Racing
BOOM or BUST – Cheltenham Festival 2026: Part 2
Welcome back to part 2, where the focus is on the chasers, recognising their chances and putting them in either the boom or bust category. Enjoy!
LULAMBA (Arkle Novices’ Chase)
Has only tested defeat once in his career to date which came when narrowly denied in last season’s Triumph Hurdle. He comfortably made amends by scoring at the Punchestown Festival and has looked even better over fences, winning both starts by a combined near 20 lengths without breaking sweat. He was electric at Sandown and undoubtedly has the world at his feet. He is bound to have some strong competition but he’s been flawless to date and I think he’s one of the best bets of the entire fixture. BOOM.
FINAL DEMAND (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
Winner of five of his six starts and made it two wins from over fences when an easy winner of the Grade 1 Faugheen at Limerick. He’s destroyed every rival on home soil to date by wide margins and his only loss was when third in last season’s Turners at Cheltenham. It remains to be seen if he failed to get up the hill but I think it could be to do with the fact it was only his third start. No doubt, it would have been a learning curve and given he’s a point winner over three miles, the trip shouldn’t be an issue. He is a fantastic jumper and that will stand him good stead in March. The best is still to come, so he is one I’ll be sticking in my multiple bets. BOOM.
STUMPTOWN (Cross Country Chase)
One of the best we have seen in this code. The Cross Country events bring the best out of Gavin Cromwell’s charge, who has won all five completed starts (unlucky unseat in the other). He’s won both starts over the course at Cheltenham, including when producing a great weight-carrying performance to claim this race last season by seven lengths. It all went wrong for him in the Grand National but he was back on track when collecting the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic in October, and although we haven’t seen him since, the defending champion should prove hard to stop in his bid to become the fourth horse to back-to-back winner. BOOM.
MARINE NATIONALE (Champion Chase)
Two-time Cheltenham Festival and was a very good winner of the Champion Chase last season. He proved himself as the best in the division by following up at Punchestown next time out and ran the most remarkable race on his return when a half-length second to Solness at Leopardstown. After being badly hampered and almost departing from the race at the second fence, I thought he did extremely well under the circumstances. Given he’s already beaten most of his main opposition, and has yet to taste defeat at this fixture, I see no reason why he can’t win the race again. BOOM.
FACT TO FILE (Ryanair Chase)
Produced one of the performances of the festival last season when taking this prize by nine lengths. He wasn’t in the same form at Punchestown next time out but was probably over the top and came close to making a seasonal reappearance when narrowly denied in the John Durkan. However, his sixth place finish in the King George was a little disappointing and he will do well to repeat last season’s showing in this event on the back of that latest effort. The good thing is, the field will cut up, with many expected to go down the Gold Cup route but I firmly believe he’s more vulnerable than the odds suggest. BUST.
