Newsboy has made his picks for the Cheltenham Festival(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
TALK THE TALK (1.20) is the choice to ‘walk the walk’ and give first 2026 Cheltenham Festival blood to the Irish. A record of three wins from four starts would be a perfect 4-4 for the Joseph O’Brien-saddled five-year-old, but for a stumble on landing at the final obstacles at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Second in a bumper for Stuart Crawford, Talk The Talk got off to a winning start over hurdles, and for O’Brien, in a maiden hurdle at Limerick in October before a Grade 3 score at Fairyhouse the following month. Upped to the top level for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle in Foxrock two days after Christmas, my selection had just taken over on the fun to the last flight, where calamity butted in.
At least JJ Slevin’s mount made amends at the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival – and in a manner that augurs well for today.
Towards the rear of the field turning for home, Talk The Talk made relentless gains in the straight to nail leader Ballyfad by a short head.
Talk The Talk deserves extra credit for winning that day, and a decent pace and Cheltenham’s uphill finish should trigger another personal best. Old Park Star , Mighty Park , Leader D’Allier and Sober Glory are all rookies of interest in a mouthwatering first course.
NEWBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 TALK THE TALK, 2 OLD PARK STAR, 3 SOBER GLORY
Lulamba: runs in the Arkle Trophy(Image: Getty Images)
LULAMBA (2.00) is expected to remain unbeaten over fences and give Nicky Henderson a record-extending ninth Arkle Challenge Trophy triumph.
Mugged late on by Poniros for the Triumph Hurdle 12 months ago, the French native handsomely reversed that form at Punchestown and has made the brightest start to his fencing career.
A low sun meant Lulamba and Nico de Boinville had to jump just eight at Exeter when the five-year-old went off at 2-5 for his chase debut, and the partnership did the necessary with a 10-length supremacy.
Henderson then raised his sights to the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December and, sent off at the same starting price, Lulamba sailed home nine and a half lengths to the good of Be Aware.
The bay son of Nirvana Du Berlais completed his Festival build-up by beating Saint Segal by six and a half lengths in Newbury’s Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at the beginning of last month.
Lulamba had to win ugly that day – he was less than fluent early on and found himself in a pocket on the turn for home – but he powered home once finding daylight and has so much more to offer.
Kopek Des Bordes is feared most, ahead of Kargese , Steel Ally and Jax Junior .
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 LULAMBA, 2 KOPEK DES BORDES, 3 JAX JUNIOR
Manlaga: leading fancy for Fred Winter(Image: PA)
MANLAGA (2.40) has a going-places profile that is expected to propel her to the fore in a wide-open contest.
The daughter of Maxios was recruited to race for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus after a taking three-length win on her hurdles bow at Auteuil last March.
She started for her new connections in a Listed juvenile hurdle for mares at Doncaster in January and, having her first outing for 315 days, ran a race that promised much for the future in finishing a three-quarter-length second to the unbeaten Manganese.
Manlaga then went to Haydock Park three weeks later and went one better, coming from the back of the field to pounce on leader Pourquoi Pas Papa on the run to the final flight to score by two and a quarter lengths.
The British Horseracing Authority handicapper has given my preference a mark of 130 for her first attempt in the sphere – and that’s an assessment that looks within range for a filly who is a long way from the bottom of the barrel.
Saratoga went into many notebooks at Naas last month and must enter calculations, along with Ammes, Madness D’Elle and Bibe Mus.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 MANLAGA, 2 SARATOGA, 3 MADNESS D’ELLE
Quebecois: Newsboy's fancy(Image: Photographer: Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk)
QUEBECOIS (3.20), back at Cheltenham and returning to three miles, catches the eye.
It’s easy to construct the argument that Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old has thus far been more ‘miss’ than ‘hit’ over fences – he has yet to win in four starts in the discipline and has been well beaten in three of them, at Exeter, Sandown and Newbury.
But there’s one piece of form that makes Harry Cobden’s partner a strong runner, and by his backers’ good fortune it came at Cheltenham’s Trials Day fixture in January.
Quebecois went off at 12-1 for the card’s two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase, a race won by Stage Star (2023) and Ginny’s Destiny (2024) on their way to the National Hunt Festival.
