Racing Weekly: Cheltenham Festival Review and Ante-Post 2025

Rishi Persad and Steve Ryder are joined by racing analyst Donn McClean to review a barnstorming Cheltenham Festival 2024.

The panel begin with a look back at the big performances of the week from State Man in the Champion Hurdle, Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle, Teahupoo in the Stayers’ Hurdle, Captain Guinness in the Champion Chase (what happened to El Fabiolo?), Protektorat in the Ryanair Chase and, of course, Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.

Throughout the show we’ll also touch on horses to keep your firm ante-post eyes on with 2025 Cheltenham Festival ante-post tips as Donn, Steve and Rishi give three horses each to follow into the next season.

Racing Weekly is brought to you by oddschecker in association with bet365. 18+

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Hello everyone and welcome back to racing weekly a podcast and YouTube show brought to you by odd Checker in association with bet 365 it’s time to look back on one of the great sporting events of the year the chelton festival whether it lived up to that or not uh we

Will ask Steve Ryder and Don McLean my two guests today um exactly their sentiments let’s deal with that first of all at the top of our show your overall impression of this year’s cheltam Festival D I look it’s it’s cheltam richy um it’s brilliant the the quality

Of racing it’s the the the meeting into which the the whole season funnels I know there were a few negatives about the meeting this year um attendance on the Wednesday for starters that like that was I was I was out and about on the Wednesday I wasn’t on air on

Wednesday and you noticed it you know you kind of you kind of felt that it just wasn’t the same I guess the volume the fullness of atmosphere wasn’t there on the Wednesday and I know Gold Cup day was better but uh look that and I know Willie mullen’s dominated definitely the early

Part of the week there there were there were brilliant moments in it his 100th winner um and some fantastic eoin and human performances as well throughout the week so for me I look you know it’s a CH Festival it’s a it’s a brilliant

Meeting so I enjoyed it but I I I I I heard the the negatives and understand some of the negatives as well Steve what was your takeaway that you never going to have a bad chham Festival like you’re always going to have brilliant performances to discuss and and horses that will blow

You away I thought the Wednesday was slightly unlucky the fact that you did have three very short price favorites and the cross country being abandoned I I I think it did work against the course um but I thought there were some good stories some nice wins for collections

And and yeah some smart horses going forward and no doubt between Don Steve myself we may have one or two suggestions for what’s to come in 2025 at the chelham festival but let’s have a look back at the best of the action from this year and we start on Tuesday with the

Champion hurdle and state man’s professional performance but in terms of his overall achievements where does arguably the most glamorous of his grade one victories rank yeah look obviously no Constitution Hill um so it it was his race to lose like he to to me he was nearly a bigger certainty without

Constitution Hill than he than Constitution Hill would have been with with with slaves or with him in the race with stman in the race um I thought he did it well uh the pace wasn’t fast and maybe that didn’t allow him be as impressive as he could have been

Fundamentally I think it’s great that he’s got a champion H Wi on the board like he’s he’s such a he’s such a fantastic horse stat man I I think he’s a horse who doesn’t probably get the recognition that he deserves and probably not even still after winning a

Champion hurdle like his only his only defeat when he stood up since he joined Willie Mullins was when he was second in the champion hurdle last year be Constitution Hill and he’s such a straightforward horse when they when they left him alone at punchan last year

And let him lead they just played into his hands paulan and just settled him where he wanted to settle him and this time look Irish point is probably you know he’s a very very good horse and he ran he was the one who got to him and

The two of them pulled clear um look he he wasn’t as impressive as his odds and maybe most people including me expected him to be but I was glad that he got the job done I guess one of the hard points to weigh up and Steve you touched on it

A number of times before chelton you mentioned about State man at chelton I think Willie Mullins was pretty clear afterwards he’s not quite at his best you put Luchia who ran who ran third she run she her official rating is is 140 what were your thoughts on the quality

Of the champion hurdle I felt Vindicated by my argument around State man that that i’ raised the possibility that J jelt might not be his track and actually to hear W man say afterwards make me feel quite good I think Paul toon just simply rode the race to beat Irish point

It was very much a two- horse race and I thought Jack Kennedy actually rode quite a good race he kind of tried to get PA Town ended in a bit of a gap up the inside and Pa Paul went now riding for a turn I’ll just come around you um his

Ninth grade one win interestingly like Woody Ms hasn’t won this since Annie power in 2016 so there would have been a bit of pressure on the yard to obviously land this one at the prices as well um some of the beaten horses I think they’re all kind of took a keen hold the

Lights are not so sleepy Colonel mustards out at the brave L Year all took took a keen hold in the early stages um but yeah I thought P Paul tner did what he needed to on state man and it’s it’s not going to be a champion H

That you’re going to rewatch a lot of times I don’t think no I think we talking about the race afterward a lot of people saying you probably remember the horse not so much the race um and we’ll leave the champion hurdle discussion for 2025 till after we’ve

Spoken about our next race uh in review and we’ll go to lossy mouth whenn in the mayor’s hurdle obviously one or two people myself included thought the trip might have been a big question mark for her but she looked as good over two and

A half as she was over two yeah she did and we we touched on it before she settled a lot better in that International hurdle than what she did in the Triumph and this was the same again T could ride and ride her exactly how she wanted to rode her wide out of

Out of any danger cruised up and winged the last and stretch clear it’s you kind of then thought afterwards of of what she would have done against State man but I thought it was a really good performance I thought Rachel chose right on on telling me something girl she

Obviously had a choice of the three Henry de bromm they all ran brilliant races in behind but she’s just different class isn’t she yeah the couple of performances in behind that I really liked particularly lantry lady I think she’s one to to keep an eye on it was

Only her third run um but lossy mouth in isolation there’s no point talking about whether that was the right race for her this year or not but looking at the future let’s talk about her in relation to statan as a champion medal all next year like she’s only she’s only a

5-year-old and we know how five forgoing five-year-old struggle Willie Mullins left her off in the early part of the Season deliberately because for the for that very reason he said maybe if we you know train her for the spring then she’ll be stronger and older and and and

Therefore can have a good end of season and that’s turning turning out to to be the case as often the case something that Willie Mullen says um but like International win really good two and a half miles hours with Steve you know I did worry about her stamina for two and a half

Miles but yeah look she stayed it she showed that turn of foot um her lens game Jump game jumping on Race IQ was 7.5 length which was you know that tells you her jumping was very very good and as a six-year-old please God next season in a champion hurdle getting the Mar’s

Allowance she might even be better as a six-year-old than as a 5-year-old this year I should be should’ be a potent force in a champion hardle i’ say yeah okay right now on this very day that we’re doing it probably not going to change too much when you see this

Eventually Constitution Hill is the seven or four favorite for next year’s Champion hurdle uh stateman 4 to1 lossy mouth 5 to1 with bet 365 10 to1 Bal burn don’t know where he’s going to go but Willie Mullins immediately said after he won uh that he felt like a champion

Hurdle horse to him um um how would you play the champion hurdle right now Steve for next year i’ back State man I think he has the one with least question marks I’m a bit of a cynic I think lossy mouth he’s not as good at chelton

Though he’s still 4 to1 he’s a bit better than two to five it’s all about all about the price for yeah I it’s going to be interesting how they campaign the horses next season if they do think that they have three Champion hurdle horses because some of them are

Going to get beat and if ly math loses that air of inin ability that she currently probably has that may will look a very attractive option and the 5 to2 for the mays will look a very attractive price all right if you had to play something I think the T to one of

Bor is very interesting because Willie bins did mention Don run didn’t he yeah Don and look look it’s a massive ask there’s a reason why only one horse in history has ever won a champion hardland the Gold Cup the different attributes that are required to win both races but Bal

