Day four confirmations for the Cheltenham Festival were made on Saturday. The headline in the Gold Cup was that Gaelic Warrior is the only Willie Mullins runner in the race.
We round up the confirmations for the rest of the Friday contests below, including in the Triumph Hurdle, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and more.
Entries trimmed to 25 in Triumph Hurdle
Confirmations in the Triumph Hurdle centred around those missing out. The majority of those were reported, with Narciso Has, Mange Tout and Manlaga all missing the race.
They have left Proactif and Selma De Vary as the main duo in the market. The former won on debut for Willie Mullins and JP McManus, while the latter was second at the Dublin Racing Festival. She chased home Narciso has on debut for the yard.
Both leading British contenders were confirmed though. Maestro Conti gives Dan Skelton a strong chance, while Adam Nicol will attempt to cause an underdog upset with Minella Study.
Doctor Steinberg heads Albert Bartlett runners
32 horses were confirmed for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. After being left out of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, Doctor Steinberg was confirmed here for Mullins.
He is one of a number of favourites that Mullins will now attack the final day of Cheltenham with. The leading challenge in the race may come from Thedeviluno, second to him in Ireland earlier this season. However, Paul Nolan’s charge has since impressed at Doncaster.
Paul Nicholls has also given no Drama This end the longer option at Cheltenham. Depending on ground, the unbeaten grey may tackle this race rather than the Turners, for which he is favourite. There was also a supplementary entry for The Passing Wife. Gavin Cromwell’s runner had been well-fancied for handicap company.
Mares’ Chase trimmed to dozen
Only 12 mares remain for the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase, the third race on the Friday card. Defending champion Dinoblue is the showcase act among the line-up.
Owned by JP McManus and trained by Mullins, she took this race with aplomb 12 months ago. That said, there are dangers from within her own yard, including Spindleberry, who was taken out of the Gold Cup.
Similarly, Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack has enjoyed a sensational season, winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup. She leads the British charge.
Handicap confirmations exclude Champion Hurdle hopeful
if Anzdam is to run at Cheltenham this upcoming week, he will do so in the Champion Hurdle. The Donnelly-owned six-year-old was removed from the County Hurdle on Saturday.
Ndaawi now heads the weights for the opening handicap of the day. Leading hopefuls Murcia and Khrisma were both confirmed too as they seek to make it back-to-back victories in the race for mares.
In the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, 54 remain, with no runners rated higher than 141. That is despite the maximum rate limit of 145. Leading contenders Roc Dino and A Pai De Nom will need runners to drop out if they are to run.
2025 one-two back for Hunter Chase, as Elliott confirms Romeo Coolio for Brown Advisory
Its On The Line will attempt to make it fourth time lucky in the Hunter Chase. The race follows the Gold Cup on the Friday card. He will have to reverse form with last year’s winner Wonderwall.
Big news occurred in terms of runners earlier in the week too. Just after confirmations were made, Gordon Elliott told the Racing Post that Romeo Coolio would contest the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase instead of the Arkle.