace Map
Triumph Hurdle Selection
Willie Mullins has won the last four renewals and five out of the last six. Hence, we need to take all his fancied runners seriously. Selma De Vary is my preferred option at the prices. She ticks lots of the boxes and I think she will improve a ton from her last run.
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*
2.00 County Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap, 2m1f)
Previewed by David Massey.
This year’s County Hurdle should be run at a very solid pace, with quite a few of those towards the foot of the handicap likely to go forward. That’s been a good tactic over the first two days, but as I type this up, the wind is getting up and it’s blowing quite hard down the track, so the front-runners are going to be feeling the force of it as they turn in.
So I’m looking for something that can sit fairly handy in behind the leaders, getting some cover, that’s got Cheltenham form. Plus something that’s got a bit of added stamina needed to win this and that’s nicely weighted. Step forward Jubilee Alpha.
She’s always had a bit of quality about her - a winner at Listed level, placed at Grade 2 in bumpers - and for all she hasn’t won this season, she’s had some tough tasks made harder by the fact she isn’t the biggest for carrying big weights. Twice this season she’s humped 12st around, and I think she’ll appreciate the fact she’s only got 10-11 to carry here, a far lesser burden for one of her size. A winner over 2m4f here last April, she’ll not mind the ground either; yes, there’s some rain coming, but this strong wind is going to blow it through and it’ll dry it up very quickly too. It won’t ride much slower than good in my opinion by Friday afternoon. Hopefully she can put a smile on Paul Nicholls’ face, as there wasn’t one on Thursday after No Drama This End, I can assure you.
Punters have started to cotton on to Tellherthename too, on his first start for Dan Skelton. A very useful novice for Ben Pauling, it never really happened for him when moved to Jonjo last year, but the quotes coming from the trainer have been very positive. It appears he’s working well and has refound his mojo. If that’s the case, they have a well-handicapped horse on their hands, and one that has the potential to be a gamble on the day.
Sinatra is the more obvious Skelton runner in the race, and his form has been franked by Act Of Innocence this week, third to that one in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon last month. As an aside, how well handicapped is second-home Glance At Midnight? No wonder the Skeltons went to 245k to buy it not long after. He will race close to the pace, without necessarily being at the head of it. A mark of 133 looks very workable, and for your placepots and each-way multis on the day, he’s a must.
County Hurdle Recent Winners
County Hurdle Pace Map
County Hurdle Selection
Suggestion: Jubilee Alpha
Matt's Tix Pix: Mixing up the Skeltons and Mullins
Not many people's favourite race at the Festival but, given that - unlike all the gelding G1's - its runners can actually reproduce, it is an important one for the breed. The Irish have had a chokehold on matters since its inception in 2021 and they are again well represented at the top of the market.
Dinoblue is a warm favourite in her bid to defend her title, something none of the three to attempt that previously have managed to do. All five winners to date were aged seven or eight. Dinoblue is nine. Those facts won't stop her but they do hint at the difficulty in keeping mares sweet to that sort of age: most of the half decent ones have gone to the paddocks by this time and it will be this mare's turn soon enough.
In her favour, she's versatile with regards to ground and trip, and her Festival form reads 9221. Against that is the fact she was sent off 11/8, 7/2, 15/8 and 6/4 - favourite each time; based on those odds, I guess she's just about on her expected winners score! Excluding seasonal debuts, her form in the past two campaigns reads 411111, very often at prohibitively cramps odds. It's not her fault that she's faced limited opposition but it does leave the door ajar to a potentially more battle hardened mare.
Step forward Spindleberry, unbeaten in five chase starts before pulling up in the Irish Gold Cup last time. That was an odd prep for the Mares' Chase but it also nods to the esteem in which she's held by connections. But it was still an odd prep! Let's pretend that didn't happen and instead judge her on the prior quintet of chase wins. She was given a huge RPR of 160 for winning a Listed race at Doncaster, but her two next best figures are 152 and 145. The two horses behind her at Donny to have run since have both been beaten favourites on their subsequent starts and I'm calling bluff on the big number. I also really don't like that 'P' last time. If she's better than I think she is, fair enough.
Panic Attack is even older than Dinoblue - she's ten - and is enjoying an Indian Winter (if you see what I mean) having won three in a row including, in pre-decimal money, the Mackeson and the Hennessy - remember when booze firms sponsored horse races? As if that heady autumnal double wasn't enough, you have to watch her romp at Newbury last time to believe it. Not in terms of the strength of the performance or the ratings it produced, but just from a sheer joie de vivre perspective. You can catch it here - I just watched it again (again) and it is a thing of beauty. As impressive as she unarguably was, the level of that form - and of her two big handicap wins, off 135 and 139 - is at least 7lb shy of the pick of Dinoblue's.
Interesting, if hard to peg, is Diva Luna. The Ben Pauling inmate was 3rd in last year's Dawn Run - a race contested by the last three Mares' Chase winners a season prior to their big Friday successes. She's done all that's been asked of her in two facile successes over fences this season but has recorded barely a murmur on the Richter scale speed or form wise in this context. She's been off the track 92 days - "whacked a joint" according to the trainer - which is not ideal. But he's still talking up her chance and I respect that.
The heart breaker for me would be Only By Night, backed at 100/1 here for the Champion Chase. To be fair, she'd have had place chances at best there, whereas in this field she is a credible win option. Her form against the boys - Majborough, Jango Baie, L'Eau du Sud et al - reads very well in this company, but she is stepping up from two to two and a half miles for the first time over fences (she was thumped in a heavy ground 2m4f G1 novice hurdle two years ago).
I think she'll stay - she's normally waited with and will be given every chance to get home - and she handles most ground. It's interesting that they've returned the cheekpieces that didn't seem to help especially in her first try with them last time.
The novice July Flower won a trip and (other) track novice chase here at the November meeting before running a respectable third to Romeo Coolio and Irish Panther in a G1 at Christmas. Neither of those showed up well this week and she looks to have a little to find with more experienced mares.
Mares' Chase Recent Winners
*New race in 2021
Mares' Chase Pace Map
It appears they'll go quick, with both Dinoblue and Diva Luna usual taking their fields along. There are two or three others who can show themselves early, too, so it'll likely be a fair test.
Mares Chase 2026 Pace Map
Mares' Chase Selection
This is quite a messy race. Dinoblue has the best form, Panic Attack has created the winningest (sic) visual impression, and there are a good few up-and-comers with place prospects at least. The top two in the market have won four of the five renewals to date, and the third pick won the other one, so it may not be a race to get too cute with. That said, I'm going to chance Only By Night each way for small money. She showed plenty against the fellas in both the Arkle and a G1 at Punchestown last term to suggest she's not far off the pick of these mares.
Suggestion: Try Only By Night each way at 15/2
Matt's Tix Pix: Dinoblue on A; Only By Night, Diva Luna and Panic Attack on B
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1, 3m)
Previewed by Matt Bisogno.
"What's this?"
"I durrn't knur, it's all coover'd in't mood"
"It's a pottairr-toe, lad".
You need to be as old as me to get that reference to a crisps advert from the 1970's, but any vintage should by now be able to grasp the nub of geegeez's approach to solving the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, affectionately known as "the potato race" - they're a spuds firm, you see...
The key to betting this race is to expect something different to happen from what has been happening most of the season.
Just two winner returneds a single figure price since At Fishers Cross in 2013 - and both of those were well backed Willie's in the lead up to the race - so we're going to be taking a swing. In fact, I'd played last year's 6/1 scorer Jasmin De Vaux at 33/1 after the Dublin Racing Festival. Bully for me, though I did highlight his case on this basis prior to last year's win right here, and that's a nod to the sideways thinking required here.
So here's the plan: we're looking for a horse that has the class to have been running in Graded races - perhaps even Grade 1's - but without the necessary turn of foot to win such events, especially when the field sizes are small. This was JdV last year, including his Alby win:
Won a big field maiden hurdle, 4th in back to back G1 novices at shorter, won a big field Albert Bartlett.
And in 2024, Stellar Story at 33/1 was another archetypal winner:
Small field Graded form in defeat, a big field maiden hurdle win to start the season, and then boom. Like JdV, SS had won a bumper and also an Irish point.
Both of those horses ran fourth in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy at DRF, and this year's 4th has a similar looking profile at a similarly huge price. He's called Riskaway, and he won a big field maiden in the autumn before getting outpaced in a four-runner dawdle over 2m4f - and then seemed to weaken late on in the aforementioned G1. It is always the case with these types of play that they could massively bomb out, but he fits the identikit and he's... 50/1!
Also from that DRF G1 is Kazansky, like Riskaway trained by Gordon Elliott. He was second at Leopardstown, doing his good work late and suggesting the longer trip and presumed quicker tempo may play to his A game.
The other angle into the Albert Bartlett, which sometimes overlaps with the one showcased above, is "the wrong Willie". Mullins has won this in recent years with horses priced at 18/1 and 16/1 as well as 5/1 and 6/1 - both the shorties well punted in the lead up to the race. Paul Townend has ridden three of that quartet, though he was second rider behind Ruby in the first of the years. Doctor Steinberg is Closutton's obvious contender, having won the Nathaniel Lacy. But he has no form in big field hurdle races, the tempo here almost certain to be a new experience for him. He might cope, and he might be very good and just win - but as I hope you can see by now, that's not really the way to bet this one.
Perhaps the horse Sortudo beat in his maiden - Jalon d'Oudairies - can step up. A dual bumper winner in 2023, he was 3rd to Jasmin de Vaux in the 2024 Champion Bumper before missing the entirety of the following season. This term, after that pipe opener behind Sortudo, he just got outsped by the decent Frankie John over 2m4f before winning his maiden by 27 lengths at 1/10 odds!
The G1 element comes from his Champion Bumper run, and we have to take a bit on trust that he can run to that level over obstacles: the evidence suggests he probably can. Seven-year-olds have comfortably the best win strike rate even if more six-year-olds have won the 'spuds'; that's because the latter age group has been represented by nearly two and a half times as many runners. You can see from the trends below that the winners in 2024, 2022, 2018, 2015 and 2010 were all 7yo, and returned 33/1, 18/1, 33/1, 14/1 and 33/1 respectively.
Road Exile has a 'sort of' profile for this race. The missing component is any sort of form over a distance - he's run exclusively at two ish miles to date under Rules - but he was a rallying nose second in a 2m2f bumper and also won his point over three miles... so maybe he is more interesting that I thought! He managed to get it done in a 26-runner maiden hurdle before being predictably run out of it by the smart flat horse Sober in a three horse G2 over the minimum. He's definitely worth chancing on this big step up in trip.
The one I like most from the top of the market, and aged seven coincidentally, is Thedeviluno. Big field maiden win? Tick - and beat Skylight Hustle no less. Outpaced in small field Graded race? Tick - and by Doctor Steinberg no less. Shown reserves of stamina? Tick - when running on from the rear to win the G2 River Don at Doncaster by five lengths on very soft ground.
Another Elliott runner, Spinningayarn, was quite well backed last week. He has the big field maiden win and followed that up in a five-runner rated novice hurdle. That's decent form and there'll doubtless be more to come, but it's not the profile we're looking for here.
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Recent Winners
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Pace Map
Always a ton of pace in the 'spuds' and it'll take a lot of getting.
Albert Bartlett 2026 Pace Map
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Selection
If I was betting one at the head of the betting, it would be Thedeviluno, hands down. But I'm not. Even though he's having a tricky week (at time of writing, after Wednesday's racing), I'm playing three big-priced Gordies against the field in Kazansky, Jalons d'Oudairies and Road Exile. Thedevilunotakethehindmost.
Suggestion: Roll with something slow at a price. Some suggestions in the sentence above.
Matt's Tix Pix: Thedeviluno, Kazansky on A, many more on B.
The highlight of the whole week for many is the Gold Cup, a test of stamina and class over more than three and a quarter miles.
Defending champion Inothewayurthinkin has been a shell of his dual Festival-winning self this season, beaten 53 lengths in the John Durkan, 41 lengths in the Savills, and falling at the last when exhausted and beaten in the Irish Gold Cup. It's true that, prior to winning his Gold Cup, he'd not won - that previous season being beaten 36 lengths, 15 lengths and seven lengths in the same three races. Whilst there remains an argument that he's a spring horse, this would be a near Lazarine comeback.
From the same stable as Galopin is Gaelic Warrior, routed here as Fact To File went to the Ryanair. Once thought 'gone at the game', he's quietly amassed a formidable record of ten wins from 18 starts, five of them at Grade 1 level. That top tier quintet includes the Aintree Bowl last spring over 3m1f, and he was two noses away from King George glory in that scintillating finish at Christmas. He's since run a nice prep when a five length second to Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup, with plenty of these behind him that day.
It must be many a year since two British-trained horses have featured so prominently in the betting and there was little more than a half length between The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie in the King George. That the former won and the latter was out of the frame illustrates what a bobby dazzler of a finish it was. TJM, famously owned by Harry Redknapp, comes here on a five-timer and is unbeaten in his first four chase starts including the Grade 1 Kauto Star (Feltham as was) as well as the King George, both over three miles at Kempton.
He looked a strong enough stayer at Christmas, getting up on the line having not been the quickest over the final fence, but we have to guess at his stamina reserves on a stiffer track and with more than an extra quarter mile to run. He was agonisingly chinned in the Albert Bartlett of 2024, on heavy ground, so there's obvious stamina in the locker.
I wonder how many horses turned up in the Gold Cup having won the Arkle a year earlier? That's the non-standard route taken by Jango Baie, who was outpaced until that two mile novice chase fell apart in front of him. That is not to decry his performance, under a brilliant Nico de Boinville ride; it is simply a fact that without his shuddering blunder Majborough would have won, and further that Only By Night seems to need delivering literally on the line to get her nose in front. Candidly, I'm not sold on his form or his stamina capabilities in what looks likely to be a bit of a war of attrition. If I'm wrong, hats off, but the Ascot run could have flattered him (main market rival pulled up), and he was close but still behind three other horses in the King George.
I am a big fan of Haiti Couleurs but not in a fast ground Gold Cup. I can see him winning very good races after today but surely he'll be run off his feet by quicker and classier, but less tough, horses.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Recent Winners
Cheltenham Gold Cup Pace Map
Cheltenham Gold Cup Selection
I don't really have a strong opinion, and only a token suggestion is the classy Gaelic Warrior. He doesn't have the stamina of some of these but he ought to travel beautifully through the race. You could make some sort of case for most of them, though.
4.40 Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (Class 2, 3m 2 1/2f)
Previewed by Rory Delargy.
Wonderwall was a slightly surprising winner of this last year and returns to defend his crown. His form over fences in the UK was nothing special, carrying an official rating of just 118 into this contest, but he was transformed in points by Sam Curling and was a worthy winner from Its On The Line and Willitgoahead who both reoppose. The winning margin was a neck, but Wonderwall idled before rallying to win and he must be considered a player with Rob James again in the saddle. He’s raced just once this season, winning a point at Dromahane in November, but connections report that he is “in terrific form and primed for tomorrow."