Burn he’s he’s a chaser in waiting but just if you wait another season and give him a chance at a champion hurdle yeah like he I know we’re coming on to him now but he was so good tend to him for a champion hurdle if that was his Target I

Think that would be interesting it would be interesting and on that point about Willie M talking about B burn doing a d run because lossy mou stayed so well in the I thought why couldn’t lossy mou do a dawn run and win the champion hurdler

And win a Gold Cup she looks so good you know I don’t think St Ruby Walsh was adamant she was going to stay and actually watching her through the race she’s easy an easy winner over two and a half miles in that sort of ground so who

Knows anyway those are the two races from from Tuesday the two championship races anyway um let’s talk about Wednesday’s Championship race and that of course was the champion Chase itself who would have thought at the start of the Season that neither El fabiolo John Bon or indeed Edward Stone would end up

Playing a part from the last to the Finish Line Steve yeah I mean alfab has joined the the likes of du van and Dey toy to be beaten at very short odds in this race um yeah I bet they wish they’d run John Bon now didn’t they which is

Obviously a big talking point for the week is Nikki Henderson put in the horses fair enough if they had a dirty scope but I do get the feeling as if they will have pulled out horses who will have scoped absolutely fine and they were just worried about running

Them so I imagine yeah they wish they’ around him um I thought Rachel black was brilliant on Captain Guinness on the winner um was actually alongside Al fabiolo it’s probably his good jump which actually put Al fabiolo under a bit of pressure um it wasn’t the first

Mistake of the race he he wasn’t very fluent at the first or the third um so you did kind of see it coming and then as soon as El favola was out the race she made a move up on the outside made sure to not give Edward Stone um that much

Rope the at the head of Affairs and yeah looked in control kind of idled a bit up the finish I just hope that Henry de BR now knows not to run him at leopard down he’s not from five there but obviously his his record at cheltam was absolutely

Brilliant he was obviously brought down when traveling well in the Supreme he then finished third in the arle behind shiskin finished second uh behind enamine in the champion Chase and now was 1 one so yeah his chelton form is fantastic in comparison to his form elsewhere and Henry de bromhead’s form

In the champion Chase is quite extraordinary including with horses that aren’t as I don’t know sexy or with quite the profile of some of the champion Chase winners that we’ve seen over the years yeah no like he’s his record in two mile chases is just brilliant the article as well in

Champion Chase and I I think starts off this is a two- mile Chaser until we know until we found out otherwise but no look I fully agree with Steve like Rachel was brilliant like it it was a fast run race Edwardson had a fast pace the finishing

Speed percentage is 99.6 below 100% I think it was the only race that’s it was the slowest finish I think they only raised a dip below 100% on the for the week um and like you know she she could have got nugged In The End by gentleman

To me just just staying on but she rode her race to to for Captain Gins to win it it’s great that he’s got his great that’s his first grade one win now I know we we know John Bon and alola made that mistake but he’s won a champion

Chase he’s a champion Chase winner which is which is great and yeah like Al fabiolo I going into the race I thought he’ll probably make a mistake or two but it doesn’t matter because he’ll just shrug it off and kick on like he always does and and the Hallmark of Al Fabiola

For me was when he when he did make a mistake he jumped the next fence well it didn’t seem to affect his confidence but it’s just just such a bad mistake that he made the fence has gone away from the stands yeah but no brilliant for Captain

Guinness there were one of two people who suggested or asked the question anyway if if Paul Tannon had persevered could El Fabiola have come back in the race um one of two experts said he could have done but the danger that you take in bringing a horse back into the race

After a mistake like that if something else goes wrong um it’s too much too much of a risk and just reading as well that he he’s in a Race Against Time to get back for punchan so obviously he’s a bit stiff and so afterwards so yeah the

Right decision yeah I think so yeah well Ruby persevered on Duan didn’t he I mean Duan didn’t make a mistake he was just just wasn’t the same horse that day and Ruby persevered on a 2 to n favorite and finished what fifth or sixth and then we

Know what’s happened to him well I mean you know he he he fell off Cotto star and jumped back on nearly got beaten he’s got he’s got history Ruby not listening to this are you uh let’s talk about what we saw on Thursday the ryion A and the stairs hurdle

Obviously the two races let’s deal first of all with the stairs hurdle and Tio a majestic performance I thought really stamped his authority Don uh at the top of the division yeah like for me this was like Gordon Elliott said after he won the Hatton Grace hurdle we’re going

To go straight to the stairs hurdle Gary O’Brien interiew on RAC TV and Gary had to do a double take really you go straight to the stairs hurdle because of all the races in between but supp they had you know robore and Gordon had the Irish point to go and win the Christmas

Hurd at leopard’s town which is would have been the next step in stone for tiu but he’s such a good horse when he’s fresh he was eight for for eight going into the race after a break of 5050 days or more now he’s 9 for n uh and yeah

Like he was he was vastly Superior wasn’t he he made a mistake at the second last which didn’t help but and and he was probably in front for a bit a bit earlier than Jack wanted because he said that floring Porter he just wanted to make sure that keep D didn’t get too

Far away from him and then once he give him a squeeze T was suddenly picked up and he’s there too early but no he was he was he was he was vastly Superior to all his Rivals he was at close the third last year as a seven-year-old this year

And yeah he’s the type of horse you can go see winning another one or maybe another two yeah uh Flor reporter ran really well on defeat obviously we bid farewell to or B farewell to Paisley Park at the end of his career Steve yeah obviously a fantastic horse and just

Just wasn’t quite up to that standard there was a few that disappointed kambo probably being the the unexposed progressive one coming from from kind of handicap company was quite disappointing obviously wasn’t the best week for Ferg ran uh hunting by the lead ran a lot better in first time blinkers they

Definitely helped him uh I loved the Run of Flor and Porter obviously I I was a big fan of him obviously coming into this race thought Kei Don was was brilliant on him actually settled didn’t need to lead let Patrick lead on aan Fong for a couple of hurdles and then

Took it up did the old trick of stacking them up before the turn and just got beaten by a better horse on the day but it was nice to see him return to a bit of form because I’m not sure he was completely in love with chasing I just

Thought Jack keny was brilliant just keep keep him out of trouble keep him on the outside I think he made a mistake a slight mistake at the second last but yeah there there was never going to be anything that would get him beat obviously the conditions are big for him

So anyone that kind of wants an anti poost bet him he’s 4 to1 we bet 365 for the stairs next year I do I know gellot isn’t the same opinion but I do think ground is important to him if you just look at his form on soft and heavy

Ground in comparison to on better ground is chalk and cheese so yeah you are you are betting on the weather yes for 360 days um the Ryan Air Chase produced a terrific finish uh protector at in front uh Envoy Allen cruises up I think he’s

He looks like he’s going to go and Win It Rachel blackma afterwards said it looked like I had more in hand than I actually did the race went perfectly for Harry Skelton I think if he’ dreed about that the night before a strong Pace with

A Hoy seor and Stage star him settled in and protect R has always been a strong traveler but the interview afterward saying I I was pretty much flat out which helped him settle was was exactly that he was aided by ho and you were making a mistake at the third last he

Jumped slightly right-handed and Harry Skelton was straight in and this Festival was Harry skelton’s kind of coming of age of waiting just just get on their coattails and wait as opposed to really committing for home which he has been guilty of in the last few

Seasons I feel um but yeah I thought he was really good from connection to dropping back to the r Chase cuz he’d been beaten in two gold cups and yeah a strong a strongly round rer was was right up the street I I pay tribute obviously well done to the skeletons

They had an incredible we’ll talk more about them incredible week of CH them but Envoy Allen to be a three-time winner at the festival obviously to he came down uh that one year third in the championship second incredible record incredible durability for a horse that has had questions against him at some

Points in his career yeah I know look brilliant um for him to come back and go as close as he did I thought he was going to win when he when Rachel took him to the outside and yeah I thought like it was a it was a carbon copy of

