'I expect her to avenge that defeat' - Patrick Mullins' Cheltenham Festival best bet

‘I expect her to avenge that defeat’ – Patrick Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival best bet

Liam Bramall

Published: February 25, 2026

Horse racing is in Liam's blood and his biggest passion is jumps racing. He can often be found at his favourite tracks; Chepstow and Cheltenham in the Autumn when the National Hunt action kicks off. In his own words: "I'm often referred to as a walking form book, a trait which comes in handy from time to time. My proudest tipping success to date was landing a whopping 682-1 accumulator at Epsom."

The Cheltenham Festival will soon be upon us and the closer we get, the more Cheltenham preview events will take place. Patrick Mullins offered his view’s in the Racing Post’s ultimate preview series, which is well worth a read. Mullins put up one of his father’s horses as his strongest fancy of the meeting and it’s very easy to see where the confidence comes from. Take a look at our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

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CLAIM

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Bambino Fever (6/4, bet365) was on another level in the bumper division last year and she managed to win Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper and the Punchestown equivalent in the spring.

She lost her unbeaten record on hurdling debut but left that effort well behind when getting off the mark impressively at Fairyhouse after that. She heads the ante-post market and will surely take all the beating.

Mullins said: “I think Bambino Fever will be hard to beat in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. She was beaten on her debut by a good mare who had the advantage of a run beforehand, and ours weren’t really firing at the time. The New course should suit her better again than the Old course, which she won on last year. She jumps well, has won at the festival, is a straightforward ride and I expect her to avenge that Naas defeat to Oldschool Outlaw.”

There are plenty of reasons to assume she’s every bit as good over hurdles as she was in bumpers and further progress could well be on the cards. The daughter of Jukebox Jury wouldn’t look out of place in the Supreme but the stiffer test of stamina on this course will play to her strengths.

Bambino Fever

Analysis

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CLAIM

‘I expect her to avenge that defeat’ – Patrick Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival best bet

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Bambino Fever

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