Cheltenham Festival 2026: Champion Hurdle runners, odds and free tips
8 hours ago
TAUNTON
9 March 2026
Monday 9th March
DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Dragonboosts Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 2m 7f 3y
- Going: Good
- Runners
- 5
- Type
- Chase Turf
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Cloudy
Selection
No myracing analysis available for this race
-
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
CD
C&D Winner - Won before on this course at this distance
Scored over C&D last month; up 3lb but he's not taken lightly in his current mood
-12631
Age: 7
Weight: 11-13
OR: 131
Days: 34
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 26 | Tau Taunton | 23f Hy | 3HcCh | 12-0 | 1/4 | Brave Kingdom (1½L) | 9/4J | 128 | 134 |
| 27 Dec 25 | Chp Chepstow | 19.5f GS | 2HcCh | 11-8 | 3/7 | Lunar Discovery (9L) | 8/1 | 129 | 131 |
| 5 Dec 25 | Exe Exeter | 19f GS | 3HcCh | 11-5 | 6/6 | U Cant Be Serious (40L) | 7/2 | 129 | 98 |
| 21 Nov 25 | Asc Ascot | 21f Gd | 2HcCh | 10-10 | 2/4 | Neon Moon (2¼L) | 6/5F | 129 | 132 |
| 29 Oct 25 | Nab Newton Abbot | 21f GS | 4HcCh | 11-10 | 1/11 | Joe Cotton (1½L) | 3/1F | 121 | 129 |
| 19 Apr 25 | Nab Newton Abbot | 21f Hy | 3HcCh | 11-1 | 3/11 | Scarface (17½L) | 7/4F | 121 | 109 |
C
Course Winner - Won before at this course
Dual winner this season but his form has really dipped; cheekpieces are reached for now
3-1197
Age: 7
Weight: 11-10
OR: 128
Days: 30
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 26 | Nby Newbury | 23.5f Hy | 3NvHcCh | 11-3 | 7/10 | Holloway Queen (53L) | 16/1 | 130 | 96 |
| 26 Dec 25 | Kem Kempton | 20.5f Gd | 3NvHcCh | 11-10 | 9/10 | Barlovento (31L) | 11/2 | 130 | 107 |
| 5 Dec 25 | Exe Exeter | 19f GS | 3HcCh | 11-3 | 1/6 | Donnacha (½L) | 11/10F | 124 | 134 |
| 17 Nov 25 | Exe Exeter | 19f GS | 3HcCh | 11-3 | 1/9 | Barlovento (½L) | 4/1 | 119 | 129 |
| 1 Mar 25 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f Sft | 4NvHcH | 12-2 | 3/6 | Authentic Legacy (8¾L) | 6/1 | 122 | 116 |
| 18 Jan 25 | Asc Ascot | 21.5f Gd | 3NvH | 11-9 | 3/6 | Jax Junior (19½L) | 5/2 | - | 112 |
CD
C&D Winner - Won before on this course at this distance
C&D winner; shaped well when fourth at Ascot latest; form franked so big player eased 1lb
727134
Age: 6
Weight: 11-8
OR: 126
Days: 51
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 26 | Asc Ascot | 24f Sft | 3HcCh | 11-4 | 4/11 | The Jukebox Kid (10L) | 17/2 | 127 | 132 |
| 27 Dec 25 | Kem Kempton | 24f Gd | 3HcCh | 11-6 | 3/7 | Viroflay (4¾L) | 3/1F | 127 | 133 |
| 11 Dec 25 | Tau Taunton | 23f Gd | 4NvHcCh | 12-0 | 1/7 | Bertie Wooster (7½L) | 4/1 | 119 | 135 |
| 14 Nov 25 | Chl Cheltenham | 21f Sft | 3HcH | 11-6 | 7/18 | A Pai De Nom (15½L) | 15/2 | 120 | 112 |
| 23 Oct 25 | Fon Fontwell | 19f GS | 3HcH | 11-4 | 2/7 | Paso Doble (1¼L) | 5/1 | 118 | 118 |
| 30 Apr 25 | Pun Punchestown | 19.5f Y | HcH | 11-8 | 7/25 | Thanksforthehelp (13L) | 11/1 | 118 | 115 |
D
2 x Distance Winner - Won 2 times before at this distance