Last year in WS wasn’t it she gave him the the almost a Sim an identical ride took him to the outside I thought he was going to pick up and maybe the ground just got to him maybe just the ease in the ground wasn’t too his lik and and

Protector obviously stays you know he stays that trip really really well it’s a bit like one man isn’t it like running in two gold cups and not staying and then going and win win the champion Chase as a 10-year-old protector’s only nine I think the same color as John

Hail’s colors but um yeah look protector did like he was very good the time was fast as well I think it was 7 Seconds faster than Shake him up Harry in the plate um but yeah and well and like again the patience of the trainer and connections of chele Park to leave him

Off since down Royal in November and bring him here bring him to chelton a fresh horse and he ran a massive race like he’s 10 Albert has run as the last 10-year-old to win a rer Chase so when he won his second so it it’s not easily

Done for an older Horse He nearly did it but no protect like you know that’s that’s that’s his game now we know for sure isn’t it a strongly run race at a stiff track over an intermediate trip that suits him really well well I think your point about John hales’s colors is

Probably most pertinent because Dan Skelton said pretty much uh there for everyone to see after the race they’ve been trying to make him a goal cup hor for the connections that John haes in particular has always wanted to win the Gold Cup that’s been his race he may

Have another Gold Cup Contender who’s much younger with the PA Nichols team I think that they believe might be a Gold Cup horse one day but um that’s that’s been the plan along that’s why they’ve sort of given it that commitment but he hasn’t been a go cup Austin finally

Coming back to the r a interesting he’s 8 to one for the r a next year yeah just a word of warning for next season like obviously the the UK um grade one chases have had small fields for the past few years and I do think that strong Pace was actually really

Important to him and if you’re going to be backing him at Short odds next season in five six run three mile chases I do think he’s probably going to come unstuck yeah that’s a very good point he might be an interesting horse for someone like the King George around

Campton um anyway that’s the Ryan Air Chase uh we’ve talken spoken about all the big races of the week so far but we saved the best till last in this particular segment and that is what I think was an imperious performance from the reigning champ in the Gold Cup

Galapa shamp I thought was just Majestic he had the horses that we thought might be dangerous Jerry colom L press corat Rambler all come to him but actually his superiority was so strong a yeah know he he was brilliant richy um like he it was a we bit different to last year like

Last year Pon and WR him patiently in behind and maybe a bit further back than he had intended initially but this year he’s been more aggressive on him and that seems to suit him he stays the trip well the soft ground was no issue to him

And I know he had the issue with the with the loose horse but In fairness Jerry col run a massive race but I I thought that galin theam probably won with the wee bit in hand he seemed to be like his jump at the last that suggested

To me that he was a horse who had a little bit of energy left and um no he he was great and it’s like it’s not easily done two gold cups Albin photo and bestm they’re the only two who have done it since Largo um in a row yeah

Absolutely and and he was he wasn’t campaign it wasn’t just run one run in the savos chase at at tror New Year’s Day and straight back to chelton he ran in the punches on Gold Cup at the end of last season he ran into John Durkin he

Ran in the savil won that he won the Irish Gold Cup and on again to Shelton so no it was great to see it it was a big performance yeah I thought he was Majestic and I think that performance sort of elevates him to talk at least

Talk about him in the same breath as the likes of a Denman or a CTO star a best mate Etc definitely and he was he was such a good winner for the 100th goal cup like you always wanted a good winner to then go down in history books and

Like Don said it’s great that he has ran a lot of times the the whole one run straight to the festival for these Elite race horses isn’t what you want you want to be able to see them and I thought it was fantastic this season that they did

Take on the Irish Gold Cup after the savs I thought it was a fabit of training and Brilliant from the horse um it was obviously a shame to lose fast or slow I’ve watched it a few times like I still can’t really spot he’s kind of obscured isn’t he from the camera that

Cuz I I was like I I backed him and I actually took my eye off and looking back in the field and then I heard that he’s gone so yeah it was a it was it was a strange one all right and you know we

We won’t know cor R obviously ran a good race to finish third I’d be he plenty short enough now for the Grand National after that like he would he had a proper test and was a tired horse afterwards I think he’s around 6 to1 for the for the

Grand National that seems very short after that um it’s a bit different running in an Ultima hacking round as opposed to he was flat out for that hole of the goal cup it was him and n that were off the bridal towards the back yeah and he didn’t finish off as very

Strongly either up the hill he got to he he maxed out didn’t yeah yeah so yeah I agree just just on the points you both made about gandan and his uh his proper season he’s had a few races I enjoyed Willie mullen’s occasional feisty comments through the week he when asked

About whether or not he’d be Keen for State man and Constitution would take each other on at uh at punches that he said well you know to win a champion hle you’ve got to turn up and we turned up to be fair he was utter gentleman the

Day after when he realized that you know obviously the Henderson St were going through a tough time and he said you know he felt for them um quite a lot it’s entertaining isn’t it yeah of course it is and it’s always slightly tongue and cheek like you know behind

The scenes he is going to be the most gentleman and gracious yeah of course he is yeah and and with with gallop and the champ like what I I I think one of the reasons why we’ve seen him one extra time this season is because they moved

The John Durk and Chase normally it’s in mid December kind of to mid December that’s too close to Christmas definitely for Willie Mullins to run them there and then run them at Christmas but they move the John Durk and Chase back they put the Moran hurle and the John dur and

Chase together for one meeting which is brilliant they did the same with naven and now there’s enough time and it’s proven it there’s enough time to go from there to Christmas to the dubl racing Festival to cheltam and you know four or five weeks between each each race and it

Works out perfectly yeah should we should just have a little chat about the Gold Cup for next year well you’re loading that CU I just say I think we have two top class jocky over in Ireland with Paul town and Jack Kennedy then this was another one where race riding

Was really important because Paul Town kind of used fast or slow as a loose hor to kind of keep Jack Kennedy in on Jerry colum yeah and it’s a similar sort of scenario to what happened in the in the champion hdle with Jack trying to kind

Of make Paul go round him and I think you’ve just got two brilliant jockies that are going to be yeah against each other for the next what 10 15 years yeah there could be there could be a good head-to-head now between them between now and the end of the season it’s um

Yeah could be a good good battle to the all way to the end I we going to massive M detail of all the horses available for the Gold Cup but galaban sh’s 5 to2 and he is by far the best of his division MH is that an attractive price or is it not

It’s the the good thing around gold cups is the the the second season Chasers always exciting so below behind him in the market the factor files El fron gray dorning corett cross you’ve got all of those that are going to step up into that open company next season

Like he hasn’t even mentioned his favorite horse that list yet which we out come to I’ll imag as well I know you’re bet you both will okay so that’s a look at the championship races from the festival let’s talk about some of the young hurdlers um the Supreme was

One I thought in terrific Style by Slade steel when mytical power came to challenge looked like the race was over but what Slade steel did from that moment onto the line was almost as impressive as anything else in the race no it really was and again watching it

Live I thought mystical par was coming to win it and he actually headed him on the run in uh Slade SE got in a weit tight to the final flight lost momentum and lost ground but yeah exactly after that like the way when Rachel asked him

To pick up the way that he battled and he didn’t just battle and get back up he went a length and a half clear by the time he got to the winning line it was a it was a striking performance I thought from a horse who because the the race

Was run at good pace and he was up with the pace the two horses who were in front of him they failed to finish eighth and 10th and all the horses to chase them home the second third fourth and fifth they all came from either mid

Mid division or worse so to be up there in the van for for that length of time um you can probably Mark him up a little bit even on the bare form of but I think and look you know I thought he was going to be going for the the gaher as it

Became uh but then obviously B burn went there and he went there probably as a consequence but you know it didn’t I kind of kind of I I worried would he have two- mile Pace but Rachel Blackmore actually said after she rode him at the D racing Festival against B bur in the

