Newsboy has run the rule over all seven races on opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival with Talk The Talk leading the Irish charge and Golden Ace fancied to retain her crown
TALK THE TALK (1.20) is the pick to ‘walk the walk’ and deliver the first 2026 Cheltenham Festival victory to the Irish. A record of three wins from four starts would be a flawless 4-4 for the Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old, if not for a stumble on landing at the final obstacles at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Runner-up in a bumper for Stuart Crawford, Talk The Talk made a winning start over hurdles, and for O’Brien, in a maiden hurdle at Limerick in October before a Grade 3 triumph at Fairyhouse the following month. Elevated to the top level for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle in Foxrock two days after Christmas, my selection had just taken the lead on the run to the last flight, where disaster struck.
At least JJ Slevin’s ride redeemed itself at the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival – and in a manner that bodes well for today.
Towards the back of the pack turning for home, Talk The Talk made steady progress in the straight to pip leader Ballyfad by a short head.
Talk The Talk deserves additional praise for winning that day, and a good pace and Cheltenham’s uphill finish should prompt another personal best. Old Park Star , Mighty Park , Leader D’Allier and Sober Glory are all newcomers of interest in a tantalising opening course, reports the Mirror.
NEWBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 TALK THE TALK, 2 OLD PARK STAR, 3 SOBER GLORY.
LULAMBA (2.00) is anticipated to maintain his unbeaten record over fences and secure Nicky Henderson a record-breaking ninth Arkle Challenge Trophy victory.
Narrowly beaten by Poniros for the Triumph Hurdle a year ago, the French-born horse impressively reversed that result at Punchestown and has made an outstanding start to his fencing career.
A low sun meant Lulamba and Nico de Boinville had to clear just eight at Exeter when the five year old was the 2-5 favourite for his chase debut, and the duo did what was required with a 10-length lead.
Henderson then set his sights on the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December and, starting at the same odds, Lulamba breezed home nine and a half lengths ahead of Be Aware.
The bay son of Nirvana Du Berlais completed his Festival preparations by defeating Saint Segal by six and a half lengths in Newbury’s Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at the start of last month.
Lulamba had to fight hard that day – he was less than smooth early on and found himself boxed in on the turn for home – but he surged home once finding daylight and has so much more to give.
Kopek Des Bordes is considered the biggest threat, followed by Kargese, Steel Ally and Jax Junior.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 LULAMBA, 2 KOPEK DES BORDES, 3 JAX JUNIOR.
MANLAGA (2.40) has a promising profile that is expected to thrust her into the spotlight in a highly competitive race.
The daughter of Maxios was enlisted to race for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus following a compelling three-length victory on her hurdles debut at Auteuil last March.
She made her first appearance for her new team in a Listed juvenile hurdle for mares at Doncaster in January and, having her first run for 315 days, delivered a performance that hinted at great potential, finishing a three-quarter-length second to the undefeated Manganese.
Manlaga then headed to Haydock Park three weeks later and improved on her previous result, moving from the back of the pack to overtake leader Pourquoi Pas Papa on the approach to the final jump, winning by two and a quarter lengths.
The British Horseracing Authority handicapper has assigned my preference a rating of 130 for her first venture in this category – an evaluation that seems achievable for a filly who is far from being out of contention.
Saratoga caught the attention of many at Naas last month and should be considered, along with Ammes, Madness D’Elle and Bibe Mus.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 MANLAGA, 2 SARATOGA, 3 MADNESS D’ELLE.
QUEBECOIS (3.20), returning to Cheltenham and back at three miles, stands out.
It’s straightforward to make the case that Paul Nicholls’ seven year old has so far been more ‘miss’ than ‘hit’ over fences – he has yet to secure a win in four attempts in the discipline and has been soundly defeated in three of them, at Exeter, Sandown and Newbury.
But there’s one piece of form that makes Harry Cobden’s mount a compelling contender, and by his supporters’ good fortune it came at Cheltenham’s Trials Day fixture in January.
