Cheltenham Festival 2025: @RoadCheltenham Analyses The Last Week Of Racing

The weeks are flying by and excitement is building ahead of Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday – the final meeting at Prestbury Park before The Festival in March. It’s crunch time for plenty of Cheltenham hopefuls and markets are changing daily.

We saw several potential Festival winners over the past seven days – with the lucrative Winter Million Festival attracting some big names at the weekend. Without further ado, it’s time to take a look back at some of the biggest moments of the week.

WILL THE WISE had been expensive to follow in his first three starts over hurdles but he finally shed his maiden tag in the maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Monday. The Gavin Cromwell runner got the job done easily enough, giving a form boost to both The Yellow Clay and Final Demand – who are both candidates for the Festival.

I was keen to see how BECKETT ROCK got on this season after a year off the track and he appears to retain ability, with the son of Kayf Tara getting the better of BUNTING in the Munster Hurdle. The runner up had a valid excuse after butchering the third last hurdle but the winner looks smart and he has an official rating of 136 in Ireland.

Willie Mullins has unleashed a number of talented French imports this season and FUNICULI FUNICULA looks a nice type for the future. He showed plenty of speed to get the job done but I wasn’t sold with regards to Cheltenham. I’d say he may receive an entry for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but I wouldn’t be rushing to back him.

I thought KISS WILL looked more like a Festival contender, though it was a pretty poor maiden hurdle if truth be told. He looked comfortable and professional throughout, jumping cleanly and putting the race to bed with minimal fuss. He is housed in Allaho’s old barn and connections will be thrilled if he ends up even half as good as him.

Lucinda Russell has always spoken highly of DERRYHASSEN PADDY and he was very impressive at Windsor on Friday afternoon. He had to do the donkey work throughout and was twice bumped by Dan Skelton’s HONKY TONK HIGHWAY but the gelding was game as anything and fought back to get his head in front. He has a lovely attitude.

GIDLEIGH PARK looked back to his best in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase and he jumped his rivals silly to prevail. CALDWELL POTTER just isn’t up to this level and I’d expect Harry Fry’s mount to confirm form all day long. If he was mine, I would be skipping Cheltenham and going for the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

I’ve always had a soft spot for NEMEAN LION so I was thrilled to see him prevail over the weekend but I’m not entirely sure he’s a Cheltenham Festival type. SALVER has a bright future but he looks a chaser all over and I expect Gary & Josh Moore to give him a quiet enough campaign before going down that route next season.

Maybe the hype was right after all? We saw LULAMBA give 10lbs and a beating to the talented Mondo Man at Ascot on Saturday and Nicky Henderson could have another star in the Seven Barrows ranks. The juvenile division is looking relatively weak and he is the one that they all have to beat in the Triumph Hurdle at this stage.

Later on the card, we saw KARGESE suffer a disappointing defeat at the hands of TAKE NO CHANCES. Willie Mullins’ runners have struggled on this side of the Irish Sea this year and I’d be slightly concerned about how they’re travelling over. That being said, the winner is a good mare and she could flourish in what might be a weak Mares Hurdle.

I thought THREE CARD BRAG was excellent in the Beginners Chase at Navan and he is one to consider for a handicap – the Grand National would look to be tailor-made for him. However, NOW IS THE HOUR is the one that really caught my eye and it seems others were just as impressed as he’s been well backed for the National Hunt Chase.

SPINNINGAYARN could be Gordon Elliott’s Champion Bumper horse this year and he’d have a decent chance if it came up soft. EACHTOTHEIROWN lost very little in defeat and he remains a top prospect while SINE QUA NON is another that is worth keeping an eye on in the future – particularly when he goes over hurdles.

Paul Nicholls may not have his strongest ever squad but JUBILEE ALPHA is one of the leading contenders in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle division and rightly so. She defied a penalty to win at Windsor and remains of interest for Cheltenham. It wouldn’t be a race that he usually targets but she’s good enough to take her chance.

I’d love to see connections aim MATATA at the Queen Mother Champion Chase and he’ll add a crucial dimension to the race in terms of pace. I’d be inclined to suggest that he won’t be good enough to win a Festival Grade 1 but connections shouldn’t be put off as the Champion Chase has a long history of throwing up a shock.

PROTEKTORAT won the Ryanair Chase in 2024 and he could take some stopping in this year’s renewal if he turns up in the same form he was in last Sunday. He won the Fleur De Lys Chase by over 20 lengths, putting his rivals to the sword and sending a reminder to his rivals – I am the current champion and I’m not giving up without a fight.