Two- mile race she said before then she told he was a 2 and a half mile he won the nav no hle over the grade two race over 2 and a half miles he was that and when he beat king kingsfield in the maiden he for me he outstayed him over 2

Miles but she said when she rode him at leopardstown in that 2 mile race it was then she thought he had the sharpness and he had the pace for two miles and yeah he proved it what did you think he was a bit Keen in the early stages

Though wasn’t he so it would been interesting if they had gone up in trip whether it’d still be Keen but obviously that that mix of of speed and stamina I thought it was a really good race I thought asan master was obviously ran really well and the form of that Maiden

Herle which didn’t look a lot at the time obviously received a boost in the in gers cuz Jimmy doy obviously out ran odds of 80 to1 in that so yeah he’s worth keeping L some of those smaller Maiden hers over in Ireland um tly Hill

Who I I was keen on kind of had no excuses jumped a lot better like jumped really really well and then just kind of emptied out telling the name obviously took him on for the lead I think he will obviously be better seen on better ground um Jack Kennedy I bet he want

That ride again on Firefox um settled okay and then just got stuck behind the retreating tell her the name and and kind of was just caught in a pocket and yeah I think he’ll be some sight over fenses next season I’d like to see mystical power over offenses as well

There’s something about him that strikes me he might make a decent Chaser there’s a chance that he he’d reverse the form or punch down on a bit better ground you I think they’d be quite close in the market and you imagine they want to challenge as late as possible in

Mystical power as well to utilize that turn a foot yeah I think he’ll have to improve to reverse place and stuff I agree I think Slade steel was a dominant winner uh but as everyone seems to have agreed on uh Aid voiding Valley burn seemed to be the thing and Valley burn

Steve bolted up in the gallers um I don’t think it would have mattered who was up against him he’s just different class yeah everyone on the preview circuit no one wanted to take him on and had Wise Guy fancies at Big prices everyone was with him and it it was easy

To see why um first five home for Will Mullins kind of showed the dominance around it he was the only one that wanted to take him on with his own horses um looked Keen again with his head Carriage but I don’t think that is

I think he’d be happy at two Mar I think he’d be happy at three miles I think he’d have he’d have won any of those novice hurdles at the festival um Patrick Ms felt Atlantic didn’t run to form which might have accentuated the the winning distance so you can only

Kind of take that on on what Patrick has said um predator’s goal jumped poorly um he probably would prefer a flatter track going forward but yeah B bur took it up at the second last Paul had a look there were no dangers and the way he went up

The hill like it’s going to be really exciting to watch him progress over the next few seasons and whatever wiie M decides to do with it whatever Willie M decides to do say he’s getting quotes for all sorts of races I imagine the three options for where he’ll run in at

The chelon festival next year the three and I I’m leaving out the brand Advisory at this stage but not completely oh I think you have a chance in the National Chase well quite Poss oh don’t mention that race can’t believe you already thrown that in the mix already uh Champion

Hurdle arle Turners right that will be the three which race do you think B burn will run in at the festival next I think he could run the champion hardle I think that look who knows we we we didn’t know the day before where he was going so how

Are we going to know 360 days out where he’s going to go um yeah look once in a sense um that would be that would be really exciting for me to go for the champion hurdle and then you know because he’s we know he’s a chaser in

Waiting so it’s just a case of how long you going to wait and if you wait long enough for him to contest the champion hurdle that would be yeah that would be like like the time of the race as well he was 3 SEC 36 seconds per furling

Faster than Racing Post par he was I think he was 9 and 1 half seconds faster than the other two and a half mile race run on the day and I I watched that race from just before the final flight and it was just when Paul H gave him a squeeze

Just on the run to and he just you know it was brilliant to see it and then I know El Atlantic made that mistake at the final flight as well but just to see him take like you could see him the injection of pace actually on the r to

The final flight it’s a thrilling sight watching valy burn and it certainly excites us for what he can do but it’s all up in the air whether he stays over hurdles goes over fences and where he ends up at the festival next year the Albert Bartlet produced an exciting

Finish not probably heartbreaking if you were part of the team that involved with the Jukebox man I think they thought he was going to win uh I think a lot of people thought he was going to win um but Stella a story In fairness to Stella story that was a really game performance

It was yeah look it was it was great great for Sam Ying his first chelton Festival winner Warren Ying’s son um and for Gordon Gordon ell had never won an B hurdle before which was to me was cuz that’s the type of horse he has and he’s

Had so many horses run well in it but he’ never won it before then and gone over the last I think the jbx man was a 1.03 in running or thereabouts but yeah tell a story he’s a staying horse that the former that grade to nav nav hurdle

He was in that as well and he had the winner of the Martin pipe behind him as well he had the winner of the Supreme novices in front of him sled steel so um he didn’t go in there without a chance he was a big price but he’s a real real

Staying hor horse and uh yeah Sam y said just when he landed over the last he could see that the leader was just kind of flagging a little bit and you know that’s when he and like six strides from the line he but a b l to make up but you

Know I know it was it was a thrilling finish you have to feel for connection with the runner up obviously but no big big win for Sam and Gordon Elliot the only consolation I suppose for the runner up is that he’s obviously a very very good horse um and that’s quite an

Exciting prospect for next year yeah definitely obviously revers for of the chalow with with Captain Teague and Johnny who as well so yeah no he he I do feel sorry for for Ken Woods I thought he gave him a brilliant ride from the front and at least Harry rednal he had a

Winner the day before um so I thought it was interesting G afterward said that he wasn’t even supposed to run in the race ca he was supposed to be safe for rry but obviously cro Park had a little set back in missed the race so I thought that was quite interesting he’s just

Talking to him about U talking about Stella story as kind of those big handicap Chasers so I don’t think he thinks he’s a sort of future Gold Cup winner um which might say a bit about the form I I’d forgive gidley par that was his first time over three miles was

Just too keen and his his jumping wasn’t wasn’t the best um so yeah I wouldn’t give up a gidle part back in the field but yeah the d ma the D box man I would probably be the one to take out of it because he’s a huge horse and he would

Definitely go nov yeah I imagine there a fair few from that race that will head over fences next season quite exciting lot I believe um I’ll stay with you Steve for the tri and ferle primarily because you’ve been tting this horse for a long time uh majbur was very

Impressive and looks like a superstar the future yeah and I think Dons of the same opinion as me what watching watching other shows uh I couldn’t believe his SP went it when it came up um how much it drifted he’s the most beautiful horse to look at in the parade

Ring I said on our preview that he’d relished the stamina test of the new course in the trium F it was exactly that kis obviously was a lot more experienced had a lot more runs in France and then obviously one um the spring juvenile at the Dublin racing

Festival but I think stamina was kind of what won Marsh this race they said that he would look looked like a a three mile Chaser going forward and I think that’s probably what has what has won in um the race is the stamina um it’s going to be

Interesting what they do next year with him obviously Willie Mullin took a a conservative approach with the Triumph f a winner last year lossy mouth so do they send him over fences and get the allowances like they did with BL blood Destiny this year or or do they have a

Lighter campaign hurling and save him I’d imagine go offenses I think so yeah I’d be surprised if he didn’t um just looking back the the last 5-year-old arle winner as VOR stadies who was in receipt of weight there’s no there’s no weight concession anymore it’s it’s a

Slight and scale runs out before he get to Shelton and the last 5-year-old winner of the Ora Chase or the Brad advisory was stard moisen in the same year I think 2006 and he was getting I think a 10 pound allowance over the longer trip again Rober had a great

Festival that year didn’t he he did he really did but yeah like M was he was great and it was stamina yeah like you know coming down the hill or turning in it did looked like Kazi had his measure and she she was very good um she

