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Cheltenham Festival 2026, get rich, or die trying.
- Thread starter The Fortune Teller
- Start date
The Fortune Teller
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2016
- Messages
- 8,956
You're right. I had it in my head that they'd ended sponsorship for some reason.
Edit, they have ended sponsorship, I'm not sure who the new sponsor is yet or from what year they take the reins.
Edit, they have ended sponsorship, I'm not sure who the new sponsor is yet or from what year they take the reins.
Last edited:
Basil Pinenuts
Amateur Rider
Saw Wendrock was a sea of blue for the Martin Pipe, so presumably a comment Elliott has made at one of the previews. Had him and Jump Allen shortlisted for the Coral Cup, but can't work out what the cut off mark will be (both not guaranteed to get in).
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
Many thanks. I listened last night. Gary's a real pro. I noticed at the end of almost every race analysis by Ruby he would ask Gary, 'What do you think?' I'll be following their Lucky 15 tips.
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
That's very helpful. Thanks.
The Fortune Teller
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2016
- Messages
- 8,956
It
As you say, he was blue across the board for the Martin Pipe, so that might tell its own story.
It's been 131 for the Coral Cup the last two years, I'd be surprised if he didn't get in off 134.
As you say, he was blue across the board for the Martin Pipe, so that might tell its own story.
Euronymous
Senior Jockey
Glad you're still knocking about Joe. I remember you from the Betfair Forum, particularly tipping Monkerhostin for the Whitbread at 25s. I followed you in.
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
Thanks (I am surprised myself I am still knocking about!) I loved that Betfair forum back in the day. Some real clever heads on there before the crazies moved in. Monkerhostin was probably my luckiest horse. I had the biggest single bet of my life on him when he won the Coral Cup in 2004. I bet in very small amounts these days - much less stressful!
'He's a proper horse and 40-1 is a huge price' - Davy Russell is seriously sweet on one trained by ex-boss Gordon Elliott
The Gold Cup-winning jockey is next up in our essential pre-festival series
The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. Next up is Davy Russell.
What was your best ever Cheltenham Festival win?
I know you'll probably be expecting me to go for Lord Windermere in the Gold Cup, but I'm actually going to say Envoi Allen when he won what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle. That was my easiest festival win by a country mile. You have absolutely no idea how easily he won that day. My biggest job was getting him down to the start. It was just a steering job in the race itself. Everything was effortless. People say there is pressure riding hot favourites like that, but that's not pressure. Good horses like him take the pressure off because they're a dream to ride. He absolutely bolted up.
Who’s your strongest fancy at the meeting this year?
I'm a Ballyfad man. I just love everything about him. I love the way he goes about his business and 8-1 about him winning the Turners looks like value to me. He's a serious specimen and is going to make a smashing chaser next season.
Who wins the Champion Hurdle?
It's a process of elimination at this stage with Constitution Hill out and so many others in the race who cannot possibly win so, for that reason, I'll say The New Lion. Everything seems to be falling into place for him and I loved the way Harry [Skelton] rode him the last day. He didn't care whether he won or lost and it was all about educating him for the big day. That policy might pay off. Clever.
Are you for or against Majborough in the Champion Chase?
He might win, but he's priced on one performance. He is the best horse if he doesn't touch a twig, but how sure can you be that he won't? Will the cheekpieces work as well this time? I actually think on nicer ground that Marine Nationale is the safer play of the top two in the market.
Who do you like in the Stayers’ Hurdle?
I seem to be the only one in Ireland who fancies Ma Shantou. He's got course form, he's improving and he's trained by someone who knows how to win this race. I think he has a lot more upside than most in this field, so he'll do me.
Who’s your pick in a wide-open Gold Cup?
Just about Jango Baie. I like horses who go down the Arkle route as novices' before the Gold Cup – the likes of Kicking King and War Of Attrition. Neither of them won an Arkle, but this guy did. It's a wide-open race, as you say, but he just might be the one with most scope for improvement. I like his profile, but the only thing that worries me is that he hasn't run in the calendar year yet and there is something in the back of my mind telling me that is a very negative stat.
Which novice hurdlers take your eye?
Talk The Talk and Ballyfad. Those two stick out like sore thumbs for me. That Grade 1 from the Dublin Racing Festival is the best piece of form on offer in my opinion and I think it will stand up at Cheltenham in both the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Turners.
