Cheltenham Festival 2026: Champion Hurdle runners, odds and free tips
8 hours ago
PLUMPTON
9 March 2026
Monday 9th March
John Ellis Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 2m 4f 116y
- Going: Good To Soft
- Runners
- 6
- Type
- Hurdle
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Mostly cloudy
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Lasko Des Obeaux
Selected at:
11/4
Picked up for £120,000 after finishing second in a good point and has run with credit on his first three hurdle starts. Looks a likely improver now tacking handicaps up in trip.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
11/4
-
60/1 Lulamba Or Kopek Des Bordes To Win The Arkle
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
Placed on all three hurdling starts and ought to be suited by this step up in trip
233
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: 112
Days: 34
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 26 | Crl Carlisle | 17f GS | 4NvH | 11-5 | 3/12 | It's Top (3½L) | 5/2 | - | 100 |
| 18 Dec 25 | Exe Exeter | 16.5f Hy | 4MdH | 11-4 | 3/12 | Blowers (23L) | 11/8 | - | 92 |
| 21 Nov 25 | Chp Chepstow | 16f Sft | 4NvH | 11-0 | 2/11 | Doctors Hill (4¼L) | EvensF | - | 105 |
Ran well until tiring on soft ground last time; a possible if aided by new tongue-tie
341-P4
Age: 6
Weight: 11-11
OR: 111
Days: 53
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 26 | Wcn Wincanton | 20f Sft | 4HcH | 11-7 | 4/12 | Lucky Bere (20L) | 10/1 | 113 | 98 |
| 23 Nov 25 | Exe Exeter | 18.5f GS | 3HcH | 11-2 | PU/7 | Luttrell Lad () | 18/5 | 114 | - |
| 25 Apr 25 | Fon Fontwell | 22f Gd | 4HcH | 11-5 | 1/10 | Kingston Gent (1¼L) | 13/2 | 110 | 110 |
| 7 Mar 25 | Exe Exeter | 16.5f Gd | 4HcH | 11-2 | 4/8 | King Of The Lake (22L) | 7/1 | 112 | 104 |
| 8 Jan 25 | Tau Taunton | 19f Sft | 3HcH | 11-6 | 3/6 | Tom Doniphon (9½L) | 12/1 | 114 | 109 |
| 6 Nov 24 | Chp Chepstow | 16f GS | 4NvHcCh | 11-7 | 4/5 | Javert Allen (26L) | 15/8F | 116 | 88 |
Lurks on a dangerous mark but has largely been disappointing this season
-P7494
Age: 5
Weight: 11-11
OR: 111
Days: 15
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 26 | Fon Fontwell | 17.5f Hy | 4HcH | 11-6 p | 4/6 | Queenie St Clair (31L) | 10/1 | 113 | 89 |
| 19 Jan 26 | Lin Lingfield | 19.5f Sft | 4HcH | 12-0 | 9/13 | Luwdvig (18L) | 22/1 | 115 | 103 |
| 22 Dec 25 | Hun Huntingdon | 16f GS | 44yHcH | 11-8 | 4/7 | Benvoy (6¼L) | 22/1 | 116 | 110 |
| 5 Dec 25 | San Sandown | 16f Sft | 44yHcH | 11-7 p | 7/9 | Across Earth (28L) | 25/1 | 118 | 98 |
| 16 Nov 25 | Fon Fontwell | 17.5f GS | 4HcH | 12-0 | PU/6 | Officer Of State () | 12/1 | 119 | - |
| 30 Mar 25 | Asc Ascot | 15.5f Gd | 24yHcH | 11-6 p | 2/8 | Benvoy (10L) | 13/2 | 120 | 114 |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
Absent since a poor run in November but has the form to feature if fully tuned up
F-362P
Age: 8
Weight: 11-9
OR: 109
Days: 119
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 25 | Kem Kempton | 21f Gd | 4HcH | 11-2 | PU/10 | Turndlightsdownlow () | 12/1 | 111 | - |
| 6 Oct 25 | Str Stratford | 22f Gd | 4HcH | 10-13 | 2/6 | Serious Chat (3L) | 3/1 | 109 | 110 |
| 1 Jul 25 | Str Stratford | 22f GF | 4HcH | 11-8 | 6/8 | Roxboro River (12½L) | 3/1 | 109 | 96 |