Quickened but he yeah he he he stayed outstayed her um her jumping was very good as well again the race IQ out to tell you her jumping was seriously good and maybe at punches to in a sharper track she maybe could exact her revenge on him in the champion four-year-old

Hurdle there but it’s all about the future for marber isn’t it like like I’d be surprised if he didn’t go over fences next season cuz that’s what he’s built for that’s what he’s made for and you know why not start now as opposed to waiting it was one of my favorite quotes

Of the week from Willie Mullins um he said when uh mjra came into the yard this and and again an insight into into how it works he said they said to me so I I really wanted to then follow up with who who are they who are they you know

He said when the horse came into the yard they said to me this is your Triumph hurdle horse and he said I looked at him and I went that’s a Gold Cup horse he doesn’t look like a Triumph hle horse um which I thought the whole quote was really fascinating when he

Said they said to me as well it’s like I’d love to know who Who Made Who telling will mull how it is yeah that’s that’s who we should be British racing should find out who they are and get them to to help us uh reverse the Willie

Mullins domination do do you know what I think we need at the festival next year a 5-year-old novice Chase I think that’s possible I think they’re going to make that we definitely need more races anyway all joking aside you you’ve got Mar who who looks as if he wants a fence

Soo is of the same sort of mold and then you got Cal de ble as well who who might be going up chasing so you could have some smart smart younger horses that go the fenes don’t even talk about it Ste come on um okay the May’s novice no Dace

Enos heartbreaking for her fans um and brighter days ahead traveled nicely but just didn’t pick up as well as golden Ace fantastic perform great for Jeremy Scott um who taking handshakes in when is in clure afterwards was certainly entertaining yeah know it was it was brilliant and she showed a turn of foot

Like they went no Pace in this race the finishing speed percentage was 11448 so they they they walked basically um and she had that she’s by Golden Horn she’s got that flat race pedigree she had the pace and she had the Speed and it just played right into her hands and

Jack Kennedy’s hand was kind of forced well not that his hand was forced he was CAU yeah exactly um like brother days ahead they weren’t going fast enough forward he knew that but yet when she didn’t like she did lead all the way and some like at a lesser grade but she was

Just kind of he couldn’t he couldn’t go on with her he had to sit in behind and suffer and I like brother is ahead then they’ve like Gord Elliot and Jack Henny in the team they’ve never tried to hide the Regard in which they hold her so she’s a really exciting mayor going

Forward but now brilliant for Jeremy Scott on the team Lin Williams as well I think it’s the second CH Fest winner isn’t he he won the national hunt Chase in the co year when he could R it um but no like she showed a turn of foot and

You know it may be that she might be a little bit underrated that wi because you know the they went such but she obviously I know she got beaten the bumper but she’s a talented May and you know that pace it’ll be an no matter what the pace yeah and the way she’s

Progressed through her short career of a h far has been terrific but you messaged me straight after the race the pace of the race was extraordinary especially considering brighter days ahead’s previous form of further and the fact that she looks like a stayer yeah and J

Dey at the same time she’d won over two and a half miles and two mile to like they both had plenty of stamina I just thought it was a bit of kind of cat and mouse both looking at each other and forgetting about the faster horse in

Behind I mean the handicapp has put her up 15 today so she’d have been some handicap C to wouldn’t she um and I do think it’s worth touching on the 5 pound penalty like there was what a length in three quarters at the finish and actually if you if you then take that

Added an extra five pounds worth of weight would she have still won I imagine she probably would have done with those tactics because she sprinted clear um but I thought it was a bit of an unsatisfactory race form wise it’s not one that you’d say h if you run the

Same race again tomorrow i’ definitely back the win the only thing I’d say about Golden Ace as well I know that obviously a lot of people say brighter days ahead form Etc but if you actually look through her pedigree she’s got loads of flat stamina she comes from I’m

Going going to ball people here but the Helena Springfield family um you know the the spotted colors some great horses over the years but it’s the stamina Laden side of that pedigree uh or that family over the years obviously she’s by Golden horns so there’s there is a lot

Of stamina in there I wouldn’t be entirely ruling out the fact she could be equally as good if not better over two and a half miles over Hur so just something to bear in mind exciting for Jeremy Scott well done for that team uh the novice Chasers let’s spin through

These arle gay War if anyone told me that gay war was going to win quite like that I would have found it hard to believe Steve he was just absolutely brilliant absolutely brilliant I mean they they said obviously they put a hood on him and the the first time hoods was

Obviously see a kind of uh a talking point around the wi M horses for the week but they said that they’ scored him in a hood and he jumped straight and you kind of thought yeah okay we’ll see what he does on the race course and he was

Just brilliant I thought this was him and B B bur I thought were arguably the the two performances of the week that went wow they were absolutely brilliant I mean it was yeah slightly some of the beaten horses like Kio blew the start and was slightly hampered and just never

Really got into a rhythm uh Matata set a strong Pace um Hunters young couldn’t go that pace was flat out the whole way will surely go up in trip eron didn’t jump well at all throughout the whole race I don’t know whether it’s a chelham

Thing with him or just a faster Pace but yeah his jumping went completely wrong uh found a 50 I thought ran a great race it was kind of at the stage of the week where all of Gordon Elliots were running well without winning um and I thought

Yeah he’s going to be interesting going forward and his kind of the solid horse that you could work all your figures around you know that he’s going to run your race and that’s kind of just elevated the performance of Gat Warrior even higher for me yeah um I’m going to

Ask you now because I didn’t do it earlier but I thought I’d save it for this moment to ask about the champion Chase next year El fabiolo 2 to1 favorite gck Warrior 4 to1 enur Man 8 to1 so Willie Mullins is the top three uh John Bon 10 Marine as 14s Dino blue

25s Captain Guinness 33s founder 50 66 to1 Edward Stone 100 to1 I actually quite like founder 50 each way because the championship is often a race that uh Cuts up becomes decimated for whatever reason through the season um I thought founder 50 is just such a solid yard

Stick generally runs always finds one or too too good but um how would you play the Championships it’s interesting isn’t it um like gck Warrior If he if he turns up like he turned up at the D RAC Festival obviously you know he’s volatile like you know he he can’t obviously do that

And just in the back of my mind is that performance but like Steve I I was against him at chelton I thought he go was right he’ll give away especially on that course he’ll give away too much ground going two miles but he was he was

He hardly went right he went a little bit to his right but no more than any you know it wasn’t accentuated to any degree and he was brilliant he was strong in the finish his closing two fings were fast and he was brilliant and

He was on his toes we went in the pet beforehand but that’s him he doesn’t he didn’t boil over you know I mean if he wasn’t on his toes you’d nearly be worried about him at this point like he wasn’t anything like he was at leopardon

Let’s say um but Marine Nal 14 to1 yeah I’m a big Marine Nal fan and hopefully you think he would have won the AR this the Marine Nal that was in the Supreme heard last year I think it would have been a hell of a race yeah I mean

The connections couldn’t envisage defeat for him at chelon this year even though he obviously got beaten last time out um another very impressive performance was from Gray Dawning uh Dan Skelton is adamant that he is the real deal uh he has in all honesty looked very professional very solid um and reversed

The form at J’s Destiny yeah which wasn’t entirely a surprise it was the market was strange because antie Post in his Destiny was favorite and gr donning was second favorite and then at some point I think after declarations or maybe just before declarations they they

Close up and then gr oning what fa and you could see why he made that bad mistake at the second last fence at CH the last time and I thought did well to get to within three parts of a length of of Jenny’s Destiny he was three pounds

Better off I think this time and yeah it was a great to watch wasn’t it between the two like J ran a massive race as well he was the only other one who was able to go with them and maybe him back on a flat track on soft ground again he

Could step forward from that but it was great to watch it and you always kind of felt that great oning was getting the better even before J’s Destiny made that sight mistake of the second last that kind of was the final nail but I think gr oning was getting the upper hand yeah

