Final Demand A Future Gold Cup Horse | @RoadCheltenham’s Weekly Column

I’m going to put it out there: we saw at least two 2026 Cheltenham Festival winners in action last week. It felt like a big week for ante-post dockets and plenty will be getting the trumpets out to share their value slips. Remember, it’s only value if the bet wins.

Here, I cast my eye on the past seven days in the world of jump racing. The quality of racing cranked up a notch andCheltenham’s November meeting saw huge crowds flock to Prestbury Park once again. Let’s get down to business…

MYDADDYPADDY made a stylish start to life over hurdles and he sets the standard in the Supreme Novices Hurdle division at this early stage. It sounds like the Formby Novices Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day will be next up for him – he could be anything.

I thought STEEL ALLY was excellent on chase debut at Carlisle and Welsh trainer Sam Thomas is enjoying an exciting time of things right now. He is likely to be tried at Graded level but I wonder if he could make into a Grand Annual type come March?

Unfortunately, DERRYHASSEN PADDY was one of the disappointments of the week for me and I can’t see him winning anything at the Festival. He jumped poorly throughout and it would take a huge leap of faith to back him for any race at Cheltenham.

DIVA LUNA looked a natural on chase debut at Bangor-on-Dee and she made light work of her rivals, leading from pillar to post to put her rivals to the sword. If Ben Pauling can keep her in that sort of form, she could be a danger in the Mares Chase division.

KOKTAIL BRUT ran out an impressive winner on hurdles debut at Punchestown on Thursday and he looks a lovely prospect for the season ahead. He had a big enough reputation as a bumper horse but was always likely to improve when he went hurdling.

We’re running out of superlatives for Sean Bowen and he galvanised WADE OUT to a remarkable success in the 3m1f Listed Novices Chase. Olly Murphy hinted that he could be aimed at the National Hunt Chase in March so get him in the notebook.

Could L’EAU DU SUD spring a shock in the Queen Mother Champion Chase? He was a clear-cut winner of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Friday and it’ll be interesting to see if he can confirm form with Jonbon in the Tingle Creek Chase.

Paul Nicholls couldn’t help himself from mentioning Denman when discussing the very taking performance of NO DRAMA THIS END in the 2m5f Grade 2 novice hurdle. While he has a long way to go to hit those heights, it was a very impressive start.

Harry Derham was emotional following the success of ONE HORSE TOWN in the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial and the race in March will be his main aim now. I’d be shocked if he ends up being the best of the British and Irish but you never know…

I was seriously impressed with JULY FLOWER in the Grade 2 Arkle Novices Chase Trial and she could be firmly in the mix in March. Be Aware is no slouch and she’s still a fair enough price – especially if you’re a punter that builds a book.

A long-term plan paid off for PANIC ATTACK and her connections as she went and won the Paddy Power Gold Cup.Credit to Dan Skelton, it was a brilliant training performance once again and she could still have a bit of improvement to come on better ground.

I’m not entirely sure where MEETMEBYTHESEA will end up in the spring but he looks a progressive type and I can see him being campaigned in a similar way to Jagwar. He’s an obvious contender for a handicap in the spring.

MARBLE SANDS certainly stayed the 3m3f trip at Cheltenham on Sunday and that win opens a lot of doors going forward. He won that race off a mark of 142 so he’ll likely be too high for the National Hunt Chase, but could he go for the Aintree Grand National?

The Greatwood Hurdle went to the Joe Tizzard yard as ALEXEI added another victory to his CV. Could he be one for the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury in February? Maybe. I’d say he may be tried in a Graded race first and they’ll take it from there.

KALYPSO’CHANCE came on leaps and bounds from his Down Royal run to win the Grade 3 Monksfield Novices Hurdle. Gordon Elliott has always held this horse in high regard and the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novices Hurdle may be next on the agenda.

It was ‘only’ a Beginners Chase but FINAL DEMAND was something else at Navan on Sunday. It was the best novice chase performance since Galopin Des Champs for me and I’d say the main danger in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase is himself.