Cheltenham Festival 2025: Lossiemouth Stakes Her Claims

It was great to head over to Fairyhouse for the Winter Festival weekend and I’d say we saw at least two Cheltenham Festival winners over the two days. The star of the show was undoubtedly Lossiemouth but we won’t talk too much about her for now – there’s plenty of time for that...

The Grade 1 races come thick and fast now and all eyes will be on Sandown Park for the Grade 1 Tingle Creek this coming weekend. For the time being, let’s look back at the best of the National Hunt action over the past week, starting with a Ben Pauling recruit who could be very nice indeed.

MEETMEBYTHESEA was strong in the betting before his rules debut at Ludlow on Monday and punters were rewarded as he pulled clear to secure a cosy success. Owned by JP McManus, he finished second to a £300,000 purchase in his point-to-point and Pauling will hope that his mount can progress into a Graded novice hurdler.

Nicky Henderson opted to send Sir Gino to the Fighting Fifth but IBERICO LORD was a capable replacement in the 2m2f Beginners Chase at Kempton and he duly obliged to emulate former Seven Barrows stars Altior and Shishkin. He didn’t look a natural chaser in the early exchanges but warmed up as the race went on.

Willie Mullins is starting to get his novice hurdlers out and KARNIQUET was impressive – albeit in a weak enough race – at Tramore. Reportedly bought for a huge fee, the son of Kapgarde pulled 11 lengths clear of market rival Downmexicoway to record a convincing victory. Visually, he was impressive and he could be one for a nice race in the spring.

LET IT RAIN clobbered a couple of hurdles in the home straight but won easily enough in the end at Wetherby on Wednesday. Reports from the track stated that she’d sustained a nasty cut after the race so I’d be inclined to keep an eye out on any updates relating to her wellbeing in the coming weeks.  

We saw TRIPOLI FLYER win by around 30 lengths at Market Rasen on Wednesday but it was a very poor race and Fergal O’Brien’s mount went off the 1/14f. It was an armchair ride for Jonathan Burke and we learned very little other than the fact that he’s alive and well – he’ll have bigger targets in the not-so-distant future.

I was very impressed with MARSH WREN (RPR 152) in the Listed Mares Chase and she could be a dark horse in that division this season. The outcome was never in doubt and Apple Away had no answer as Sean Bowen piled on the pressure out in front. It was a devastating display of jumping from a mare on the up.

HOLLOWAY QUEEN had a lofty reputation after going for £180,000 at the sales in April and she won on rules debut at Lingfield on Friday despite drifting significantly before the off. Nicky Henderson has had several nice mares over the years and she could be one to follow throughout the rest of the jumps season.

Kim Bailey had given MOON ROCKET as a horse to follow this campaign and he got off the mark on stable debut, bolting up by 12 lengths in a maiden hurdle at Doncaster on Friday. It was a decent performance, though the winning margin may flatter him slightly as market leader Wicked Thoughts fell when in touch at the second last.

I thought REGENT’S STROLL looked exceptional and he is a hugely exciting prospect for the season ahead. Despite making a hash of the second last, he got back on the bridle and pulled away to win with ease. Bigger and better things lie ahead and he’ll have much tougher tests but this was a good start to his hurdles career.

KALIF DU BERLAIS was giving weight away to many of his rivals but I still expected a little more from him if truth be told. Described by his trainer as a potential future Gold Cup horse, he made hard work of things and might have had to settle for second had the Dan Skelton horse not jumped poorly at key stages in the race.

It was great to see THE JUKEBOX MAN make a seamless transition to chasing and I’d say he laid down a serious marker in the British novice division. He was well supported before the off and he justified his position in the market, beating the race-fit Masaccio on a surface that was arguably quicker than ideal. This was a serious performance.

I’m yet to be convinced that STRONG LEADER is a horse that acts best at Cheltenham but he certainly loves Newbury and Aintree and he was excellent value for his success in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on Friday. Olly Murphy has a decision to make but if he was mine, I’d be prioritising the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle.

Saturday was all action across Britain and Ireland and we start with SKYJACK HIJACK at Newcastle. Jennie Candlish’s mount has featured in this column before and he looks a serious, serious horse. He is a brilliant jumper and his front-running tactics are putting horses under serious pressure. I’d love to see them aim big with him in the spring.