Distance Specialist - 2 wins from 3 starts at this distance (67%)
Consistent sort who scored at Musselburgh latest; hiked up 7lb but not ruled out
1-4721
Age: 8
Weight: 11-7
OR: 125
Days: 37
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 26 | Mus Musselburgh | 23.5f GS | 3HcCh | 10-11 p | 1/7 | Rexem (2½L) | 15/8F | 118 | 129 |
| 26 Dec 25 | Ain Aintree | 25f GS | 3HcCh | 10-11 p | 2/8 | Fortunate Man (3L) | 7/2 | 117 | 126 |
| 15 Nov 25 | Chl Cheltenham | 25f Hy | 3HcCh | 11-0 p | 7/16 | Hung Jury (19½L) | 4/1 | 118 | 109 |
| 24 Oct 25 | Chl Cheltenham | 25f GS | 3HcCh | 11-5 p | 4/18 | Smugglers Haven (1¼L) | 9/1 | 116 | 121 |
| 18 Mar 25 | Wet Wetherby | 24f Gd | 3NvHcCh | 10-12 p | 1/3 | De Tellers Fortune (3L) | 13/8 | 115 | 121 |
| 19 Feb 25 | Lud Ludlow | 24f GS | 3HcCh | 11-7 p | 2/6 | Ballycamus (6L) | EvensF | 115 | 121 |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
BF
Beaten Favourite - Losing favourite last time out
Solid fourth at Chepstow in October; off since but is still very much one to consider
3F3314
Age: 10
Weight: 11-4
OR: 122
Days: 148
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 25 | Chp Chepstow | 26.5f GF | 4HcCh | 12-7 | 4/8 | Safe Destination (6L) | 100/30F | 122 | 127 |
| 8 Oct 25 | Lud Ludlow | 24f GF | 3HcCh | 11-2 | 1/5 | Straw Fan Jack (25L) | 16/5 | 116 | 129 |
| 29 Sep 25 | Nab Newton Abbot | 26f Gd | 3HcCh | 11-5 | 3/4 | Bagheera Ginge (13L) | 15/8F | 116 | 113 |
| 5 Sep 25 | Wor Worcester | 23f Gd | 5HcH | 11-10 | 3/6 | Just Chasing May (12L) | 9/1 | 103 | 105 |
| 29 Jun 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 26f Gd | 2HcCh | 10-2 | F/15 | Only The Bold () | 25/1 | 126 | - |
| 12 Jun 25 | Wor Worcester | 23f GS | 3HcCh | 11-1 | 3/8 | Pull Again Green (3¾L) | 5/1 | 117 | 120 |
6
CD
Wicked Thoughts p
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
CD
C&D Winner - Won before on this course at this distance
21P-14
Age: 7
Weight: 11-2
OR: 120
Days: 59
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 26 | Exe Exeter | 24.5f GS | 3NvHcCh | 11-1 p | 4/6 | Silver Thorn (43L) | 4/1 | 121 | 92 |
| 27 Nov 25 | Tau Taunton | 23f GF | 4NvHcCh | 12-0 p | 1/8 | Bertie Wooster (nk) | 6/1 | 118 | 123 |
| 21 Apr 25 | Plu Plumpton | 20.5f Gd | 2NvHcH | 11-6 p | PU/10 | Mostly Sunny () | 14/1 | 118 | - |
| 30 Mar 25 | Asc Ascot | 19.5f Gd | 3MdH | 11-7 p | 1/4 | Jackstell (6½L) | Evs | 118 | 111 |
| 12 Feb 25 | Her Hereford | 25.5f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 p | 2/7 | Tommy The Tank (13L) | 15/8 | - | 102 |
| 29 Nov 24 | Don Doncaster | 21f GS | 4MdH | 11-1 p1 | F/9 | Moon Rocket () | 85/40F | - | 118 |
Verdict
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's C&D winner KAP VERT shaped well when fourth at Ascot last time out (form very strong) and gets the vote
Kap Vert
Betting Forecast:
9/4 Kap Vert,
3/1 Royal Jewel,
7/2 Kelce,
6/1 Wicked Thoughts,
8/1 U Cant Be Serious,
Hold Your Fort
Relevant Tips
No tips currently available.
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