How has the DRF changed the Cheltenham Festival picture?
It took 24 hours longer than anticipated, with Saturday’s racing switched to Monday, but somehow Leopardstown managed to survive the deluge of rain that arrived in recent times to stage the Dublin Racing Festival.
The DRF has become a hotbed for pre-Cheltenham clues. In 2025, seven subsequent Cheltenham Festival scorers ran at this meeting, though only two of those were victorious at Leopardstown.
This year the DRF was staged on testing ground, ensuring some will treat the form with caution. There were eight Grade 1 races, some stunning performances and some bubbles burst – but how has the DRF changed the Cheltenham Festival 2026 picture?
Majborough back in the groove
It was a big couple of days for owner JP McManus and rider Mark Walsh and it included the impressive score from Majborough in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
He was allowed to stride on in front and the jumps concerns following his runs this season were soon forgotten. He was an impressive 19-lengths from last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale in second.
Barry Connell suggested the latter didn’t handle the testing ground but expects better come Cheltenham.
Majborough is now 6/4 favourite for the Champion Chase, while Marine Nationale is a 9/4 chance and Il Etait Temps is 8/1 after his Clarence House Chase defeat.
Brighterdaysahead takes Lossiemouth’s measure
The Irish Champion Hurdle hasn’t proved a lucky race for Lossiemouth and the odds-on favourite was duly denied this time by Brighterdaysahead as Gordon Elliott’s mare reversed placing from their meeting at Christmas.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Brighterdaysahead is now 11/4 second-favourite for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, with only The New Lion ahead in the market.
Lossiemouth is out to 6/1 and once more, connections of the Rich Ricci-owned inmate have to decide between the two-mile Championship event or the Mares’ Hurdle when she puts her unbeaten Cheltenham record on the line.
Final Demand fluffs his lines
Final Demand was tagged as one of the Irish Bankers after winning his first two starts over fences. The Willie Mullins inmate went off at odds of 3/10 in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase and he was at the head of affairs under Paul Townend with Mark Walsh and Kaid D’authie for company.
Final Demand’s jumping wasn’t fluent and the writing was on the wall for him jumping three out as he came home a tired horse in the third spot.
He’s now available at 4/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in Cheltenham, with Kaid D’authie 9/2 for the same target.
Just what the Doctor ordered
Doctor Steinberg delivered in great style in the opening Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle on Monday for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
He won by eight-lengths over the 2m6f trip and few horses across the two days galloped through the line as willingly. He’s 3-3 over hurdles now and has options in the Turners
Novices’ Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett come Cheltenham, with the latter over three-miles possibly appealing most and he has shortened to 5/2 favouritism for the that race.
Mullins also saw Narciso Has strengthen his case for the Triumph Hurdle with his own Grade 1 success in the Juvenile Hurdle under man of the moment Mark Walsh.
Fact To File delivers as Gold Cup questions get bigger
Mullins had a one-two-three in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup but it wasn't to be a four-timer for Galopin Des Champs.
He race up on the lead but stablemates Fact To File (Walsh) and Gaelic Warrior (Patrick Mullins) went by Paul Townend’s mount in the home straight.
Fact To File showed his King George run to be all wrong and went some way to answering stamina doubts. He’s 2/1 to win a second Ryanair Chase in Cheltenham, but will connections opt for a supplementary Gold Cup entry instead? Time will tell.
Gaelic Warrior holds that Blue Riband entry alongside a Ryanair ticket. Galopin Des Champs was beaten fair and square but his trainer certainly wasn’t downbeat and feels he could run his best race of the season when he goes for a third Gold Cup in the Cotswolds.
He’s 7/1 to reclaim that crown from Inothewayurthinkin, with Gavin Cromwell's charge now 12/1 following a tired fall at the last in his latest disappointing run.
