Cheltenham Market Movers: Love Me Tender Shortens as Kopek Des Bordes Drifts

The road to the 2027 Cheltenham Festival took several unexpected turns over the weekend, with established stars suffering defeats, exciting novices enhancing their reputations and trainers offering fresh clues about their plans for March.

Sunday's meeting at Naas proved particularly informative. Willie Mullins saw his 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes comprehensively beaten, but also unveiled an increasingly serious contender for the same race in Love Me Tender.

Meanwhile, Champion Bumper hero The Mourne Rambler maintained his unbeaten record at Naas, although his performance prompted suggestions that a different Cheltenham target to the one he was favourite for could be on the agenda.

With the Festival taking place from 16 to 19 March 2027, we assess the horses whose prospects changed over the weekend and what their performances could mean for the biggest races at Prestbury Park.

The Mourne Rambler: Supreme or Turners Novices' Hurdle?

Last season's Champion Bumper winner The Mourne Rambler made a successful start to his hurdling career at Naas, but connections appear to be reconsidering his most suitable Cheltenham target.

Sent off at 1/4, Noel Meade's five-year-old was expected to make short work of his rivals in a two-mile maiden hurdle. Instead, he was forced to dig deep before getting the better of Whisky Lads by half a length.

Meade was encouraged by the winner's jumping overall, but suggested afterwards that a step up to two and a half miles could be preferable to remaining at the minimum trip.

That would represent a change from the original plan of tackling the Royal Bond and has significant implications for his Cheltenham Festival prospects.

Cheltenham permutations: The Supreme Novices' Hurdle had initially appeared the logical destination for the reigning Champion Bumper winner, but the Turners Novices' Hurdle over approximately two miles and five furlongs is now emerging as a serious alternative.

The Mourne Rambler was cut to around 16/1 for the Turners with some bookmakers, reflecting the growing expectation that his stamina could be better exploited over further.

A switch to intermediate distances would also remove a significant contender from the Supreme picture, potentially leaving Love Me Tender and the other leading two-mile novices with one fewer rival to contend with.

Nothing has been finalised, but the distance chosen for The Mourne Rambler's next start should provide a strong indication of the direction Meade intends to take.

Kopek Des Bordes Suffers Champion Chase Setback

Few horses attracted more attention at Naas than Kopek Des Bordes, who returned as the 1/4 favourite for the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase.

The 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner had looked a potential superstar over fences last season, but his campaign ended in frustration following defeat to Kargese in the Arkle at Cheltenham and a subsequent fall at Punchestown.

His return did little to restore confidence, with Irish Panther producing a decisive performance to defeat him by ten lengths.

Nevertheless, Mullins and jockey Paul Townend both identified positives in the run, particularly an improved attitude towards his jumping. Connections also believe he will benefit considerably from the outing.

Cheltenham permutations: Kopek Des Bordes remains a Champion Chase contender, but his claims are now considerably less convincing than they appeared before Sunday's race.

He faces the prospect of taking on reigning champion Il Etait Temps and Arkle winner Kargese, both from his own stable, as well as an improving Irish Panther.

There has also been speculation about a possible return to hurdles, although Mullins indicated after Naas that he intends to persevere over fences, potentially returning to action around Christmas.

That makes his next chase particularly important. A return to winning ways against established opposition could quickly restore his reputation, but another defeat would leave serious questions about his ability to challenge the best two-mile chasers at Cheltenham.

Irish Panther Enters the Champion Chase Conversation

While Kopek Des Bordes disappointed, Irish Panther arguably delivered the most significant chasing performance of the weekend.

The Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained nine-year-old was always travelling strongly under Kieren Buckley and powered clear to land the Barberstown Castle Chase by ten lengths.

Although he finished only sixth in last season's Champion Chase, Irish Panther was still a relatively inexperienced novice at that stage and appears capable of further improvement.

Connections have identified a likely return to Leopardstown over Christmas, where he could have another opportunity to establish himself among Ireland's leading two-mile chasers.

Cheltenham permutations: Irish Panther is now a genuine contender for the 2027 Champion Chase, although he still has to demonstrate that Sunday's performance was more than an early-season advantage over a rival who needed the run.

