As the centrepiece of the National Hunt season, the Cheltenham Festival is rarely far from the thoughts of punters. That will be particularly true this coming Saturday as the headquarters of the jumping game stages Festival Trials Day.
The excellent seven-race card features a pair of intriguing handicap affairs, but the five Grade 2 contests will attract the most attention with an eye to the Cheltenham Festival. So, with the final fields beginning to take shape, which stars can we expect to see strutting their stuff on Saturday afternoon?
JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle: East India Dock Takes Next Step
This key trial for the leading 4YO event of the season has fallen to Grade 1 star Sir Gino and subsequent Triumph Hurdle winners Peace And Co and Defi du Seuil in the past 10 years. The hot favourite to join that list in 2025 is the James Owen-trained East India Dock.
This ex-flat performer has made a scintillating start to life over obstacles. Two starts have yielded two wins – the most recent of which came when hacking up by 18 lengths in a Grade 2 race at this track in November. Sporting the famous yellow and black silks of The Gredley Family, East India Dock is the current second favourite for the Triumph Hurdle and may enhance his claims with an impressive victory here.
Cotswold Chase: Capodanno to Defend His Crown
This 3m1½f Grade 2 contest is a key stepping stone for runners with an eye on Cheltenham Gold Cup glory. Nine remain in the field at the four-day stage, including two of the past three winners in Chanty House (2022) and Capodanno (2024). Chantry House bounced back to winning ways in handicap company last time out but has been without a Graded success since 2022. Capodanno, meanwhile, was beaten by over 20 lengths on his most recent start in Ireland, but such was the case ahead of his 2024 success.
Could the Willie Mullins-trained Capodanno bounce back to form once again? Never say never with Mullins, but Capodanno is only third in the market behind Gentlemansgame, who finished third in the Savills Chase last time, and the Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse, who grabbed third in the King George VI Chase on his seasonal return.
Unibet Hurdle: Constitution Hill vs Lossiemouth Round 2
The big head-to-head clash may come in this 2m1f contest, which regularly attracts Champion Hurdle hopefuls. Officially registered as The International Hurdle, the 2024 edition witnessed Lossiemouth stroll to a triumph by nine and a half lengths. The Willie Mullins mare looks set to defend her crown, but the opposition looks significantly tougher this time.
Having backed up her win in this race with a trio of Grade 1 victories, Lossiemouth assumed favouritism for the Champion Hurdle. Following the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, she is favourite no more. That festive highlight marked the long-awaited return of the unbeaten Constitution Hill, and the Nicky Henderson star didn’t disappoint. Whilst not quite at his imperious best that day, he was still two and a half lengths too good for Lossiemouth. Will the greatest hurdler of his generation confirm his superiority, or will Lossiemouth turn the tables at this more galloping track? A fascinating battle awaits.
Cleeve Hurdle: Crambo Tests Cheltenham Credentials
We move up in trip for the penultimate Graded contest on the card. This three-mile affair is a must-watch contest for those seeking an ante-post punt on the Stayers Hurdle. Claimed by staying legends including Big Bucks, Thistlecrack, and Paisley Park in the past, this year, the market is headed by a pair of runners who have taken turns beating one another in Grade 1 events.
The first top-level clash between Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader and the Fergal O’Brien-trained Crambo came in the 2024 Liverpool Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National Meeting. Strong Leader fared much the best that day, storming to victory by almost five lengths whilst Crambo trailed home last of the eight finishers. Fast forward to the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December, and the result could scarcely have been more different – Crambo claimed top honours this time, with Strong Leader finishing last of 10. Who will win round 3?
AIS Novices’ Hurdle: Six In a Row For Twiston-Davies Star?
The final Grade 2 race on the card was added to the Festival Trials Day menu in 2005, with the 2m4½f trip making the race a natural stepping stone towards the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle. The market for this race sees one of Britain’s great hopes for the Day 2 opener make his next racecourse appearance.
Following an 11-length romp in his Bumper, Potters Charm headed into 2024/25 as one of the most exciting prospects in the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. Four starts and four wins into the season, he looks even more exciting. Already a dual winner at this track, he took the step up to Grade 1 company in his stride to claim the Formby Novices’ Chase at Aintree and is by far the most interesting entry in the finale.