Curling is a talented trainer of pointers and staying chasers and also has another ex-English runner here in Wrappedupinmay, who left Paul Nicholls last year with a rating of 118, and has improved in points for Curling, with his only defeat coming first time up in a ladies’ open. He’s beaten Ryehill and Mac’s Charm on his last two starts between the flags on soft and heavy ground, and will relish any rain that falls, but it’s worth noting that the runners-up in those points were well beaten in the Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at the weekend.
Its On The Line has been runner-up in this race for the last three years and it could be argued that he should have won last season, running on strongly to join Wonderwall up the hill but then outbattled by that rival. Nonetheless, his record here ought to be considered a positive rather than a negative, and he’s still young enough to succeed, having his first run in this when a raw six-year-old. Derek O’Connor is considered the finest amateur riding in Ireland and is always a positive here, but his only win in this race, surprisingly, came aboard Zemsky 15 years ago.
Its On The Line has been beaten twice in points this season but won a well-contested hunter at Down Royal at Christmas, beating Willitgoahead and Con’s Roc. That pair are also of interest, with the former third in this last year fairly shortly after joining Gordon Elliott. He flopped at Aintree and Punchestown before returning to form at Down Royal and has claims at his best, but it’s hard to bank on from the Elliott stable this week, a remark which also applies to Chemical Energy.
CON’S ROC was an eyecatcher at Down Royal, forced to switch between the last two fences and running on best of all. He failed to qualify for this race last year, despite an impressive point win over Willitgoahead at Limerick, needing to win a point after that but finishing second to Rocky’s Howya, who was only 4th at Limerick. That hunter win counted towards this year’s qualification and he sealed his place with another hunter chase win (at Fairyhouse). Darragh Allen is his regular rider and I’m quite sweet on his chances, with the collateral form stacking up well, and the extra yardage likely to suit this sound jumper.
Panda Boy was a useful handicap chaser who has won two hunter chases since switching to this sphere, beating good yardsticks in Hunter’s Yarn at Naas and Lifetime Ambition at Thurles. He has a mixed record in big fields and I was interested to hear Patrick Mullins say he thought the horse was enjoying taking on fewer rivals in his new role. He can sulk, as he did in the Grand National a couple of years back, getting badly behind, but is very useful on his day. My main concern with him is that John Gleeson has limited experience over fences under rules, with just one win to his name to date.
Stattler is now with Faye Bramley and the mount of Patrick Mullins, but he was workmanlike at best winning a hunter at Fakenham last month and doesn’t look the force of old. Barton Snow is a prolific winner in points and hunters for Joe O’Shea but while he’s won at a sharp 3m, he’s a winner over two miles here and there has to be a question about his ability to stay this extended trip. O’Shea also has Gracchus de Balme, who won the Aintree Foxhunter last year, but he’s a moody sort who disappointed last time and was readily beaten by Music Drive over C&D in May. Music Drive was fourth in this race under Ellie Callwood last year and is clearly suited by track and trip, so needs a second look, but Callwood lacks experience and looked rather weak in the finish last year.
Golden Son is likely to be ridden forward by Olive Nicholls for her father, and he’s won both starts in hunters this year. He could do better, but I think it will stretch his stamina to the limit if he tries to make all, and he might be more appealing at Aintree or Punchestown. Stablemate Shearer is useful, but there is no real reason to expect him to better his creditable fifth in this race 12 months ago. The others are all 40/1 or bigger, and while a couple of those are capable of outrunning their odds, the above look the main contenders on paper.
Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase Recent Winners
Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase Pace Map
The map only shows Rules form, so ignores point to points. So it might not be very indicative. The field size suggests there'll be plenty of pace on at least, I'm just not sure from where it comes.
The Irish have won 10 of the last 15 renewals with Elliott and Mullins responsible for 4 wins each.
Mullins has targeted, and won, this race with some very decent horses since it's inception (Don Poli & Galopin Des Champs) and it's obviously a race he likes to win while keeping one eye on the future.
Before the Festival started I took an in depth look at the Mullins handicap winners and part of this research found that all 8 handicap hurdle winners he's trained over the last 9 years had exactly the same profile. We can cover all 4 of his winners of this particular race going back to his first winner in 2011 using the same stats but concentrating solely on the 5 and 6yo's he's sent to this race. If we slightly adjust these stats it shows:
All 4 winners of the Martin Pipe were 5-6yo
All 4 had not previously run in a handicap
All 4 had been rested at least 20 days since their last start
All 4 were rated 134+
All 4 were 12/1 or shorter
All 4 last ran over hurdles at 2m-3m
Applying these 6 simple stats to the Mullins runners since 2009 would have found all 4 winners and 2 places from just 11 such runners.
So what does it mean for this year's race?
Mullins has 5 runners this year and we can see that it's only KEL HISTOIRE that ticks all the boxes from those 6 race trends.
He's finished 5th in two 2 mile Grade 3's, where he's looked a little outpaced, and he should appreciate this step up to 2m4f here. Having a very strong trends profile and being owned by JP McManus (like 2 of the last 7 winners) he's obviously attracted the attention of the bookmakers and is towards the top of the betting market. Although the favourite hasn't won since 2011 (Mullins trained that winner), the race has tended to go to the fancied runners with 5 of the last 8 winners returning at 8/1 or shorter.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Recent Winners
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Pace Map
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Selection
It's a race for the plot horses from the big Irish stables and Kel Histoire is another runner who fits that bill. It looks very much like Mullins is looking to improve on his current tally of 4 winners in the race with a runner that will be well worth keeping an eye on when he goes chasing.
Suggestion: KEL HISTOIRE 1pt
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And that's a wrap for Cheltenham Festival 2026. The first half of the week was very tough if you had nice prices on the horses sent off odds on; but plenty of handicap fancies prevailed. Regardless of how you're going to this point, 'Give Back Friday' is an opportunity for both punter and bookie to return something to the other side - let's hope it's us players who are on top.
Before closing, a MASSIVE thank you to the brilliant panel of experts who have shared their thoughts here this week. All of Rory Delargy, David Massey, Dave Renham and Gavin Priestley are absolute judges and, while four races each is the most minute microcosm on which to judge them, it's enough to see some of their workings out and the way the construct their cases (and entertainingly write them). I've enjoyed editing and publishing them enormously, and I hope you've enjoyed reading.
Be lucky.
Matt
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/galopindeschamps_langerdan_cheltenhamMartinPipe2021.jpg319830Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2026-03-12 16:53:272026-03-12 17:18:34Cheltenham Festival 2026: Day Four Preview, Tips
Day Three, Thursday, and it's a case of New Courses for Old as we 'change ends' for the second half. Fresh ground, then, probably nicely watered so no excuses - apart from the obvious (picking the wrong horse).
1.20 Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m 1f)
Previewed by Rory Delargy.
The market for the Dawn Run has been completely dominated by Bambino Fever since it opened and it’s obvious why, given she was good enough to humble the geldings in the Champion Bumper last season. However, while she has taken perfectly well to hurdles, she doesn’t have such compelling claims on the form she’s shown over timber and I’m loath to take bumper form as gospel when dealing with hurdlers. She is still the likeliest winner on paper, but I’d have her a few spots bigger on my tissue, and her price makes the quest for an each-way alternative a necessity.
Just a note on her Timeform rating for this race - until modifying her final rating after declarations, Timeform’s assessment of her hurdles form, which consists of a defeat at the hands of Oldschool Outlaw and a maiden hurdle win from a bunch of modest mares who have failed to win any race subsequently, is to award her an adjusted rating of 156p. Her published rating prior to decs was a whopping 19lb lower and that is a more accurate reflection of her hurdle form. I’m not a fan of inventing ratings based on what you expect to happen and it’s a bugbear of mine that Timeform occasionally do it when their methodology is tried and trusted. She deserves one of their big “P” symbols, but not the inflated rating on the racecard.
The best hurdles form in the race, unsurprisingly, is represented by Oldschool Outlaw, who was holding Bambino Fever all the way up the straight at Naas in December and improved on that when winning a Fairyhouse Grade 3 by 9 lengths from Place de La Nation last time. She did have a fitness advantage over Bambino Fever when winning on debut, having won a Navan bumper the previous month, but she’s also entitled to improve having only made her racecourse debut a year ago. I’d want to see a few of Gordon Elliott’s run better on Wednesday before getting involved, but she needs plenty of respect.
Carrigmoorna Spruce would be an attractive bet if Skylight Hustle were to win or run well in the Turners, having finished second to that gelding at Leopardstown over Christmas, but it’s Henry de Bromhead’s pair that I think are overlooked in this contest.
Echoing Silence cost a fortune after winning a point and has taken both starts over hurdles, beating subsequent winners first time and a good yardstick in Switch From Diesel at Punchestown. She comes here fresh, as does stablemate Full of Life, who was much improved when landing the Feathard Lady Hurdle at Down Royal in October, when seeming to benefit from aggressive tactics over this trip.
Full of Life has been tried at up to 2.75m and over fences, but Henry admitted he had got her requirements wrong and that dropping her in trip over hurdles has been a revelation. That Down Royal race is a good guide, throwing up the likes of Brighterdaysahead and Magical Zoe in recent years (both of whom looked unfortunate not to win this). This season’s renewal looked strong, with six of the runners arriving on the back of a win. Full of Life beat Carrigmoorna Spruce there, but there has been no artificial enhancing of her rating as a result, and she looks the clear value at the current odds.
Mares' Novices' Hurdle Recent Winners
Mares' Novices' Hurdle Pace Map
Mares' Novices' Hurdle Selection
Suggestion: 1pt e/w Full of Life @ 33/1 (Hills ¼ odds 1,2,3; 25/1 general 1/5 odds 1,2,3,4)
Matt's Tix Pix: I'm spreading out in a race where the favourite has missed more often than not.
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2.00 Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase (Handicap, 2m 4f)
Previewed by David Massey.
Sometimes it pays to look beyond the obvious when looking at Cheltenham races and sometimes it doesn’t; just keep it simple, stupid. I think the Jack Richards is looking like the latter. Try not to look for anything too clever and just back the best horses, with the best form, that jump really well.
And with that, I think my main pick for this is going to be Anthony Honeyball’s Jordan’s Cross. He continues to improve with each start and might well be four from four this year but for a final-fence fall here in November.
The trainer wouldn’t have been too troubled by that, given that’s really been his only major mistake in those four starts. You can argue he was a bit novicey on debut at Aintree, but that’s expected, and stablemate Kdeux Saint Frey (also in here, and not without a chance) won that race, taking the prize back to Dorset in any case.
His form since has worked out well. A win at Doncaster next time saw him beat Go West by the minimum margin, and the runner-up has since won well at Musselburgh. A brave win over Quebecois over this C&D last time out received a boost when the runner-up was beaten under a length by a rejuvenated Johnnywho, in the Ultima on Tuesday, form that looks all the better now. The way he responded to pressure there suggests he’s not going to shy away from the final challenges the hill will give him, and all in all, there’s just a lot to like about both the horse and his chances.
Wingmen has long looked the sort for this, but after a dreadful Tuesday for Gordon Elliott, Brighterdaysahead the only, er, bright spot in an otherwise sea of mediocrity, how can you have any confidence in the yard? I suppose, if Wednesday was better for him you could have a second look at this classy sort, but I’ve had to park him now, and look elsewhere for dangers.
The question over Stencil is whether he’ll stay this trip or not, but he’s always threatened to make a better chaser than hurdler and so it is now starting to prove. He was a bit keen when second to Vanderpoel at Ascot in December and that didn’t help his finishing effort, but he got it right when dotting up at Chepstow last time out, strong at the finish and coming right away after the last to beat Juby Ball an easy 6½ lengths. The runner-up went and won by eighteen lengths next time too, making Stencil’s 4lb rise look something of a gift. This big field will mean he can be put to sleep at the back and he should settle better, giving him every chance of staying the trip. A big chance if he does and I suggest whatever you back, he has to be a saver.
There are a few front-runners here and backing one of them is clearly risky. You'll know your fate pretty early on, but I can’t resist a few quid on Ben Solo. He’s impressed me this year with some slick jumping from the front, winning nicely at Chepstow in November (decent form), and he still held every chance when unseating back at the Welsh venue last time out. That form couldn’t have worked out much better with the second, third and fourth all winners since. He’s 5lb out of the handicap, and a whole host of other front-runners won’t make life easy, but if he can wing the first two and grab the lead, therein lies his chance. You’d want a big price, but you’ll get one - 33s and bigger is worth a look.
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase Trends
*Non-handicap prior to 2025
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase Pace Map
Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase Selection
Suggestion: Jordan's Cross
Matt's Tix Pix: Playing a few again, including the Honeyball pair.
A new day for the Mares' Hurdle, bumped from its Tuesday slot to a crowded Thursday G1 window as the undercard billing to the Stayers' / Ryanair headliners. But it's a race of interest, even absent Lossiemouth, who elected for the Champion Hurdle on the opening day.
The star billing will instead go to the Gordon Elliott-trained Wodhooh, an unassuming and highly progressive mare who at last year's Cheltenham Festival spared her trainer's blushes in the very last race after he'd endured a slew of near misses. Since transferring to Elliott from Sir Michael Stoute's flat yard in the summer of 2023, Wodhooh won nine of her ten races. The defeat? To Lossiemouth at Aintree last year. I think decent ground is important to Wodhooh - and she should get it, barring a torrential downpour. With Lossiemouth not her, she sets a very clear form standard.
The next most likely in the field is Jade de Grugy, my idea of a great bet in the Mares' Chase - and backed accordingly. Sigh. She's been chasing all season - and mixing it with top novice boys in the process - but she is the Closutton substitute for Lossiemouth. She won a Grade 1 Mares' race at Punchestown last spring so is clearly up to this level, and if she's still making a hurdle shape at her obstacles, rather than giving them the air that a steeplechase fence needs, she's the main danger. The soft side of good is probably optimal ground wise.
Feet Of A Dancer was impressive in a three mile Grade 2 at Doncaster in January, and before that was just two lengths behind Wodhooh in a G3 at Leopardstown. She definitely fits here after a good 4th in the Pertemps Final last season, though she may prefer slightly softer turf ideally.
Dan Skelton saddles the seemingly well-named Take No Chances, who has not taken any of her chances this season! To be fair, she's run very creditably in defeat to Strong Leader, Impose Toi and Potters Charm, all classy enough sorts. She might favour an extra half mile though had enough boot to beat Kargese at the minimum but tends to find at least one or two too good. She was third in this, and at Aintree, again behind Lossiemouth, last spring, beaten about ten lengths each time. Place prospects once more.
Jetara was fourth in this last year, a season in which she won that Doncaster G2. This term on soft ground she could only manage third in that race, beaten nine lengths; but she does seem to relish better ground so I can envisage her could again getting competitive for a place.
Mares' Hurdle Recent Winners
Mares' Hurdle Pace Projection
Looks like it will be truly run with both Dream On Baby and Jade de Grugy forward goers by habit. Wodhooh will appear later in the play...
Mares' Hurdle 2026 Pace Map
Mares' Hurdle Selection
The market has this spot on, I think, and it looks Wodhooh's to lose. If there is a fly in her ointment it's most likely going to be Jade de Grugy. If the rain comes, Feet Of A Dancer might round out the 'noddy' trifecta.
