Kopek Des Bordes - YES
‘He looks a proper racehorse’
PAUL CALLAGHAN
He is a perfect three from three under rules. He did a lot wrong on his hurdling debut at Christmas but galloped his rivals into submission. At the Dublin Racing Festival he still looked keen to get on with things but his jumping was a lot better and he sauntered up the Leopardstown hill. He looked a proper racehorse. I think the fast pace in the Supreme will suit him and, barring disaster, I don’t think there is another horse in the field good enough to beat him. In a race that Ireland has always done well in, I think it will pay to side with Kopek Des Bordes to get those multiple bets off to a flyer, in what will be an emotional opener to this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Kopek Des Bordes - NO
‘It’s a much deeper race than looked likely six weeks ago’
ANNE MARIE DUFF
After his dominant win at the DRF, there seemed no need to look elsewhere for the Supreme Novices’ winner. But do you want to get stuck in with an odds-on shot for the first of the 28 races? Does that not make you wary? And, add that this is a ‘novice’ race – there could be still be a lot we don’t know. I’d like to take on a 4/5 favourite with Romeo Coolio, William Munny, Salvator Mundi, Workahead, and possibly Tripoli Flyer against him. It’s a much deeper Supreme that it looked just after the DRF. Willie has had Cousin Vinny, Min, Melon, Getabird, Asterion Forlonge, Facile Vega and Tullyhill as beaten favourites here. Kopek got a bit worked up at Leopardstown, he looked good but the runner-up Karniquet is a 25/1 shot for the Festival now. He might well win but, at such a short price for the opener, he’ll not have my money.
Majborough - YES
‘The British form does not read
well at this moment in time’
AMY LYNAM
Eight of the last 10 winners have been short-priced favourites, and Majborough thoroughly deserves his short price, as he looks heads and shoulders above his other potential rivals. The British form often takes a beating when the Irish come to town, and doesn’t even read well at this moment in time. The current second favourite, L’Eau Du Sud, beat Touch Me Not by three and three quarter lengths when winning a four-runner Grade 1. The runner-up made a significant mistake that day, but was relatively faultless next time out when beaten nine lengths by Majborough. Majborough’s jumping at Leopardstown made for a few nervous moments, but he’s sure to come on from that.
Majborough - NO
‘Five-year-olds have a shocking record since allowance removed’
MARK COSTELLO
Elsewhere in this publication, stats man Bryan Gault writes “10 of the last 13 Arkle favourites have won, seven at odds-on.” Yikes. But then how about this crack-a-stat from Paul Ferguson, editor of the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide: “Since the removal of the age-allowance (2008), no five-year-old has won the Arkle, with the record of such runners standing at 0-11 during this period. Five more took their chance in 2007, so the record since the last five-year-old winner – that being Voy Por Ustedes some 19 years ago – is a dismal 0-16.” Now, that will soften your cough. And what about those mistakes he made at Leopardstown? I didn’t see L’Eau Du Sud touch a twig in any of his starts to-date. The Skelton runner has has age, experience and a better jumping record on his side. I’d rather 9/2 on him than 4/7 about the favourite.
Constitution Hill - YES
‘We’re likely dealing with one
of the all-time greats’
MARK BOYLAN
Having been among the founding members of the Brighterdaysahead fan club, it pains me to take her on. However, until Constitution Hill is beaten, I can’t back against him. Brighterdaysahead is top drawer. In terms of ability, there’s every chance she’s in a similar bracket to the likes of Honeysuckle. How many top mares have ever looked like turning Constitution Hill over, though? At his best, we’re likely dealing with one of the all-time greats in this division. His rating of 175 is only 1lb off Istabraq and Faugheen, and former Irish senior National Hunt handicapper Andrew ‘Sandy’ Shaw said after his 2023 Cheltenham success: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse win a Champion Hurdle so easily.” Granted, Michael Buckley’s star hasn’t run to near that 175 level recently, but he hardly would have had the opportunity to do so, given he was off the track for a year before the Christmas Hurdle and beat much inferior opposition without coming off the bridle on Cheltenham Trials Day. Where is the concrete evidence to suggest he has lost a chunk of ability? I haven’t seen it yet.
Constitution Hill - NO
‘Dawn Run 2.0 is ready for
her biggest test’
THOM MALONE
“There is no tomorrow…We’re taking them boys to the hurt arena,” said Andy Farrell on the Lions tour. Hopefully, come the Tuesday of Cheltenham, Gordon Elliott is saying the same to Jack Kennedy. Constitution Hill is set for his biggest test, and it’s up to Brighterdaysahead and whoever wants to help her along to take him there, to bring him out of his comfort zone for the first time (that disastrous schooling gallop aside).
