January 17 / 15.00 Windsor

15.00

Soft

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £52030
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.13
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 167-21 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
The Champion Hurdle and Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle proved too much for him last season but he keeps running well when below that top level; gave lumps of weight away to his three rivals in handicap at Hereford four weeks ago but dismissed them with zero fuss and showed for a second time that he stays 2m4f; admirable sort who should be bang there once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.

33/1

4th

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Nemean Lion

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Middle leg of a hat-trick when winning this last year (soft); finished close-up when last of the three finishers on reappearance in Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November, which was a positive performance; leading claims despite a 8lb penalty.

7/4

12

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a hat-trick (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft/soft) when getting up close home in Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last month; goes up in trip and back up in grade today, with something to find, but he stayed well on the Flat early in his career and has shaped this season as though today's extra distance could prompt further improvement; clearly thriving; interesting.

25/1

9/4

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 113-4F

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Useful juvenile hurdler last season, third in the Triumph at Cheltenham, and better in his two starts this term; looked a strong candidate for 2m4f going into the latest but falling at the final flight (close fourth at the time) in that Cheltenham Grade 2 prevented him from showing how well he could see it out; there was also a mistake three out, so he needs to brush up his jumping; requires better form too but 2m4f+ might still hold the key.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Can take a while to warm up but he impressed when slamming Doyen Quest in December Grade 2 at Sandown (good to soft) and again dispatched that rival at Windsor (also about 3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) the following month; 25-1 but ran a scorcher, despite little going right, when flying from the rear to grab third in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory (3m1f) at Cheltenham last month; there's potential for a good gallop here, which will suit, and he holds leading claims.

4/1

3rd

12

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dual Grade 2 winner at about 3m over fences, at Sandown (good to soft) and Windsor (soft) in December/January; jumping again not fluent last time, despite added cheekpieces (retained), and he has his work cut out in this.

40/1

1st

1

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 1

13:20 Windsor

Salver

11st 9lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Very useful over hurdles and comfortably bagged Grade 2 honours at Sandown (3m, good to soft) on second attempt over fences; ran creditably, despite the ground possibly being faster than ideal, in Grade 1 at Kempton since; leading player, provided he takes to first-time headgear.

7/4

Form: 154-26 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
In good form at Ascot this season in a 2m3f Grade 2 (set the pace) and 3m Grade 1; his stamina can still questioned over that longer trip, however, as all the other principals finished more strongly that day; big player in this contest back at 2m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Blueking DOroux

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear.

25/1

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Blueking DOroux

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won two Grade 2 hurdles; still learning his trade over fences, safe enough apart from one blunder when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good), albeit he made a meal of beating a lower-rated rival; out of depth in Grade 1 here since but he's 10lb lower than his hurdle mark now handicapping and still has potential; cheekpieces on; yard has won two of the last three runnings.

9/2

2nd

5

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Blueking DOroux

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart staying hurdling who looked as good as ever when ending last season with Grade 2 win from the front at Sandown (2m5f, good); will be very hard to beat on these terms if he jumps adequately on his chasing debut.

1/5

Form: 71P-1F BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Won big 2m handicap hurdles in the mud last season at Cheltenham and Newbury thanks to his strength at the finish; won chase debut (2m2f) this term but fell next time and moving up to 2m4f whets the appetite for this return to hurdling; firmly in the mix if he does indeed stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

17:30 Punchestown

Iberico Lord

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Nicky Henderson

Ground versatile sort is 4-15 over hurdles; back to form in fine style when landing the Lanzarote at Kempton in January (2m5f, good) off 136; hiked up 8lb and came up short in the BetMGM Cup at Cheltenham, though did meet trouble in running; dropped 1lb but may need more help from the handicapper.

14/1

8th

11

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Iberico Lord

11st 3lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Bagged two big 2m handicaps (here and at Newbury) in the mud during his 2023-24 campaign; had a spell in the wilderness but dropped back down the weights prior to scoring with major authority in the 2m5f Lanzarote at Kempton (good; 22-1) two months ago; back up 8lb but also firmly back on the radar.

9/1

17th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 149y

15:40 Punchestown

Iberico Lord

11st 5lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Nicky Henderson

in touch with leaders

8/1

Form: 132-35 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Back to life last spring, winning a second Coral Cup at Cheltenham before hitting a new high with placed efforts in Aintree Grade 1 and Sandown Grade 2; hard to beat if showing that sort of form but recent campaigns, including this one, suggest that this stage of the season is not his time to shine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Langer Dan

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in last, weakened after 3 out, detached when mistake 2 out

6/1

5th

5

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Langer Dan

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in last, weakened after 3 out, detached when mistake 2 out

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.70
Straight Forecast £10.69
Trifecta £21.00

Selections

LAMBOURN:

Iberico Lord

WEST COUNTRY:

Blueking d'Oroux

SPOTLIGHT:

Nemean Lion

TOPSPEED:

Salver

RP RATINGS:

Langer Dan

The Sun:

Salver

The Times:

Iberico Lord

The Guardian:

Iberico Lord

D Express:

Iberico Lord

Daily Mail:

Blueking d'Oroux

Daily Mirror:

Blueking d'Oroux

Daily Record:

Blueking d'Oroux

POSTDATA:

Langer Dan

Telegraph:

Nemean Lion

The Star:

Nemean Lion