Five beaten horses at the DRF who could win at Cheltenham

Race: Second in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (2.10, Sunday).

First-time cheekpieces, combined with a positive ride, proved a revelation for Majborough here, and he deserves to be the best-priced 7-4 favourite for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase. 

A repeat of this effort would make him the one to beat, but he will face a sterner test at Cheltenham, and probably different conditions. His main market rival, Marine Nationale, ran below-par, too, and I would expect Barry Connell’s charge to show his best in March. 

Although he has won on soft, Connell has always said his nine-year-old prefers better ground, and he never travelled comfortably here. Being held up, in a race dominated by the front-running Majborough, was also against him.  

Marine Nationale was brought along steadily last season before sparkling at the Cheltenham Festival, and it appears a similar scenario this season. I expect Connell left plenty to work on, with a repeat bid in the Champion Chase his main target. 

He stormed to victory at Cheltenham last year, and is two from two at the track, so should give Majborough plenty to think about next time out. It’s also worth noting Majborough did not impress with his jumping when third in last year’s Arkle over the Champion Chase course and distance. 

Race: Second in the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle (3.20, Saturday).

Will Lossiemouth finally contest the Unibet Champion Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, or will she bid for a third consecutive victory in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle? 

With Sir Gino ruled out, the star mare was the ante-post favourite for the two-mile showpiece ahead of the Dublin Racing Festival and, while nothing had been confirmed, the Champion Hurdle route appeared increasingly likely, especially following her victory in the December Hurdle. 

However, she’s now a best-priced 6-1 after her defeat in the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle, and connections were bemused by her performance afterwards, but reported on Monday that she “seems fine”.

Analysing her exertions on Monday’s Road To Cheltenham, Ruby Walsh said: “My opinion hasn’t changed, and is never going to change. Lossiemouth is better going a little bit further. She wants to go a mile-an-hour slower. She’s a Triumph Hurdle winner, and Triumph winners are stayers. She’s a two-and-a-half miler, that’s my opinion.”

Lossiemouth never appeared to be travelling here - it was also a similar scenario when she chased home Constitution Hill in the 2024 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle – and although she defeated Brighterdaysahead over two miles at Leopardstown in December, Gordon Elliott’s star mare was probably not at her best there, while the other contenders were not in the same league. 

I agree with Ruby’s opinion, and I think she will run over her optimum trip in the Mares’ Hurdle, especially with Brighterdaysahead being aimed at the Champion Hurdle. The seven-year-old is now a best-priced 5-4, and if she repeats last year’s performance, she is going to prove extremely hard to beat again.

Race: Second in the Padel At Leopardstown Golf Launching Spring 2026 Handicap Hurdle (3.52, Sunday).

The Charles Byrnes team almost landed a gamble here, with I Started A Joke sent off the well-backed 7-4 favourite. 

After moving menacingly into contention, the seven-year-old hit the front at the last, only to be outbattled, and possibly outstayed, by Bowensonfire, and the pair finished nicely clear of the third. 

Based on his form in bumpers and maiden hurdles, a rating of 126 appeared lenient for his handicap debut, and although he has been raised 6lb for this effort, he looks capable of landing a nice prize. 

The fact I Started A Joke was sent off favourite for the Grade Two bumper at this meeting last year hinted he’s held in high regard by connections, and he also contested the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. 

He’s now a best-priced 12-1 for the William Hill County Hurdle on March 13, and I wouldn’t put you off investing at those odds, with further improvement likely from this lightly-raced gelding. 

Race: Second in the Gannon's City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (1.50, Monday).

It was hard not to be impressed with the way Narciso Has dominated this content from the front, and both Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh were rather complimentary about his performance afterwards. 

The four-year-old will head to Cheltenham as the one to beat in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, but it was his stablemate, Selma De Vary, who caught the eye on what was her stable and Irish debut. 

She must have been showing the Closutton maestro the right signs at home to be pitched into a race of this nature so quickly and was purchased by her new connections after impressing on her final start in France three months ago. That form has not been boosted since, but she showed an impressive turn of foot in the closing stages. 

Held up in last here, she raced a exuberantly returning from a break, and made smooth progress before the turn for home. She was also a shade green in the closing stages and should strip fitter for this outing. 

Mullins said his filly had “missed a lot of time” beforehand and advised she will “improve a good bit for that run”. A best-priced 7-1 for the Triumph Hurdle therefore appeals, with a sizeable step forward expected following this outing.  

It’s also worth noting both Majborough and Il Etait Temps made their Irish debuts for Mullins in this contest, and Selma De Vary appears to have a big future. 

Race: Pulled up in the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (2.25, Monday).

This half-brother to Champ Kiely made plenty of appeal on paper beforehand, and it was easy to see why he was sent off the well-backed 7-2 favourite. 

The form of his narrow second behind Kazansky in a Grade Two novice hurdle looked a useful contest, with the winner chasing home Doctor Steinberg on Monday, and County Final finished runner-up behind Kotkito Bello at Punchestown prior to that when attempting to concede 20lb to the winner, who followed up off a 10lb higher mark at Thurles next time out. 

A rating of 128 certainly appeared lenient, and while he was pulled up two out, he was found to be coughing post-race, so a line can be drawn through this effort. 

Eric McNamara’s charge is not one to give up on just yet and remains on my radar for the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s a best-priced 33-1 with Unibet for the conditional jockeys’ contest, which he should sneak into, even if the British handicapper keeps him on the same mark.