Cheltenham Festival 2025: Reviewing A Week In Which A Betfair Contender Emerged

Another week down, another week closer to ‘the C word’. No, not that one – we’re talking about Cheltenham of course and jumps racing returns to HQ this coming weekend.

But for now, we’re taking a look back on last week’s standout performances and which horses we need to follow throughout the rest of the 2024/25 National Hunt season...

It was a slow start to the week but things really picked up on Wednesday and we’ll start things off with Wetherby and PRIMOZ. One of my horses to follow this winter, I was very satisfied to see him open his account over fences at the first time of asking.

Lucinda Russell has a very nice horse on her hands and this son of Westerner can take high rank in British novice chases this term. I suggested that he had at least a stone of improvement to come over fences and his debut only confirmed that view.

JAGWAR was fairly disappointing over hurdles and he hardly looked a natural to chasing on his debut at Wetherby but the engine is certainly there. He got the job done but his jumping will need to improve if he’s to take his form to new heights.

EL ELEFANTE jumped slightly to her right on chase debut at Worcester but she proved a class above her rivals in the 2m4f Mares Novices Chase. She performed reasonably well in novice hurdles but fences could be the making of her. She looks smart.

The 2m novice hurdle saw two nice types – THE KEMBLE BREWERY and JURANCON – go up against each other, pulling 10 lengths clear of the field. While the latter may be the better long term prospect, the former came out on top on the day.

At Punchestown, the Joseph O’Brien-trained JORDANS won the Grade 3 novice chase and he is likely to improve again once the ground turns softer. MONBEG PARK lost little in defeat and he is one to keep onside, possibly up in trip.

I was very impressed with CELTIC DINO in the opener at Wincanton on Thursday and Sam Thomas is building a strong novice hurdle team. The Betfair Hurdle was suggested as a possible target and he certainly looks good enough to compete in a race like that.

Olly Murphy has been in fantastic form and WADE OUT justified his short price to record another victory for the Warren Chase handler. The runner up, WE’RE RED AND BLUE, is one to keep an eye on going forward – he looks a winner in waiting.

And the yard had another winner on Saturday, with new recruit WESTERNINTHEPARK making a mockery of his rating to bolt up at Stratford. He’s gone up 9lbs for that success but I’d say he has more up his sleeve.

JETARA defied a swing in the weights to claim Listed success at Limerick, fending off the fast-finishing Royal Eagle to give Jessica Harrington a nice winner. The winner is rated 145 over hurdles and would hold her own in most open company Graded mares races.

Paul Nicholls had suggested that RUBAUD may go chasing but I’d expect connections to keep him over hurdles now after his Listed win at Kempton. He may bump into the likes of Constitution Hill and Sir Gino but he can mop up plenty of races over hurdles.

REAL STEEL won the Munster National for Eric McNamara after a canny ride from Danny Mullins. For me, he is the best jockey at riding from the front, he rarely gets his fractions wrong and this was a fantastic ride – certainly the ride of the season so far.

Punters were left aggrieved as HORANTZAU D’AIRY had to settle for second once again and he was well found in the betting before the race. You’d have to feel a big staying handicap will fall into his lap at some point but he’s up to a mark of 147 for finishing second the last twice.