Cheltenham Festival 2025: More March Clues Emerge In Busy Week
Another week down, another week closer to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. We’re now exactly four months out and the jumps season is beginning to go up another gear, with a number of Grade 1 races on the horizon.
This coming week, we’ve got racing back at Prestbury Park and fans will be treated to an exciting weekend of action. But for now, let’s look back at the best performances over the past week, starting with Croke Park and his Beginners Chase success at Fairyhouse.
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CROKE PARK was impressive enough on chase debut and his trainer suggested that the Drinmore Novices' Chase could be next on the agenda. While not necessarily an obvious type to drop back in trip, he jumped well for a novice but you’d have to be worried after the vet found blood at both nostrils after the race.
It wasn’t the strongest race in the world but ROYAL INFANTRY justified his short price to win cosily at Chepstow on Wednesday. Dan Skelton’s yard are firing and this lad could take high rank among his novice hurdlers – though he may be one for a nice handicap rather than a Graded race down the line.
The second division of the maiden hurdle saw two nice horses in JURANCON and TRIPOLI FLYER. The former, one of my horses to follow this season, stripped fitter than the runner up and that made the difference on the day. I’m hopeful both can compete at Graded level in novice hurdles this term.
LET IT RAIN had a huge reputation after shining in bumpers last year but she had to settle for second on hurdles debut. FRENCH SHIP put in a good effort to prevail but I was sceptical of the ride given by Harry Skelton on the runner up. Connections will say it was educational, punters will say it was soft. Don’t give up on her.
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Clonmel Oil Day is always eagerly anticipated and I was delighted to see SAINT SAM get his head in front for owner Edward Ware. I’ve been fond of this horse since he arrived at Closutton and he’s certainly got plenty of character. He’s a difficult ride but when he’s good, he’s very good.
SKYJACK HIJACK who pulled some way clear of his rivals to land a dominant success at Exeter. Jennie Candlish has been in great form since the start of November, with three winners from 11 runners. He looks like a top prospect and his owner mentioned the Albert Bartlett as a possible spring target.
The Future Stars Silver Bowl Novices' Chase was a £40,000 Class 2 and it ended up as a walkover for CAPTAIN TEAGUE. I was so disappointed for Exeter, with one of their big races failing to attract runners. Where are all these so called talented novice chasers that are apparently ready to run? Trainers would do well to say nothing sometimes...
Half an hour later, Joe Tizzard was celebrating as JPR ONE won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and he is an interesting dark horse for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Yes, that may be a tad far-fetched but he’s certainly talented and he is one of the leading two mile chasers on this side of the Irish Sea.
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We saw a turn up for the books as BOOMBAWN claimed a shock victory in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton. He struck late to win under a well-timed ride from Harry Skelton, who currently leads the way in the Jockeys Championship. The yard are firing in the winners and it could be a big year for Team Skelton.
RUBAUD gave Paul Nicholls a big race winner in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle and he’ll now go chasing in the coming weeks. Harry Cobden got his timings bang on and he was able to fend off the challenge of BRENTFORD HOPE, who looked the likely winner at one stage. The Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase could be next for Rubaud.
Over at Gowran Park, NARA made amends for her fall on chase debut by winning the Beginners Chase with ease. She had a lofty reputation as a juvenile but failed to live up to the billing but fences could be the making of her with a bit of luck. It’ll be interesting to see where they go next with her.
MISTER MEGGIT was billed as a potential Cheltenham Festival contender this season and he didn’t disappoint on hurdles debut, travelling with gusto and putting the race to bed with ease. Could he end up running in a Supreme Novices' Hurdle? Only time will tell but the Grade 1 Challow Novices Hurdle may be his main winter target.
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Rebecca Curtis mentioned the National Hunt Chase as a potential target for Aintree winner HAITI COULEURS and he’s certainly been a progressive type over fences. He is a proper slogger and he could be one for a Welsh Grand National or something like that down the line. Let’s see what the handicapper does on Tuesday.
THE KEMBLE BREWERY ran out a convincing winner under a penalty at Ffos Las, though you have to question just how strong the race was. Kim Bailey has a nice prospect on his hands though and he’ll now go up in Grade to tackle stronger opposition. Could he end up running in a nice handicap down the line?
All eyes were on MARINE NATIONALE at Naas on Sunday but it was QUILIXIOS who ran out a convinced winner of the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase. The winner was value for his success, giving weight to the runner up and there are now serious question marks over the Barry Connell horse. It’d take a loyal follower to keep the faith.
FARREN GLORY booked his ticket to the Drinmore Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse with a nice performance at Naas, pulling clear and doing his best work late under a confident Jack Kennedy. I’d say he will benefit from stepping up in trip and we know he likes the track after his Grade 1 Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle success last season.
You’d have to be impressed with ANNO POWER and her determination to get back up and win despite a poor jump at the final hurdle. She clearly has a massive engine but the jumping is a major concern and she’ll need to improve in that department if she is to compete at the top level. She certainly has untapped potential.
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Star Performance Of The Week
I’ll go with JPR ONE here. I thought he travelled like the best horse in the race and when he was put into the race, there was only ever going to be one outcome: victory. Brendan Powell gave him a perfect ride and he jumped well, with a minor mishap at the second last before pulling clear.
He was weak enough in the betting before the off but there was little to worry about for his backers and he’ll now target bigger and better things. Grade 1 races are likely to be on the agenda now and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares at that level.
This Week’s Tracker Horse To Follow
Surely it’s only a matter of time until SOUL ICON gets his head in front? He has finished second in each of his last five outings, narrowly going down to Boombawn in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton.
He’s gone up 13lbs since finishing behind Persian Time in March but he is one to keep onside despite falling short in recent races. It’s great to see Keiran Burke with a good one and I’m expecting Soul Icon to shed his maiden tag over fences soon enough.