British Champions Day is a natural time to say ‘farewell’ to another flat season. I am keener to bet on the first major Cheltenham meeting of the jumps season than to back flat horses on soft or heavy ground, not knowing which ones will keep their form at the end of a long campaign.
Storm Austen is certain to have a major effect on ground conditions at Cheltenham where the going was described as ‘good, good to soft’ last night but where the terrain is certain to deteriorate over the coming two days.
Local trainer Martin Keighley loves to tackle this late October Cheltenham meeting with his better horses and so they tend to arrive fit enough to do themselves justice. I am hoping DE TEMPS EN TEMPS, who will be ridden by his son Freddie, can run a big race in tomorrow’s William Hill Epic Boosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1.10 p.m.).
Hopefully a case of onwards and upwards for the new jumps season
This seven-year-old gelding used to be trained by Gavin Cromwell in Ireland and during that time he showed a liking for soft ground. Since switching to Keighley’s yard just over a year ago, the horse has been a course and distance winner at Cheltenham, which again is a huge plus.
The Irish raider, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Rockonliam, comes here on the back of a hat-trick of wins and could take some beating but my suggestion is to back De Temps En Temps 1 point each way at 15-2 with either Sky Bet or Paddy Power, both paying four places. There are slightly bigger odds with some bookies paying only three places.
TRAPRAIN LAW is a horse that I put up at least a couple of times over the past two seasons without him winning but conditions should be ideal for him today in the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (3.35 p.m.) because he loves soft ground.
Furthermore, his joint trainers, Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, after a quiet 2025-6 season, have hit the ground running with seven winners from their last 27 runners for a 26 per cent strike rate.
JPR One and Calico are the class horses at the top of the handicap in this race but I would rather back Traprain Law in the hope he gets a positive ride from Patrick Wedge. Sadly, the 7-1 available earlier in the week has long gone, but back him 1 point each way at 4-1 with bet365 or William Hill, both offering three places.
It may seem odd putting up a horse ante-post for the Grand National when the event is fully six months away but I think JORDANS is a good bet at 16-1, given his talented handler, Joseph O’Brien, will surely have ringed just one date in his diary – 10 April 2027 – for this horse.
Jockey Ben Jones rode plenty of fine races last season but he has admitted that his ride on Jordans in the 2026 Randox Grand National was not his finest moment. With a lot of horse under him, he hit the front three furlongs out and went for glory whereas the canny Paul Townend bided his time on I Am Maximus and only edged ahead deep into the last furlong as Jordans tired into third place.
However, that was a mighty run from Jordans, all the more so as the horse was only seven years old and he was hampered by a faller at the seventh fence, the so-called Foinavon first time around. Whether Jones keeps the ride or whether it goes to an Irish jockey, the same mistake will not be repeated at Aintree next spring.
If Jordans stays fit and well, he could easily go off at single-figure odds come April. So back him 2 points to win at 16-1 with Ladbrokes, Coral or BetMGM. With only four places each way and lots of ifs and buts, I prefer to go win only now.
I am glad to say I finished the 2026 flat season with a nice, but not a massive, profit of just under 22 points. There were, of course, plenty of disappointing results and bad tips but I prefer to remember the highlights. They included Rogue Diplomat winning the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot having been put up at 25-1 and Highwayman winning the St Leger under a fine Saffie Osborne ride after being put up at 12-1.
So, it is hopefully a case of onwards and upwards for the new jumps season. As usual, I will be staying clear of all short-priced favourites and probably most Willie Mullins horses too: he’s a great trainer but his horses go off at shorter prices than they should. I prefer the astute trainers from smaller yards who know how to target a big race with an improving horse.
Pending:
1 point each way Traprain Law at 4-1 for thesquareintheair.com Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way De Temps En Temps at 15-2 for the William Hill Epic Boosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
2 points win Jordans at 16-1 for the Grand National 2027.
Last weekend: + 3.61 points.
1 point each way Opportunity at 12-1 for the Long Distance Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Lilt at 7-1 for the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 3rd (Rule 4 deduction). + 0.36 points.
2 points win Scoville at 5-1 for the Balmoral Handicap. 4th. – 2 points.
1 point each way EBT’s Guard at 33-1 for the Balmoral Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. 3rd. +7.25 points.
2026 flat season: + 21.994 points on all tips.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for eight full seasons of tipping: + 90.209 points on all tips.
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