National Hunt jumps 2025/2026

[Portsmouth]

In the last five years 32% of horses that started favourite won....last year only 9 favourites won and in 2024 only 8 favourites won
Last year 4 favourites won on day 1 and in 2024 3 favourites won.
I say never be bothered about a small bet on a huge outsider even if it seems unlikely
How many people thought that Poniros had no chance at Cheltenham last year yet he won at 100/1
Who would have thought that Litleangel Duseil would win at 33/1 at Ayr yesterday with only 7 runners

[Onelife]

I agree Pompey, we are not professional gamblers who tend to back short priced horses…whilst the stats would suggest backing shorter priced horses has a better return for your money, I like you enjoy sifting through the form book hoping to spot a bigger priced winner, and as I always say you only need one of these to offset the ones that fail to deliver.

Generally speaking we are all losers in the long run but the chase is enjoyable for those of us who see it as a sport/hobby and not as a way to make money long term.

I of course am the exception…but please don’t tell Foxy I’ve said that

[oldbluefox]

Don't tell OL but I know b****r all about horses except one end bites and the other ends kicks but if you're going to win, win big. You have to be pretty certain of success to risk your money just for a few extra pounds. Of course if you follow OL's tips well..............

[Onelife]

Don't tell OL but I know b****r all about horses except one end bites and the other ends kicks but if you're going to win, win big. You have to be pretty certain of success to risk your money just for a few extra pounds. Of course if you follow OL's tips well..............

……..you’ll eventually come out on top

[Portsmouth]

First day of the Cheltenham Festival is tomorrow and the first race Supreme Novices' Hurdle looks pretty competitive. One horse who stands out as having no chance is Sageborough @ 125/1. Last race was outclassed, up in grade & well beaten. Why has Paul Nolan entered him if he doesn't think he has a chance to play with the big boys ? I'm going with 50p e/way on this one hoping for a place. Very hard to pick a possible winner but I've decided for £1 win to go with Talk the Talk...if I manage to get to a bookies that is.

I'm thinking that maybe to go for a few 20p win patents just for fun but I haven't yet completely decided on final selections
I already put on a bet earlier last month for Impaire et Passe e/way @ 25/1, Downmexicoway e/way @50/1 & Monbeg Genius e/way @25/1

[Onelife]

Onelife’s Cheltenham Bankers

Just a day away from the pinnacle of NH racing.

Day 1 Tuesday.



1.20 Old Park Star….looks outstanding and the trainer thinks so too.

2.00 Kopek De Bordes…Lulumba is the talking horse but I worry about his jumping so I’m sticking with Kopek.

3.20 Iroko…this year’s Grand National winner?….could win this on the way, however, this isn’t a race where top weights do well so “Jonnywho” may be one to consider.

5.20 First Confession… looks like a relentless galloper and should stay and the drying ground shouldn’t hinder his chances…if there is a negative it would be that he lacks experience over the bigger obstacles having only raced over them once before.

50p win lucky 15

……………..

My single bets…

1.20 Old Park Star £5 win

3.20 Iroko £5 win

4.00 Lossiemouth £5 win

4.40 O’ Moore Park £2 win £1 place - Willie Mullins second string but wouldn’t be without a chance.

5.20 First Confession £8 win £2.. place (taken 20/1 to £5 win and £3 win £2 place at 22/1 (sliding in the betting).

[Onelife]

First day of the Cheltenham Festival is tomorrow and the first race Supreme Novices' Hurdle looks pretty competitive. One horse who stands out as having no chance is Sageborough @ 125/1. Last race was outclassed, up in grade & well beaten. Why has Paul Nolan entered him if he doesn't think he has a chance to play with the big boys ? I'm going with 50p e/way on this one hoping for a place. Very hard to pick a possible winner but I've decided for £1 win to go with Talk the Talk...if I manage to get to a bookies that is.