And what about the novice chasers?
Lulamba is the one I like in the Arkle. He's a hell of a horse. I wouldn't be surprised to see Western Fold run a big race in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. People might crab him because he won a Galway Plate and it's only a handicap, but it didn't do Carlingford Lough any harm, did it? He should come on plenty for his run behind Kaid D'Authie at the DRF and it's hard to see him finishing out of the first three.
Have you picked out anything for the handicaps?
I have a sneaky suspicion Final Orders will run a big race in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. I was really impressed with the way he won at the track in December and he could outrun his odds, getting plenty of weight from stablemate Stumptown.
And finally, do you have a decent bet at a big price?
I definitely do. Jalon D'Oudairies in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He's a proper horse and 40-1 is a huge price. He's got loads of ability and I think he'll be bang there. If you go back through his form he was very good in bumpers and he got his act together to win by a long way at Naas the other day.
The Gold Cup-winning jockey is next up in our essential pre-festival series
The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. Next up is Davy Russell.
What was your best ever Cheltenham Festival win?
I know you'll probably be expecting me to go for Lord Windermere in the Gold Cup, but I'm actually going to say Envoi Allen when he won what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle. That was my easiest festival win by a country mile. You have absolutely no idea how easily he won that day. My biggest job was getting him down to the start. It was just a steering job in the race itself. Everything was effortless. People say there is pressure riding hot favourites like that, but that's not pressure. Good horses like him take the pressure off because they're a dream to ride. He absolutely bolted up.
Who’s your strongest fancy at the meeting this year?
I'm a Ballyfad man. I just love everything about him. I love the way he goes about his business and 8-1 about him winning the Turners looks like value to me. He's a serious specimen and is going to make a smashing chaser next season.
Who wins the Champion Hurdle?
It's a process of elimination at this stage with Constitution Hill out and so many others in the race who cannot possibly win so, for that reason, I'll say The New Lion. Everything seems to be falling into place for him and I loved the way Harry [Skelton] rode him the last day. He didn't care whether he won or lost and it was all about educating him for the big day. That policy might pay off. Clever.
Are you for or against Majborough in the Champion Chase?
He might win, but he's priced on one performance. He is the best horse if he doesn't touch a twig, but how sure can you be that he won't? Will the cheekpieces work as well this time? I actually think on nicer ground that Marine Nationale is the safer play of the top two in the market.
Who do you like in the Stayers’ Hurdle?
I seem to be the only one in Ireland who fancies Ma Shantou. He's got course form, he's improving and he's trained by someone who knows how to win this race. I think he has a lot more upside than most in this field, so he'll do me.
Who’s your pick in a wide-open Gold Cup?
Just about Jango Baie. I like horses who go down the Arkle route as novices' before the Gold Cup – the likes of Kicking King and War Of Attrition. Neither of them won an Arkle, but this guy did. It's a wide-open race, as you say, but he just might be the one with most scope for improvement. I like his profile, but the only thing that worries me is that he hasn't run in the calendar year yet and there is something in the back of my mind telling me that is a very negative stat.
Which novice hurdlers take your eye?
Talk The Talk and Ballyfad. Those two stick out like sore thumbs for me. That Grade 1 from the Dublin Racing Festival is the best piece of form on offer in my opinion and I think it will stand up at Cheltenham in both the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Turners.
And what about the novice chasers?
Lulamba is the one I like in the Arkle. He's a hell of a horse. I wouldn't be surprised to see Western Fold run a big race in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. People might crab him because he won a Galway Plate and it's only a handicap, but it didn't do Carlingford Lough any harm, did it? He should come on plenty for his run behind Kaid D'Authie at the DRF and it's hard to see him finishing out of the first three.
Have you picked out anything for the handicaps?
I have a sneaky suspicion Final Orders will run a big race in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. I was really impressed with the way he won at the track in December and he could outrun his odds, getting plenty of weight from stablemate Stumptown.
And finally, do you have a decent bet at a big price?
I definitely do. Jalon D'Oudairies in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He's a proper horse and 40-1 is a huge price. He's got loads of ability and I think he'll be bang there. If you go back through his form he was very good in bumpers and he got his act together to win by a long way at Naas the other day.
Steeplechasing
Amateur Rider
Thanks for taking the time to do this. Davy's a good judge and a great entertainer.
