HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Festival 2026 – Day 1

It was very testing ground at Sandown on Saturday, writes HARRY SKELTON.

Unknown Entity didn’t quite get home over the trip on that ground in the EBF Final. He’s probably better at two miles on very soft ground.

The Imperial Cup was run at a fast pace, and Brace For Landing travelled into the race okay but weakened quite tamely on the run-in. He’s only a young horse and probably wants a bit better ground, so we can forgive him that effort.

I thought Mr Hope Street ran very well. He hadn’t run for a long time, and I think he will come on for that outing.

In the bumper, Lune Brillante didn’t handle the ground at all, but Capricciose showed a good attitude and kept going really well, so it was a nice run from her.

---

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

TUESDAY

Cheltenham is here, and this is the moment all of us have been waiting for, it’s the Olympics of our sport. We’re lucky to be going there with the horses in good form and hopefully we have plenty of live chances through the week, including in the four championship races.

I’m really looking forward to riding The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle and have three other nice rides on the opening day.

---

MYDADDYPADDY – 1:20pm (👑 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 👑)

We think the Aintree race came a little bit too soon for him. There were other things too, like some of the hurdles being taken out due to low sun which didn’t suit him there, so it’s worth forgiving him that.

He’s a horse with a lot of ability that has always worked well at home. Having not run since Aintree, he’s coming here nice and fresh, and he seems in great form. It looks like a really open Supreme this year, and he goes there with a chance.

THE MIGHTY CELT – 2:40pm (👑 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 👑)

He goes in the Fred Winter, having run nicely on his first run for us at Haydock last time, finishing third behind Manlaga. He’s got plenty of experience, having run six times over hurdles in France, and that should stand him in good stead here.

He’s improved since his run at Haydock, and he definitely has an each-way shout.

THE NEW LION – 4:00pm (👑 Champion Hurdle 👑)

I’m really excited about him. Since winning the Turners last year, this has always been where we wanted to be.

It was nice to put in a good, clear round and get his head in front at Cheltenham in the International Hurdle. It was a race that turned into a sprint to the line, so he was never going to win by too far, but he really hit the line strongly.

The ground, track, and everything should be to his liking here. We’ve been very happy with him at home and it’s great to be going there with such a strong chance. Hopefully, he puts up a good performance.

MADARA, BOOMBAWN & RISKINTHEGROUND – 4:40pm (👑 Plate Handicap Chase 👑)

I ride Madara in the Plate. He came on for his first start of the season at Wetherby to run a good race to finish second at Kempton.

We’ve done plenty of work with him since then and he has taken another step forward. He’s versatile ground-wise and tends to enjoy running in these big handicaps, which I think bring out the best in him. He looks to have a competitive chance.

Riskintheground has been out of form recently and has been in the pocket of the handicapper this season. The drying ground should suit both him and our other runner Boombawn.

To be honest, I think the handicapper has both of them where he wants them and they are both suffering for their past successes at the moment.

---

STAR PROMOTIONS