Horse racing fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland will be in their element next month as the 2025 Cheltenham Festival is staged from March 11-14.
The meeting inevitably sparks a ton of interest in Wales, which has a long-standing affinity with the National Hunt code of the sport.
Welsh punters are already clamouring to find the latest Cheltenham betting odds ahead of what promises to be a thrilling four-day showcase of jumps racing.
One of the best aspects of the meeting is watching horses who have the potential to become future superstars over jumps.
With that in mind, read on as we highlight four novice hurdlers and chasers who we think will be tough to beat at Cheltenham.
Kopek Des Bordes – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Trainer Willie Mullins has trained 103 Cheltenham Festival winners during his illustrious career and may well add to his tally in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The son of No Risk At All won a bumper at Fairyhouse by 13 lengths last March and has since added two impressive victories over hurdles at Leopardstown.
Mullins waxed lyrical about the horse after his most recent victory, while jockey Paul Townend could not hide his enthusiasm about his chances of winning at Cheltenham.
Fellow trainer Ted Walsh likened the horse to the winner of the 1978 Supreme, Golden Cygnet, which is huge praise given some of the performances he produced.
Sir Gino – Arkle Novices’ Chase
Sir Gino was touted as a potential Champion Hurdle prospect after impressing as a juvenile, but connections have decided to head down the novice chase route this season.
The five-year-old was a hugely impressive winner on his chasing debut at Kempton over the festive period and is strongly fancied to win the Arkle Novices’ Chase next month.
The Nicky Henderson-trained horse has been pulled out of the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury after suffering a cut to a hind leg, but the issue is minor.
Sir Gino looked a natural over fences at Kempton and he is one of the best bets of the week at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ballyburn – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Ballyburn powered home in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s meeting, finishing 13 lengths clear of stablemate Jimmy Du Seuil.
The horse has been switched to fences this season and won without breaking sweat on his first start at Punchestown in November.
He was no match for Sir Gino at Kempton, but relished stepping back up in distance to win with plenty in hand at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Travelling three miles in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase should be no problem for a horse who has been described as a future Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect.
Lulamba – Triumph Hurdle
Henderson knows what it takes to claim the Triumph Hurdle having previously saddled seven winners of the prestigious Grade 1 juvenile race.
The Seven Barrows handler could make it eight victories this year with Lulamba, who was heavily touted as a decent prospect before his British debut at Ascot last month.
The French import gave away chunks of weight to several talented rivals, but still readily swept clear in the closing stages to record a supremely impressive win.
Jockey Nico de Boinville spoke in glowing terms about the horse after the race and he is strongly fancied to follow up at Cheltenham.
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