Cheltenham Preview Night at the Tower Hotel is a massive success
The Cheltenham Festival Preview panel who were brilliant on the night included Sean Flanagan, Darragh O'Keeffe, John "Shark" Hanlon, Paddy Flood, Declan Queally, Johnny Dineen and MC Ken Whelan. Photos: Noel Browne
The Tower Hotel was the place to be on Saturday night last as an expert panel, chaired by former Waterford jockey Ken Whelan, previewed the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, which gets underway on Tuesday, March 10.
Local trainer Declan Queally, who will ride one of the fancies in the Turner’s Novices Hurdle. I’ll Sort That, was one of the six panel members that included Johnny Dineen, jockeys Darragh O’Keeffe and Sean Flanagan, trainer Shark Hanlon, and former jockey Paddy Flood. Former jumps jockey Daryl Jacob was also on hand to give his insight.
The brainchild of Ian Galgey, who organised the event with James Brennan, Ricky Freeman, and Emmet O’Toole, the event drew a big crowd and went on for nearly three hours, during which the panel members went through the 14 big races of the festival.
Talk the Talk, who will wear the Double Green of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, received a lot of support from the panel for the opener, the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but Shark Hanlon did reckon that the race would go to the Nicky Henderson-trained Old Park Start, describing it as a “machine”.
Johnny Dineen believed that the Willie Mullins-trained Leader d’Allier is a horse with a great each-way bet for the race.
The day one feature, the Champion hurdle, saw a lot of debate about whether Constitution Hill would run after his performance on the flat at Southwell, with Shark Hanlon saying that the horse would win if he had a “different” jockey.
“I’d like to see Sean or James Bowen on it. The horse doesn’t get on with Nico.” “If he runs in the race, he wins,” said Paddy Flood. There was some talk surrounding the Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion, with Brighterdaysahead's two runs at Cheltenham a negative. Sean Flanagan believes that Kopek des Bordes is the one to side with in the Arkle, with Dineen adding that he likes Lulamba for the same race.
Declan Queally describes “I’ll Sort That”, who won the Grade One at Naas as in good form ahead of the Turners Novices on Day Two, but the rest of the panel believed that there are plenty of options, including Mighty Park and Ballyfad. Walks of June has a chance, according to Daragh O’Keeffe, with Paddy Flood keen on Act of Innocence.
Final Demand is a bad favourite in the eyes of the panel for the Brown Advisory, with Wendigo, Western Fold and The Big Westerner better priced. The Champion Hurdle looks a match between Marine Nationale and Majborough, with the majority of the panel siding with the latter in the day two feature. Favori De Champdou and Stumptown were positives in the Cross Country Chase.
Fact to File is a certainty if he runs in the Ryanair Chase, a race that Gaelic Warrior could be suited too as well. Tramore winner Heart Wood was put up as an alternative by Darragh O’Keeffe.
The Stayers hurdle saw mentions for Ballyburn, Teahopoo, and Bob Olinger, who is unbeaten at the Cheltenham Festival, with course form also favouring Bambino Fever over Old School Outlaw in the Mares hurdle. Lossiemouth is the class of the Mares hurdle, according to Shark Hanlon, who also mentioned that Hewick won’t be out of the first three in the stayers hurdle.
The Gold Cup picture is wide open with Johnny Dineen suggesting Spillane’s Tower eachway, Daryl Jacob was keen on Grey Dawning, Darragh O’Keeffe opted for Envoi Allen, Sean Flanagan, Paddy Flood, and Shark Hanlon all selecting the Jukebox Man.
Asked for their best bet, Shark Hanlon opted for Bold Endeavour in the Pertemps final, Paddy Flood stuck with Act of Innocence. Daryl Jacob selected A Pai De Nom in the Martin Pipe hurdle, Sean Flanagan selected both Bambino Fever and Harwa in the Fred Winter. Johnny Dineen went for Waterford Whispers in the Jack Richards, and Darragh O’Keeffe opted for Bossofthebrownies in the National Hunt Chase.