And going back to the point you made about Harry Skelton he sat on the coat tail didn’t let Harry Cobin get away because obviously jinny’s Destiny’s had things his own way in those three wins shot them this season but he he sat close enough to know that when the time

Comes I’m close enough to take you yeah and obviously Junior made that slight mistake at the second last but I don’t think it would have finished I think go grade orning is always going to idle at the Finish but he absolutely winged the last two um and then just kind of idled

At the Finish like he he’s going to be yeah really interesting for those three mile grade one chases in in the UK like the Betfair chases looks absolutely made for him and what race do you think he could end up at the festival you think possibly stretch out Gold Cup yeah

Definitely all right um Brandon advisory um fact of far I thought was just brilliant I loved him I love him but kudos to you both because mon star you put him up 50 to one at the start of last season or the start of this season Steve um each way player I’m assuming

Yes you had so well done um ran a fine race in defeat but what was your opinion on how good Factor far was I was worried for him in the early stages I thought he was a bit Keen his jumping wasn’t the best early on um and then yeah round

Rounding the turn Rachel obviously had Monty star on the outside and I thought all right here we go and then suddenly file nipped up the inside and away he was gone um I thought he was really strong at the finish I I was I don’t know I I wasn’t sure that

He’d stay but he yeah he looks as if he’s going to relish the Gold Cup trip in the future it did jump slightly right-handed like I made the case beforehand that that he jumped right at the Dublin racing Festival but kind of gave him the excuse that that was behind

Gay war and you often follow the horse in front but it is definitely kind of a Quirk with him that he does jump right-handed which is something to bear in mind um I thought it was an interesting race tactics wise everyone kind of thought that stay way Fay would

Would set a strong Pace but he just wasn’t himself I don’t think he scoped clean and lost his shoe so I don’t think that his running and as a result it was a slower Pace than what we actually thought which would have hindered Monty star because I think he’s a he’s a

Proper stayer um I wouldn’t put anyone off him for the for the Gold Cup he 2 to1 we bet 365 for next year obviously Mel rindo finished second in this race and then won the goal cup the next year and he’s really lightly raced as well I

Think he had three runs over hurdles two runs over fences before this so yeah he could be the one open to progression but I can see why everyone fancies F toile for the go cup can definitely see Monty star continuing to improve he’s got that uh profile physically as well you think

That with his size and scope there’s more Improvement but um what were your thoughts on fopar yeah very similar to Steves actually um I I like in the early part of the race I wasn’t worried I was hopeful for for Monty star because fact toile he just wasn’t in a rhythm he was

He was a little bit out to his right he just he his first three four fences he just didn’t jump them fluently now In fairness to him he got into his rhythm and he was very very good he he flowed through the the latter stages of the race which is obviously the important

Part of the race but no I thought I thought Monty star was going to and look he ran a massive race but um look Factor could be anything and he stayed the trip at the pace it wasn’t it wasn’t a stamina testing Pace over the trip I thought the finishing speed percentage

Was 110% or thereabouts so that tells you that it wasn’t it wasn’t a really strong early Pace Steve saying they were probably waiting for St away F to make the make make the pace and he didn’t um and a more ter stamina test you would think will suit Monty star more so I

Wouldn’t give up on the possibility that that he might exact his revenge at some point in a in a a race that tests stamina more because he’s half of the Le he’s going to stay he’s shaped like a stair all the time even in the beginning’s chase when he we finished

Thir behind corp’s cross that was a run that suggested he was going to stay and then he was very good in beating three card brag and you know Steve said he’s only had three runs over fences so and he’s likely raced over hurles as well so

I think there’s more to come from Monty star look but there’s more to come from faile as well he’s a fairly likely race horse too I feel a little bit intimidated by two Monty star fans um because I’m a massive Factor file fan I’ve watched back that race a few times

Now the other thing that really impresses me is that when Mark Walsh asks him to Quicken up between the last two going down to the last fence and he picks up he goes away from Monte star and then he jumps the he pings the last and then he goes about three lengths

Clear and just as they get I think there’s a weather bees sign on the and his ears go from sort of flatb and he sort of goes W what’s going on here he’s got loads in hand and I hear your point because that’s at the back of my mind

The Gold Cup is obviously still a question mark the trip because he’s clearly got a lot of pace but the reassurance is that I don’t think we’ve got anywhere near the depth of his ability and um we’re going to talk about races for next year and what we like and

What we don’t like Etc can I just say I thought that’s a brilliant ride by Mark Walsh as well obviously at that time William Allin was flying all the odds on favorites were winning but obviously Mark Walsh hadn’t ridden those Town end had and he’d got obviously got beaten on

Mystical power so there was a lot of pressure on that ride by Mark Walsh and he was perfectly happy to settle off in the rear and get his get his horse into a rhythm so I I just thought I’d give him a shot okay um he’s so Cal isn’t he

His whole demeanor that’s the way he rise just just cool with the same colors uh in the National hunt Chase carried to Victory This Time by Derek okono who had a very good week as well um and Corbett’s cross absolutely bolted up I mean there’s no doubt that Broadway boy

Would have bolted up had he run in the race but sadly he wasn’t even going to run in it um but corit cross did in all honesty uh the manner of that victory was something he’s a serious horse regardless of I I think so yeah know I was worried about a stamina going

Into the race um but and again they didn’t go a great Pace in the race but his his final furing I think was the fastest Final furling in a Chase for the week after at the end of three mon six fur like it’s obviously Testament to the

The talent of the horse but maybe the pace as well but like der Conor he did he did ask him to pick up but again you could see him picking up he really sprinted up the hill um and yeah like der Conor had a great Festival he rode

The two two of the three amateur Riders winners and second in the other beaten three parts of valenton the fox Hunters but no corv cross like he’s a he like I I I had I’ve had to revise my opinion of him because I I thought there was a

Chance I thought he was vulnerable at the trip because did you yeah because of the way that in the Albert B hurdle I didn’t think he was closing on stay away a going to the final flight last year and I just thought three miles six a

Strongly run it you know it might just find him out but not a bit of it no he’s he’s very good and I yeah I think he has to go into the Gold Cup picture as well for next year all right your thoughts on I Was the Same I was a doubter Before

The Race em Ms does campaign his horses slightly strangely with trips and and everything that way but you’ve just got to trust him really I think the winning distance probably accentuated by Embassy Gardens obviously made a bad mistake at the second last and finished with an a regular heartbeat so that probably did

But with with Don obviously listing off um the finishing sectionals and everything then then them fair play he he did absolutely Sprint up the hill um yeah it’d have been in the first three in the brown advisory wouldn’t he so certain of that yeah based on obviously

The the the the form with with Monty star at fairy house earlier um yeah just a shame we didn’t see it no there are a lot of good horses set to go into open company next year it could be very exciting galap Panda shamp versus a whole host of new challenges uh in

20242 um obviously lots of other races for the festival so I’m going to open the floor up here now uh don obviously there all those handicaps the bumper the Hunter Chase Etc feel free to take us wherever you want in your review Paul T’s R and absurd in the county H like

What a ride I know he’s 110 rated horse on the flat so he had the class he’s a knore winner um but they went no Pace he just sat in behind like the he said afterwards the ground was against him so there was no pressure on him he could

Give it a ride like that but he was second last ear a row in the county hurdle um again finishing speed percentage 112% so again no Pace at all but he just SL through the he didn’t he didn’t take the easy option of going away from the stands rail where there

Was no congestion he just moved up in behind go through you yeah yeah and look you don’t know what he’s absur you don’t know what how how he’s going to be as a hurdler like he’s a very classy horse off the flat like I think he’s going to