Suggestion: Back Wodhooh to beat Jade de Grugy in a straight forecast/exacta. Maybe add Feet Of A Dancer for the trifecta, but don't expect it to pay a lot!
A race that seems to deliver a surprise result more often than not the Stayers' Hurdle was won last year by the veteran Bob Olinger, who showed a turn of pace that the younger, more stamina-laden Teahupoo - defending champion - could not match. Both were/are in the same Robcour ownership. That was on good to soft while Teahupoo's win in 2024 had been achieved in more testing conditions, and it may again be that the state of the turf dictates the fate of the best stayer in the field.
It's not that Teahupoo doesn't act on quickish ground - he beat Bob Olinger seven lengths in a Leopardstown G1 at Christmas on it - but rather that the combination of a sometimes muddling tempo in the Stayers' and less testing sod fails to make it the stamina test in which he excels. He arrives here three from three on the season and is the worthy favourite.
Bob Olinger was 8/1 when causing that surprise (to me, at least) a year ago. In winning at age 10 he was the second 'old man' to take the prize in three years - after Sire du Berlais in 2023 - but the one before was Crimson Embers 40 years ago, and before that Zarane in 1927. Time will catch up with Bob O at some point, probably by now, but it's worth noting that he's four from four at Cheltenham, including in the Baring Bingham (Turners now) hurdle and the Golden Miller (Turners then!) chase, albeit beaten and benefiting from Galopin Des Champ's last fence fall that day.
For some reason Dan Skelton seems to have a sub-5/1 shot in every Grade 1 this year. There's a good chance I'm missing something but most of them look seriously under-priced for a trainer who is 4/45 in that context. True, three of those came in the last two years - Grey Dawning (Golden Miller) and Protektorat (Ryanair) on this day in 2024, and The New Lion in the Turners last year - but I'm not a believer yet...
He saddles Kabral du Mathan, a fast improving six-year-old who stepped out of handicap company to waltz away with the Relkeel here on New Years' Day. He's stepping up half a mile which, based on his most decorated half-siblings Lucky Place and July Flower, might not be what he needs. That said, I've already mentioned elsewhere on this page, the Stayers' is regularly less than an end to end gallop. Decent ground is probably important to his chance.
Elliott also brings Honesty Policy, like KdM a progressive six-year-old. He was a Grade 1 novice hurdle winner at Aintree last spring at 2m4f and has been second and third in G1's at three miles so far this campaign. In fact, he's had only one run since the summer - in the Long Walk at Ascot in December - and comes here well rested, as did four of the last five winners. He has about 7lb to find with his stablemate and favourite but he's upwardly mobile and his price suggests connections don't think there's much between them.
Ma Shantou, trained by Emma Lavelle, is a dyed in the wool three-miler. He's run over that range on all of his last six starts, including when winning the Cleeve Hurdle by seven lengths. That was his third win at Cheltenham, all this season, and he clearly relishes conditions. He does have a fair bit to find with the best of these, however.
It's probably an unfashionable opinion but I think Ballyburn should have run in the Champion Hurdle. He won the Turners Novices' Hurdle, a key pointer to the Champion, two seasons back, and he ran his two best chase races at two miles and 2m5f. I just don't think he's a stayer. But, again, and forgive me for labouring the point, in a three mile race where the emphasis is not put on stamina, he could have a chance. However, he's been beaten by Teahupoo in his last two starts, comprehensively on their most recent meeting.
Yet another interesting runner is Impose Toi. He progressed out of handicaps last spring to win the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle in December (good to soft). On softer turf at Cheltenham, he was beaten seven lengths by Ma Shantou in the Cleeve; he might just prefer a little less cut.
It's harder to make cases for the others, though the spectre of a falsely run race hangs over this field of non-leaders - see pace section below - so a shock is not out of the question.
Stayers' Hurdle Recent Winners
Stayers' Hurdle Pace Map
NOT pacy, with no horse in the field having led on either of its most recent two starts. Gordon and Nicky have two each in the race and so might be able to control the tempo, but their runners wouldn't naturally lend themselves to such a play. Could be tactical.
Stayers' Hurdle 2026 Pace Map
Stayers' Hurdle Selection
This is a pretty good race but not an easy one to call. Teahupoo doesn't look like getting either his soft ground or, probably more important, a decent tempo to run at. Neither of those perceived impediments may stop him and I kind of hope he wins because I'm a big fan. Still, he's not really a bet even if/when he starts to drift. I'm not buying the Kabral Du Mathan hype - yet - and both he and Honesty Policy are short enough, for all that they promise to be capable of more than shown to date. You've got to love Bob O and 11yo Sire du Berlais won this in 2023, but I don't really see it. Ballyburn would be potentially good for a mad roll up bet I made but it's very hard to fancy him on his last run - he does have other lines that put him in the picture, especially if this is falsely run.
After all that, the two I'm siding with, from the same key race, are Ma Shantou and Impose Toi each way. They have both been well campaigned this season and I don't believe there's as much between them as the official margin from the Cleeve. This track and decent ground are fine for both and they might be a sliver of value.
Suggestion: Back either Ma Shantou and/or Impose Toi each way.
Matt's Tix Pix:Teahupoo on the main tickets, with Ma Shantou and Impose Toi on back ups
Maybe I'm weird (don't answer that!) but I'm a huge fan of the Ryanair. It gets maligned for pulling runners from the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup, but they tend to be very good horses in search of precisely this intermediate trip. The alumni includes Fact To File, Envoi Allen, Allaho, Min, Frodon, Un De Sceaux, Vautour, and Cue Card since 2013: if that's not a strong defence of the race's existence I'm tee total.
This year's renewal has revolved another reigning champion hokey cokey, Fact To File's Gold Cup absence predicated on stamina doubts. Again, this is the right race for him. It's six furlongs shorter than the Gold Cup for crying out loud! There's a solid argument for him being the best chaser in training right now, his mid-170's rating still open to further improvement, whereas the likes of the magnificent Galopin Des Champs' mark is undeniably regressive now. Majborough may be the only one capable of better.
Still, it's fair to say he's had a bumpy run since winning last year's Ryanair. First he was dropped to two miles in what may have been an 'after the Lord Mayor's show' effort behind Marine Nationale. Returning in the autumn, he was neck and neck with Gaelic Warrior - eventually that distance behind that one - over this sort of trip at Punchestown, before not really dealing with the King George test at Kempton on Boxing Day. While that was harder to explain he put the record straight with a convincing five length verdict over Gaelic Warrior at DRF. That was three miles on soft leading many to call for his participation in the Gold Cup, but that's another three furlongs up the hill.
This is his race, and if he's in the same form as last time, or this time last year, he'll win barring incident.
Jonbon comes here rather than the Champion Chase on account of not being as quick as he was. Min and Un De Sceaux both did likewise - and to winning effect - back in the day, though both were a year younger than the admirable Henderson hoss. Indeed, we'll go all the way back to 2011 and Albertas Run's second Ryanair to find the last veteran to lift this pot. Jonbon could be my favourite horse in training at the moment (outside of the red, white and blue geegeez livery, natch) - what's not to love about a horse which has finished in the first two in all of his 27 lifetime starts, winning 20 of them? But that doesn't mean I think he can win, regardless of what my heart says.
The facts are that he was well beaten by L'Eau du Sud on seasonal bow, then bashed by Il Etait Temps when he should have been perfectly fit; since then he's beaten inferior rivals to what he faces here. I hope he pleasantly surprises me, he'll take the roof off if he does!
Another ten-year-old held in great esteem by yours true is Banbridge. This is his trip - stretching out to an easy three miles around Kempton - but he must have decent ground. Like Jonbon, his best race may now be behind him, and very recently in his case, just failing to win a classic of a King George at Christmas. As for Cheltenham, he failed to stay in the Gold Cup last year and it was much too soft for him in this the year before. Place prospects this time on decent ground but if the forecast afternoon rain arrives he might be a non-runner and re-route to Aintree.
We'd not seen Impaire Et Passe for most of a year before he showed up at Gowran Park less than a month ago to get it done in the G2 Red Mills Chase. Entitled to step forward notably for that - assuming this doesn't come too soon - he is a second season chaser with upside and brings proper Grade 1 novice form to the disco; nevertheless, he has a stone or so to find with FtF on form in the book.
Henry runs Heart Wood, a horse that has - for me at least - gone under the radar a little bit. He got closest, albeit not very close (9L), to Fact To File in last year's Ryanair, and has won a brace of Grade 3's from three starts this term. In between that pair he was a reasonable fourth to Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File in that ding dong Durkan. His best runs on RPR's have been on better ground and so I can see the case for him again hitting the frame; but he's a fairly unsexy proposition all told.
Ryanair Chase Recent Winners
Ryanair Chase Pace Map
Looking like a decent even to strong gallop, and no excuses all round.
Ryanair Chase 2026 Pace Map
Ryanair Chase Selection
This is all about Fact To File, who towers over his field - and all fields - on numbers. It would have to go wrong for him not to win and he's as close to a banker as you can get at Cheltenham (which, of course, is not all that close - this does not constitute financial advice!)
Suggestion: Back Fact To File, or just watch and hope he shows how good he is.
Matt's Tix Pix: Fact to File is pretty much a banker but I want a little bit of small percentage coverage elsewhere in case of dramas.
When I went through the pre-New Year qualifying races, I landed on ELECTRIC MASON as the one I had my eye on for the Final and I'm going to stick with that one as my main selection.
He ran second in the very first qualifier of the season at Cheltenham, before reversing the form with the winner next time out in a Grade 3 at Haydock. The form of that Haydock win now looks outstanding with the runner up finishing 3rd in another Grade 3 handicap, the 3rd, 4th and 6th all winning since and the 5th running 2nd in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle on New Years Day. The 33/1 10th won at Cheltenham next time out as did the 12th who then followed up in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham Trials Day. Even the 50/1 11th home managed to win a class 2 handicap at Musselburgh on his next start.
He hasn't run since Haydock, in an effort to protect his handicap mark, but he has a decent record coming off a break of 90 days+ of 3-1-2-2 and 4 winners since 2011 have used the same tactic of having a break of at least 60 days before coming to Cheltenham.
With 13 of the last 14 winners being aged 8 or under, 11 of the last 14 winners finishing top 4 last time out and all of the last 14 winners carrying 10-09+ he ticks all those boxes and his current 139 rating is perfect (11 of the last 13 winners were rated 138+ with 8 winners this century rated 138-140).
He has the form, he has a cracking Trends profile, he has course form from earlier in the season and goes on the ground. All in all he looks to offer excellent each way value.
Pertemps Final Recent Winners
Pertemps Final Pace Map
Pertemps Final Selection
Suggestion: Electric Mason 1 point e/w
Matt's Tix Pix:More scattergunning in a race where I never have a clue
5.20 Kim Muir Challenge Cup Chase (Class 2 Handicap, 3m2f)
Previewed by Dave Renham.
For a Cheltenham festival race, I would not class this as a strong one for past trends. However, here are the strongest considerations:- 9 of the last 18 winners have come from the top three in the betting
- 10 of the last 18 winners were priced between 2/1 and 11/2 LTO
- 13 of the last 18 winners failed to win earlier that season
- The top two in the weights (inc. joints) have won 6 races from only 44 qualifiers with a further 8 being placed
- Horses that either won LTO or were beaten by 3 lengths or less have a poor record with just 2 wins from 103 runners.
For my run style the stats, I am again focusing on the last 10 renewals. These races have seen a huge number of runners racing mid division or held up near or at the back. A total of 78% of all runners have had either of those two run styles. Eight of the ten winners (80%) have won from a mid-div or held up sit, so essentially for winners, there has been little in it run style wise. However, it should be noted that, although front runners have won just once, seven have been placed (PRB 0.67).
On to some of the contenders now.
Jeriko Du Reponet - Was an excellent second in the Pertemps last year here and followed that up with a smooth win at the Punchestown festival in May. Clearly a talented hurdler, he has not impressed in his three chase runs this year with his jumping, so for some it might seem strange that he has been backed into such a short price. If he brushes up his jumping, he may just have too much class for this field, but it’s a big if. He’s owned by JP McManus, who has a good recent record (three wins and four places in the last ten years). Derek O’Connor rides which suggests that the horse is well fancied.
Waterford Whispers - Another JP owned horse, this time trained in Ireland by Henry De Bromhead. Ran an eye-catching race last time at Leopardstown when third and that was his best effort over fences to date.
Weveallbeencaught - Fourth in this race last year when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. Now with Eric McNamara and he started the year with two decent runs at Listowel and Limerick. Possibly was disadvantaged last time out when seemingly racing on the wrong part of the track. Looks an each way player to me.
Sandor Clegane - He has previously run three times at the Festival, coming third in the Albert Bartlett, fourth in the Brown Advisory, a race in which he was upsides Fact to File at the last, and a decent 10th in the Coral Cup last year when only five lengths off a place. Trainer Paul Nolan’s place stats at the Festival, since 2018, are the best of any trainer (40% thanks to 10 win/placed runners from 25). Backing all 25 runners to the Betfair Place would have yielded huge returns of around 85p in the £. Recent form has offered little real encouragement, but off a mark of 138, he is thrown in if getting close to that run in the Brown Advisory. He is a big price due to his recent form, but Cheltenham does seem to bring out the best in him.
Ask Brewster - This is his time of year, having raced three times in the Spring, winning every time including at Cheltenham last April. The better the ground the better his chance as all four chase wins have been on good or quicker.
Kim Muir Recent Winners
Kim Muir Pace Map
Kim Muir Selection
To conclude, Jeriko Du Reponet could just have too much class, but at around 4-1 the price looks far too tight, despite the positive past record of horses near the head of the betting. Waterford Whispers is also 4-1, but in a 26 runner race I can’t convince myself this is value either. I prefer to have three against the field in such a big field.
Suggestion: Split your stakes on Weveallbeencaught, Ask Brewster, Sandor Clegane.
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And that's us three-quarters of the way home. Hopefully you've had a couple of good draws already; if not, fear not for Gold Cup day will follow. But let's enjoy Thursday's sport first!
Good luck
Matt
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/275616468-scaled.jpg12802560Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2026-03-11 17:13:422026-03-11 17:13:42Cheltenham Festival 2026: Day 3 Preview, Trends, Tips
Cheltenham Festival 2026: Day Two Preview, Trends, Tips
We're onto Wednesday, the second quarter and the second of two days on the Old course at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Seven more brainteasers, seven more invitations to the most coveted roll of honour in the sport. Let's proceed with haste to...
1.20 Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m5f)
Previewed by Matt Bisogno.
We kick off a day of big fields with the largest assembly for the Turners since 2002 when Galileo (not that one) prevailed ahead of 26 rivals. 'Only' 22 this time, and it bears remembering that Galileo was a 12/1 fifth choice in the betting. When the field has been 15 runners or more, winners returned 8/1, 14/1, 6/4, 2/1, 7/1, 7/1, 20/1, 17/2, 17/2, 12/1, 6/1, and 12/1 since 2000. All bar the 20/1 winner Massinis Maguire came from the top five in the betting. So, we don't want to get too cute but there might be some value for an each way play...