I'm thinking that maybe to go for a few 20p win patents just for fun but I haven't yet completely decided on final selections
I already put on a bet earlier last month for Impaire et Passe e/way @ 25/1, Downmexicoway e/way @50/1 & Monbeg Genius e/way @25/1

You’re right Pompey…The only plausible reason P Nolan is running this one is that there is prize money down to 6th place ...thinking about it...Foxy has more chance of climbing Mount Everest than you have collecting on this one.

[Portsmouth]

Onelife’s Cheltenham Bankers
4.00 Lossiemouth £5 win

Why Why Why Of all horses in this race you could pick....you picked Lossiemouth
Lots of other wonderful choices....go on have another go
With your luck, you just might have killed off my last chance of points in the ABC

[oldbluefox]

Onelife’s Cheltenham Bankers
4.00 Lossiemouth £5 win

Why Why Why Of all horses in this race you could pick....you picked Lossiemouth
Lots of other wonderful choices....go on have another go
With your luck, you just might have killed off my last chance of points in the ABC

I’m still trying to figure out whether he uses the eeny meeny miny mo method or sticking a pin in the paper but what can you expect from a Republican, another wrong horse he’s backing

[Onelife]

Onelife’s Cheltenham Bankers
4.00 Lossiemouth £5 win

Why Why Why Of all horses in this race you could pick....you picked Lossiemouth
Lots of other wonderful choices....go on have another go
With your luck, you just might have killed off my last chance of points in the ABC

For those of you who may be wondering what Pompey's reference to ABC (Arthur Biscuit Competition) is all about, this is a very exclusive racing competition in which Pompey was invited to join last year. The competition was set up by a good friend of mine and consists of about 50 racing enthusiasts all of whom are trying to win part of the cash pot, normally exceeding £500. It costs £10 to enter (with no more to pay) and lasts throughout the NH season.
You have to select 10 horses from the hundred selected and you gain points as and when they win. With weekly updates as to your stables performances, it is…and I think Pompey will agree “a superbly run competition”, all above board, with all entry fees being paid out…no deduction by the organiser.

As for both Pompy’s and my stables we have been plagued with season ending injuries, this has resulted in us only having six of the ten horses gaining points for us.

In tomorrow’s Champion hurdle Pompey has “Brighterdaysahead” who beat “Lossiemouth” (heavy Ground) last time out,....but it’s going to be a different story tomorrow…different ground, different result, and no points for Pompey

[Onelife]

Onelife’s Cheltenham Bankers
4.00 Lossiemouth £5 win

Why Why Why Of all horses in this race you could pick....you picked Lossiemouth
Lots of other wonderful choices....go on have another go
With your luck, you just might have killed off my last chance of points in the ABC

I’m still trying to figure out whether he uses the eeny meeny miny mo method or sticking a pin in the paper but what can you expect from a Republican, another wrong horse he’s backing

Shouldn’t you be out trying to conquer Mount Everest

[Portsmouth]

Yes sad to say I have 4 horses no longer running....plus a bl***y useless French Horse that for some reason they don't want to run and so what they have done instead is name a horse race after him that was at Argentan a few days ago...Grrr.

So as they say onwards and upwards My selections for first day at Cheltenham will be.....
13:20 Talk the Talk
14:00 Kargese
14:40 Pourquoi Pas Papa
15:20 Quebecois
16:00 Brighterdaysahead.....Apart from last year, the favourite has won the previous 5 years in a row & Onelife has chosen Lossiemouth
16:40 Madara ( I actually have a bet on Downmexicoway @50/1 but that is more likely to get a place rather than win )
17:20 Grand Geste

[Onelife]

All with the exception of "Brighterdaysahead" having good chances

I have added another to Onelife’s Bankers… “Harwa” 2.40 ..£2 win £1 Place (20/1 taken)

[Portsmouth]

Yes I agree with you Onelife, It might be said that Brighterdaysahead beat Lossiemouth last time because Lossiemouth didn't like the ground

On the basis that usually 32% of winners on first day are the favourite....I'm making some changes

14:00 Kopek de Bordes
!6:00 Lossiemouth although I have a kind of feeling The New Lion may be only a nose away
17:29 Newton Tornado ( this was my original choice but I got distracted and went for Grand Geste so I went back to my original choice.

