Ross Millar: a 33-1 Monday tip and a Lucky 15 for next year's Festival

So much of the season centres around the Cheltenham Festival. Happily, this year's edition produced some great racing, a good few talking points and a vintage Gold Cup-winning performance. Cheltenham chat will rightly cool now, but before that happens, let me offer up an ante-post Lucky 15 ready for the 2027 Festival.

Nicky Hendersons unbeaten hurdler led home a 1-2-3-4 in the opening race of the Festival, despite looking in a spot of bother at the top of the hill.

It was his jumping that kept him in contention and, for this reason, I expect him to make into a far better chaser. He's athletic and scopey, and measures his hurdles well - all essential ingredients for jumping a fence.

His powerful finish up the hill suggests Cheltenham will always play to his strengths, while the ground, which was probably lively enough for him, is unlikely to be reproduced for the opening day next season. Nicky Henderson has an excellent record in the Arkle and I expect this to improve in 2027.

Attacked the first two fences in the Arkle like a frenzied beast before settling well for the excellent Paul Townend.

His jumping was then foot perfect through the mid part of the race allowing him to breeze into contention going to the last. He was in marginally tight and he did rub the top of the fence, but the resulting peck on landing was a dose of pure bad luck. It took him a while to rediscover his balance and by that point it was all too late.

The manner in which he travelled through the race suggests to me he's a tremendously talented individual. With a clearer run next season and with the extra experience, I'd expect him to prove himself the best in this division.

I was vocal in my stance that he was a vulnerable favourite in the Champion Chase such was my firm belief that the sharp turning Old Course was always going to prove against this huge striding horse. Though his raw ability I most certainly don't dispute.

A step up in trip is surely the way forward. A slightly slower pace will help him get his feet underneath him while the more galloping nature of the New Course is certain to suit, as it did when he won the 2024 Triumph Hurdle.

Harry Cobden has few peers when riding exuberant chasers, as he demonstrated on Kitzbuhel last week, and to my mind Majborough is an ideal candidate for his unique set of skills. The 2027 Ryanair will see us witness the very best version of Majborough.

Racing in the double green, he is the forgotten horse in a division that continually defies all logic. Only the coldest of hearts would not have gained some enjoyment from watching Home By The Lee land the Stayers' Hurdle at his fourth attempt, however it was a result that defied all known recent form.

Jasmin De Vaux jumped poorly in his first few starts last season, but gradually improved, although it is fair to say his technique is still far from textbook. Yet, as he demonstrated in last year's Albert Bartlett, bottomless stamina trumps jumping on the New Course, which only has two hurdles in the last seven furlongs.

He's a course specialist too, having won the 2024 Champion Bumper. With a clean run of health in 2027, he can shake up a division that lacks a star performer.

Fergal O'Brien's mare has been running consistently on slow ground all season and was unfortunate to bump into a well-handicapped horse last time.

That run came over three miles, but this drop back in trip on typical testing West Wales ground will prove no problem given she won over this trip on similar ground at Leicester.

Fern O'Brien is value for her 3lb claim against fellow conditionals and this helps offset the 4lb rise in the handicap.

Olly Murphy's gelding found the step up into Grade Two company too hot to handle at Haydock last time where a bad mistake as the tempo quickened meant the distance he was beaten was exaggerated.

He's back in calmer waters now and the drop in trip looks a positive, particularly with testing ground increasing the stamina test.

Sean Bowen had a lean spell at Cheltenham, but he has quickly regained the winning thread and that can continue here.

Was a highly promising novice chaser when with Laura Morgan in 2022. He ran Grade One-winning hurdler Gelino Bello close on his chase debut before thumping Unexpected Party (rated 147) and Gentleman At Arms (rated 135) on his second start.

He's clearly been plagued by issues since as his recent debut for Olly Murphy came after a mammoth 1151-day absence. He failed to fire on that start having been ridden patiently and wide of the field, but I'm always prepared to forgive one poor run, particularly given circumstances.

The handicapper has dropped him 5lb to a mark of 129 and that is simply too lenient to ignore given he's a double-figure price.

Of course, he could clearly not be the horse of old, but I'm prepared to take the chance back on more suitable ground.