Cheltenham Festival 2026: Champion Hurdle runners, odds and free tips
9 hours ago
TAUNTON
9 March 2026
Monday 9th March
DragonBet The Roar Before BOG @ Cheltenham Maiden Hurdle (Novices' Championship Hdl Qualifier) (GBB) (Class 4) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 2m 104y
- Going: Good
- Runners
- 12
- Type
- Hurdle
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Cloudy
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Great Dance
Selected at:
6/1
Won a Newton Abbot bumper on debut in October and seemed to hate soft ground in a Listed contest at Huntingdon when last seen. Must be of interest on hurdle debut back on decent ground.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
6/1
-
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
Placed once in eight outings in points; need to improve on hurdles/stable debut
Form:
Age: 5
Weight: 11-6
OR: -
Days: -
Hot Recent Form Jockey - 8 wins from 26 in the last 14 days (31%)
Hot Recent Form Trainer - 5 wins from 14 in the last 14 days (36%)
Strong puller; some promise in bumpers and over hurdles; improvement needed
65-66
Age: 6
Weight: 11-6
OR: -
Days: 54
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 26 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f GS | 3NvH | 11-2 | 6/11 | Fire Warning (23L) | 50/1 | - | 98 |
| 7 Dec 25 | Hun Huntingdon | 16f Sft | 4NvH | 11-2 | 6/10 | Ambiente Friendly (14L) | 33/1 | - | 98 |
| 22 Feb 25 | Kem Kempton | 16f GS | 3NHF | 11-4 | 5/6 | Our Boy Stan (30L) | 28/1 | - | 88 |
| 31 Dec 24 | War Warwick | 16f Sft | 5NHF | 11-2 | 6/12 | No Drama This End (16L) | 18/1 | - | 94 |
w2
Wind Op - Second run after wind operation
Some promise on the Flat for Karl Burke; not so good over hurdles; good going may suit
9FP
Age: 5
Weight: 11-6
OR: -
Days: 30
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 26 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f Hy | 3NvH | 11-2 | PU/8 | Sober Glory () | 125/1 | - | - |
| 16 Dec 25 | Wcn Wincanton | 15f Sft | 4MdH | 10-11 h | F/18 | Swingin Safari () | 100/1 | - | - |
| 9 Oct 25 | Bat Bath | 10f GS | 5Hc | 9-11 h1 | 11/11 | Concert Party (24L) | 40/1 | 74 | 36 |
| 16 Sep 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 20f Gd | 4MdH | 10-9 ht1 | 9/10 | Percy Shelley (73L) | 33/1 | - | 35 |
| 4 Jul 25 | Don Doncaster | 12f GF | 5Nv | 10-2 | 5/10 | Gran Descans (8¾L) | 66/1 | - | 74 |
| 28 Sep 24 | Rip Ripon | 12f Sft | 5Nv | 9-4 | 4/6 | Lady La Fay (19L) | 33/1 | - | 63 |
Cold Recent Form Jockey - 0 wins from 15 in the last 14 days (0%)
Won a bumper and 2 Flat handicaps for Ralph Beckett; runner-up both hurdle starts; chance
168-22
Age: 5
Weight: 11-6
OR: 118
Days: 73
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Dec 25 | Kem Kempton | 16f Gd | 2MdH | 11-4 | 2/11 | Klub De Reve (10L) | 28/1 | - | 116 |
| 10 Dec 25 | Her Hereford | 16f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 | 2/11 | Vol Royale (6L) | 4/6F | - | 111 |
| 17 Oct 25 | Hay Haydock | 14f GS | 3Hc | 9-6 | 1/8 | Contacto (2¾L) | 18/5 | 79 | 93 |
| 9 Sep 25 | Ffo Ffos Las | 14f Hy | 4Hc | 9-9 | 3/6 | Maxident (20L) | 15/8F | 78 | 59 |
| 5 Sep 25 | Hay Haydock | 11.5f Gd | 5Hc | 10-0 | 1/11 | Pappa Louis (3¼L) | 2/1F | 73 | 88 |
| 20 Aug 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 12f St/Slw | 4Nv | 9-13 | 2/9 | Finalise (12L) | 11/2 | - | 75 |
Modest efforts in two bumpers; well beaten 80-1 shot on hurdles debut; plenty to prove
070
Age: 5
Weight: 11-6
OR: -
Days: 12
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 26 | Wcn Wincanton | 15f GS | 4MdH | 11-7 | 14/18 | Aguellid (48L) | 80/1 | - | 67 |
| 9 Jan 26 | Exe Exeter | 16.5f GS | 5NHF | 11-2 | 7/11 | Mortal Coil (22L) | 9/1 | - | 89 |
| 6 Nov 25 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f GS | 4NHF | 11-2 | 10/12 | Bass Hunter (50L) | 16/1 | - | 69 |
Showed a little promise in bumpers but well beaten on hurdles debut; more needed
5850
Age: 5
Weight: 11-6
OR: -
Days: 12
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 26 | Wcn Wincanton | 15f GS | 4MdH | 11-7 | 10/18 | Aguellid (34L) | 50/1 | - | 82 |
