- Equinties Newsletter
- Posts
- Equinties - Cheltenham commentary
Equinties - Cheltenham commentary
BGP Capital
January 06, 2026
Gm, Equinauts
The stalling weather has meant it’s been a slow start to jumps proceedings but mark our words, January is the heart of the jumps season, especially for the likes of Willie Mullins who will begin to tune up his yard ahead of spring after a quiet December (to his standard anyway). Ante-post markets WILL move.
The weather also means we’re suffering a bit from slow sports news this week so you’ll forgive us for our reduced content - but we’ll be back full send as soon as there is something worthwhile to break down and chat about!
Now let’s dive in!
HEADLINE ROUND UP
VENETIA PRESSING ON
As some parts of the UK thaws from the big freeze we’re encountering, racing goes ahead today at Wolves and Southwell but NH fans will have to remain patient for the time being. The latter part of this week looks promising for them though as although the jumps meetings are plagued with inspection notices, the forecast does look promising and more, finally there is some slop about courtesy of Ffos Las which will host a supplementary fixture.
This weeks highlight, bar the mud at Ffos Las, is undoubtedly the Classic Chase Day at Warwick on Saturday, a meeting featuring a Grade 2 novice chase which has been won by some big horses in the past (think GREY DAWNING last year and fan fave TWO FOR GOLD in 2020). The namesake feature race, the Classic Handicap Chase, is a tough slog over three miles and five furlongs that often serves as a key trial for spring targets like the Grand National (think ONE FOR ARTHUR in 2017).
A surprising entry in the race is L’HOMME PRESSE for Venetia Williams. Due to his rating, it does mean he will boot others out the race owed to new BHA rules but it’s a fascinating entry given he hasn’t been seen in a handicap since 2024! He won that.
It seems at his age of 11, Venetia is now keen to try him more over the marathon trips and admitted this has been his season plan. Currently third fave, he is chalked up at 6’s behind the likes of fave MYRETOWN and form horse MR VANGO. We can’t wait for this one. This race IS jumps racing.
Venetia has had a bloody slow start to the season but that might be reflected in the unseasonably quick ground we’ve been racing on recently. Watch out for her when ALL tracks are described as ‘heavy’!
The weather should see Warwick go ahead and that’s where ITV Racing will be broadcast live. As part of a new feature for premium subscribers, we’ll be previewing ALL their aired races as well as the other ‘big’ (graded) races across the cards.
CHELTENHAM COMMENTARY
As we discussed recently (in our Christmas roundup), December really took the Supreme market, threw it in the bin and told punters to ‘start again’. Todays Racing Post features two interviews with connections of the new protagonists leading the market.
MOSSY FEN ROAD is still unloved in the market but boy did he look good last time out.
On the horse, Derham said: “I didn’t need to talk him up at Chepstow because he did his job, and I hope he’ll keep doing that and make into the horse I think he can be”.
That’s bullish given Derham has come from Nicholls yard and absolutely knows what a good horse looks like. He’s as big as 16’s if you like him.
On horses across the sea, former retained jockey now racing manager to Munir and Souede, Daryl Jacob, has made comment on exciting youngster TALK THE TALK. He says he should have picked up the cheque at Leopardstown and has admitted they’re now dreaming of Supreme success. His quiet confidence in the new gun in the double green silks was apparent when stating the ‘horse is going from strength to strength’. His inclusion in the double green Cheltenham team bolsters the chances of a big week for his owners after EL FABILIO returned to the winners enclosure recently (over hurdles this time) putting him in the ever-changing picture for the Champion Hurdle.
On the Champion Hurdle, Nicky Henderson still hasn’t ruled out mega star CONSTITUTION HILL’s partaking in it despite being apparently desperate to try him on the flat, even calling for the BHA to put on a race for him lol (if they’re going to listen to anyone, it’s Hendo):
