Cheltenham Festival 2025: Stunning Week Put Under The Microscope
What a week. It was arguably the most entertaining week of the season so far, with the John Durkan Memorial Chase proving a real spectacle for jumps fans. I’d be amazed if we see a more exciting race all year – it was gripping from start to finish and it was great to see the big names fighting out the finish.
We’ve got more Grade 1 action this coming week with the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse but for now, we’re going to look back at the best of the action over the past seven days. Strap yourselves in, there’s plenty to get through!
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Ffos Las on Wednesday is the starting point and ADMIRAL STEWART caught my eye as he dispatched big money buy Buckna. They pulled clear of the third placed horse and Jamie Snowden’s mount showed enough toe to pull away from his rivals when the pace upped. He’s a nice horse.
CASTLE IVERS got the better of Don’t Mind If I Do in the 2m maiden hurdle at Warwick on Thursday and Sean Bowen deserves plenty of credit for the ride. The runner up had finished second to the well regarded Regent’s Stroll so the form looks strong and I’d be hopeful the winner will be one of Olly Murphy’s top novice hurdlers this year.
I thought THAT’S NICE looked very nice indeed in the 2m3f mares novice hurdle. She was green and inexperienced but there is no doubting her engine and she got back on the bridle in the closing stages to win cosily under a confident Nico de Boinville. She’s one to follow in that division throughout the campaign.
CELTIC DINO is a very likeable type and he caught the eye in what looked like a pretty warm introductory hurdle at Ascot on Friday. The two in behind, Wade Out and Joyeuse, are decent animals in their own right but I always felt that Dylan Johnston had his rivals at arm’s length. He looks smart.
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We saw MIRAZUR WEST flop on chase debut at Tipperary, with the full brother to Ferny Hollow having to settle for second behind ONLY BY NIGHT. He is a difficult ride and is determined to jump out to his right, with Willie Mullins suggesting after the race that he may be kept to right-handed tracks.
He mightn’t be a Cheltenham horse but PIC D’ORHY is consistent around Ascot and he claimed his fourth course win in the 1965 Chase on Saturday. Paul Nicholls is likely to aim him at a lucrative race at Windsor before returning for the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February ahead of a visit to Aintree in the spring.
LUCKY PLACE won what looked like an informative Ascot Hurdle and Nicky Henderson has hinted at trying to make a Stayers Hurdle horse out of him. The likes of Blueking D’Oroux, Colonel Mustard and Golden Ace weren’t too far behind so this could be a nice race to follow for the rest of the season.
I was really taken by ROADLESSTRAVELLED in the opener at Haydock and he looks like a proper staying type. He’s classy enough to win over two miles though and I’d say he wouldn’t be out of place in a race like the 2m4f Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes next.
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Another winner for Sam Thomas and another winner for Dylan Johnston – who is quickly becoming a very talented jockey. STEEL ALLY, second in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month, proved too strong for his rivals and I’d say he still has scope in his handicap mark, particularly on soft ground.
TRELAWNE stayed on stoutly to prevail in the Graduation Chase at Haydock and I was thrilled for Kim Bailey. He’s always placed great faith in this horse and he was rewarded with a big Saturday winner and I’d imagine connections will attempt to make hay and aim high. I won’t even mention the ride on Iroko...
The ground turned testing for Saturday’s Betfair Chase and that played into the hands of ROYALE PAGAILLE, who followed up last year’s success to record back-to-back wins in the race. GREY DAWNING ran his heart out but a final fence blunder proved costly, and the lack of a prep run was clear for all to see in the closing stages.
The maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday looked like a strong renewal on paper and the front three are all smart types going forward. BUTCH CASSIDY came out on top after sustained market support but both Sermandzarak and Shuffle The Deck ran with credit and I’d say both will win races this year.
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All eyes were on BALLYBURN in the Beginners Chase and we didn’t really learn all that much other than he is alive and well. His jumping was solid if not spectacular but we know he has a huge engine and he may produce a better performance in a better calibre of race. Back against him at your peril.
It was a 1-2-3 for Gigginstown and Gordon Elliott in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase and that’s because there were only three runners declared in the race. STELLAR STORY, winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, got the better of Search For Glory with Rainbow Trail back in third.
BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD won a thrilling renewal of the Morgiana Hurdle, becoming the first mare to win the race in 33 years. State Man looked like he’d come on for the run but let’s not take anything away from the winner – she’s a supremely talented mare and she wouldn’t be out of place lining up in a Champion Hurdle.
It was great to see THE BIG WESTERNER get her head in front at Punchestown and I’d be hopeful that she’ll be an excellent novice this season. She was making her rules debut against the geldings and Willie Mullins’ runner was well fancied yet she toughed it out well. She could be one for the Grade 1 2m4f Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
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Willie Mullins has always been full of praise for LOT OF JOY and she justified favouritism in the Listed Mares Hurdle on Sunday. She travelled strongly and seemed to have more in the tank after making all – which is often the sign of a good horse. She’s probably got scope in her mark and a lucrative handicap may be on the cards.
The John Durkan was something else. FACT TO FILE ended up winning but the front four all ran superbly well and all the right horses were to the fore. SPILLANE’S TOWER was the surprise package in the race in second while both GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and FASTORSLOW gave excellent accounts. Bring on the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.
I’ve not focused too much on bumper horses this season but KALYPSO’CHANCE was excellent in the concluding race at Punchestown on Sunday. He bolted up to go as short as 6/1 for the Champion Bumper in March – a silly price at this stage of the year. He is a good horse, there’s no doubt about it but that’s very skinny indeed.
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Star Performance Of The Week
Three words: Fact. To. File. Willie Mullins had suggested that FACT TO FILE would need the run but he produced a scintillating performance to prevail in the John Durkan on his first start in open company. It was a magnificent result and you’d have to say he won in spite of his jumping, which was a tad wayward at times.
There’s certainly a huge engine under the bonnet and you must give credit to the trainer after the decision to skip a novice hurdling campaign and go straight over fences. It worked with Florida Pearl and it’s working with Fact To File. All roads surely lead to the Cheltenham Gold Cup providing he can mix it with his peers over three miles at Christmas.
This Week’s Tracker Horse To Follow
DON’T MIND IF I DO ran a big race on hurdles debut behind Castle Ivers – particularly as Olly Murphy’s horse gained plenty of experience in bumpers last season. Alan King was fairly sweet on his mount in a recent stable tour and I’d say he will come on for the run.