Cheltenham Festival 2026 Preview 3 : Antepost Angle - DigiRacing

This race is for 4-year-olds only and is always a race for much debate. Ireland has dominated 8 of the last 12 running’s & Lark In The Mornin’ must be one of the most memorable ones. For months the rumour mill was rife he would win and this year the same can be said for Saratoga, an ex-Aidan O’Brien recruit now trained by Padraig Roche who enjoyed a winner carrying the famous JP McManus silks a few years back with Brazil, Saratoga’s half-brother.

The son of Camelot’s sole win comes from Listowel last year on the flat & ironically the horse in 2nd was Kilmeaden who is sadly no longer going to Cheltenham but to Limerick on the 12th of March instead. One to perhaps have a small tickle on if you need a breather from the festival. Saratoga was third on hurdle debut at Punchestown New Year’s Eve, a race that has given us the likes of Storm Heart, Vauban & Pied Piper in the past. 

His next run was unlucky at Naas where he was hampered by his stablemate relegating him to 3rd again. His last run on Cheltenham trials day at Naas confirmed my confidence in him finishing a strong second behind Highland Crystal who now goes for the Triumph Hurdle. He is favourite now & looks the winner to me fitting all the trends such as running three times over hurdles in his first season & coming from the rated hurdle at Naas as 4 of the last 12 winners have done so. With a rating 130 to match the same as Puturhandstogether last year.

Some each way play at 16/1 for Joseph O’Brien trained Kizlyar who was third in the same race as Lark In The Mornin at Punchestown who also was 3rd before going on to win at Cheltenham. The son of Make Believe belongs to the HOS syndicate who have has plenty of luck with their horses including Breeders Cup hero Ethical Diamond. It would be no surprise if they come out of Cheltenham with a winner. Again he fits the trends having run in three hurdles & is rated 124. He has been stuck on heavy ground since coming to Ireland but his wins in France are on good to soft so he will certainly enjoy if the ground is slightly better.

Some of the trends from this race are as follows - 9 of the last 12 winners were between 6 & 9 years of age. Weight wise 10 of the last 12 carried weight between 10st 8lbs & 11st 4lbs. Season Form 11 of the 12 winners had at least 3 runs that season & 11 of the 12 winners had at least 1 win that season.

First up is Rich’s big fancy Downmexicoway. He fits the bill beautifully, with 3 runs & 1 win this season. That came from a handicap at Gowran where the Henry de Bromhead trained gelding asserted himself for a 3-length win. He is set to carry a weight of a 11st 5lbs & although not showing much against Romeo Coolio at the Dublin Racing Festival at 16-1 he has strong each way claims.

Another of Henry’s I would be sweet on here is Zurich who won at Cheltenham in the Novice Handicap Chase back in October, he’s also had 3 runs this season winning 2 then going on to be 3rd at Doncaster in a Handicap Chase to Jordan’s Cross who won again back at Cheltenham at the end of January. Ratings wise he may be just off, but weight wise he’s nicely in and is currently a 20/1 shot.

King of Kingsfield started off his season with huge potential, having been a pacemaker last season for Brighterdaysahead. Unlike his stablemate he has switched to fences. He needs good ground & Gordon Elliott was adamant after his win at Punchestown early in the season he might put him away, that didn’t seem to be the case going forward though & there were two disappointing runs afterwards. He is a good horse on his day & could bounce back here with each way claims at 20/1.

There is only one horse I can see winning this & after his performance at Leopardstown at Christmas with an eye watering 21 length win, Koktail Divin looks the put & out winner for the Henry de Bromhead yard. He’s been 2nd to the likes of Kaid D'authie, Romeo Coolio & Oscar’s Brother in his career not to mention a solid 4th at Aintree behind Honesty Policy last year. The trends again fit him beautifully he is 6 years old & 11 of the last 12 winners from this race have been between 6 & 7. He is rated 149, 11 of the last 12 winners were rated 146 or higher. He has had 3 runs this season, 12 of the last 12 winners have had at least 2 runs. It will be Cocktails all round when this boy hacks up at 9/2.

It would be wonderful to see Fergal O’Brien have a winner at the festival & Sixmilebridge might just do it for him. He has 3 wins under his girth this season which is very hard to look past. His last win in the Scilly Isles was impressive putting 5 lengths between himself & Kala Conti. That result hits another trend as 10 of the last 12 winners coming from this race had won a Grade 1. This is also the same distance as the race he won at this very venue in December. Rated at 150 he is value at 12/1.

My favourite winner from this race was Angels Dawn back 2023 a great mare who beat the Mighty Stumptown that day.

This year I like again another Henry de Bromhead horse Waterford Whispers for JP Mc Manus. He originally was with Colin Bowe but since switching yards has found some of his old form. He was 3rd in the Grade 3 at Dublin Racing Festival only beaten a neck for 2nd. He is 7/1 for this race & there have been ‘whispers’ he will go well.

The Ronnie Bartlett owned Kim Roque is also in here. Trained by Joseph O’Brien he was 5th in the Grade 3 at Dublin Racing Festival. He has solid form & wins from France & since hitting Irish soil he’s had also run twice at Cheltenham finishing 2nd in November in the Novice Handicap & 4th in the Gold Cup in December at the venue. He knows the track & at 12/1 I’ll be taking a little Kim Roque for the Kim Muir.

The very best of luck from myself & Rich for this coming Cheltenham Festival. There will also be two preview videos over on the @DigiRacingOfficial YouTube channel where we’re have dived into all the races to help you on your way.

Just make sure to check out the channel, subscribe & get notifications on so you don’t miss out. Here’s to another fantastic Cheltenham Festival, wishing you all winners.