The Mandarin’s Cheltenham Festival Racecard for Friday 13th March 2026

The Mandarin’s Cheltenham Festival Racecard for Friday 13th with Guest Insights from Caroline

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.20
Selma De Vary
No Narciso Has for the Triumph, which has blown the race wide open, but stablemate Selma De Vary can fill the void. A pretty unfancied 17/2 shot behind Narciso Has at the Dublin Racing Festival on her first run on Irish soil, Selma De Vary was upsides of Mange Tout who I rated the big danger to the then Triumph favourite, but she showed a flash of her talent when a 4 & 1/2 length second. Willie Mullins has a strong hand with Proactif highly touted after a convincing win at Fairyhouse in January, and another seven declared, but may face some stiff competition from Gordon Elliott’s Highland Crystal and Dan Skelton’s Maestro Conti, who won the Trial here back in January. A really hot renewal, where I’ll hazard a guess that Proactif, Maestro Conti and my selection Selma De Vary will fill the first three slots. Caroline?

Highland Crystal
It took an age for Gordon Elliott to get a smile on his face this week, but he’ll be smiling all over when Highland Crystal takes the Triumph. She’s had her form in a Rated Hurdle at Naas the last day fully franked, when my Tuesday pick Saratoga took the Fred Winter in some style, and I’m thinking that she’s not been fully stretched yet. But I do think that Maestro Conti looks useful, and if it’s a Grade One, then Willie Mullins must have a say, so Proactif and Selma De Vary look his main two. Highland Crystal to keep her unbeaten run going I hope.

William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2.00
Sinnatra
Dan Skelton again has a really hot chance in one of the Cheltenham Handicaps, this time the County Hurdle with Sinnatra. He was third to Act Of Innocence in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon last month, but warmed up nicely for this dropped in grade to a Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick, and gets into this pretty much at the bottom of the handicap along with Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel who will have his own admirers. It’s going to be a mad, frantic dash for position as always in the County Hurdle, but Harry Skelton will put his experience to best use. Willie Mullins’ Absurde is a dangerous one to write off, so looks a fascinating each way squeak, but I’ll take Sinnatra for the win.

Mrs Padder Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) 2.40
Dinoblue (nap)
It’s very hard to ignore the appeal of Dinoblue to defend her title in this Mares’ Chase, and my only surprise was the rather generous odds on offer ante post. Anything over 2/1 and I’ll say you’ve got yourself a bargain ticket, though dropped in grade to the Listed Opera Hat Chase last time out did flatter to deceive a touch. For all that, her stablemate Spindleberry looks up against it in this Grade One, unless Paul Townend can pull another rabbit out of the hat so to speak, so Gavin Cromwell’s Only By Night looks one that may have come under the radar for this – she was runner-up to Jango Baie in the Arkle here last year after all. Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is willing, while Ben Pauling’s Diva Luna is likely to set the fractions from the front, but I’ll take Dinoblue for the win with Only By Night keeping her honest. Do you agree Caroline?

Dinoblue (nap)
I do Boss, and I’m also surprised that she was at such generous odds considering she won this last year. It must be that Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is thought of as a proper rival, and that can be justified a bit I suppose, but is Panic Attack a Grade One horse? I’m afraid I don’t think so yet, although she did win the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase here at the November meeting, so has course form. Ben Pauling’s Diva Luna also looks progressive, and from Thursday’s winning trainer and jockey must be on my list, but Only By Night nearly won the Arkle here last year so is the proven Grade One rival. Dinoblue to defend her crown, with Only By Night keeping her up to her work, as you said.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 3.20
Doctor Steinberg
Yet another Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combination to go for Grade One glory, and I do think Doctor Steinberg is a worthy favourite. He did it pretty cosily when taking the Grade One Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, as Caroline said he would, despite going a bit freely in the early stages, so he can only improve for a more measured ride under the jockey of the week. Gordon Elliott’s Kazansky was 8 lengths adrift in that Leopardstown race in second, but it’s hard to see where he makes up that amount of ground, so stablemate Spinningayarn looks the main Irish rival with Jack Kennedy aboard. Paul Nolan’s Thedeviluno won the River Don last time out, so has claims, but I find it hard to see past Doctor Steinberg. Caroline?

Doctor Steinberg
Yes, I liked Doctor Steinberg for the Grade One Hurdle at Leopardstown the last day, and he didn’t disappoint. I think he’s easy to back, and like you I’ve taken note of Paul Nolan’s Thedeviluno as sure to be in the mix.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) 4.00
Gaelic Warrior (nb)
This has to be the most wide open Gold Cup for many a year, and would have been even if Galopin Des Champs was still involved. However, the dual winner of the Festival’s Blue Riband hasn’t looked the force of old this season, and maybe there are some new kids on the block to challenge for the biggest National Hunt prize of all. Also there’s an interesting couple from the home team this year, King George VI winner The Jukebox Man, Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie, fourth in the King George and both of these have been highly touted to keep the Gold Cup on British shores. I’m not entirely convinced that The Jukebox Man is going to be as effective on this track as he was at Kempton on Boxing Day, but Nicky Henderson’s brilliant fencer Jango Baie does look a Gold Cup type through and through. However, Willie Mullins will not want to go home without this in the Trophy Cabinet, and now that Paul Townend is on Gaelic Warrior, this may be his time to prove that he’s top class on the biggest stage, so that’s my pick ahead of Jango Baie. Caroline, your thoughts?

Gaelic Warrior
Oh yes Boss, the boy has finally grown up this year, and his run in the John Durkan at Punchestown at the start of this campaign really impressed me. After that he was third in the King George, by a whisker of course in that blanket finish, and then second to Fact To File the last day at Leopardstown. I really do think he’s come of age, but Paul Townend is going to keep a tight leash on him for the first circuit, as he’ll not win if he does too much too soon. I’m sure as a gun that he’ll be under instruction to do just that, Paul Townend, not that he needs telling of course, so I’m sorry, the Gold Cup is going back home to Ireland!

Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 4.40
Stattler
Runner up in the 2023, 2024 & 2025 editions of this race, so you might wonder what Emmet Mullins’ Its On The Line has got to do to win it. It was the reopposing Wonderwall that beat him a neck in last year’s renewal, so it’s no surprise to see this pair heading the markets this week, and I would expect both to be in the mix. However, it’s Faye Bramley’s Stattler that was in the Gold Cup just three years ago that I find an intriguing contender. With Willie Mullins then, and with winning form around here in the National Hunt Challenge Cup the year prior, Stattler remains relatively unexposed and lightly raced, so I’ll back him to take on last year’s one-two and come up trumps. Gordon Elliott’s Chemical Energy has a similar profile to Stattler in terms of previous course form, so is another to note, but Stattler gets the nudge from me.

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 5.20
Nurse Susan
Oh how I hope that Dan Skelton can land another of these handicaps to round off his Cheltenham week. This time, it’s Nurse Susan that can do the business under Tristan Durrell, who has really come to the fore as the yard’s second string jockey this season. I saw the race at Sandown Park when Nurse Susan, seemingly out of the race in the home straight found something extra to win, and with course form here, should be right in the mix if the ground doesn’t get too deep. If it does, Gordon Elliott’s Stede Bonnet looks a worthy option, and Willie Mullins Kel Histoire must join the list.