Cheltenham Festival 2025: @RoadCheltenham reviews the best British festive action

Christmas is officially over and we’re now well and truly in that early January lull. The weather continues to wreak havoc on both sides of the Irish Sea, with meetings being abandoned on the daily.

Having said that, we’re now less than nine weeks out from the biggest event of the year, the Cheltenham Festival. We’ve already had a few early entries this week and the big spring meetings are on the horizon, starting with the Dublin Racing Festival in February.

Without further ado, let’s get straight down to business by reviewing the best of the action in Britain over the past few weeks. But firstly, I’d like to wish all readers a Happy New Year for 2025 – may the punting gods be on your side!

POTTERS CHARM was impressive in the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day and he’ll go straight to Cheltenham for the Turners Novices' Hurdle. The fog meant we couldn’t see all that much of the race but he’s a talented animal and he’ll go to Prestbury Park with a live chance.

I backed LEADER IN THE PARK to win the opener at Kempton and he duly obliged, with the horse piling on the pressure from the front. Ben Jones gave him a cracking ride and I’m firmly of the opinion that he could be one for a Festival handicap – so keep an eye on him in the entries next month.

We saw a potential superstar in THE JUKEBOX MAN, though you’d have to question the strength of opposition. Ben Pauling’s mount produced a sublime performance, with foot perfect jumping throughout before pulling away from the field. His trainer says that he’ll be entered for both Grade 1 novice chases at the Festival.

It was brilliant to see CONSTITUTION HILL back on a racecourse and he clearly retains plenty of ability, with Nicky Henderson’s stable star beating the race-fit LOSSIEMOUTH in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle. The mare never looked comfortable and did well to finish so close to her rival and a rematch at Cheltenham could be very tasty indeed.

BANBRIDGE executed a long term plan to perfection as he secured victory in the King George VI Chase. IL EST FRANCAIS had most of his rivals under pressure a fair way out but Paul Townend always looked confident on Banbridge and he found plenty in the closing stages to pull away. All options are open for both the winner and runner up.

Did we see a Mares Novices' Hurdle contender in KIENTZHEIM? Nicky Henderson had a successful day on Boxing Day and she was one of the highlights, pulling clear of the well regarded Beau Quali to notch a cosy success. She runs in the famous green and gold silks of JP McManus and she could be his main dart at that race.

Lucinda Russell gave MYRETOWN a glowing review earlier this season and he could have plenty of scope in his mark. The race on Boxing Day fell apart after the Donald McCain horse fell four from home but he still pulled almost 20 lengths clear of his rival and he looks tailor-made for the new novices’ handicap chase.

VAL DANCER won the feature race at Chepstow on 27th December, giving trainer Mel Rowley a win on the big stage. The horse has gone from strength to strength since going over fences and he could be one for the Midlands Grand National in March. Soft ground is crucial to him so bear that in mind going forward.

All eyes were on Kempton for SIR GINO vs BALLYBURN and the former came out on top, bolting up to cement his status as Arkle Novices' Chase favourite. Nicky Henderson was full of praise for his mount in the build-up to his chase debut and he lived up to the hype while Ballyburn is now likely to step up in trip at the Dublin Racing Festival.

I have a feeling that Dan Skelton is lining HARPER’S BROOK up for a nice handicap in the spring – whether that’s at Cheltenham or at one of the other major festivals. He is a tricky ride but Kielan Woods appears to get a tune out of him and he went up just 3lbs for a cosy enough success. He could be much better than 139.

From a former Ben Pauling horse to a current one, I was taken with HENRY’S FRIEND at Newbury and he gave another boost to the Coral Gold Cup form. He won a Grade 2 novice chase last term and is now rated 145, which is a career-high mark. He’s a tough one to place but a race like the Kim Muir could be under consideration.

THE NEW LION sluiced up in the Challow Novices# Hurdle and it was one of the most impressive performances of the festive period. JP McManus was certainly impressed as he got the chequebook out to acquire him and he’s the current antepost leader for the Turners Novices' Hurdle. Who knows how high his ceiling is?!

We saw JUBILEE ALPHA shed her maiden tag at the second time of asking, winning the Listed Mares Novices' Hurdle at Taunton on 30th December. She was second to the highly regarded Diva Luna (more on her later) in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Aintree in April and Paul Nicholls has mentioned the Cheltenham Festival as her next target.

I wouldn’t be rushing to back him for the Champion Bumper but Paul Nicholls has a nice type in NO DRAMA THIS END. He beat a decent prospect of Dan Skelton’s in Keops Des Bordes and both are lovely horses to keep onside going forward. It’s worth noting that the winner may skip Cheltenham for Aintree unless the ground comes up soft.

Nicholls ended the year with a winner and he started 2025 with another as progressive chaser KALIF DU BERLAIS claimed victory in the opener at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Now rated as high as 151, he’s been given a tentative entry for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which shows the esteem he’s held in at Ditcheat.

It was good to see DIVA LUNA prevail at Cheltenham and she’ll be given another race to gain experience before returning for the Festival in March. They kept it simple on her the last day by making the running but she’s versatile and I’d say we may see the best of her once she’s dropped in and has a strong pace to aim at.

SPRINGWELL BAY has been busy in recent months, running four times over fences since October. He was very impressive at Cheltenham and I thought he had plenty in hand that day. He’s gone up to a mark of 154 and that makes him tough to place, so it’ll be interesting to see if he goes to Cheltenham or if he’s kept for a Graded race at Aintree.

The Relkeel Hurdle was an open affair, with GOLDEN ACE not quite staying the 2m4f trip. That left LUCKY PLACE and GOWEL ROAD to battle it out and the former prevailed, with Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville suggesting that three miles could bring out more improvement. He’s a solid, improving horse who could run in the Stayers Hurdle.

I have no idea which way they’re going to go with WHISTLE STOP TOUR but he looks like a handicap plot for one of the big staying races this spring. His jumping has improved with every race and he’s been campaigned smartly by Lucinda Russell. The further he goes, the better he looks and he could be one for the National Hunt Chase.

Last but not least, we have SIXMILEBRIDGE. He’s ran three times over hurdles now and the Fergal O’Brien horse has an official rating of 128, with connections targeting a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on Trials Day. He could be one for the EBF Final at Sandown later in the campaign but plans may change if he wins that Graded race later this month.