Also in the 15:20 ....I think I might have found a pattern....so as an experiment... I'm saying that this year
Won't be won by an eight yr old
So that would mean If my theory is right that Iroko, Resplendent Grey, Blow your Wad & others won't win.
Don't take this too seriously....its as likely to be right..... as Epictetus has a chance of winning
Ooooh ....that was a mean cruel thing to say Sorry Onelife

[Onelife]

Well Pompey, I’m all ready with the front seat in Onelife’s lounge, phone disconnected, as is the front door bell, dog walked, chickens fed... and looking out onto the estate pastures our herd of deer are happily munching on their nuts.

Oh! And if you give me anymore stick about "Epictetus" you’ll be needing a pair of what the deer are eating

[Portsmouth]

Unfortunately I'll be missing today's races as have a prior commitment
( wife has advised me it's more important than watching a race on tv )
Looks like tomorrow might be the same....makes me think of conspiracy theories

[Onelife]

Today’s results

1.20 Old Park Star - 1st 15/8 - Showed his Class

2.00 Kopek De Bordes - 2nd 11/8 - jockey said he would have won had he not stumbled badly at the last

2.40 Harwa 15th 28/1 - never seen with a chance.

3.20 Iroko 13/2 - 10th - too much weight - far less to carry in the National.

2nd choice - Johnnywho - 1st 18/1 - if only.

4.00 Lossiemouth - 1st 7/5 - SUPER LOSSIEMOUTH - What a horse

4.40 O’ Moore Park - 6th -22/1 ran a cracker.

5.20 First Confession - 10th 33/1 faded towards finish

Total staked £38.50 - Returns £32. 38p

So what do we say in these situations…Brilliant days racing and well done to Pompey calling out three winners and a 3rd…next time put some money on them Pompey.

[Portsmouth]

Unfortunately I couldn't get to put a bet on today however there is a chance of making one tomorrow possible
So onto my results .....I think this might be my best day of the festival...but hopefully I can improve on it

!:20 Talk the Talk came 7th...Of course Sageborough would have strolled home if he hadn't of fallen
2:00 Kopec came 2nd ...I originally picked Kargese who came 1st but that was my own fault.....(also sadly RIP Hansard)
2:40 Pourquoi Pas Papa came 4th
3:20 Quebecois came 3rd
4:00 Lossiemouth came 1st ...I changed from Brighterdays ahead who came 2nd
4:40 Madara came 1st
5:20 My choice was Pulled Up
As a sidenote....Iroko has been Grand National fav for a while but after this race he has slipped down to 3rd fav

Will be back later tonight to post my initial thoughts about what I'm choosing for tomorrow

[Onelife]

Onelife’s Cheltenham Bankers

Day 2 Wednesday

1.20 Shuttle Hustle - £5 win - would be the stable's second choice…if going by stable jockey preference. Looking at Shuttle Hustle's style of running the extra 5f should suit, and if he jumps as well as he did last time he may well improve to be competitive in what is a very difficult race to assess.

2.00 Final Demand - £5 win - flopped on his last run but looked top notch prior to that run…if back to his best he would be an outstanding bet at 5/1.

2.40 Kateria - £10 win - Being a 9 year old isn’t a negative in a race like this...her recent form is…That being said I’m quite keen on this one's chances, not least because she has been backed over recent weeks which may suggest that she’s been laid out for this race. The horse is well handicapped and if the rain holds off I can see her coming fast and late to grab the spoils.

4.00 IL Etait Temps - £5 win - Everything points to the odds on fav Majborough winning this race (Champion Chase) but if there is a chink in his amour then “IL Etait Temps” could be the one to capatalise. The race is always run at a blistering pace so jumping is the name of the game…it’s just unfortunate that my selection fell last time out but given a clear round could be the one to pose the biggest danger to the fav.