| 21 Dec 25 | Lin Lingfield | 16f St/Slw | 5NHF | 10-13 | 5/6 | Wilde's Legacy (10½L) | 6/1 | - | 91 |
| 25 Nov 25 | Her Hereford | 16f Gd | 5NHF | 11-2 | 8/14 | Smile John Boy (12½L) | 40/1 | - | 95 |
| 12 Oct 25 | Chp Chepstow | 16f Gd | 2NHF | 11-1 | 5/8 | Black Eddy (17½L) | 40/1 | - | 91 |
Third in an Irish point in December; modest efforts at long odds in two runs over hurdles
93
Age: 5
Weight: 10-13
OR: -
Days: 17
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb 26 | Exe Exeter | 16.5f Hy | 4NvH | 10-12 | 3/7 | Kapitein Kool (36L) | 150/1 | - | 70 |
| 12 Feb 26 | Tau Taunton | 16.5f Hy | 4MdH | 10-7 | 9/9 | A King Of Magic (74L) | 100/1 | - | 35 |
Improved on debut run when 22l seventh of ten last time at Wincanton; should progress
07
Age: 6
Weight: 10-13
OR: -
Days: 23
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Feb 26 | Wcn Wincanton | 15f Hy | 4MdH | 11-0 | 7/10 | Caballero Cliff (22L) | 80/1 | - | 71 |
| 17 Jan 26 | Tau Taunton | 16.5f GS | 4MdHM | 11-4 | 12/13 | Heron In The Park (37L) | 25/1 | - | 69 |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
Won four-runner bumper on debut; fair run last time; quite interesting on jumps debut
19
Age: 5
Weight: 10-13
OR: -
Days: 92
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Dec 25 | Hun Huntingdon | 16f Sft | NHFLM | 11-2 | 9/14 | Ti'mamzel (11L) | 18/1 | - | 97 |
| 18 Oct 25 | Nab Newton Abbot | 17f GS | 5NHF | 10-8 | 1/4 | Hobbson's Day (1¼L) | 13/8F | - | 97 |
Flat winner in France; chance, but a bit to find with Way Of Stars on recent C&D form
P23
Age: 4
Weight: 10-10
OR: 112
Days: 25
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 26 | Tau Taunton | 16.5f Hy | 4MdH | 10-9 t | 3/9 | A King Of Magic (1L) | 100/30 | - | 102 |
| 8 Jan 26 | Tau Taunton | 16.5f Gd | 4MdH | 10-9 t1 | 2/9 | Onlyforfrankie (17L) | 7/2 | - | 99 |
| 26 Oct 25 | Fon Fontwell | 17.5f GS | 43yH | 11-0 | PU/5 | Galactique () | 7/2 | - | - |
| 28 May 25 | Stb Strasbourg | 12f GS | 3y | 9-0 | 2/8 | Sedano (3½L) | 48/10 | - | - |
| 3 May 25 | Lem Le Mans | 16f GS | 3y | 8-11 | 1/9 | Possible (2L) | 76/10 | - | - |
Hot Recent Form Jockey - 3 wins from 11 in the last 14 days (27%)
Maiden Flat winner on good to firm; two fair runs over hurdles (heavy); contender
32
Age: 4
Weight: 10-10
OR: 113
Days: 25
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 26 | Tau Taunton | 16.5f Hy | 4MdH | 10-9 h1 | 2/9 | A King Of Magic (nk) | 11/2 | - | 104 |
| 18 Dec 25 | Exe Exeter | 16.5f Hy | 43yMdH | 11-2 | 3/4 | Klycot (7½L) | 4/1 | - | 105 |
| 26 Sep 25 | Hay Haydock | 14f GS | 33yHc | 9-0 | 4/6 | Sing Us A Song (3¼L) | 16/1 | 88 | 91 |
| 6 Sep 25 | Hay Haydock | 14f Gd | 23yHc | 8-11 | 7/10 | Valiancy (7½L) | 16/1 | 89 | 91 |
| 5 Jul 25 | Hay Haydock | 14f Gd | 23yHc | 9-2 | 4/10 | Pole Star (2L) | 7/1 | 87 | 94 |
| 20 Jun 25 | Goo Goodwood | 14f GF | 4Md | 9-1 | 1/7 | Earnest Belief (7L) | 5/6F | 84 | 92 |
Ordinary form on the Flat and not shown much in two runs over hurdles either
4P
Age: 4
Weight: 10-3
OR: -
Days: 26
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 26 | Her Hereford | 16f Hy | 44yMdHM | 10-9 b | PU/9 | The Procrastinator () | 150/1 | - | - |
| 17 Nov 25 | Lei Leicester | 15.5f Sft | 33yMdHM | 10-9 | 4/5 | Manganese (51L) | 20/1 | - | 36 |
| 19 May 25 | Red Redcar | 14f GF | 63yHc | 9-4 tp | 5/8 | Bellator Bullet (9L) | 12/1 | 55 | 53 |
| 7 Apr 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 11f St/Slw | 5NvF | 8-8 tp1 | 4/5 | Trad Jazz (9¾L) | 66/1 | - | 51 |
| 28 Mar 25 | Sth Southwell (AW) | 12f St | 5MdF | 8-9 tb | 6/7 | Lady Vivian (20L) | 66/1 | - | 47 |
| 14 Mar 25 | Sth Southwell (AW) | 11f St | 53yNvF | 9-2 tb1 | 7/7 | Dojin (12½L) | 17/2 | - | 53 |
Verdict
With this good ground likely to suit him WAY OF STARS is taken to confirm last month's C&D placings with Babykin.
Way Of Stars
Betting Forecast:
2/1 Way Of Stars,
9/4 Babyken,
3/1 Gnomon,
14/1 Great Dance,
16/1 Gilded Glance,
20/1 Bamber,
25/1 American Trio,
Famous Shoes,
King Berry,
33/1 Governors Island,
40/1 Follow The Plan,
50/1 Cantalice
Relevant Tips
No tips currently available.
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