Go back in the flat I think willly was saying go back to the Melbourne cup um so yeah he’s interesting um I know the way you’re thinking got down to Mar 145 for the Kim and one one like a horse has rated a we bit higher after the first

Fence I was Sly concerned what was going on yeah no exactly and even more than not wasn’t that worried about Factor file but definitely about him because it was a funny start cuz they lined up he had a lovely position then they had to go back and you thought he’s going to

Lose his position but actually he got an even better start cuz he had momentum up going forward on the inside but suddenly he was he was way back in the field and but that’s Derek a coner like he just bed his time no Panic here trusted the

Horse that he was on and just moved through his field and won impressively so he’s a he’s a really exciting horse going forward as well you know who knows what he can what he’s going to do next year please God um and other yeah look

Lark in the morning was very good he was weak in the market beforehand he was you know massive 9 to1 I think his return on the day not a non runner on the day for once no yeah broke the trend three non runners in a row four Time Lucky yeah

But again he could be you know he’s obviously a juvenile but he could be he could he’s obviously better than 120 Yard rated horse so and and they thought the ground was against him so that maybe gives him another kind of Dimension he handles Stu ground as well yeah okay um

What else would you like to mention from the festival uh Cy CL was a good winner of the Ultima I me did he ever look in any danger through that race in County Classico no not at all it’s unbelievable a really dominant performance yeah and

We were all keen on on our live show on him I I actually didn’t tip him on the day because of the ground I thought the the ground was a slight question mark for him because he showed all his all his form on kind of better ground Kim

Bailey said that as well and he actually half fancied tror yeah a little bit more the ground yeah so yeah it it was a big call from from David bass obviously would have had a choice Harry obviously Rael and they came down early on um but yeah I just thought that was

Brilliant uh in the Boodles you’ve touched on lck in the morning I think the interesting thing of this obviously the angle with I’ve been a big fan of Mighty Bandit obviously was really impressive on his debut he had lck in the morning and harsh well they finished

First and fourth there so mighty Bandit kind of was a bit too Keen in the Triumph obviously change of stables and all that sort of stuff to go on so mighty Bandit might not be one to to give up with um for waren greatrix next season based on obviously the form

Boosted in that Boodles we’ll have to touch on lagaan miraculously sprung back to obviously form at the festival one by three and a half unbelievable well the handicapper put him up six pounds last year this morning has put him up 10 so yeah we’ll see what Mary gets down to

The next year see see how he’ll suffer counting how many runs he’ll need 12 month and then um obviously the stable one with unexpected party in the grand Daniel he’s had eight as well so the handicap is going a bit more half this year so we’ll uh we’ll see how quickly

He’ll drop those two throughout the season next year uh sh up can I just jump in here yeah because obviously we smirk and we we say we’ve got to touch on these things and yes we do there is a lot of debate going on and racing about

Or certainly on social media Etc about the merits of what they have done and the way the horses got back to that handicap Mark so was it 141 that he won the coral cup off and then he’s come back to 141 um he went off 66 to1 for

His most recent run prior to CH them so it’s obvious that he had no chance in those races so a lot of people are talking about that and the merits of of what what they’ve done and handicapping him back to that do you have any strong

Views on the way how it’s done what we what the system involved I mean it is a system that we have operated on now for centuries it is the handicapping system isn’t there’s there’s there’s two different ways you can do it you can go what they did with absurd who was

Chucked in on his flat Mark and I know the way you’re thinking has been ridden um how can I put it uh to to with with another view in mind Behind the Lights of gay Warrior so so you’ve got unexposed novices coming through or you can Chuck them out the back and get

Dropped in the handicap which is the way that the skeletons have done so so as long as you’re going to play with these handicaps I’ve seen a lot after this Festival around oh we need to change this race to a handicap and this race to a handicap if you’re going to do that

You’re just going to get connections playing games throughout the whole year in order to get there I don’t think that’s the way to do it I don’t really have the answer but unless you make all handicaps qualifiers and horses have got to achieve a sage well finishing the no

Finishing the first four in the qualifier Market you I I don’t know the answer um I like it’s one thing um having a horse who’s progressing through the ranks and getting and training them to Peak on the day at a handicap but getting horse back down handicap and back up again yeah I

Think that’s it’s OD all right can I just say around the handicapping system I thought it was great that Shak up Harry won because he won on New Year’s Day seven and a half length the handicapper raised him3 pound which I thought was lenient I said it on our on

Our preview show um I thought it was a brilliant R for Ben Jones you had the liks of Ben Jones Samu obviously having their their first winners at the festival who I thought were great um two big leaps late on idled at the Finish handicap has only given him six I just

Thought it was really nice for a 10-year-old who’s won a race this season to win a big handicap and prove that you can do it that way yeah lots of notable efforts from all of those sources interesting enough the other thing I was noting was the first three home in the

Champion bumper uh Jasmine Devo jalor and Romeo kulo they’re top three in the market for the Supreme Albert Bart gallers I mean no one’s thinking outside of the box with that so um that’s how it is um well done to connections of c nom as well I thought

Um that was an excellent ride from from John DW it was a great ride because the EM mullen’s horse it’s on the line he needs competition and he switched him outside and no he’s not going to get up the inside of of derer Conor anyway so

He had to switch but he switched him and out again yeah and then it’s online probably didn’t see him until it was too late but no yeah super right okay last chance to mention anything that made your notebooks from chelham before we close the review off anything Ju Just to just to note

Willie Mullins doesn’t know how good his bumper horses are you then have a look at the um sounds victorious and fishery Lane both out round odds of of 66 to1 to finish fourth and fifth like fair play to Patrick Mullins he had what 78 n in

The race and he chosen correctly um so yeah fair fair play but I’m assuming they told Patrick that was who were they i’ got to find out I’ve got to find that out um and obviously at that point Patrick Ms rode the the H 100th wiy Mullins Festival just superb it was

Everyone thought it was going to be Al faola but for for Patrick to ride it was was a nice story a poignant moment for the Mullins family especially um having lost the matriarch and a race that celebrated uh Mor earlier in the week as well in the National Chase and for EMT

To win it as well W her grandson um Gavin CR as well he he had two winners he floring Porter ran really well as well he didn’t have a winner at the festival last year but he kept on having winners at cheltam during the season so

It’s good to see him back in the winners in closure as well okay uh well that brings to a conclusion our review uh of the chelton festival um standby because the three of us uh have put our our heads together and at least one selection from each if not more for

The chelton festival in 2024 25 coming up next but before we look ahead to the 2025 chelon Festival just to let you know we’re free to play six horses challenge it’s available every weekend with prize pools available for five and four correct predictions as well as

Jackpot for all six T’s and C’s apply obviously bet 365 already have markets up for next year’s chelon Festival um I said the 20 24 25 obviously it’s the 25 chelon Festival that we are going to focus on now with some selections who would like to go first for this

Particular segment if you go to Steve first I’ll just copy him like I did in mon star it’s not not not a bad idea he hasn’t done too bad in this past uh season kick us off Steve so um I won’t give my one yet I I’ll just touch on a

Couple obviously Don’s a big fan of Marie naal kind of same connections have Willie and money who I think he’s really interest in for next year um he’s a stand out 25 to1 with bet 365 for the Supreme next season Barry conell obviously loves biging up his horses

Everything is is always going to win um but yeah Marine National obviously won the Supreme a couple of seasons ago he won a really strong looking winners race at nce a month ago all five of them had all won previously um I’m there’s no doubt that he’s going to head to punch

Us down and we’ll face off against the lights of Jasmine D Romeo culio so it’s going to be interesting to see how he gets on in there okay um but yeah obviously the champion bumper horses are always going to dominate the market for the Supreme I just thought he was quite

Overpriced at 25 to1 for the Supreme next year um I’ve touched on Firefox earlier I think he’s going to make a really nice horse for the arle next year I’d be a cynic and think ly M actually is fair value at 5 to2 for the mayor’s