How good was SIR GINO in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle? He came there tanking and bolted up to give Nicky Henderson another memorable success in the race. It’ll be interesting to see what happens now but I’d imagine they’ll put his novice chase campaign on hold and go down the Champion Hurdle route. He’s certainly good enough to have a go.

It’s British form so we’ll have to take it with a pinch of salt but THE NEW LION looks like a supremely talented animal and I’m expecting him to go close in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle later this month. He made light work of a decent rival in Califet En Vol and trainer Dan Skelton was bullish enough in his post-race comments.

It probably wasn’t a vintage renewal of the Gerry Feilden but credit must go to NAVAJO INDY after a superb training performance from Tom Symonds. Having won his prep run at Bangor-on-Dee in October, this son of Nathaniel relished the quicker ground and gave connections a memorable day out.

KANDOO KID had been well backed in the build up to Saturday’s Coral Gold Cup and he rewarded his backers with a hard fought victory, grinding out the win to beat Broadway Boy in a thrilling finish. The grey was always doing enough and he was well on top at the line, and he could end up being a Grand National type down the line.

Over in Ireland, I was at Fairyhouse to see IMPAIRE ET PASSE make a winning start over fences but the race was marred by the loss of Twoohthree and the injury sustained by Jack Kennedy. Reports claim that he suffered a broken tibia and he is already in a race against time to make it back for the Cheltenham Festival.

Everything went wrong for BALLYGUNNER CASTLE in the 2m maiden hurdle yet he still found plenty in the home straight to win going away – the sign of a very good horse. He was one of my horses to follow this season and he remains of significant interest, in particular when he steps up in trip. He looks like a Lawlor’s of Naas type to me.

Is ANZADAM a dark horse for the Champion Hurdle? He certainly looked like a genuine prospect to me in the WillowWarm Hurdle on Saturday. Willie Mullins suggested the International Hurdle as a potential target for him and I’d like to see connections throw him in at the deep end. He’s got bags of potential and he’s one to keep onside.

CALDWELL POTTER got off the mark over fences at the first time of asking and I liked the way that he attacked his fences. He’s by no means a slow horse but he surprised me at his slick jumping and he’ll surely improve when he’s dropped in and goes up in trip. I’d say there is a little bit to work on but he’s clearly a very talented animal.

What did we make of WILLY DE HOUELLE? I was massively disappointed on the day but on reflection, I’d be inclined to give him the benefit of doubt. The going was quick enough and Naturally Nimble, a winner over 1m2f at Navan, had plenty of racecourse experience. If anyone can get the best out of Willy De Houelle, it’s Willie De Mullins.

ROMEO COOLIO was a big disappointment in the Royal Bond Novices Hurdle and it was TOUNSIVATOR who claimed a shock victory. As was the case in the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle, we saw an ex-flat horse prevail but take nothing away from the winner – the favourite had his chance but wasn’t good enough on the day.

I thought CROKE PARK looked in superb nick ahead of the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase and Sam Ewing gave him a brilliant front-running ride to fend off market leaders Firefox and Heart Wood. The winner jumped tremendously – with the exception of one fence down the back – and he looks tailor-made for staying chases on soft ground.

LOSSIEMOUTH was the star of the show at Fairyhouse on Sunday and she justified her spot at the top of the Champion Hurdle market. She’s now officially rated 160 (167 when you take the 7lbs mares allowance into account) and she is a worthy contender for the feature race on the opening day of the meeting in March.

Last but not least, we have KOKTAIL BRUT. A lot of the on-course chat suggested that Willie Mullins’ horse was the one to beat but Gordon Elliott’s mount was in control a long way from home and he could’ve put as much distance as he wanted between himself and his rivals. Could he be a Champion Bumper horse? Only time will tell.

This Week’s Tracker Horse To Follow

ASTA LA PASTA finished third behind Kalif Du Berlais at Newbury and I’d say he has a nice race in him once he shores up his jumping. He travelled like the best horse in the race but some poor jumping cost him dearly. When he puts it all together, he’ll have a great chance of winning. He certainly looks better than his current chase mark of 128.