| 5 Jun 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 20f Gd | 4HcH | 11-11 | 3/6 | Windsurfer (7¾L) | 13/8F | 109 | 109 |
| 11 Apr 25 | Fon Fontwell | 19f Gd | 4HcH | 11-8 | F/4 | Batwomen () | 5/2J | 110 | 109 |
| 2 Dec 24 | Plu Plumpton | 20.5f GS | 4HcH | 11-10 | F/11 | Bertie B () | 4/1 | 110 | - |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
Has lost his way over fences; back hurdling with new headgear tried here
43P-7P
Age: 9
Weight: 11-8
OR: 108
Days: 78
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 25 | Fak Fakenham | 21f Sft | 3HcCh | 11-1 p | PU/5 | No But I Will () | 15/2 | 112 | - |
| 18 Nov 25 | Lin Lingfield | 22f Gd | 4HcCh | 11-9 | 7/10 | No Tackle (28L) | 28/1 | 115 | 94 |
| 12 Feb 25 | Wet Wetherby | 24f Sft | 4HcCh | 11-11 p | PU/8 | Sound And Fury () | 14/1 | 117 | - |
| 14 Nov 24 | Mar Market Rasen | 24f Gd | 4NvHcCh | 11-13 p1 | 3/3 | Montregard (5L) | 5/4 | 119 | 114 |
| 11 Oct 24 | Chp Chepstow | 23.5f GS | 3NvHcCh | 10-10 | 4/9 | Destroytheevidence (14L) | 11/1 | 120 | 117 |
| 22 Mar 24 | Nby Newbury | 23.5f GS | 3HcCh | 10-12 | F/7 | Neon Moon () | 15/2 | 122 | - |
Cold Recent Form Jockey - 0 wins from 15 in the last 14 days (0%)
Found 0-130 company too hot last time but looked progressive beforehand; major player
-26136
Age: 6
Weight: 11-2
OR: 102
Days: 58
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 26 | Kem Kempton | 16f Gd | 3HcH | 10-2 t | 6/8 | Williethebuilder (15½L) | 15/2 | 104 | 93 |
| 16 Dec 25 | Wcn Wincanton | 15f Sft | 4HcH | 11-3 t | 3/13 | Poet Laureate (7L) | 4/1F | 103 | 104 |
| 27 Nov 25 | Tau Taunton | 19f GF | 5HcH | 11-11 t1 | 1/13 | Man Of The Sea (3¼L) | 100/30F | 97 | 101 |
| 7 Nov 25 | Exe Exeter | 16.5f Gd | 4HcH | 11-2 | 6/17 | Haas Boy (12½L) | 11/2 | 98 | 95 |
| 21 Oct 25 | Exe Exeter | 18.5f GF | 4MdH | 11-4 | 2/6 | Start Again (6L) | 9/4 | - | 100 |
| 25 Nov 24 | Lud Ludlow | 16f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 | 4/8 | Meetmebythesea (20L) | 11/4 | - | 94 |
6
Balboa
T: Seamus Mullins
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 0 wins from 10 in the last 14 days (0%)
-85743
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 105
Days: 20
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 26 | Nby Newbury | 20.5f Sft | 4HcH | 11-8 | 3/12 | De Kingpin (26L) | 10/1 | 107 | 90 |
| 30 Dec 25 | Tau Taunton | 19f Gd | 4HcH | 11-12 | 4/8 | Cornish Storm (10L) | 13/2 | 110 | 104 |
| 4 Dec 25 | Wcn Wincanton | 15f GS | 4HcH | 11-1 | 7/10 | Non Stop (8¼L) | 22/1 | 112 | 109 |
| 4 Jun 25 | Nab Newton Abbot | 17f Gd | 3HcH | 11-3 p | 5/6 | American Land (11L) | 16/1 | 115 | 106 |
| 10 May 25 | Hex Hexham | 20f Gd | 4HcH | 11-11 p | 8/11 | Miss Maverick (43L) | 14/1 | 117 | 84 |
| 11 Apr 25 | Ayr Ayr | 20.5f GS | 4HcH | 11-11 p1 | 8/13 | Summergrounds (24L) | 10/1 | 117 | 99 |
Verdict
Another chance is given to OAKLEY'S WAY (nap), who will find this easier than his latest assignment and can resume earlier progress.
Oakley's Way
Betting Forecast:
6/4 Lasko Des Obeaux,
4/1 Galactic Charm,
Oakley's Way,
6/1 Valadon,
7/1 Baltray,
16/1 Moon Hunter
Relevant Tips
No tips currently available.
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