4.40 Vanderpoel - £5 win - watched this one win at Ludlow and thought then that this one could be a good chaser and so it proved. It is however a big step up in grade but given his size and scope at his fences I can see this one going well.

Nothing takes my fancy in the other two races on the card.

[Onelife]

Hi Pompey…just a note about the Grand National and the chances of Iroko…most horses have a preference for what going they enjoy and looking at today's Cheltenham meeting it appeared to me that the going was on the good side of good to soft which wouldn’t have suited Iroko…Given the right going and extra distance Iroko is still my fancy whatever price he drifts out too….I reserve the right to change my mind should he not get his going

[Portsmouth]

Day 2 Wednesday
1.20 Shuttle Hustle -

I think you mean Skylight Hustle

Pleased to see my spotting a pattern actually worked.....no eight year old won the Ultima Handicap Chase
also just remembered I did have one e/way anti-post bet today....Downmexicoway@50/1 .....actual starting price 9/1
Came 4th so I just missed out on getting a bit back....total spent £2..... money won £ zero

[Portsmouth]

Well your choice of Skylight Hustle is quite interesting to me as it fits with a trend of previous winners I've been looking at.
for my selections although it's still a work in progress
1:20 No Drama this End ...I saw an interview with the owner and was impressed with his passion & he said the horse is there to win & also he fits in with the trend of previous winners I mentioned above. I also like Bossman Jack so I'm not quite there yet.
14:00 Romeo Coolio but I also quite like Oscars Brother
14:40 Jinko Blue but I'm still not really sure....keep looking at others
15:20 Stumptown looks good to me if he runs as well as he did but I'm taking a sneaky look at 11 yr old Desertmore House
16:00 L'Eau de Sud or Il Etait temps can't make up my mind yet
16:40 Jazzy Matty for a second year or maybe Rubaud
15:20 A bumper race...who knows, am I really bothered...ok lets try Keep Him Company or maybe The Mourne Rambler or Irish Avator
Hmm....I'm waving the white flag

[Onelife]

Hi Pompey, thanks for the correction about Skylight, it must have been due to the excitement of watching Lossiemouth slaughter her field in the Champion Hurdle.

I’ve decided to round the day off by having a few quid on the two races I omitted yesterday

3.20 Desertmoore House - £2 win - with far less weight to carry then the top two in the betting must give him a squeak. He also has experience over Cross country courses.

5.20 Mets Ta Cineture - £2 win. A very expensive purchase from France - getting weight from the boys must help her chances.

[Portsmouth]

Actually I like your pick of Desertmoore House as I was also considering him
will have a bet today but because I'm out I won't get the chance to put what I bet on here
Probably 1:2O No drama this end with Romeo Coolio, Yellow clay & stumptown for a small patent 20p
also Jinko Blue, Il etait temps, Jazzy Matty & keep him company for another 20p win patent
Majborough, Woodhooh & a gold cup pick beween Gaelic warrior, Haiti couleurs ot the jukebox man just have to decide when I'm there.
small e/way on Jinko Blue maybe as a double with Oscars Brother
All a bit of a rush as I have to dash out the door

[Onelife]

Today's Results

!.20 Sunlight Hustle - 8th 8/1 Fell…well beaten when falling

2.00 Final Demand - 2nd 7/2 (5/1 taken) …battled all the way to the line.

2.40 Katiera - 6th- 17/2 (9/1 taken)…lost far too much ground at start….the starter made a big mistake in letting them go when half the field was still trying to line up…complete farce of a race.

3.20 Desertmoore House - 8/1 8th… stopped for a pee on Cleeve Hill.

4.00 IL Etait Temps - 1st 5/2 (7/2 taken) bad stumble last, but won going away.

4.40 Vandepoel - 7th 15/2…Ran well, but faded towards finish.

5.20 Mets Ta Ceinture - 2rd 14/1… Ran well, but no match for winner.

So what do we say in these situations….it could have been worse.

Stake £34.00 - Returns £ 22.50