A strong showing at Leopardstown would go a long way towards answering that question.

Should he confirm the Naas form against top-class opposition, his current position outside the leading Mullins contenders in the ante-post betting could begin to look generous.

Love Me Tender Emerges as New Supreme Novices' Hurdle Favourite

Willie Mullins has another potentially top-class novice hurdler on his hands after Love Me Tender made it two wins from two over obstacles with an impressive victory in Sunday's Grade 3 Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle at Naas.

The four-year-old, who had won his hurdling debut at Listowel by 20 lengths, was similarly dominant on this occasion, pulling 15 lengths clear of Bartholomew despite several untidy jumps.

Bookmakers reacted by cutting Love Me Tender to as short as 6/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, making him the new favourite with several firms.

However, his jumping remains a concern. Mullins acknowledged that the gelding has considerable room for improvement in that department, and suggested connections could bypass the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in favour of giving him additional time before a Christmas engagement.

Cheltenham permutations: The Supreme is the obvious target given Love Me Tender's pace and the two-mile trips over which he has excelled so far.

His jumping will need to improve considerably, however, particularly with Cheltenham's championship novice hurdle demanding accuracy at speed.

A smoother round against stronger opposition on his next start would strengthen his claims, while further mistakes might make his current position at the head of the market difficult to justify.

Anzadam Gives Mullins Another Arkle Contender

There was better news for Mullins elsewhere on the Naas card, where Anzadam made an encouraging start to his chasing career.

The six-year-old had displayed considerable ability over hurdles, but his tendency to race too freely often prevented him from producing his best performances.

He appeared more settled on his first start over fences, eventually pulling seven lengths clear of Eachtotheirown in a two-mile beginners' chase.

Bookmakers responded by cutting him from around 25/1 to 10/1 for the 2027 Arkle.

Cheltenham permutations: Anzadam's immediate objective will be to prove he can reproduce this performance in stronger novice company, but the Arkle looks a plausible long-term target.

His ability to settle more effectively over fences is particularly encouraging, as the strong gallop of a championship two-mile novice chase could suit a horse with his natural speed.

Nicky Henderson's Supreme winner Old Park Star remains a major obstacle in the ante-post market, but Anzadam has now emerged as another interesting Irish challenger.

Alexei Strengthens Champion Hurdle Claims at Aintree

British-trained Champion Hurdle contender Alexei made a successful seasonal reappearance in Saturday's Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree.

Joe Tizzard's six-year-old, who finished fourth behind Lossiemouth in last season's Champion Hurdle, justified favouritism with a four-length victory over Mange Tout.

It was a professional rather than spectacular performance, although Alexei was conceding eight pounds to the runner-up.

With Mydaddypaddy withdrawn because of the ground, the race arguably provided less of a test than connections might originally have anticipated.

Tizzard has indicated that the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is the likely next target.

Cheltenham permutations: Alexei has established himself as a legitimate contender for another Champion Hurdle appearance, but whether he can bridge the gap to the very best remains uncertain.

His fourth-place finish in March demonstrated that he belongs in this company, while his subsequent third in the Aintree Hurdle confirmed his progression into a high-class performer.

However, beating Mange Tout is a different proposition from getting the better of the likes of Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead.

The Fighting Fifth should provide a clearer indication of whether further improvement is forthcoming and how seriously he should be considered for Cheltenham.

Royal Infantry Adds to Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Picture

Another British-trained novice worth monitoring is Royal Infantry, who maintained his unbeaten record for the season with victory in Friday's Future Stars Silver Bowl Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Dan Skelton's seven-year-old jumped soundly for much of the three-mile-one-furlong contest and proved too strong for Klimt Madrik, winning by two and a half lengths.

The performance earned Royal Infantry an introductory quote of 33/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Cheltenham permutations: Having now won twice over fences this season, Royal Infantry is beginning to look a potentially interesting candidate for the Festival's staying novice championship.

His Aintree victory provided encouraging evidence of his stamina, while his jumping appeared more assured than it had been during his previous, interrupted introduction to chasing.

He still needs to improve considerably before he can be regarded as a leading Brown Advisory contender, but Skelton has time to develop him through the winter.