The favourite as I write is the Paul Nicholls-trained No Drama This End, impressive winner of his three novice hurdles including over course and distance. His unbeaten timber-topping trio are comprised of two Grade 2's and a Grade 1, the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in late December. That was considered a Turners buster until The New Lion won both contests last season and laid that particular stat quirk to rest... for the time being at least.
Still, it bears saying that the respective tests of a small field contest at Newbury and a cavalry charge around Cheltenham are quite different. Indeed, NDTE has yet to win in a bigger field than the eleven lesser mortals he brushed aside on his bumper debut; he was then no better than midfield when a 12/1 chance in last season's Champion Bumper. I really like this horse and have backed him ante post at a similar quote to his current odds, but I didn't expect there to be so many challengers.
It might be that this is a race characterised by quality over quantity, of course, and if that is the case, it will be fun to watch a delighted Nicholls lead his lad back in. For that reason alone, I hope he wins.
The DRF Grade 1 Novice Hurdle won by Talk The Talk provides the liveliest threats - according to the market at least. We'll have a handle on this form line after Tuesday's Supreme, when the winner runs, but this does look the right race for both Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey. Ballyfad was just out pointed bt TTT in a slowly run race where he had the run of things on the front end; it might be that this stronger stamina test will play to his strengths: he'd previously made all to batter Leader d'Allier (also Supreme bound) ten lengths in a maiden hurdle. But he doesn't need to lead; both bumper wins were from a less prominent early position. He brings solid G1 form from a key race to the table.
So too, just behind him that day, does King Rasko Grey. Placed in consecutive renewals of the Goffs Land Rover sales race - fourth and then second - he won his maiden without fuss at Christmas (2nd, 4th and 5th all won next time, 3rd unraced since) before taking bronze at DRF. The choice of jockey Paul Townend, he's a prominent racer with plenty of upside and, like Ballyfad, probably wasn't suited by the steady tempo last time. There's little between the pair on that run.
Sober has been a talking horse on the preview circuit. Trained, like KRG, by Willie Mullins Sober's form is hard to weight up: he has won four in a row, two novice hurdles and two conditions races on the flat. One of the novices was a three-runner Grade 2 which revealed little and from which none of the trio has tested the level of the form. The other novice win was in May in a five runner race at Killarney. No, me neither. Perhaps he is best judged then on the basis of the intervening win on the level at Ascot - yes, Royal Ascot - in the Queen Alexandra Stakes over 2m6f. Although there were only nine runners there, as the image below shows (from our new sectionals display - coming soon!) he produced an electric gear change in the final stages to win by an easy five lengths. They didn't go quick there but nor did they go slow - this guy does have a high cruising speed, and quick ground is probably what he needs.
Jack Kennedy has opted for Ballyfad but it must have been a tough choice to jump off Skylight Hustle. Second to Thedeviluno (subsequent G2 scorer and one of the favourites for Friday's Albert Bartlett) on hurdling debut, he then won a 24 runner maiden hurdle by... counts them... 21 lengths! Confirming the viusal impression there, he rolled on to the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) at Leopardstown at Christmas and put five lengths between himself and the runner up. His best form - that run - was on a soundish surface and his versatile run style profile is a positive. He's another player though that G1 is not normally the strongest pointer to the Turner's.
A third string to Willie's bow is Sortudo, who I thought might run in Friday's longer novice race (and who I backed accordingly, sigh). He was beaten by the fairytale horse I'll Sort That, more momentarily, in a Grade 1 at Naas formerly known as the Lawlor's of Naas. That's been a good pointer to this, with the likes of Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger doubling up.
The winner I'll Sort That looks over-priced in his bid to emulate those two top notchers, perhaps mainly because he's ridden by his owner and trainer, Declan Queally. In fairness, Queally would probably readily concede that he's no Ruby Walsh - who is? - but that hasn't stopped him racking up a sequence of four hurdle wins culminating in that top tier pot. I'll Sort That often leads in his races but I don't think he absolutely has to - was prominent when winning a Galway novice - and he does look a smidge of value. It will be one of the stories of the week if Queally - who is an excellent trainer, by the way - comes home in front.
One other I need to mention, and only because I had a good bet on him in the wrong race, is Riskaway. He was fourth in the 2m6f Nathaniel Lacy at DRF and, to be fair, he did run like a non-stayer there. He might not be quick enough or good enough for this, but I'm pretty sure this is his ground and I do expect him to run a lot better than a 66/1 shot.
Turners Novices' Hurdle Recent Winners
Turners Novices' Hurdle Pace Map
A few different pace angles, so it could be hard fought early or just one or two take them along. An even to strong tempo looks most likely though far from certain.
Turners 2026 Pace Map
Turners Novices' Hurdle Selection
Suggestion: It's a wide open race as 5/1 the field implies. And I don't really have a strong view in a contest where most of them are capable of better. At the prices, I think I'll Sort That might be the value. Yes, his jockey is the least experienced in the race; but his form is pretty solid, including that key race G1 score last time (where he beat many of the same riders, and where there were 15 lengths back to the third). He shouldn't be nearly 20/1, should he?
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2.00 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1, 3m)
Previewed by Rory Delargy.
The Brown Advisory market had a significant shake-up when Final Demand was turned over by Kaid d’Authie in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the DRF. The former was a warm favourite for this at that point, but now has his air of invincibility pricked.
I thought the real eye-catcher in that contest was WESTERN FOLD, who looked in need of the run after a three-month break and shaped really well on ground softer than ideal, with Jack Kennedy only getting serious enough with him to ward off the attention of the stewards. He has shown his best form on good or yielding ground and the return to spring ground will be a big help. He’s also got form against established chasers, which has earned him a rock-solid official rating of 157.
To put that in perspective, here are the Irish handicapper’s ratings for the main Irish runners:
Kaid d’Authie 158
Western Fold 157
Romeo Coolio 157
Final Demand 156
Kitzbuhel 153
Oscars Brother 151
Koktail Divin 149
The Big Westerner 144 (+7 mares’ allowance)
By contrast, the leading UK runners have the following ratings:
Salver 149
Wendigo 147
Both Salver and Wendigo have been well tipped up at previews, but face a stiff task even to place according to those figures, which I don’t have much truck with. I will point out that stamina counts for something here and that neither Romeo Coolio nor Kaid d’Authie are proven at even a bare three miles, and neither is Final Demand, for that matter. Romeo Coolio also wears a hood to help preserve his stamina and it’s clear that connections are ruing the loss of the Turners (Golden Miller) Chase here as his optimum trip is probably 2.5m.
Western Fold won the Mayo National over an extended 2m7f and won over that trip over hurdles. His only run over a full 3m over fences ended in defeat, but finishing third behind Envoi Allen and Affordale Fury at Down Royal was a smart effort, and he was just a length and a half behind the latter there, having beaten the same rival at Gowran Park on his previous start.
Affordale Fury then went on to beat I Am Maximus and Galopin des Champs in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown, underlining the strength of the form. He ran off a mark of 148 when a clear-cut winner of the Galway Plate and his current rating cannot be questioned.
Brown Advisory Chase Recent Winners
Brown Advisory Chase Pace Map
Brown Advisory Chase Selection
The main argument against Western Fold is that he’s more exposed than his rivals, but his experience will - in my view - stand him in good stead in a big field. Whereas some of his rivals have a bit to prove in such a competitive environment, for all a couple are open to further progress. Others will point out that the fact his trainer has switched Romeo Coolio from the Arkle, with Jack Kennedy riding, showing that he’s much better fancied than Western Fold. Sure, Romeo, as befits the name, is the sexier of the two, but sexiness doesn’t win races. The subsequent drift on the battle-hardened Western Fold makes him a really attractive each-way bet in a race that will suit him. Danny Gilligan will do for me!
I was dealt a bit of an early blow with the BetMGM Cup on Monday morning when my ante-post fancy, Double Powerful, failed to make the cut. Oh, if only Conor O’Farrell had finished fourth in that Musselburgh Pertemps Qualifier and not fifth. Might have saved a lot of heartache this week. Anyway, thank the punting gods for NRMB, nothing lost as yet.
I think we're best starting at the top here, with Gordon Elliott and The Yellow Clay, who is going to be wearing some cheekpieces for the first time. The compressed nature of Cheltenham handicaps these days means we’ve seen genuine Grade 1 horses, when dropped into handicaps, having to give far less weight away to those at the foot of the handicap, as is the case here; 17lb covers the lot of ‘em.
Wind the clock back twelve months and we’ll find The Yellow Clay being beaten three-quarters of a length by The New Lion in the Turners, and you don’t need telling that is quality form. It might look even better come about 4.10 on Tuesday. This season, his two starts have all been about keeping him ticking over, and having missed the DRF (not a bad thing when looking for the winner of this in my book) he comes here a fresh horse.
Spare a thought for Ballyadam. Here’s a horse with a Festival record that most racehorses would give their right leg for (one of them, anyway) - 25523, and that includes a third in this race last year. Now aged 11, which most of the stats for this race will tell you is too old, and a pound higher than last year, too, the handicapper has hardly done him any favours and yet only a fool wouldn’t look twice with a record such as that. He warmed up for this with a spin on the Flat at Dundalk last month, and a nice spin it was too, finishing a close third. Both he and The Yellow Clay will be claimer-ridden to reduce the burden, and my heart is telling me an each-way bet on Ballyadam, with the extra places of course, is going to have to take place. Stats, on this occasion, can take a back seat. There won’t be a dry eye in the house if he wins.
There’s another grizzled Festival veteran in the shape of Colonel Mustard to consider too. He was fifth in this last year and he does have a victory over The Yellow Clay this season to crow about. That came in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle back in November and two starts since then, whilst not seeing him at his best, have probably been under unfavourable conditions, with either trip or ground against him. He’ll probably need more than the rope and the candlestick to come out on top but the 33s is luring me in as far as the places go.
Iberico Lord ticks a lot of boxes for this - JP McManus, NIcky Henderson, French bred - but at 10-1 he’s hardly a dark one. He does have a Cheltenham win to his name but that aside, his efforts here are mixed, to say the least. I can swerve him at the price.
There’s very little at the foot of the handicap making any appeal, but Forty Coats might be worth a second look. His form as a novice was pretty decent, and that all culminated in a fifteen-length fourth to The New Lion in the Turners here last March. Two efforts this season have left a bit to be desired, in truth, and an odds-on defeat at Thurles last time was hardly what you’d want to see, so you are relying on the first-time cheekpieces to have a galvanizing effect, along with some De Bromhead magic and a return to Cheltenham. A mark of 138 is fair IF he can.
3.20 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country, Class 2, 3m6f)
Previewed by Gavin Priestley.
The race switched from a handicap to a non handicap in 2016 but now reverts back to a handicap. The Irish have dominated this race since its inception and I don't see that dominance ending this year as they head to Cheltenham with a formidable challenge.
The winner of the recent Cheltenham Cross Country Race was the Gordon Elliot trained Favouri De Champdou, who would have a very decent chance on the evidence of that recent win. As would The Goffer, also trained by Gordon Elliot, who was runner up to Vanillier last time out.
Last year's winner Stumptown is trained by Gavin Cromwell and warmed up for this with a win in the Czech Pardubice, a race that makes this look tame in comparison. He's currently joint favourite, but he's carrying top weight here and is 5lb higher than last year. He loves this type of race, and despite his weight, is another that is highly respected.
However, I just prefer the chances of his 11yo stablemate, VANILLIER, who finished an excellent 3rd in this race last year. That’s despite nearly taking the wrong course at the 3rd fence, the canal turn, before staying on very strongly from the last.
He's 6lb lower in the ratings than last year, and won last time out in the same Punchestown Bank Chase he had won last season. That's usually a good pointer to this race and he looks to have a lot going for him again this time around. He looks a great value each way bet with 4 places on offer.
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Recent Winners
*Handicap up to 2015, conditions race 2016-2024, reverted to a handicap in 2025. Abandoned in 2024.
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Pace Map
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Selection
Suggestion: Vanillier 1 point e/w
Matt's Tix Pix: Favori mainly with a few smaller plays as well
A race shorn of a large chunk of its appeal with the news last week that reigning champ Marine Nationale will miss the gig. He'd been my idea of the value against Majborough, the better ground expected to play much more to his strengths. Anyway, that's all by the by...
Majborough then is a strong favourite in MN's absence, and deservedly so after his romp in the Dublin Chase where he had most of twenty lengths back to Marine Nationale et al. His Cheltenham form is good, having won the Triumph Hurdle in 2024 before being the moral winner of the Arkle last season. I say moral winner, because he was only third - beaten a length - having left a deep impression in the second last through which he walked, causing him to massively decelerate.
But therein might lie Majborough's Achilles heel: he can be a clumsy leaper. That was by no means his first mistake in the Arkle, though to give him his dues he's been much better this season, and was foot perfect last time out at DRF. He brings unarguably the strongest form and is easily the most likely winner. A look at the trends below, however, provides sobering reading for bridge jumpers: six winning jollies since 2009 (17 years) doesn't sound so bad until you consider that Jonbon was 2nd at 5/6 last year, El Fabiolo pulled up at 2/9 the year before, Shishkin was pulled up at 5/6, Chacun Pour Soi was 3rd at 8/13, Defi Du Seuil was 4th at 2/5, Douvan was 7th at 2/9, Un De Sceaux was 2nd at 4/6, Sizing Europe was 2nd at 4/5, and Master Minded was 4th at 4/5. Jeez!
As if that wasn't bad enough, prior to 2009, Well Chief fell at evens, Moscow Flyer unseated at 5/6, and Flagship Uberalles was only 3rd at 11/10.
Still want to bet Majborough at odds on?! Good luck, you'll be on the best horse but that often hasn't been enough to get you paid...
I'm currently incubating a theory that Maj's jumping is better on softer ground because he's moving at a slower tempo. That could be rank quackery, of course, but if it's right he's going to come under much more pressure with a number of other forward racers in the field. I just cannot bet him at odds on for all that he towers over his field form wise, like many beaten QMCC favs before him did.
So where to, then? Second favourites (and joint-/co-second choices) have won ten times since 1997 and, given the price of a number of the beaten jollies, they've often been sent off at each way prices. Marine Nationale last year was 5/1, Put The Kettle On was 17/2, Politologue was 6/1, and Sprinter Sacre was somehow 5/1 when Un De Sceaux was 4/6 (I'm sure it made a lot of sense at the time). As well as those winners, Sizing Europe was a 6/1 2nd, Kalahari King was 9/2 3rd, and two of the 12/1 co-second favourites of three behind 4/11 Master Minded filled out the places in 2009.
My problem is that I cannot possibly back L'Eau du Sud at about 4/1. It just looks completely wrong. He had seemingly no excuses when not only behind Majborough, but also Only By Night, in the Arkle last year, and he was beaten 18 lengths by Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek in December. What am I missing?