Quebecois went off at 12-1 for the card’s two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase, a race won by Stage Star (2023) and Ginny’s Destiny (2024) on their way to the National Hunt Festival.
My selection jumped with confidence and worked his way to the front two fences from the finish, only to be headed in the final stride by nose victor Jordans Cross, who is unbeaten over the larger obstacles when staying on all fours.
A 4lb rise for that brave defeat looks manageable and Quebecois should flourish for this three-mile test, having recorded his best effort of today’s distance as a novice hurdler.
The short-list is a lengthy one and has the JP McManus-owned pair Jagwar and Johnnywho at the top of it, followed by Blow Your Wad.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 QUEBECOIS, 2 JAGWAR, 3 JOHNNYWHO.
GOLDEN ACE (4.00) gets the nod to retain the crown she won in admittedly fortunate circumstances 12 months ago.
The falls of Constitution Hill and State Man contrived to gift victory to Jeremy Scott’s doughty mare, but that pair are absent, along with her six-length conqueror in Kempton Park’s Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, Sir Gino.
Prior to that defeat, Golden Ace had emerged victorious in the top-level Fighting Fifth Hurdle, another race of high drama, at Newcastle in November. With Constitution Hill falling at the second hurdle, Golden Ace was closing in on leader The New Lion when that competitor fell at the same obstacle, which by then was the race’s penultimate hurdle, leaving the eight year old and Lorcan Williams to hold off Anzadam by a length and a half.
Those efforts made a subpar performance at Wetherby irrelevant and she approaches her title defence with the honour of having won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, defeating Brighterdaysahead as a novice in 2024.
In essence, she brings skill and consistency to the Tuesday feature, and those dual attributes should see her reward each-way backers – at the very least.
Lossiemouth, undefeated in four appearances at the track – including three at its flagship event – is tipped to make amends for her Irish Champion Hurdle defeat by Brighterdaysahead – Poniros was third and Anzadam fourth – and chase Golden Ace home.
Poniros is favoured over up-and-comers Tutti Quanti and Alexei for the final spot on the podium.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 GOLDEN ACE, 2 LOSSIEMOUTH, 3 PONIROS.
DOWN MEMORY LANE (4.40) hasn’t yet become the horse he promised to be – but there’s still time.
When Gordon Elliott gave the son of Walk In The Park his chasing debut at Navan in November 2024, those who witnessed my selection’s seven-length thrashing of stablemate King Of Kingsfield were convinced they had seen a potential star.
Down Memory Lane then encountered four losses but had mucus in a nostril following a significant Galway Plate setback last July, and his winter return at Navan in December was quite promising.
Held back at the rear of the nine-runner field by Jack Kennedy, the eight year old made effortless progress to challenge in the straight and merely needed to be encouraged forward to defeat another stablemate, Search For Glory, by a length and a half.
An 8lb higher mark makes things more challenging but Elliott has intentionally kept Down Memory Lane fresh for the Cheltenham Festival, and there’s untapped potential to exploit.
In a race with countless possible outcomes, the well-handicapped Madara, Zurich and Will The Wise all merit a second glance.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 DOWN MEMORY LANE, 2 MADARA, 3 ZURICH.
ICEBERG THEORY (5.20) is continually improving over fences – and another strong performance is expected.
The winner of one of his eight attempts over hurdles, the Paul Nolan-trained seven year old delivered a promising effort on his fencing debut with a staying-on second to Majestic Force beginners’ chase over three miles and a furlong at Wexford last March.
Maintaining his novice status for this season, Iceberg Theory went one better with a two-length victory in a similar event at Limerick in May and followed up in handicap chase at Cork in November.
Sent off the 11-2 favourite in a field of 15, Conor Stone-Walsh’s mount powered clear to beat O’Toole by six and a half lengths. That contest was run over two miles and five, and the extra nine furlongs here should unlock fresh opportunities.
If the additional distance does spark a career-best performance, then a British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 133 is well within reach for a horse who has considerable scope for further progress.
As Tuesday’s action draws to a close, Backmersackme, Grande Geste and Kurasso Blue are three more names to consider in the mix.
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