If yesterday’s racing was a cocktail, it would be a stiff double of “Drama on the Rocks” with a “Cheltenham Twist.” Between the mud-splattered battles at Newbury and the tactical masterclasses at Naas, the Road to the Festival just hit a serious growth spurt.
Grab your binoculars and a dry pair of socks, here’s the lowdown on the silks and the shenanigans.
The Saturday Roundup: Heroes and Heartbreak
Newbury’s Mudlarks The William Hill Game Spirit Chase was billed as a coronation for Lulamba, and the Nicky Henderson-trained star didn’t disappoint. Going off at a restrictive 4/11, he didn’t just win; he glided through the Berkshire sludge like it was a summer carpet. Consider his ticket to the Champion Chase officially punched.
Meanwhile, the William Hill Hurdle saw Tutti Quanti (10/3) survive a frantic charge from the pack to land the spoils for the Seven Barrows team. It was a day for the big guns, though several “handicap snips” found the heavy ground a bit too much like hard work.
The “Road to March” Radar
With the dust (or mud) settling, the Cheltenham markets are looking as volatile as a tech stock. Here’s what we learned:
- The Champion Hurdle Shake-up: With the news of Sir Gino’s injury and Constitution Hill’s recent struggles, all eyes are on Brighterdaysahead. After her dismantling of Lossiemouth at the DRF, she’s now the one they all have to beat.
- The Gold Cup Glow-up: Haiti Couleurs put in a massive shift at Newbury. While he’s still got to bridge the gap to the Galopin Des Champs of the world, he’s the “people’s horse” for those looking for an each-way price.
- Novice Nerves: One Horse Town is reportedly heading straight for the Triumph Hurdle. Harry Derham isn’t messing about—he’s skipping the Adonis to keep the powder dry for the Cotswolds.
The Punter’s Note: Keep an eye on the “Non-Runner Money Back” (NRMB) offers appearing this week. With the ground playing havoc with prep runs, you don’t want your stake vanishing before the tapes even go up!
The “Silks & Shenanigans” Performance of the Day
Winner: Lulamba (Newbury) Why: Because making Grade 2 opposition look like they’re running in treacle is exactly what a Festival banker should do.
Newbury: Cobden’s Masterclass & The Heavy Ground Grind
The Berkshire turf looked more like a chocolate souffle than a racecourse, but that didn’t stop Tutti Quanti from serving up a feast in the William Hill Hurdle (the race we still affectionately call the Betfair).
Carrying a massive 12-0, Paul Nicholls’ charge didn’t just win; he bullied the field. Harry Cobden rode him like he stole him, making all and leaving the likes of Wellington Arch and Faivoir looking like they were running in deep-sea diving suits.
- The Timeform Take: A preliminary rating of 146+ suggests this was more than just a handicap performance. He’s essentially a Graded horse masquerading as a club cricketer.
- Pundit Verdict: “He’s a monster in the mud,” quipped the gallery. “To carry that weight in those conditions and still find another gear? That’s not a horse; that’s a tractor with an engine by Ferrari.”
In the Denman Chase, the shocks continued as Haiti Couleurs (11/2) upstaged the returning L’Homme Presse. While the latter looked a bit “rusty gate” after his layoff, Haiti Couleurs jumped with the precision of a Swiss watch.
Naas: The Jack Kennedy & Gordon Elliott Power Hour
Across the Irish Sea, the ground was just as testing, but Gordon Elliott’s stable seems to thrive on “misery weather.”
Jalon D’Oudairies produced what can only be described as a public schooling session in the Cheltenham Trials Day Flat Race. Sent off at a restrictive 1/10, he won by 27 lengths. Twenty. Seven. Phillip Enright on the runner-up probably needed a telescope to see him cross the line.
- The Timeform Take: He earned a 128p bumper rating, but the “p” (for progress) should probably be written in neon lights.
- Pundit Verdict: Kevin Blake noted, “It’s hard to learn much when they win by the length of the M7, but the way he travels is pure silk. He’s the standard-bearer for the Champion Bumper, simple as that.”
Highland Crystal (11/8) also added to the Elliott tally, surviving a late scare at the last to fend off Saratoga. It wasn’t as pretty, but it showed the “shenanigans” side of racing—winning when things aren’t going perfectly.
The Cheltenham Whispers: Market Shakers
The bookies weren’t just watching; they were slashing prices faster than a January sale.
The Punter’s Note: With Constitution Hill still a question mark and Lossiemouth drifting after the DRF, the Champion Hurdle is looking less like a closed shop and more like a wild West shootout.
Performance of the Day
Winner: Tutti Quanti Why: Carrying top weight in Newbury mud and winning “easily” is the racing equivalent of winning a marathon while wearing a weighted vest and flippers. Find me on X @records1black
Silks and Shenanigans 