There were plenty of Cheltenham clues to be found at the Dublin Racing Festival over the weekend, and with that came some big moves in the ante-post markets for the Festival next month. Check out the latest news from the Coral trading floor and the thoughts of some of the winning trainers in our latest Cheltenham Festival preview below.

FROM THE TRADING FLOOR

We thought Talk The Talk did extremely well to win the Tattersalls Ireland Novice over two miles, conceding the first run to two good horses and still getting up to win. His Cheltenham target is still up in the air, but whichever race he takes on he is sure to go close and we make him 5/1 for both the Supreme Novices' Hurdle (from 8/1) and the Turners' Novices' Hurdle (from 14/1).

Talk The Talk to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle – ADD TO BETSLIP

Majborough finally put in the performance to match his undoubted talent, winning the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase by 19 lengths. We make him 6/4 fav NRMB (from 7/2) for the Champion Chase and I can only see him going off shorter on the day such is the lack of genuine star opposition.

Majborough to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase (NRMB) – ADD TO BETSLIP

Brighterdaysahead was very impressive in defeating Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Post race quotes excuse her Cheltenham defeat last year and we make her a 5/2 joint favourite (from 9/2) with The New Lion for this year's Champion Hurdle in what, if slightly short on quality, looks to be shaping up to be a cracking betting heat.

Brighterdaysahead to win the Champion Hurdle (NRMB) – ADD TO BETSLIP

Monday saw Doctor Steinberg put in an impressive performance in the Nathaniel Lacy. Post-race we thought he looked more of a Turners type but we've also moved him into 3/1 (from 6/1) for the Albert Bartlett, which is proving to be popular.

Doctor Steinberg to win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle – ADD TO BETSLIP

Narciso Has won fairly impressively and hardened in the Triumph Hurdle betting, although we were not as impressed as some. The 9/4 stand-out odds post race proved popular and now we've cut him to 7/4, which is still the top price. The second placed horse Selma De Vary was eye-catching on her debut for Mullins/Ricci and we thought she could finish closer to Narciso should they reoppose at Cheltenham, currently 6/1 for the Triumph with us (from 16/1).

Triumph Hurdle Latest Odds

Romeo Coolio and Kargese slugged out the Irish Arkle where in truth neither looked a star. After a fairly gruelling race we took the view to cut Lulamba for the Arkle into 11/10 clear favourite, and push the two Irish runners out.

Arkle Novices' Chase Latest Odds

Last but not least the Irish Gold Cup where Fact To File, who had been well supported through the day, was an impressive winner. Whether he defends his crown in the Ryanair (currently 4/5 favourite), or perhaps takes the more prestigious route to the Gold Cup (currently 5/2 favourite), you can back him NRMB for both with us, safe in the knowledge you will get your money back if he does not run.

Fact To File to win the Ryanair Chase – ADD TO BETSLIP

THE TRAINERS HAVE THEIR SAY

Coral Ambassador, Joe Tizzard, on his Scottish Champion Chase winner JPR One

"It was a really good effort. We went to Musselburgh for the ground and JPR One loved stepping up in trip. It was a classy performance and even though he was the best horse in the race, he still had to give all that weight away and I'm chuffed to bits with him. He's going to get hiked up the ratings again, and he's not going to win a Champion Chase, but after that we'll probably have a look at the Ryanair Chase."


JPR One takes flight under Coral Ambassador, Brendan Powell, en route to victory at Musselburgh

Willie Mullins, trainer of the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase winner, Majborough

"That was more like it. Mark [Walsh] wanted to do things his way and it paid off. The horse was a lot happier doing it from a prominent position, so it's onwards and upwards now. Mark was adamant Majborough wanted cheekpieces on, and he wanted to ride him his own way, so all credit to him. It was poetry in motion down the back, and while I was afraid he might not have enough left in the tank over the second-last fence, Mark said he had plenty of horse under him still."

Gordon Elliott, trainer of the Irish Champion Hurdle heroine, Brighterdaysahead

"We knew she had improved from her last run, although whether she was good enough to beat Lossiemouth, we weren't sure. [Jack Kennedy] had a plan that if nobody was going to make the running we would, as she's very, very tough and she stays. I was so nervous coming to the last, just thinking I hope she jumps it. Lossiemouth is a superstar and our one is a superstar as well and we're lucky to have her. I was happy the whole way but thought going to the second last here comes Lossiemouth now, we're in trouble, but I knew Jack seemed to be happy. I was delighted when I saw him switching to the inside and he could let her roll on. The plan was to go chasing this year, but Michael [O'Leary, the owner], put his foot down. He said that half the season was gone and to stick with hurdles. She'll now go for the Champion Hurdle." 

And one final word from that man Mullins, following Fact To File's Irish Gold Cup romp

"We had him in the Gold Cup, he was withdrawn, but he could always go in as a supplementary entry and I think that’s what last year’s winner was. We haven’t spoken to JP McManus and we’ll see what happens. The first thing Mark [Walsh] remarked to me when he got off the horse was that when he hit the front he pricked his ears, which tells us all that he had more in the tank. From the first day he came into the stable he just exuded the fact that he was a racehorse and he’s proved it today here."

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – LATEST ANTE-POST BETTING

All odds referenced in this article are accurate as of 8am 03/02/26