Yes, I know he won the Schlurrrr Chase by 15 lengths from Jonbon but you're literally mad if you take that as literal form, and even if you did you'd need to factor in Jonbon's probable regression this season. There's just no way for me that L'Eau du Sud is a 165+ horse, and if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Lay.
Il Etait Temps is a different proposition entirely. Of course it's suboptimal arriving at Cheltenham off the back of a tired fall when beaten but he's a bona fide Grade 1 horse, whereas the L'EdS is not - not yet at least. Martha's Son overcame a fall prior to winning the QMCC, albeit that was in 1997, and both Big Zeb and Moscow Flyer took risks at their fences. More materially, that was an uncharacteristic error from a normally safe jumper.
Still, it remains the case that the top of the market doesn't particularly stand close inspection (bar Majborough - it's not his fault that other shorties got beaten). It is also true that nothing bigger than 11/1 has won the Champion Chase since Newmill caused the upset in 2006; so we don't want to be getting too cute, in all probability.
Who next? Quilixios was booked for second at a big price in this last year (yes, I backed him) when falling at the final fence, but he's not been seen since. He goes well fresh, and not even Willie can match Henry de Bromhead's four Queen Mother's, but it's a stretch to imagine he'd be fit enough to take the spoils. It is, isn't?!
I thought Found A Fifty would have a bit of a place chance, too, but that was before Gordon ran him at Navan 11 days ago: he was last of four on heavy ground. Did he need the run? :-/
Irish Panther is one at which to take a second glance. Not without his supporters for the Arkle, connections have gone for it by running in the main event and, to be fair, I can sort of see why. Bar Majborough it looks a race full of if's and but's so sure, why not? He has more scope to improve than most, and he will need to improve to the tune of ten pounds to hit the board.
Third last year was the former champ, Captain Guinness, but he was beaten 20 lengths and would have been fourth but for Quilixios's exit at the last. I know his best form is at Cheltenham but aged eleven now, his best form is also surely behind him.
Even in a shallow looking renewal, I can't really make a case while keeping a straight face for any of Libberty Hunter, Saint Segal or Brookie.
Champion Chase Recent Winners
Champion Chase Pace Map
This looks pacy, Quilixios unlikely to get a solo with Irish Panther in the field. Saint Segal and Majborough also tend to go forward though neither needs to. There will be at least place pieces to be picked up by someone...
Queen Mother Champion Chase 2026 Pace Map
Champion Chase Selection
Majborough has outstanding claims if jumping around cleanly. But the record of short-priced favourites in the QMCC makes such a play a bit of a knee trembler. Il Etait Temps is far from a safe alternative, that last run a shocker even before the tumble; but the balance of his form is a) winning, b) in Grade 1 company, and c) on this sort of ground. On ratings, he is 2lb behind Maj and 8lb+ in front of everything else. He rates an e/w play.
Suggestion: Back Il Etait Temps each way at 5/1. And if/when the bookies push Majborough out to evens, bet him to win!
Matt's Tix Pix: Majborough on A, Il Etait Temps on B.
4.40 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 2m)
Previewed by Dave Renham.
This would not be the strongest race at the meeting for past trends in my opinion, but here are what I perceive to be the key ones (last 18 years):
- Irish trainers are 7 from 87 (8%), whilst British trainers are 11 from 274 (4%).
- Winners have been a real mix of prices so difficult to rule out a horse on price.
- Horses that had previously raced twice or more at Cheltenham have won 14 of the last 18 renewals (77.8%). This group has accounted for just 55% of the total runners.
- Horses that have raced once or fewer at Cheltenham previously have combined to win just 4 races from 149 qualifiers for huge BSP losses of £92.62 (ROI -62.2%).
- Horses that have previously won at Cheltenham have won 8 renewals from 103 runners (7.8%) with those without a course win with just 10 victories from 258 runners (3.9%).
- Horses that finished 8th or worse LTO, but completed the course, have won 5 times from just 31 qualifiers.
- Not much in the age stats as far as wins go, but in the placed market those aged 5 to 8 have outperformed those aged 9 and older (22.7% v 15.3%).
A look at run style stats now. As with yesterday I am looking at the past ten renewals:
It seems that horses held up early have been at a significant disadvantage.
Let me now share my shortlist of runners:
Vanderpoel - Ben Pauling is one of my favourite jumps trainers and he had the winner of this race in 2022. This 7yo has won the last twice and has gone up a total of 15lbs as a result. I personally think he is 2lbs/3lbs below his true mark, so for me he is a real contender. He should track the pace, which is my preferred run style for this race. Ben Pauling thinks the horse is ‘tailor made’ for this race. My one slight negative is that he seems to have run far better on right-handed tracks than left in his career to date, albeit from a limited sample.
Inthepocket - He was a top-notch hurdler winning the Grade 1 Top Novice’s Hurdle at Aintree back in 2023. His chase career has been a bit hit and miss, but his last run showed glimmers of promise when fifth in the Barberstown Castle Handicap at Leopardstown. He’s a decent jumper which should help in this type of contest. Trainer Henry De Bromhead knows how to win at this meeting, and he has been fairly strong in the market. He‘s not won at Cheltenham but was a decent fourth in the Supreme back in 2023. Also, his likely run style should suit this contest.
Be Aware - The Skeltons won this in 2024 and Be Aware seems to have been their long-term target for this race. The 7yo won first time up this year and has since finished runner up three times on the spin. One of those 2nds was in the Henry VIII Novice Chase at Sandown, so he definitely has a touch of class about him. Another positive is that he has finished second twice at Cheltenham from three starts. One to seriously consider.
Ryan’s Rocket - Two starts back he won really well at Newbur,y when he travelled really strongly in a race where a very strong pace was set by Javert Allen. A little concerning that he has unseated twice either side of that run, but if he stands up, he will be there or thereabouts.
Personal Ambition - The second string from the Ben Pauling stable but not without a squeak. I managed to get 130.0 on Betfair for a couple of quid on Sunday which I am happy enough with.
Grand Annual Recent Winners
Grand Annual Pace Map
Grand Annual Selection
This a really open race and I could make a fair case for some others including Ballysax Hank, Release the Beast and last year’s winner Jazzy Matty.
I would not put anyone off backing either Be Aware or Ryan’s Rocket, and I will be sticking both in my Placepot. However, I will be splitting stakes on one Irish and one British runner namely, Inthepocket and Vanderpoel.
Suggestions: Split stakes on Inthepocket and Vanderpoel.
We'll all know more by about 5.30, so what follows is a small bit of attempting to nail jelly to a wall. What we can say is that Willie wins with wegulawity, and not always with the fancied one. Indeed, he's laid claim to six of the last eight Champion Bumpers, and only once with the market leader. Since 2012, Mullins has saddled winners at 25/1 twice, 16/1 and 11/1, as well as less sexy 9/2, 4/1, 85/40, and 15/8.
He is again well represented, of course, the market settling on Love Sign d'Aunou, a son of Goliath du Berlais and an easy peasy all the way winner of a 2m3f Naas bumper on heavy ground. I'm not sure that's the speed test he'll get here, although stamina is typically an abundant requirement, too. What is noteworthy is that Mullins used the same race as the springboard for Jasmin de Vaux's 2024 Champion Bumper win as well as the good runs of Seabank Bistro (4th) and Western Diego (7th). In the land of the guessers I can definitely see the case made for LSd'A.
The Navan bumper won by The Irish Avatar was also won by fancied Cheltenham Bumper runners It's For Me, Three Stripe Life and Eskylane, all of which ran well without making the frame.
One of the features of Willie's bigger priced winners is that they'd tended by winners of their sole start under Rules. Going back to Alexander Banquet (9/1) in 1998, Joe Cullen was 14/1, Cousin Vinny 12/1, and 25/1 Briar Hill. All brought a single run, and win, to the Cheltenham party. This year, Love Sign, the Avatar and Quiryn are all once raced, as is Our Trigger.
The master of Closutton may be focusing less on bumpers than historically. Here's a chart of his percentage of rivals beaten, by Irish season:
It was notable that Mullins had just one runner in the two DRF bumpers, a mare sent off 10/3 and which finished almost last. Did he think they'd have too hard a race less than six weeks out?
In contrast and in his absence, Gordon swept the podium in the open G2, Broadway Ted just getting the better of With Nolimit, Charismatic Kid back in third. But Elliott's main hope appears to be Keep Him Company, two from two and unsighted since the tail end of December. He won a Leopardstown bumper that day, another in which Willie was notably unrepresented. What's going on with Willie's bumper runners this season? Maybe a change of approach, or something and nothing? Or something and something? I don't know...
An interesting one, and not normally my cup of tea at all, is Mets Ta Ceinture. As a four-year-old filly she gets a stack of weight - 17lb to be exact - from the older boys and, while there are well established reasons for those age and gender concessions, she was impressive when beating all bar the hat-trick seeking Mondialito d'Huez in a Grade 2 NHF at Saint-Cloud. She'd previously won a Le Mans bumper (no, me neither) and, after that taking G2 run she scored in a 1m4f G3 bumper before changing hands at the Arqana Autumn sale for, wait for it, €710,000. Those 'Graded' races were for AQPS horses only and that does cool the warm feeling a little, and the fact that the second has been beaten in her last six starts (and the third ran out of the frame since) further diminishes it. Seven hundred grand is a lot of money, even in euros...
It's been a while since a British-trained horse won this - ten years in fact, when Ballyandy gave the Twiston-Davies family a red letter day. Moon Racer had won for David Pipe the previous year, Messrs Hobbs and Tizzard bagged one each in 2010/11. Maybe this is 'our' year? If it is, Bass Hunter, twice a winner and unbeaten, will be high on the list of possibles. Favoured on both starts, he's clearly well regarded by Chris Gordon and has yet to disappoint, winning a Newbury bumper on debut by eight easy lengths and then an Ascot Listed event by a length, somewhat geared down. The second and fourth from the Ascot race have been whacked since which tempers enthusiasm.
One more I need to mention is Moonverrin, winner of the same DRF G2 mares' bumper as Bambino Fever and Relegate. Second on her debut, she was a ready winner at Cork on her next start but was sent off 20/1 in this field of nine. She ran a remarkable race, switched off at the back before cantering to the lead; as soon as she hit the front she rolled sideways in the final furlong allowing another mare to seemingly win the race - only for the jockey on that one to stop riding and get chinned by the re-rallying Moonverrin!
It could readily be argued that it was poetic justice and it would be hard to deny that the best horse didn't win the race. But the Willie filly (mare actually) ran like stink and the Gordon entry pulled up. There's a good chance the form is not worth much, but she's a big price: what odds would she be if trained by one of the usual suspects rather than Martin Hassett?
Noel Meade has booked crack flat jockey Colin Keane to ride The Mourne Rambler. He won his bumper well on St Stephen's Day and had run in a point before that, so has a little more experience; but I can't see a flat jockey on the roll of honour and a fair few have tried. I heard someone say the other day, "There's a reason flat jockeys tend to only ride once in the Champion Bumper", and that's a fair point. Something must put them off - maybe it's harder than they think!
A first runner in the bumper for Martin Brassil is It's Only A Game and he's been shrewd enough with those he's saddled at the Festival. City Island won in 2019 and Brassil has since enjoyed/endured three runner up spots; he's only saddled 14 runners. IOAG was fourth behind Broadway Ted et al at DRF, held up before flattening out in the final furlong. He was only a bit more than three lengths from winning there, and this gorgeously bred (by Goliath du Berlais out of a Martaline mare) and expensive (€160,000 3yo store) gelding may appreciate better ground. So, too, might many in the field!
Champion Bumper Recent Winners
Champion Bumper Pace Map
Pinch of salt pace map...
Champion Bumper 2026 Pace Map
Champion Bumper selection
I'm not going to pretend I have any idea what wins this. You might have half a chance if splitting a quid between the two DRF winners, Broadway Ted and Moonverrin. Both are attractive prices, both have strong form in race where lots are priced on potential, and one of them has Cheltenham virgin Sean Bowen steering.
Suggestion: Split a small stake between Broadway Ted and Moonverrin, each way with extra places if you can get them. But, obviously, this is not a race to go mad in.
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And that's a wrap on Day 2. My thanks again to the five judges who have kindly shared their thoughts. Remember, the value game is not about a winner a race but a profit at the end of the year - let's hope also at the end of this week!
Good luck!
Matt
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jonbon_Kingmaker_Warwick2023.png319830Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2026-03-10 17:45:002026-03-10 17:45:00Cheltenham Festival 2026: Day Two Preview, Trends, Tips
So, here we are again. The 2026 Cheltenham Festival draws ever closer and, after a million preview nights and just as many horses tipped, we are now on the very cusp of getting answers to those thorny questions. Remember, first race is a 1.20pm kick off each day, moved last year from the traditional ten-minutes-later slot...
I'm delighted to again welcome some guest writers to help me with the thought processes - and also a guest editor so that, for the first time in 15 years or so, I can attend the Festival as a racegoer primarily. My star-studded line up consists of:
Rory Delargy, a man who has forgotten considerably more than I'll likely ever know about the winter game. Rory is a veritable encyclopedia of the sport and is one half of sportinglife's Racing Consultants as well as a regular correspondent for the Irish Field. He's a long-time friend of geegeez, having penned articles occasionally here for a decade and more.
David Massey is the other half of Racing Consultants and our very own 'Roving Reporter'. In his more recent Trackside guise, he attends most of the major meetings, casting an expert eye (two, actually) across the paddock looking for those that might be better, or worse, than the market suggests.
Dave Renham is our resident number-cruncher-in-chief, ever in search of a tasty data morsel or three. You'll know him well already, and it's great to have him on Festival duty.
Gavin Priestley is a former bookmaker and head of FestivalTrends.co.uk, a site dedicated to, erm, using trends to find winners at Festivals...!
They are all extremely welcome back to geegeez.
The eagle-eyed will have spotted that they are collectively four, and that there are seven races daily. I'm afraid that leaves you with my thoughts for the remaining three races daily. Every silver lining has a cloud!
Also, a quick reminder about our Tix competition where you canwin £100 each day.
The person who gets the highest odds winning ticket wins.
Minimum total daily stake £5 to qualify.
That means it's a level playing field for smaller and larger stakes players so everyone has the same chance of winning.Tix is here.
1.20 Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m 1/2f)
Previewed by Matt Bisogno.
The roar of the crowd. The excitement palpable. Jumpers for goalposts, hmm? Yes it's a little trite but that collective exhortation as the tapes rise really is a thing, and a wonderful one at that. We're off for the first of 28 top class equine ding-dongs. As Lesley Phillips might have said, ding dong indeed!
To business, and the Supreme score since 2013 is Willie Mullins 6, Nicky Henderson 3, Rest of Ireland 3, Rest of UK 1. And here we have a Nicky and Willie show to kick off a day where that's a pretty strong theme. Fittingly enough, they top the market, Henderson's Old Park Star pursued closely by Mullins' Mighty Park.