Hurdle and then we also touched on Monte star I won’t go over again obviously finished second in the brown advisory similar sort of thing to to Manel rindo he went on to win the goal cup next year and his 20 to1 but I I’ll keep back my

Uh your main one okay so I’ve got William Money uh for the Supreme Firefox for the AR lossy M for the mays 5 to2 wasn’t it yeah um the others arle 14 to1 for Firefox 25 to1 William mly for Supreme um let’s let’s stay with that

For the moment Don what have you got for us for 2025 um B burn for the champion hurdle as I mentioned earlier on Monty starford the Gold Cup or the champion hurdle what whatever um in the more immediate term I thought kodana ran a really good Grand

National Tri in the r a Chase staying on really well um I know everyone was talking about corak ramler as a Grand National trial I think the handicapper raised him three pounds so he’s going to be three pounds well in but I thought capano like he ran really well in the

National last year off an interrupted preparation he jumped def fense as well I know he was pulled up in the end but it was a much better run than than the the form suggests um I think Kazi might exact her revenge on majur in the punches stand four-year-old hurdle I

Think the track suit are better jumping will be a big asset there as well uh thought Asian Master be interesting chaser for next season the for as Steve touched on the form of his run with Jimmy dooy that’s worked out well he beat better days ahead as well the

Martin pipe hurdle winner and he just just was a wee bit wide in the Supreme L hurdle his Ryder couldn’t claim his his seven pounds in the grade one Thomas cell gave him a good ride and gets on really well with the horse but he was

Bought as a as a hunter Chaser and obviously he’s way better than that so going back over fenes now next season he could be interesting um I’d be interested to see faster slow taking on gallop and the Champa punches down again see how that works out um and so

My the the the um anti poost horse for next year will I just roll on into it let’s roll let’s let’s have that Don’s antios horse for next year Slade Steel in the arle Slade Steel in the arle like you look down the arle market or the arle potentials B burn possibly Champion

Hurle Serino and mabra 5y olds it’s just think it’s hard for five-year-olds to win an oracle um then you got Firefox mystical power maybe but like what what he what he did in the Supreme his hurdle to me he was always a staying horse when

He W won the grade two nav’s hurdle that that’s a two and a half mile race and it’s normally for stamina then he ran as we mentioned earlier on he ran in the the ts’s Ireland um obv hurdle at the dou RAC festival and he had that pace he

Got to within seven lens of B burn to to win an arle you need stamina as well as Pace he’s got that pace he showed it in the Supreme offic hurdle Shelton Festival winning form obviously that’s massive the way him up the hill really important and really strongly and the

Fact that his train by Henry de Brad he’ll almost certainly be a better Chaser than hler and he’s a young horse who you know is’s like we don’t know what he’s going to do don’t even know if he’s going to go over fences next season

But I assume he will and Brian aters did seem to intimate as much that’s what he wants to do and if that’s what he wants to do I’m sure that’s what Henry de BR wants to do so that’s probably where he’ll go so where he’ll go so he’s about

10 or 12 to one sh I think for the AR 8 to one with bet 365 Slade steel for the AR he’s going down what are we going to do are we going to do a payent yeah let’s do that um what’s yours Steve so mine’s going to be brave

Man’s game for the Ryan Air Chase I think Paul Nichols will have finally watched what Dan Skelton did with protector rat and go actually we’ve now been beaten in two gold cups big price he is a big price he’s 25 to1 with bet 365 now Harry C didn’t immediately

Afterward said I think cheap pieces will help him and the fact that they’re now talking about going to the Oaky Chase either instead of anry or after rry which is obviously 2 m six and a half ear Longs just makes me think in the back of my head that they finally might

Acknowledge the fact that he’s not the strongest stay over three miles further than three miles I don’t think he’s had the best campaign this year I think it’s been a bit of a mess to be perfectly honest um and I think if they target it

From a long way out have two two main targets for the season of the King George which I still think will be okay three miles at Kempton and the Ryan Air Chase I think yeah I don’t think you go too wrong I funny enough before racing

On Friday spoke to Brian Drew uh his owner about the Gold Cup and he was saying grounds obviously gone against him and then he obviously the point that I’d made a number of times about his stamina and where he checks out after six minutes of a race Etc he said he he

Looked at it and he totally agreed and it before the Gold Cup on Friday he was saying next year Pro probably the ryion a Chase would be the race for him because he he’s still he made a big move around the outside prominent and then

Again up the hill and I don’t I don’t think it’s a chelham thing like you don’t finish second in a Gold Cup behind Gip Trump jumping the second last and the last together if you don’t handle CH them I just think it would be in the

Back of his head now that yeah I think Scout’s got one over on me especially if he wins the championship afterward exactly well um and and how much better you think Paul Nichols thinks that brave man’s game is then jinny’s Destiny yeah so and jinny’s Destin is the shortest

Priz horse he’s got in in mine for the Ryan Air Chase on the betting for the Ryan Air Chase mine is an obvious one um but I do think that um he is potentially a superstar and that’s facta file in the Gold Cup I think he’s four to one um I I

I just don’t think we know how good he is anyway I mean even though he’s already cruised through his NOA season um obviously he got beaten first time up but so many of Willie MS good horse has got beaten first time up and since then it’s just been every performance has

Just left you thinking what can he be still and that’s where we’re still at with him um he’s four to one for the Gold Cup but also going back to Steve’s point that actually does jump a little bit right-handed which I don’t think is too bad at the moment I’m not worried

About it but going to Kempton for the King George he’s 7even to one for the King George uh next season I I wouldn’t be scared of Il France or whoever turns up for that um I think you’re talking about a horse that could be elevated to something very very special so those are

The three horses we’re going for just to reiterate uh don Slade steel the arle 8 to1 uh Steve brav man’s game Ryan Air 25 to1 and Factor file shortest of the lot 4 to1 for the Gold Cup and obviously we’ll have to take down gallab bersant

But Bring it on Bring it on that is nice though the fact that his JP will be ritten by Mark Walsh they they will Clash throughout the year as well it’s not like it’s a rich richy horse with Ronnie bartler like it it’s yeah you you’ll get them taken on each other yeah

Which will be great clashes um you have to turn up to win these races um okay um final thoughts on on on CH give me a closing sentiment that you think sums it up for you this year I remember aliser Dan writing a piece in the RAC and post

Saying um people say that there are 362 no two well let’s say one 361 days in the year and then there’s a chap Festival but he says not there are four days in the year there are 361 others look look um it’s got its flaws but for

Me chelam was yeah was a was a really good Festival some as we’ve discussed some Top Class performances and you Steve yeah share the sentiment you’re never going to have a bad GH Festival you’re always going to have talking points and you’re always going to have

Some negatives come out of it but yeah to see performances like gay Warrior and Bal burn as well as the champions of of State man and and galander Sha you kind of a Batel Festival uh well I have to say it’s been a lot of fun working with

All of you leading up to the chelton festival all the chats that we’ve had since before Christmas all the way through to the festival um some we’ve got right some we’ve got very badly wrong some didn’t even yeah bloing turn up um but at least we have lots of

Memories to talk about again uh for years to come from the chelham festival um I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of racing weekly brought to you by odds cheer in association with bet 365 thank you very much to Steve who’s been alongside me all the way through the

Buildup and Don who’s been a sporadic guest but it’s been brilliant having you on board um and bringing all the different angles and and thoughts and Analysis that you have um as always if you like what you’ve heard or watched in this or any of our previous episodes

Leave us a kind review on Apple podcast or in the comments section on YouTube we have enjoyed engaging with you on that we’re going to take a very short break from uh racing weekly but we will be back to preview the grand national meeting obviously at an in April in the

Company of Haley Moore but for now from the racing weekly team Byebye