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My selection jumped with assurance and made his way to the front two fences from the finish, only to be headed in the final stride by nose victor Jordans Cross, who is unbeaten over the larger obstacles when staying on all fours.
A 4lb rise for that valiant defeat looks manageable and Quebecois should thrive for this three-mile test, having recorded his best effort of today’s distance as a novice hurdler.
The short-list is a long one and has the JP McManus-owned pair Jagwar and Johnnywho at the top of it, followed by Blow Your Wad.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 QUEBECOIS, 2 JAGWAR, 3 JOHNNYWHO
Golden Ace: Newsboy's Champion Hurdle pick(Image: PA)
GOLDEN ACE (4.00) gets the vote to retain the crown she won in admittedly fortunate circumstances 12 months ago.
The falls of Constitution Hill and State Man contrived to gift victory to Jeremy Scott’s redoubtable mare, but that pair are absent, along with her six-length conqueror in Kempton Park’s Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, Sir Gino.
Prior to that defeat, Golden Ace had run out the winner of the top-level Fighting Fifth Hurdle, another race of high drama, at Newcastle in November.
With Constitution Hill a faller at the second flight, Golden Ace was bearing down on leader The New Lion when that rival came down at the same obstacle, by then the contest’s penultimate obstacle, leaving the eight-year-old and Lorcan Williams to fend off Anzadam by a length and a half.
Those efforts rendered a below-par return at Wetherby irrelevant and she comes to her title defence with the distinction of having scored at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, beating Brighterdaysahead as a novice in 2024.
In short, she brings talent and reliability to the Tuesday feature, and those twin qualities should see her reward each-way support – at the very least.
Lossiemouth, unbeaten in four visits to the track – including three at its marquee fixture – is fancied to avenge her Irish Champion Hurdle humbling by Brighterdaysahead – Poniros was third and Anzadam fourth – and chase Golden Ace home.
Poniros is preferred to improvers Tutti Quanti and Alexei for the final place on the podium.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 GOLDEN ACE, 2 LOSSIEMOUTH, 3 PONIROS
Gordon Elliott: trains Down Memory Lane(Image: PA)
DOWN MEMORY LANE (4.40) hasn’t yet become the horse he promised to be – but there’s still time.
When Gordon Elliott gave the son of Walk In The Park his chasing debut at Navan in November 2024, those who witnessed my selection’s seven-length spanking of stablemate King Of Kingsfield were convinced they had seen a potential star.
Down Memory Lane then met with four defeats but had mucus in a nostril after a hefty Galway Plate reverse last July, and there was much to like about his winter comeback back at Navan in December.
Held up at the back of the nine-runner field by Jack Kennedy, the eight-year-old made effortless headway to challenge in the straight and had merely to be coaxed forward to beat another stable-companion, Search For Glory, by a length and a half.
An 8lb higher mark makes things tougher but Elliott has deliberately kept Down Memory Lane fresh for the Cheltenham Festival, and there’s untapped potential to draw upon.
In a race of myriad possible outcomes, the well-handicapped Madara, Zurich and Will The Wise are all worthy of a second look.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 DOWN MEMORY LANE, 2 MADARA, 3 ZURICH
Paul Nolan (left): trains Newsboy's final selection(Image: PA)
ICEBERG THEORY (5.20) is going from strength to strength over fences – and another good account is on the cards.
The winner of one of his eight attempts over hurdles, the Paul Nolan-saddled seven-year-old produced a promising effort on his fencing bow with a staying-on second to Majestic Force beginners’ chase over three miles and a furlong at Wexford last March.
Retaining his novice status for this season, Iceberg Theory went one better with a two-length call in a similar event at Limerick in May and followed up in handicap chase at Cork in November.
Sent off the 11-2 favourite in a field of 15, Conor Stone-Walsh’s partner stormed home to account for O’Toole by six and a half lengths.That race was run over two miles and five, and the additional nine furlongs here should open new doors.
If the extra yardage does trigger a personal best, then a British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 133 is within touching distance for a horse who has plenty more improvement up his sleeve.
As Tuesday’s fun comes to an end, Backmersackme, Grande Geste and Kurasso Blue are three more names to throw into the melting pot.
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