Old Park Star transferred from the Ditcheat base of Paul Nicholls to Lambourn last summer, since when he's unbeaten in three widening verdicts, the most recent brace of which were a dozen length almost course and distance score and an 18 length margin in the Grade 2 Rossington Main. That form is very clearly the pick of the domestic crop, and he sets a high bar for his Irish rivals to clear. Naturally enough, he may be capable of better yet. One point worth noting is his tendency to lead in his races; not since Champagne Fever and Vautour went back to back trap to line in 2014/15 has that run style succeeded. He did come from further back on his hurdling debut so is presumably not wedded to the front.
Mighty Park will try to give a perfect start to Willie, Irish punters, and JP McManus. As runner up in a maiden point and facile (38 lengths!) scorer in a maiden hurdle, his level of ability is pretty hard to peg. Good, obviously, but how good? Who honestly knows? He got a bumper RPR for that performance but a workaday Topspeed figure, and that is a snappy little vignette of what we're grappling with here. The visual romanticists are foaming at the mouth, the cold data hearts unmoved. Either could be right and, in the end, the price makes the play... or, in this case and for this scribe, doesn't. I doubt a horse has won a Supreme off a single hurdle start in living memory, though I don't know for sure. All that said, it's fair to assume that Willie's 'A' pick for the Supreme has a rare level of talent; whether he's streetwise enough to bring all of it in a cauldron like this is extremely moot.
Much more battle hardened is Talk The Talk, representing Joseph O'Brien and the Double Green of Munir/Souede (it's never Souede/Munir, is it? I wonder how Isaac feels about that...). After a prat fall at the last when announcing himself on the big stage in a Grade 1 at Christmas, he confirmed the impression of that day when mishap-free at the same venue and in the same grade at DRF. To win from where he did in a very steadily run affair was a very taking effort and this tactically versatile five-year-old looks to have a terrific gear change allied to a high cruising speed. That's usually the combination to unlock the Supreme, and he looks a serious player.
Another to take a dive and one I'm yet to warm to is El Cairos. It was a soft enough fall on St Stephen's Day at Leopardstown, but I'm less inclined to forgive his near reprisal at the last at Thurles five weeks later. Post race, jockey Jack Kennedy was full of remorse and deflected blame from his mount to himself; but good hurdlers deal with such situations better than El C did. His bumper form - fifth in the Champion Bumper at last year's Festival and second in a Punchestown Festival equivalent - shows him to be high class, though there's nothing to jump in bumpers. Not really for me.
There was no obvious reason to my eye why Mydaddypaddy should have been a shorter price than Idaho Sun, the latter a comfy enough victor over the former in the G1 Formby. Alas Harry Fry's hope misses the Festival with a niggle. I still don't like Skelton's Mydaddypaddy who is in deeper here than at Liverpool that day and couldn't get that job done. He has a stone or so to find on RPR's with Old Park Star.
If there's to be a British winner of this which isn't Old Park Star, maybe it will be Sober Glory. Barring a very poor effort at Sandown, he's won his other five races including three over hurdles. His most recent success, sauntering away from the decent Kadastral by 27 lengths puts him in the picture. The niggle with this chap is that the one time he was beaten over hurdles - and well beaten - was when he didn't lead. He did score twice in bumpers from midfield, but it's a bit of a question nonetheless... though I didn't have that in mind when I backed him, twice, ante post!
The talking horse on the preview circuit has been Leader d'Allier, and the chat has got louder since Paul Townend elected to ride him. To be fair, Townend wouldn't have been eligible to ride JP's Mighty Park, and it must have been a straightforward pick over a 66/1 shot in Too Bossy For Us. Still, Leader d'Allier has done nothing more than win a maiden hurdle, having been second in one the time before. He did win an AQPS Grade 3 bumper in France last summer but who knows what level that is?
Going all the way back to 2009 the winner has been 12/1 or shorter on all bar one occasion, so it's very likely one of the above. The likes of Baron Noir (who actually beat El Cairos in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last spring), Eachtotheirown (last seen winning a handicap - not the prep ahead of Supreme glory) and the aforementioned Too Bossy For Us would be big shock winners. The first named could finish in the top five, though.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Recent Winners
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Pace Projection
This is nearly always run at a fast clip from the outset, and it might be that two horses vying for favouritism - Mighty Park and Old Park Star - also vie for the early lead. Sober Glory has also been front rank recently.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Selection
The best of British, for me, are Old Park Star (obvs!) and Sober Glory, while I think Talk The Talk has much the pick of the Irish form. Mighty Park was a wow in a nothing race and the Closutton vibes are strong (whatever that means). The winner of the novice races normally steps forward on known ability and that means a number of horses could win. The most likely winner is the favourite who fully deserves top market billing; but Talk The Talk looks the proverbial 'each way bet to nothing'.
Suggestion: Try Talk The Talk each way and in a forecast underneath Old Park Star.
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2.00 Arkle Challenge Chase (Grade 1, 2m)
Previewed by Matt Bisogno.
Perennially a small field but a high quality contest, the Arkle is a thrill a minute race where it usually pays to race handily. This year's even looks a match on paper between the well tested five-year-old Lulamba and his less experienced over fences older rival, Kopek Des Bordes. It also looks a match between Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins.
Henderson saddles Lulamba, mugged in last year's Triumph Hurdle before exacting revenge on his conqueror, Poniros, at Punchestown. This season (proper) he's run thrice over fences, winning by daylight each time. A beginners' chase success at Exeter was tarnished a touch by low sun meaning the omission of a number of the obstacles, but there was no decrying his facile score in a Sandown Grade 1 in early December; and he again raised his game when taking on and beating seasoned chasers in the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury.
On that latter occasion, he had to knuckle down in what were testing conditions; but knuckle down he did, looking stronger at the finish than at any point theretofore. Having won a hurdle race in France prior to heading to Lambourn, Lulamba is now six from seven, the only blemish being when Cheltenham chinning in the Triumph. As a prominent racer that doesn't need to lead, the race should be run perfectly to suit. A clear round gives him every chance of adding a sixth Arkle for Henderson since Sprinter Sacre in 2012. However, his jumping thus far has been quite novicey.
But this is no procession. Mullins, with six Arkles in the bag himself since 2015, will strive for a magnificent seven via Kopek Des Bordes, last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner. The roll of honour below attests to the historical advantage six- and seven-year-olds have had over younger or older adversaries. Indeed, we're back to Voy Por Ustedes in 2006 for the last winning five-year-old; he was following a then well-trodden path, with Well Chief (2004), Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Champleve (1998) all scoring for the kindergarten kids.
But how many five-year-olds have run in the race in recent years? Not many. Seven since 2018, to be precise. It should be noted that the septet includes the super-talented Majborough, who could only finish third of five as the 2-1 on favourite last year in that great finish. The mare Riviere d'Etel was beaten at 7/2, Haut En Couleurs at 6/1, Allmankind at 5/1, Fakir d'Oudairies at 3/1, and Saint Calvados at 11/4 - all since 2018. Hmm... the difference, in case you didn't know, is that prior to 2008 five-year-olds were in receipt of 5lb weight for age.
Returning to Kopek, he has his own question mark in the shape of a 113 day layoff and only the one run over fences. Only the Pipe pair of Well Chief and Western Warhorse have won the Arkle off a single prep - but that's two winners from only 14 to try since 1997, so hardly the knock it first appears for all that experience can only be beneficial. And that game mare Put The Kettle On defied a day longer layoff so there's precedent there, too. The horse himself won at both DRF and the Cheltenham Festival last season, and was likely over the top by the time he showed up at Punchestown: one drink too many. He'll be fresh as paint this time, which could present a challenge, and attempts to emulate Douvan, Altior and Shishkin as Supreme/Arkle winners on the opening day of successive Festivals. There's little between the top two, each with bags of class and ability, but each with a little bit to prove.
What of the rest? The mare Kargese is another to have won at last year's Festival, her County Hurdle score being the only handicap run of her career. She was a dual Grade 1 winner as a juvenile hurdler, at Leopardstown and Punchestown, and ran Sir Gino to three lengths in between times: in other words, she was a top class hurdler. Ignoring a moderate enough debut over fences (where she was bashed by Kala Conti), Kargese then won her beginners' chase - beating Lovely Hurling by a length more than did Kopek Des Bordes - before just failing to reel in Romeo Coolio in the G1 Irish Arkle at DRF. A feature of her season has been her efficient jumping and she definitely fits here with the 7lb mares' allowance; she can keep the main pair more than honest.
Sam Thomas has a very good one to work with in the shape of Steel Ally, a horse we were disappointed was able to run past our own Dartmoor Pirate with such relative ease this time two years ago. Thomas's Doctor Dino gelding is now rated two and a half stone higher than he was then, and has won four more times, so we can safely say we bumped into one. He's won small field novice chases, including a Grade 2 at Ascot, with notable ease on his most recent racecourse visits and he could be a little under-rated in the market. However, his best form is all on a softer surface (form on soft or heavy: 72P12111, form on good to soft or quicker: 251232PP). Moreover, it's his misfortune that 2026 could be a vintage Arkle with a star-studded headline act and some depth to the supporting cast.
Jax Junior was a winner over further in the Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton last time, so there are no doubts about stamina or the ground - it was good to soft that day. And he's a course winner from last season, that success coming in a novice hurdle. This is probably a little too hot but he's earned a tilt at the big time after Kempton.
You can ignore Mambonumberfive's last run when well beaten in a small field by Steel Ally, because he hated the heavy ground. Prior to that he'd won all three chase starts, including the G2 Wayward Lad at Kempton. I'd say he's probably better than a 33/1 shot but that doesn't mean I want to bet him in a race as deep as this.
Hansard looks the dreaded social runner, and has Everest to scale to trouble the judge in these waters. How's that for a mixed geographical metaphor?!
Arkle Recent Winners
Arkle Pace Projection
Kargeses is the most likely leader, though Hansard did go forward last time. I'd expect both Steel Ally and Kopek des Bordes will be handy, with Lulamba not far away - assuming he can live with the early zip.
Arkle Chase Selection
Probably a three, rather than two, way go. Lulamba sets the clear form standard, but does he want further? Kopek Des Bordes is obviously a two-miler, as is Kargese. Kopek lacks experience, whereas Kargese has three chase runs under her belt. She might get an easy lead - Hansard the possible pace pressure - and, if getting into a good rhythm, could be a bit of value against the top two.
2.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3, 2m 1/2f)
Previewed by Rory Delargy.
Ammes has followed a similar preparation to last year’s third, Liam Swagger. James Owen gave him three hurdle runs for a mark in the autumn, winning his first two before finishing second to leading Triumph Hurdle fancy Minella Study in the Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby, a race Liam Swagger won 12 months earlier.
Unlike his stablemate, Ammes failed to win on the all-weather in his prep run, but he posted a higher figure in defeat in a Class 2 handicap at Lingfield despite finishing only sixth. Timeform rate him 6lb higher on the Flat than Liam Swagger, while both they, and the BHA handicapper, have him 4lb above Liam Swagger’s mark last year, which looks fair. Owen is short of winners over jumps in recent weeks, but arrives at Cheltenham in strong form with his Flat team winning four times in the first week in March.
Saratoga represents the same connections who won this race with his half-brother Brazil (beat Gaelic Warrior) a few years ago and he prepped in a rated novice at Naas that has thrown up several winners of the Fred Winter. Not all those who won here had been successful at Naas however, and it’s worth noting that the weights for this are released after that contest. That means a few have gone in there with a view to getting a workable mark, and both Saratoga (2nd) and Munsif (3rd) caught the eye with a view to the future.
British stables have a stronger hand than usual in this, or so it appears, although the likes of Manlaga and Winston Junior have strong Irish connections. The former jumped notably well when beating Pourquoi Pas Papa in the Victor Ludorum while Winston Junior had run well behind Minella Study here before bolting up at Ascot and has been kept back for this since.
Fred Winter Hurdle Recent Winners
Fred Winter Hurdle Pace Projection
Not a map to place too much store by, because many can be expected to adopt a different run style now they're actually doing their best!
Fred Winter 2026 Pace Map
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle selection
Both Winston Junior and Ammes should run well, but my preference, on a line through Minella Study, is for Ammes. He was just denied at Wetherby off levels, whereas Winston Junior was beaten 6½ lengths by Minella Study when getting 7lb at Cheltenham. Ammes comes out as comfortably the better horse, not allowing for subsequent progress all round admittedly. He is receiving 3lb from Faye Bramley’s juvenile however, which makes my choice fairly straightforward.
3.20 Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3 handicap, 3m1f)
Previewed by Dave Renham.
The Ultima is the first handicap chase of the meeting and in these races I find the best starting point to be the past race trends. This helps build a picture of the type of horse we normally need to look for.
This is a race where British trainers have dominated, winning every renewal since 2007. The last Irish winner was Tony Martin’s Dun Doire in 2006.
Lucinda Russell has a great record in the race having won three of the last four. In 2022 and 2023 Corach Rambler prevailed for the stable and last year it was Myretown. Previous to these successes, Lucinda saddled four other runners, priced 20/1, 28/1, 16/1 and 25/1, finishing 4th, 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.
Away from trainers, let me look at some other past trends from this race:
Irish bred runners have made up 58% of the runners over the past 18 renewals and 88% (16) of the races have been won by Irish bred horses, showing their dominance.
14 of the last 18 winners finished in the first four last time out. Horses that finished 7th or worse last time out have a poor record with just 1 win from 124 runners.
From a market perspective, 14 of the last 18 winners have come from the top five in the betting. Backing all the top five runners in the market over this timeframe would have yielded a BSP profit of £41.03 (ROI 41.9%). 9 of the last 12 were one of the top three in the betting.
Horses wearing blinkers, cheekpieces and/or tongue ties have outperformed those wearing no headgear, so don’t be put off by if a horse is wearing equipment.
Age wise, 7yos and 8yos have provided 66.7% of the winners, from 52% of the runners. They seem to have a slight edge.
Past Cheltenham form is worth noting generally at the festival and that has been the case here. Previous course winners have been 1.8x more likely to win this race than horses that had not won here. Previous course winners or placed horses have been 2.5x more likely to win than horses that have not won or placed at the track.
Now let’s look at the run style data for the last 10 renewals. I personally think the previous decade for past run style analysis is a sensible time frame to use. The last 10 races give the following splits:
Although the majority of runners will race in mid division or be held up, being ridden closer to the pace has been preferable in the past, both from a win and a place perspective.
The shortlist:
Jagwar - He passes most of the key trends, but he is French bred rather than the ideal Irish bred and his run style may not be the optimum. Having said that, he seems to love Cheltenham with a course form figures of 1132. He also won at the festival last year. He tackles this trip for the first time, but the general consensus is he will stay and the vibes have been really positive from the stable. He is favourite for a reason.
Iroko - The 2025 Grand National 4th hails from the same stable as Jagwar and is currently second favourite. As with his stablemate, he is French bred but again hits most of the key trends. He is a previous winner at Cheltenham and was sent off favourite for the Grand National last year. He had found winning difficult recently, with no wins in eight runs, but he bounced back to form in December when he won the Howden Graduation Chase at Ascot.
Handstands - Trainer Ben Pauling is very sweet on this one, having been quoted as saying the horse is extremely well in here. He is an excellent trainer of handicap chasers and despite the horse’s form not being seemingly as good as last year, he looks a player dropped into handicap company. He’s likely to track the pace, which is a positive in my book.
