Cheltenham Saturday

1:10 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Prestbury) (Grade 2) 2m 87y

Admiral Will Brown outjumped his rivals when winning nicely for Paddy Magee and Josh Williamson at Down Royal and looks as promising as any in this field. Plenty of observers at The Maze were too busy scribbling the name of runner-up Kenough in their notebooks to give proper credit to the winner that day, but he was strong in the market and slick in the race itself and I’m inclined to believe he’ll still be a better horse than Kenough come the end of the season. Magee is an excellent handler whose name may be unfamiliar to British punters, and that explains the value available here but, after saddling an across-the-card four timer in July, that situation may change rapidly.

1:45 Paddy Power Arkle Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1m 7f 199y

The Arkle Trial had promised to be one of the most thrilling spectacles of the weekend but on Friday afternoon Dan Skelton said he would be withdrawing Kabral Du Mathan due to ground conditions.

That leaves the way clear for Old Park Star, winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season and a potential superstar over fences.

Some may think Nicky Henderson is bringing Old Park Star to the track undercooked, but that doesn’t fit his modus operandi with similar horses. Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin all made the perfect start over fences, albeit not in graded company.

2:20 Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2m 4f 44y

Despite winning here last month, O’Moore Park remains well handicapped on his best efforts, both of which have come here when trained by Willie Mullins. Third in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase in March 2025, he again showed a liking for Cheltenham when just failing to concede 3lb to Riskintheground in the Silver Trophy Chase the following month. He now receives 8lb from that rival and is one for the shortlist for all he’s lost the services of Sean Bowen. A year ago, July Flower showed herself a useful prospect when landing the Arkle Trial and although she could finish only fifth in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, she is clearly a better at her best in the autumn.

She has yet to record a win of any kind between January and June but her full record in September through November is 1111211. She failed to stay three miles and a furlong at Punchestown in April, but her record shows she was unlikely to be at her peak there in any case. She comes here fresh and has won all her starts at this time of year when returning from 10 weeks or more off the track, so I would expect her to return to her best now, and a handicap mark of 142 is very fair on the pick of her jumps form.

The only negative is the loss of the injured Darragh O’Keeffe, but I’m sure Henry de Bromhead will find an able deputy.

2:55 From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 208y

Gold For Alec ran very well when second to Seaniecon here last month and, with the winner expected to go on to better things, the Tom Symonds-trained gelding should be able to go close having been raised 2lb for that fine effort.

He’s improved for stepping up to three miles in the spring, winning at Hereford and running creditably in defeat on all three starts since (would have been third but for a late fall at Chepstow on his return).

Gavin Sheehan has ridden a winner and three placed horses from five mounts for the stable this season and his booking is another positive.

3:30 Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

Moneygarrow was ultimately out of the money in the Albert Bartlett here in March but went for a long way like one of the best horses in the field, with his effort petering out up the hill after he’d held every chance early in the straight.

That was his first try at three miles and he looks like he will benefit from the drop to two miles and five furlongs on his return and is taken to get the better of the progressive Daylatedollarshort, winner of the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last month. The latter merits maximum respect, but he has to concede weight to Moneygarrow here and time may show that is a stiff task.

Cheltenham Sunday

2:00 Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase 1m 7f 199y

Authoceltic is an improving young chaser and looks ahead of the handicapper, having finished clear of the reopposing Tour Ovalie at Worcester on his return.

He had two subsequent winners immediately behind when second to Haas Boy at Ascot in March and had his latest second to the progressive Kykorock boosted when Tour Ovalie won at Chepstow last week, and the Worcester form was also boosted when the well-beaten fourth, Park Annonciade, was placed again at Huntingdon last week.

Despite being nudged up again in the weights Authoceltic, who travelled best at Worcester, can meet Tour Ovalie on 4lb better terms and he should prove hard to beat with any progress for that pipe opener.

2:35 Oddschecker Handicap Chase 3m 3f 71y

Double Powerful had to return to hurdles after two non-completions over fences last season, but he’s by no means a bad jumper, with his only fall coming at the fence they call “Tricky Trevor” at Ludlow and considered to be a bogey fence that catches out many more horses that it ought to.

Neil Mulholland’s seven-year-old reverted to the bigger obstacles at Fontwell last time and jumped boldly on the whole under an attacking ride. He should appreciate the return to a staying trip here and is still lower in the weights than on last season’s chase debut here, when finishing third to Zurich over a trip that didn’t bring his stamina into play.

He has been given every opportunity to regain any lost confidence, and is young enough to find improvement in what will be his first full season over fences.

3:10 Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle 2m 87y

Not that many make appeal in the Greatwood and the pair who dominate the market look the ones to focus on. 142 is not a stiff mark for a Grade 1 winner, so Idaho Sun deserves plenty of respect having lowered the colours of Mydaddypaddy in the Formby at Aintree last December.

My worry with him is that he won that race through stamina and while touted as a Champion Hurdle contender, is surely going to prove best at further in time.

Let It Rain had injury curtail her first season over hurdles and she wasn’t seen last term until finishing third at Ascot in December. Bogged down in heavy ground at Newbury next time, she landed a smaller pot at Stratford on her final start.

A leading bumper performer before switching to hurdles, we have yet to see the best of her, and she reportedly injured a tendon when winning at Wetherby as a novice, which explains her lengthy absence. Things have clearly gone more smoothly for her since, however, and she remains the type to win a big handicap before proving her worth in pattern company.

Saturday:

July Flower 2:20 Cheltenham –

2pts win @ 7/1 (general)

O’Moore Park 2:20 Cheltenham –

1pt e/w @ 16/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes –

4 places)

Moneygarrow 3:30 Cheltenham – 2pts win @ 2/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral)

Sunday:

Authoceltic 2:00 Cheltenham –

1pt win @ 8/1 (general)

Double Powerful 2:35 Cheltenham – 1pt win @ (general)

Let It Rain 3:10 Cheltenham – 1pt e/w @ 5/1 (SkyBet, Paddy Power –

6 places)