CHELTENHAM is about getting the answers to most – if not all – of the questions posed during the winter and the Supreme provided a firm response to who had the best two-mile novices, Britain or Ireland, Britain by a wide margin.

The pre-race market, governed largely by models these days, loved the British runners, Old Park Star solid as favourite and Sober Glory perhaps the gamble of the day (along with Kurasso Blue in the National Hunt Chase), the pair coming clear with Mydaddypaddy, a British-trained outsider in fourth.

In truth, the race was light on drama, the one-two up there from the start as the pace held up, the third coming from a little further back, and the only tense moment came with the three of them came close together after the last.

Perhaps none is a superstar, but their connections will be heartened by their efforts, less so the Irish contingent.

Talk The Talk was one of the first beaten, making a slight mistake at the fourth and in trouble not long afterwards; perhaps a long season caught up with him but otherwise there seemed no obvious excuses.

The market seemed not like the preparation of Mighty Park as he drifted through the day, and having been in the right place for much of the race, he was beaten after two out.

Irish runners

The Arkle set up as another Britain versus Ireland clash, and in this case the two Irish-trained runners in the six-strong field fought out the finish, though they did not finish in the order the market expected, Kargese building on an excellent Festival record to hold off Kopek Des Bordes.

It was the runner-up that shaped best, however, and this was a performance full of positives.

He took a strong hold but still seemed happy to race behind horses, and after a couple of slight mistakes early, jumped well in the middle of the race when he travelled powerfully.

He came there going best at the last and had just headed Kargese but pecked on landing, unable to get back going again, no surprise given his interrupted prep. All in all, this was an excellent run given it was his first start since November, while Kargese gave the lie to the idea that hard races at the DRF might hinder the participants at Cheltenham.

The two star mares that fought out the finish of the Champion Hurdle did similar, Lossiemouth reversing Leopardstown form with her old rival, Brighterdaysahead. She was in first-time cheekpieces and they seemed to allow her to travel better in the early part of the race, something that has been an issue at times over two miles, and Willie Mullins has developed the knack of applying that piece of headgear to great effect in the biggest races.

Travelling strongly

Always travelling strongly, she hit the front after two out and went clear late, confirming herself one of the best mares of recent times. It is just a pity it has taken her so long to run in this race.

Brighterdaysahead proved that the Cheltenham circuit is no great inconvenience to her for all other courses may suit her better.

Perhaps she would have preferred slower ground and a lead through the race, but she was beaten by a better mare on the day.

Leinster National form is looking Lovely and strong

NAAS hosted its now-traditional Cheltenham send-off card last Sunday and the featured Leinster National produced its share of drama, a loose horse causing mid-race messiness and a last fence unseat robbing Built By Ballymore of a hand in the finish.

A few recent valuable staying chases have been won by outsiders, but not here as the finish was set to be fought out three fancied and unexposed types, the two that were left clear at the last finishing 20 lengths ahead of third. This form looks strong.

The Lovely Man has been most progressive since joining Gavin Cromwell and was suited by a stronger run race than the one he got last time at Punchestown, finding plenty for pressure late to get up on the line, looking one that should get marathon trips.

Goraibhmaithagat had won like a well-treated horse last time, overcoming multiple errors to land a novice handicap chase over a shorter trip at this track, and he travelled best here, perhaps getting a bit lonely in front and headed on the line. He jumped better than last time, and the bare three miles might suit more though he will go up in the weights for this.

Awkward

Built By Ballymore was still in with a chance when challenged over the last but his head carriage is awkward while the fourth Shanbally Kid shaped better than the form, overcoming early mistakes to make a good move into contention before the straight then flattening out. His jumping has been X-rated for a while now though his best runs have come in spring so there is that.

Of the rest, Prophet’s Corner (who was 10lbs out of the handicap) can do better dropped in grade as he made a stumble after three out when going ok while last year’s winner Bushmans Pass was better than his pulled up finish, hampered by a loose horse at halfway.

The Leinster National is an obvious Irish Grand National trial, but not the only one in the last week and Soldier In Milan shaped better than his fourth place in the Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase.

I doubt that being held up on a tight track like Thurles suited him, but he finished off reasonably well and this run was needed to qualify for the Easter feature. He will likely be ridden more forward then.

Feature handicap hurdle

Back at Naas, the feature handicap hurdle was won in quite impressive fashion by Mojoe who coped well with a marked hike in grade. He travelled powerfully and seemed to find this competitive environment more suitable than the smaller field he met last time. He is progressing with racing the big two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Punchestown should suit him well.

Down the field, the eighth Ataboycharlie is worth watching. He was having his first run since late November, set to win a valuable handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse when falling at the last, and this looked a run to get his confidence back.

He travelled nicely in rear and finished off okay and while his yard is without a winner since February 2025, six of their last 10 runners have made the first five. He is another for whom Easter is an obvious target.

Unexposed types

The opening maiden hurdle looked stronger than most races of its type at this stage of the season, three relatively unexposed types coming clear. Healys Pub (whose yard was back among the winners over the weekend) is improving with racing and looks a big, chasing type while the second Doctor Elvis might have won on another day, and is one to bear in mind for a similar event, especially over further.

He ran a promising debut back in November 2023, his first run of any kind, and was subsequently sold for €260,000 at the Caldwell Dispersal Sale. He was then off for 792 days but has been gradually brought back to form by Gordon Elliott, improving from run to run in three starts so far this year.

His jumping has looked an asset so far, but he stumbled four out and made mistakes thereafter but did well to close all the way to the line.