Myretown - Last year’s winner is the only runner the stable has this time around. He’s 15lb higher now and has run poorly in two of his three subsequent starts since that success. Can’t be ruled out based on past trainer data, but not for me.
Leave Of Absence - Any 3m handicap chaser trained by Anthony Honeyball is always worth a second look. His strike rate at this sort of distance since 2022 is just shy of 20%. Leave Of Absence would ideally like the going to be good to soft or good, so should get his conditions. He looks one of the better options at bigger prices, especially looking at his penultimate run at Ascot, where he was a very good 2nd in a decent contest. Likely to be up there tracking the pace, which is another plus in all likelihood.
Ultima Recent Winners
Ultima Pace Projection
An even looking tempo overall, though a lot of perennially prominent racers may push things on from the start.
Ultima Handicap Chase Selection
Suggestion: 1pt win Jagwar & 0.5pt win Handstands
Matt's Tix Pix: A's only and not straying far from the top of the market.
The centre piece of day one is the Champion Hurdle, an extended two mile test of speed, jumping alacrity and no little stamina. All of those components are critical, as was so quintessentially evidenced a year ago when first Constitution Hill and then State Man failed to get round. Golden Ace was a fortunate beneficiary on the day but she keeps standing up and, in so doing, keeps beating some of the best boys and girls on the block.
This year's race is an inscrutable puzzle, where we must first consider form and then fit. As we'll see, those with the numbers have something to prove on the stage, while those with the best Prestbury performances have a fair bit to do on the data.
Towards the top of the market is The New Lion, a snug fit to track and trip but with question marks on the form book. Now seven, he's won all six of his completed starts - including in the Turners twelve months ago and in a trial here in January. He was desperately unimpressive on Trials day but, to his credit, did get the job done (after odds on favourite Sir Gino stepped in a hole and had to be pulled up). The verdict was a length and a half over an 18/1 shot rated 151, with a further nose back to a 50/1 chance rated 138. That is, literally, a stone below what is required.
But how literal should we be? The problem with TNL is that he's not flashy. He never wins by far. Indeed, his margins of victory have been 4.75L, 3L, 4.75L, 0.75L, and 1.5L. Constitution Hill, by comparison, won by 22L, 17L, 14L, and 12L twice in the early part of his career. But you don't get bonus points for how far...
My issue is that he's only beaten stayers and I don't think he's fast enough. He beat Wendigo, fancied for the three mile Brown Advisory over fences; he beat The Yellow Clay, entered in the Stayers'; and he beat Nemean Lion, most of whose best form is at two and a half in a bog. The New Lion retains plenty of upside potential, but I cannot have him as the favourite even in a puzzle as wacky as this one.
Representing Team Form is Brighterdaysahead, infamously beaten twice at the Festival and famously "the best I've trained" according to Gordon, who has had many, many good ones. She was electric in beating Lossiemouth more than three lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival; but she was equally good when blitzing a weaker field by 30 lengths on her pre-Festival prep a year prior. BDA has been beaten at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, at 5/2 and 5/6, and people have said that she doesn't handle the track. That's a very credible assumption, but correlation does not imply causation. There are alternative theories...
Regarding defeat in the Dawn Run of 2024, it is unquestionably true that Jack Kennedy was eying Paul Townend, aboard perceived sole danger Jade de Grugy. While they cat-and-moused about, Lorcan Williams pulled a stealth move from the rear and Golden Ace, his very willing and able partner, charged past catching both kitty and squeaky napping.
A year later and, though we didn't know it at the time, it was to be a rematch between Golden Ace and Brighterdaysahead, both Connie and State Man failing to complete. As you can see from the replay below, BDA was stopped to a walk by State Man's last flight tumble and would otherwise have been second. However, there's no escaping the flatness of that effort when set against the main body of her work: she has five better Racing Post Ratings as a barometer of that assertion.
So what went wrong? Well, it could be the track, of course. But a viable counter theory is that she 'bounced' off a massive run at the end of December, that distance annihilation of State Man, Winter Fog et al in a G1. Failing to run to form after a career best is a common theme in racing, and it fits what happened here. I'm not saying that was the reason, but I am saying it might well have been.
If that was the case, though, we have another small issue: Brighterdaysahead again ran mightily in that tough G1 at DRF where she showed Lossiemouth her capable derriere. That was a mere 37 days ago and it is far from inconceivable she has again left her Champion Hurdle chance on the outskirts of Dublin. Nevertheless, she does have the best form in the race.
Lossiemouth had a similarly hard race in defeat that day and, furthermore, I've convinced myself that she needs two and a half miles. Indeed, Rich Ricci's racing manager was quoted on Nick Luck's poddie as saying, "I think everyone agrees she's better at two and a half miles." So it's pretty reckless - or ballsy - stuff to run her in thechampionship two mile race when it's not her best trip. I'm pretty sure that a steadily run three miles, such as often transpires in the Stayers' Hurdle, would be ideal for her, and I think connections have missed a trick in not considering her for that race.
In her favour is bombproof course form, having won the Triumph (2m1f, I know), and the Mares' Hurdle twice. Soft ground is definitely beneficial to her cause, but even in an unfathomable year she's not for me for all that she's the one which brings both form and some sort of fit to the party. My feeling, or at least the way I want to bet, is that either strongest form or strongest fit wins the day; and if you take my trip reservation to heart she is a compromise on both. Cheek pieces are added this time, in a bid to sharpen her up; but a horse that cannot go faster, cannot go faster. She'll be an 'egg on face' winner in these quarters.
We need to talk more about Golden Ace, another with a perfect fit but slightly questionable form credentials. It's hard to crab a mare that has two upset Festival scores on her card, and that is yet to be out of the first two in eight races at around two miles (11112212). And she deserves all the plaudits for twice passing Brighterdaysahead up this hill. Indeed, bar a match race at Wetherby (where she was found to be not right subsequently), she's only been beaten by State Man and Sir Gino at this range over hurdles. Neither of that pair can attend this year, unfortunately, and if there is one horse in the line up that looks nailed on to run their race - to be fair, there may not even be one, it's that sort of year! - it's her. She will be very hard to kick out of the frame for all that it feels like we should be trying to get her off the top step of the podium.
This game is about opinions, and my opinion is that Poniros is as bogus as they come. He would need five horses to under-perform, or to improve a stone near enough, to win the Champion Hurdle. I've already outlined how each of the top fancies might under-perform, but it's very difficult to see them all failing to deliver. This lad fell in by some miracle in the Triumph Hurdle, at 100/1, and has failed to back it up twice since. A four length reversal of form at the hooves of Lulamba reads well enough in terms of four-year-old hurdle lines, but he was 14 lengths behind Brighterdaysahead last time.
It's true that he might have had less of a hard race than either BDA or Lossie there, and that he might be better on better ground, and that Tony Bloom has golden sphericals... but this would rate as one of Willie's gweatest wabbits fwom a hat if he could win the Champion with a five-year-old that has only had three hurdles starts, two of them defeats.
The handicappers Alexei and Tutti Quanti will try to 'do a Rooster Booster', that horse emerging from the weight-for-ability ranks to take the Blue Riband. In Rooster's case, however, he'd won the County Hurdle the year before and had been running in conditions races - up to G1 level - for a full season by the time he reappeared at the Festival. Alexei - "Ullo John, gotta new motor?" (I fully appreciate a lot of these yesteryear references will be lost on many, here's the video which I think is worth the telepathic joke before the 'song') - was alextric at Cheltenham in the Greatwood Hurdle in November, cruising through the race against 17 rivals and charging away at the finish.
He might have still been feeling that a touch when only third off top weight in an Ascot G3 handicap at Christmas; and on his most recent run he showed the legs were still in each corner with a satisfactory defeat of good old stick Rubaud in the Kingwell. A rating of 150-odd gives him plenty still to find with the pick of the mares once their allowance is factored in; only six, if he can keep progressing he could be next year's man. I did back him for this after the Greatwood at a bigger price than he is now, but I don't especially think he has a better chance than at that time.
Tutti Quanti also steps out of handicap company; actually, to give him his due, he bounds out having demolished the Schweppes/Betfair/William Hill Hurdle field by 15 lengths last time, a performance that has nudged his official peg up to 151. To give some context, Brighterdaysahead is 160 on the Irish scale, Lossiemouth 159 on the same - both also receive 7lb sex allowance. The New Lion is 159, Poniros 153 (Ire), Anzadam 153 (Ire), Golden Ace 152 (gets 7lb), Alexei 148, and Workahead 145. Phew.
The point I'm making here is that, assuming at least one of the main trio performs to their level (not a given), Tutti Quanti needs to progress another 10lb. He's only six so that's conceivable but often what knocks the eye out - as his last day win did - fails to pass the sniff test, to mix my sensory metaphors. Moreover, TQ's best form has been on rain softened ground.
And Mullins still has the, erm, mercurial - yes, let's call him mercurial - Anzadam card to play. He's been notoriously difficult to train but, seemingly sounder this campaign, was second to Golden Ace in the Fighting Fifth and then fourth behind Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth in their two Leopardstown Grade 1's. What makes him worth a second glance is that he probably had the easiest - or least hard - race in the Irish Champion Hurdle at DRF and it could be contended that his best form is on a sound surface. In a race where we're making excuses for just about all of them, that doesn't feel like too much of a stretch.
Workahead is saddled by the best Festival trainer of the last five years not called Willie, but even Henry's magic won't be enough to get this lad up the hill in front second time around.
Champion Hurdle Recent Winners
Champion Hurdle Pace Projection
A few that can go forward but none that need the lead; so my guess is a solid even gallop - fair for all.
Champion Hurdle Selection
This is so difficult. Brighterdaysahead has the best two mile form but reservations remain about her Cheltenham runs as well as how hard a race she had last time; ditto Lossiemouth on the last day exertion and her best form is over further and possibly on softer. The New Lion hasn't run a number to be the price he is though he remains completely unexposed; and Golden Ace is a mare we're all trying to get beaten in spite of her running her race every time.
I have managed to discount Poniros and Workahead, but small bits of each way cases can be made for each of Alexei, Tutti Quanti and especially Anzadam.
Suggestion: It's as much of a no bet race as ever there was; but that's not in the spirit of things. I'd chance Brighterdaysahead from the head of the market, and maybe play Anzadameach way for the minimum stake your bookmaker will accept.
Matt's Tix Pix: Lossiemouth, Golden Ace and The New Lion on A, Brighterdaysahead on B. Not confident!
There's been just one horse on my mind for this race since October and it's a Dan Skelton runner that has been in woeful form for most of the season. He began the year putting up a remarkable performance that really caught my eye, when he won at lowly Newton Abbot, and I’m banking on a return to form here.
Previously, he had won a Grade 3 Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham April meeting and finished 4th in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen last year, before winning that Intermediate Chase at Newton Abbot.
And that's where his struggles began. It turns out that beating a 12lb superior runner on ratings and long odds on favourite (Blueking d'Oreaux) while actually giving that rival 12lb(!) doesn't help your handicap mark too much. Who knew?!
Dan Skelton does now, but he has been doing a great job rectifying his mistake and getting Riskintheground back down to the same 137 mark he won that Grade 3 Handicap Chase at Cheltenham's April meeting last year. He also ran 7th in a big Novice Handicap at Sandown and 4th in the Summer Plate off 139, between Cheltenham and Newton Abbot.
After his surprise Newton Abbot win he was put up to 145, but was 3lb well in thanks to a penalty when probably not staying the 3m2f in the big handicap chase at Newbury (formerly the Hennessey) on his next start. He will be better suited to the drop back to 2m5f here.
He then made a bad mistake at the third last on his following run at Cheltenham, off his true 145 mark, before weakening in the last half furlong. Back down to 142, Dan Skelton ran him on soft ground at Cheltenham on Trials Day, where he finished second last to get another 2lb reduction to 140.
The next piece of the master plan was running him on heavy ground at Newbury in the Grade 2 Denman Chase. Despite being the clear lowest rated runner in the field, he had to give two of the four runners weight. He carried the same weight as 164 rated L'Homme De Presse and actually gave 2lb to the eventual winner (and Gold Cup bound) Haiti Coleurs. Unsurprisingly, he ended up finishing a (tailed off) last of 4.
But alas, the handicapper wasn't buying it and left his rating unchanged at 140. That probably didn't please Skelton too much, as he's repeatedly said he doesn't think the horse has anything in hand at the moment. He declared him to run in the Ascot Chase but took him out at the 48 hour declarations, as he probably thought the handicapper wouldn't drop him a pound even if he finished tailed off again. I doubt he wanted to risk another slog in the mud this near to the Festival.
So he sent him to Kempton instead for the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase, where he finished tailed off there instead. This time the handicapper was a believer and dropped him the last 2lbs to leave him on a very eyecatching 137. Dan Skelton was last seen patting himself on the back. Phase 1 complete!
Festival Plate Recent Winners
Festival Plate Pace Map
Festival Plate 2026 Pace Map
Festival Plate Selection
Given the better Spring ground (barely beaten a rival on his last three runs on soft/heavy), the return to Cheltenham and the Skelton magic, I’m banking on Riskintheground being ready to go on Tuesday. This is coming up to his time of year and I see him running a big race for a stable who are really beginning to focus on these Festival handicaps. I think it's been the plan all season.
Suggestion: Riskintheground - 0.5 points each way at 40/1
Matt's Tix Pix: Five on A, and five more on B. At least!
5.20 National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase (Grade 2, 3m 6f)
Previewed by David Massey.
Sue Smith knows what it takes to train a Festival handicap winner, as demonstrated with Mister McGoldrick & Vintage Clouds. Her expertise, along with the partnership with her grandson Joel Parkinson that has seen an uptick in the yard’s fortunes this year, mean Grand Geste gets my vote here.
Bar a blip at Doncaster, when he just wasn’t right for whatever reason, he’s improved with each start this season. He was very impressive when winning the Tommy Whittle at Haydock back in December, putting in an excellent round of jumping from the front and beating a resurgent My Silver Lining by six and a half lengths.
The way he came clear in the straight suggested stamina was his strong suit, and he did nothing to dispel that suspicion when winning the Grand National Trial back at Haydock last month, for all that turned into more of a speed test than is normally the case. In fact, I’d mark him up a bit for having the tactical speed to cope that day, and a 6lb rise looks more than fair.
Good to soft ground, usually a certainty for Day One (barring an unexpected downpour on the day), seems to suit him very well. Plus, this is a partnership that knows how to train staying chasers, with the likes of O’Connell and Konfusion winning for them in extreme tests this season.
Walking On Air, who has finished fifth in a Pertemps Final here in 2023 and last year was midfield in the Kim Muir (when arguably not getting the best of rides), has to be of some interest too. After a couple of poor efforts this year, it was much better at Doncaster last time. The addition of some cheekpieces seemingly the catalyst in finishing third to Dartmoor Pirate, not knocked around late on by Brian Hughes. He’ll need the headgear to work again, but is nicely treated, and will have been teed up to a nicety by Faye Bramley here. Harry Cobden was booked to ride a few days ago, and that's hardly a negative to his chances either.
