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Cheltenham Festival tips: Gary O’Brien & Ruby Walsh’s Lucky 15s
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 9 Mar 2026
Our experts put their heads together on the latest edition of Road To Cheltenham, with Gary's picks including a 50-1 chance. And don't forget our Cheltenham free bet offers.
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Gary’s picks
Wendigo at 7-1
2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday
This race has opened up a little bit of late after events at the DRF in particular.
Wendigo is a rock solid horse. I know it was a nothing race he won at Ayr the other day, but I think they'll be more of an accent on stamina in the Brown Advisory than there was in the Kauto Star at Kempton, over Christmas, where he was only really getting going late on.
And he did run well at the Festival over hurdles last year, when he was a bit better than the bare form, so I expect him to be thereabouts.
Favori De Champdou at 4-1
3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Wednesday
Stumptown is a horse I love, but sooner or later maybe there is going to be one to come along in that discipline and beat him, and Favori De Champdou looked so good last time and should be getting a nice bit of weight from the top horse. And, who knows, there might be a few other key players that don’t make the gig.
Bambino Fever at 7-4
1.20 Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle on Thursday
I have maximum respect for Oldschool Outlaw, who is a very good mare and hacked up at Fairyhouse the other day, but I thought Bambino Fever just jumped a little bit high when she took her on at Naas [in December] and hopefully she will be a bit slicker and faster. She's had her confidence boosting win in the meantime, and I think she might get her revenge.
They Call Me Hugo at 50-1
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday
My final pick is the one from left field, which might look as though it takes a bit of explaining, but I don't think it does.
They Call Me Hugo won very well in a weak race on his first start for Olly Murphy and then he went to Cheltenham at the December Meeting for a graded novice hurdle and I thought he was unlucky not to win as he was patiently ridden in a race that wasn't run at a breakneck gallop, and put in some good late work after being hampered at a crucial stage.
I think that was the difference between winning and losing and that there's plenty more to come from him.
I'd give him a pass for his defeat at Windsor after that as well. He made a mistake at the last and perhaps connections, in hindsight, would have made a bit more use of him. I think he'll be in the mix as he could easily be unbeaten in his last three runs and yet he's priced up like he's a no hoper.
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Ruby’s picks
Favori De Champdou at 4-1
3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Wednesday
Stumptown is guaranteed to be top weight and, with his rating, plenty could be out of the handicap, or even miss the cut completely.
I’m not sure of Favori De Champdou’s mark but he won well at Cheltenham the last day and I think he will be efficiently below Stumptown to have maybe something like 11st 2lb or 11st 3lb.
Majborough at 13-8
4.00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday
To me, it’s pretty obvious. I thought what he did at the DRF was spectacular. The cheekpieces were the making of him as he was concentrating, there was no running around, he was straight, he was accurate.
Dinoblue at 13-8
2.40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase on Friday
She's had a great prep through the season in the right races and she's going there on a high. I have huge regard for Spindleberry, who is a very good mare, but she had a tough outing in the Irish Gold Cup and you just wonder what that would have done to her esteem as much as anything else.
Panda Boy at 6-1
I’m taking a bit of shot here because I wouldn't be strong on hunter chase form, but I liked what I saw from Panda Boy at Thurles and at Naas, and John Gleeson will be on him. He's the right type of horse for the race as he’s only a ten-year-old and not that long ago he was running to a very high standard in good handicap chases.
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