The former champ has questions to answer, and really, we have learned little in his runs so far this season. Lossiemouth never went a yard at Christmas and was only beaten three lengths. He didn’t get away from her, on a speed track. That is a worry for fans of the Hill. Meanwhile, Dawn Run 2.0 has torched all before her this season. Her incredible running style and ludicrous cruising speed have been a joy to behold, with the reigning champion the victim to the mare’s boldness twice already.
She is ready for the biggest test, to take Constitution Hill off the bridle. If anyone can, it will be Brighterdaysahead. Then, we are truly in the realms of the unknown.
Jonbon - YES
‘Unbeatable if brings his ‘A’ game’
PAUL CALLAGHAN
If this race was run at Sandown or Ascot or almost anywhere else, I think it would be a penalty kick. Jonbon has registered 12 victories from 14 starts over fences, both defeats coming over the minimum trip at Prestbury Park.
Jonbon is unbeaten in three starts this season, with victories at Cheltenham, Sandown and Ascot. It was his latest victory at Ascot in the 2025 running of the Clarence House Chase that was really impressive where he beat Energumene by six and a half lengths into second place. Jonbon jumped well and looked as good as ever. If bringing his ‘A’ game I don’t think there is a rival in the field good enough to beat Jonbon. I just hope Cheltenham can become his best friend by 4pm on Wednesday afternoon.
Jonbon - NO
‘What has he beaten?’
MARK COSTELLO
Confession: I wanted to take this one so I could mention that I opposed El Fabiolo (2/9) in this space last year. I was also against Galopin Des Champs but never mind that. So, you’re thinking of backing Jonbon at 4/5 next week? This is the horse beaten 22 lengths by Constitution Hill here in 2022 and by over five lengths by El Fabiolo (ahem) at the 2023 Festival. He was marked absent last year due to the Henderson stable bug, but he has won all five of his starts since. The problem is that the five horses who chased him home in those races (Conflated, El Fabiolo, Boothill, Quilixios and Energumene) are all past their best. Solness will put him under pressure early doors and Marine Nationale will pick them both off up the hill. It is written.
Ballyburn - YES
‘Loving life and he could be
next year’s Gold Cup winner’
AMY CORRADO
I’ve been a fan of Ballyburn since his point-to-point debut, it’s always stuck with me how brave he was to pick up again and win after being badly hampered. He proved that he deserved to take his chance over further when he went down in defeat to Sir Gino at Kempton, it was a learning curve for everyone involved, and he still came out all guns blazing at Leopardstown next time. He looked to be loving life, so a further step up should see him do even better. Willie said last year after his Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle win that he could be a Gold Cup horse. With his pedigree, he shouldn’t have to prove his stamina, so surely this will be a good hint to next year as well.
Ballyburn - NO
‘This is one for the piano lifters’
THOM MALONE
Ballyburn would probably have run in the two miles, five furlong race if that contest had not been turned into a handicap this year. Willie Mullins has been pretty vocal in his criticism of the removal of graded novice chases from the programme this year and stepping Ballyburn up to three miles at this stage of his career is a deviation from established practices for the master of Closutton. However, his stablemate Dancing City is tailor-made for the race. He is clearly not the flashiest at home, given how rarely Paul Townend chose him early on in his career, and again Townend will likely side with Ballyburn. However, this race is a test of jumping, efficiency and stamina. Ballyburn has more class, undoubtedly, but this should be a victory for dour efficiency over the mercurial, one for the piano lifters rather than players. Just jump and stay.
Teahupoo - YES
‘Good ground is the only concern’
ANNE MARIE DUFF
The likely good ground is the big concern for the reigning champion but the opposition is weak. He was a three and three-quarter length winner on officially soft going last year. He’s been here before and probably unlucky not to be going for three in a row.
Home By The Lee has had three attempts at the Stayers, why should he win this time? He’s 10, he’s not going to be getting better. He was six lengths behind Teahupoo last year. Teahupoo again beat him by over six lengths on yielding ground at Punchestown.
Rocky’s Diamond is the other end of the scale. It’s his first Festival, he’s only five, they don’t win Stayers’ Hurdles at that age. It was soft to heavy at Gowran and they finished in a bunch. Lucky Place has to prove he stays. Bob Olinger won’t! Teahupoo is the solid bet.
Teahupoo - NO
‘Favourites have moderate record’
AMY LYNAM
While the market may not agree, I think the Stayers’ Hurdle looks an open race, as it often turns out to be – only three favourites have won the last 10 runnings, with six winners at double-figure odds, up to 50/1. Teahupoo won last year after just one previous start that season in the Hatton’s Grace, which he won, beating Impaire Et Passe. While he faced a formidable foe in Lossiemouth this time round, it wasn’t the most admirable performance in defeat, only finishing five and a half lengths in front of 25/1 shot Beacon Edge. In contrast, last year’s third Home By The Lee comes into the race in his best form as a 10-year-old. His form ties in with Rocky’s Diamond, one of many unexposed types, while last year’s Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story appeals if he reverts to hurdling.