On paper, Backmersackme is the best of the Irish challenge and does have a decent piece of Cheltenham chase form to his name, having finished second to Three Card Brag here back in October. After a ready win in a Grade 3 Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, the handicapper has reacted with a 10lb rise. There’s no Sean Bowen to help out this time either, with Sean being claimed by Olly Murphy to ride top weight Wade Out. Indeed, his pilot on Tuesday, Donagh Meyler, does not have the best of form figures on Backmersackme, reading 664546, which hardly inspires confidence in a bet at the price.
From the Irish runners, I think I’d rather have Paul Nolan’s Iceberg Theory as he does have quite a few plus points. Not least his form over fences this season, which has seen him win two of his three starts. That form couldn’t have worked out much better either. He beat Gordon Elliott’s Boston Rover at Limerick last May and the runner-up went and won his next three before finding sticky ground at Limerick not to his liking. He then went and beat the useful O’Toole at Cork in November after a break, that form franked when the second won the Listed QuinnBet Handicap Chase at Leopardstown last week.
He goes well fresh, seems to act on any ground, and remains unexposed as a staying chaser. Plenty to like at twice the price and more of Backmersackme.
National Hunt Chase Recent Winners
NB This race was a non-handicap before 2025.
National Hunt Chase Pace Projection
NH Chase 2026 Pace Map
National Hunt Chase Selection
Selection: Grand Geste @ 14/1 general
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That's how I, along with the guest brains, see Tuesday's action. Seven very open races so it's entirely feasible we miss our mark - enjoy the ride, and caveat emptor, dear reader.
Stay lucky
Matt
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GoldenAce_ChampionHurdle2025_2.png320560Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2026-03-09 16:07:432026-03-09 19:00:29Cheltenham Festival 2026: Day One Preview, Tips
2025 Winner: Kopek Des Bordes Trainer – Willie Mullins Jockey – Paul Townend UK/Irish: Irish
Pluses…..
• 25 of the last 29 winners won their last race
• 14 of the last 16 winners came from the first 4 in the market
• 13 of the last 14 winners had won a graded Novice Hurdle before
• 14 of the last 22 winners had raced in at least 4 hurdles races before
• 23 of the last 31 winners ran in the last 45 days
• Irish-trained horses have won 20 of the last 34 runnings
• 5 & 6 year-olds have the best record – winning 19 of the last 21 runnings
• Willie Mullins has won the race 8 times in total and for 6 of the last 13 years
• 9 of the last 13 winners were either Mullins (6) or Henderson-trained (3)
• 28 of the last 31 winners had raced that same calendar year
• Owner Rich Ricci & trainer Willie Mullins have won 3 of the last 13 runnings
• 7 of the last 12 winners had been rated 153 or more
• 12 of the last 13 winners returned a single-figure price
• 12 of the last 17 winners were previous bumper winners
• Nicky Henderson has won the race 5 times
Negatives…..
• Horses that FAILED to win last time out before coming here are just 4 from the last 29. In other words, look for horses that won last time out!
• Since 1992 43 horses (44) wearing head-gear have been beaten – but Kopek Des Bordes won with a first-time hood in 2025
• We’ve seen just two ex-flat horses win since 2008
• Just 5 of the last 23 winners came here unbeaten
• Just 2 of the last 23 winners aged 7 or older
• Just 3 outright winning favourites in the last 21 runnings
• 4 year-olds are 0-15 since 2000
• Betfair Hurdle winners are 0-from-8 in the last decade
2025 Winner: JANGO BAIE (5/1) Trainer – Nicky Henderson Jockey – Nico de Boinville UK/Irish: UK
Pluses….
• 16 of the last 21 winners had won (or been placed) at Cheltenham before
• 19 of the last 26 winners had won a Grade 1 or 2 chase before
• 14 of the last 16 winners won last time out (plus 18 of the last 24)
• 24 of the last 26 winners returned 9/1 or shorter
• 15 of the last 20 winners had won at least twice over fences before
• 17 of the last 19 winners were aged 6 or 7 years-old
• 16 of the last 23 winners had run 3 or 4 times over fences
• 15 of the last 22 winners had run at the previous year’s Cheltenham Festival
• 9 of the last 14 winners were unbeaten over fences
• Nicky Henderson has won the race 8 times
• Willie Mullins has won 6 of the last 11 runnings
• 11 of the last 14 winners trained by Willie Mullins (6) or Nicky Henderson (5)
• 10 of the last 14 favourites have won
Negatives…..
• Only 3 of the last 39 winners failed to win or finish second last time out
• Just 3 of the last 35 winners started 11/1 or bigger in the betting
• Only 4 of the last 34 winners were older than 7 years-old
• The last horse aged 9 (or older) to win was in 1988
• Ex-flat horses have a poor record
• Only 2 winners since 2000 won with headgear
• 5 year-olds are 0-17 since 2007
• Shishkin (2021), Douvan (2016) and Altior (2017) were the first Supreme Hurdle winners (previous season) that have followed-up in this race since 1965
• Trainer Paul Nicholls has had 12 unplaced from his last 13 runners
2025 Winner: PUTURHANDSTOGETHER (17/2) Trainer – Joseph O’Brien Jockey – Mark Walsh UK/Irish: Irish
Pluses….
• 12 of the last 21 winners had run exactly 3 times over hurdles before
• French bred horses have a good record
• 10 of the last 21 winners started their careers in France
• Respect Fillies
• 14 of the last 21 winners carried 11st+
• 9 of the last 21 winners won last time out
• 10 of the last 15 winners all came from the bottom half of the weights/handicap
• 11 of the last 21 had run in the last 25 days
• David Pipe, Paul Nicholls, Gordon Elliot (4 of last 13), Joseph O’Brien (3 of the last 7) and Alan King-trained horses often do well
• 6 of the last 14 winners returned between 25/1 and 40/1 (7 of the last 14 priced 25/1+)
• 13 of the last 21 winners returned a double-figure price
• Respect horses wearing headgear
• Joseph O’Brien has trained 3 of the last 7 (including last 2)
• 15 of the last 21 winners were rated between 124-134
• 8 of the last 18 winners were British-trained
• Irish have trained the last 8 winners
• Trainer Paul Nicholls has won 3 of the last 16 runnings
• 16 of the last 21 winners had won no more than once over hurdles
Negatives….
• Just 3 recent winners had last raced in January or further back
• Trainers Willie Mullins, Philip Hobbs and Venetia Williams are 0 from 45 between them
• Only 2 of the last 12 winners carried less than 11st
• Just 3 of the last 21 winners rated 135+
• Horses bred in Britain are 0-73 (last 17 years)
• Willie Mullins runners are 0 from 24 (just 4 placed in top 5 too)
• Willie Mullins has never won this race
• Only 3 winners had run in a handicap hurdle before
• No winner had raced at Cheltenham before
• Horses with 2+ wins over hurdles are just 2 from 20
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2025 Winner: MYRETOWN Trainer – Lucinda Russel Jockey – Patrick Wadge UK/Irish: UK
Pluses….
• 20 of the last 26 winners were officially rated 143 or less
• 18 of the last 25 came from the top 4 in the betting
• 21 of the last 25 winners returned 11/1 or shorter
• 19 of the last 25 were novices or second season chasers
• 10 of the last 18 winners were rated between 142-146 (8 between 142-145)
• Horses rated 140+ have won 16 of the last 25 runnings
• 10 of the last 23 won last time out
• Horses that have run well in the race before have a good record
• 10 of the last 14 winners wore headgear
• 10 of the last 16 winners had run at Cheltenham that season
• Jonjo O’Neill, Lucinda Russell, Alan King, Nicky Henderson, Tony Martin & David Pipe are trainers to note
• All winners since 2000 had won over 3m+ before
• 5 of the last 11 winners ran at Cheltenham’s January meeting
• 5 of the last 12 winners ran in the Coral Gold Cup (Hennessy) that season
• 13 of the last 17 winners had run at the Festival before
• Northern-based runners have a good record
Negatives….
• Be a bit wary of horses carrying 11-04 or more in weight – 13 of the last 21 carried 10-12 or less, although the 2017 winner carried 11-12 & the 2019 winner won with 11-8 and Chianti Classico in 2024 carried 11st 4bs)
• Horses aged 11 or older are just 4 from 59 to even get placed
• Be wary of Paul Nicholls-trained horses – he’s currently 0 from 26
• Only 4 winners in the last 17 hadn’t raced at a previous Festival
• Only 5 winners since 2000 have returned bigger than 11/1
• The Irish have won just 2 of the last 57 runnings (since 1967)
• Irish-trained runners are 0-51 in the last 19 runnings
• Willie Mullins has never won this race
2025 Winner: GOLDEN ACE (25/1) Trainer – Jeremy Scott Jockey – Lorcan Williams UK/Irish: UK
Pluses….
• 36 of the last 42 won last time out
• 11 of the last 16 winners had run no more than 10 times over hurdles
• Horses unbeaten that season often do well (12 of last 15)
• The Irish and Nicky Henderson have won 22 of the last 27 runnings between them
• 11 of the last 17 winners came from the Henderson or Willie Mullins yards
• The Irish have won 16 of the last 27 runnings
• Owner JP McManus has won 6 of the last 16 (9 in total)
• Trainer Willie Mullins has won 4 of the last 14 runnings (5 in total)
• 30 of the last 36 winners were aged 6 or 7 years-old (13 of last 18)
• 17 of the last 27 winners had won at the Festival before
• 28 of the last 41 winners were placed in the first 4 at the previous season’s festival
• The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a good guide (5 winners, 6 places in last 18 runnings)
• 14 of the last 30 winners started as flat horses
• 10 of the last 11 winners were unbeaten that season
• Look for horses that have raced at least once that calendar year
• Trainer Nicky Henderson has won the race 9 times, including 4 of the last 9 years
• 7 of the last 17 winners contested the Christmas Hurdle (Kempton)
• Mares are currently 5 from 12 during last 10 runnings
• 9 of the last 13 favourites won
• 21 of the last 25 winners had run within the last 60 days
Negatives….
• Avoid horses that failed to finish in the top three last time out
• 5 year-olds are just 2 from 114 since 1985, but the 2019 winner was a 5 year-old
• Since 1927 we’ve only seen 2 winners aged 10 or older (0-32 in the last 43 runnings)
• Just 2 of the last 19 winners had raced more than 12 times over hurdles
• Just 2 horses have regained the race since 1975
• International Hurdle winners are 0-from-14 (last 22 years)
• Only 2 of the last 27 winners hadn’t raced at the Festival before
• The last Supreme Novice’ Hurdle winner to win the Champion Hurdle the following season was Constitution Hill (2023), but before that was 53 years ago (Bula)
4:40 – Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f 166y ITV
2025 Winner: JAGWAR (3/1 fav) Trainer – Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jockey – Jonjo O’Neill Jnr UK/Irish: UK
Pluses….
• 29 of the last 38 winners were officially rated 140 or less
• 13 of the last 17 winners carried under 11-0
• Respect French-breds
• 15 of the last 21 winners had run from 25th Jan onwards
• 11 of the last 22 winners had won a race in Feb or March
• Venetia Williams & Pipe-trained runners should be noted
• The Pipe yard have won 7 of the last 28 runnings
• 18 of the last 25 winners returned at double-figure odds
• 24 of the last 34 winners had run at the Festival before (but 9 of last 14 were having Festival debut)
• 25 of the last 26 winners had run in no more than 16 chases
• 10 of the last 16 winners had 9 or less chase runs
• 19 of the last 26 winners came from outside the top 4 in the market
• 8 of the last 10 winners were novices or second season chasers
• 20 of the last 22 winners had raced that calendar year
• Respect Gigginstown House Stud horses
• 7 of the last 10 winners won last time out
• The last 7 winners had won at Cheltenham that season
• 3 of the last 7 ridden by a claiming jockey
Negatives….
• Avoid horses that are yet to win at Class 3 or better
• The Irish have only sent out 5 winners since 1982, but this could be turning with these all coming since 2016
• Willie Mullins has never won this race
• Only 4 of the last 22 winners had run more than 12 times (fences)
• Just 5 winning favourites in the last 20 years, but one in 2025 (Jagwar)
• Only 6 of last 31 winners won with 11st+
• Just 3 winners older than 9 in the last 13 years
• Only 2 of the last 22 winners hadn’t run that calendar year
5:20 – Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y RTV
2025 Winner: HAITI COULEURS Trainer – Rebecca Curtis Jockey – Ben Jones UK/Irish: UK
**NOTE** The race conditions were changed in 2025 - run as a Novices' Handicap Chase - making a lot of the past trends pointless.
Pluses…..
• 13 of the last 24 winners finished 1st or 2nd last time out
• 15 of the last 20 winners were aged 7 or 8 years-old (26 of the last 35)
• 10 of the last 16 winners had run 5+ times over fences
• 12 of the last 15 winners had run in a Graded Novice chase
• 8 of the last 15 winners had run in a Grade One Novice Chase that season
• 9 of the last 19 had run in a chase at Cheltenham before that season
• 11 of the last 16 winners had run at a previous Cheltenham Festival
• 12 of the last 15 winners returned a single-figure price
• Respect horses wearing headgear (Corbetts Cross 1st-time hood in 2024)
• 10 of the last 15 winners Irish-trained
• 11 of the last 15 winners were rated 145 (or more)
• Look out for JP McManus-owned runners (7 winners)
• Jonjo O’Neill has trained 6 winners in the race (5-from-23)
• Jockey Derek O’Connor has 3 wins / 5 places (from 18 rides)
• Derek O’Connor & Patrick Mullins have won 7 of the last 15 (4 P Mullins, 3 O’Connor)
• Willie Mullins has won 4 of the last 14 runnings
• Gordon Elliott has won the race 4 times from just 17 runners
• 3 of the last 8 winners owned by Ronnie Bartlett
• Favourites have won 5 of the last 16 runnings (31%)
Negatives….
• 5 and 6 year-olds are just 2 from 84 since 1989
• Just 5 of the last 14 winners were top-rated
• Favourites have won 5 of the last 16 runnings
• Just 2 of the last 34 winners were aged 6 years-old
• Trainer Paul Nicholls has NEVER won this race - he’s currently 0 from 19
• Trainer Nicky Henderson has NEVER won this race
• Horses with less than 3 chase starts often don’t fare well
• Horses rated in the 130’s have a poor record (2 from 18), but Haiti Couleurs won in 2025 rated 135
• Just 2 winners in the last 17 returned bigger than 12/1
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ConstitutionHill_TolworthHurdle.jpg320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2026-03-08 07:00:082026-03-08 09:49:032026 Cheltenham Festival Trends: DAY ONE (Tues 10th March 2026)
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£4 Discount With Promo Code: RTCFBG26
The roar of the crowd. The excitement palpable. Jumpers for goalposts, hmm? Yes it's a little trite but that collective exhortation as the tapes rise really is a thing, and a wonderful one at that. We're off for the first of 28 top class equine ding-dongs. As Lesley Phillips might have said, ding dong indeed!
