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Last season's novices look a stellar bunch - the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup now has all the hallmarks of a potential classic
Given both were making their seasonal reappearance, last season's Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup winners both ran extremely well at Punchestown at the weekend. What stood out, however, was that last season's novices look a stellar bunch and that winning the Cheltenham showpieces is going to take a lot more doing than it did last March.
Personally I would back State Man to beat Brighterdaysahead the next time they meet because I thought he was coming to win the Morgiana Hurdle on Saturday before he bungled the last and allowed the mare to get back in front close home.
However, even if he improves plenty, there are some young pretenders waiting in the wings, not to mention Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth. The next to throw his hat into the ring could well be Sir Gino at Newcastle on Saturday.
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Published on inTom Segal
Last updated
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- Last season's novice hurdlers weren't a great bunch - and this Cheltenham winner is no value for a March repeat
- The King George is turning from a Christmas cracker into a humbug affair - but this horse would be perfect for Kempton
- Al Dancer proved front-runners can gain a big advantage in staying chases - but everything changes on testing ground
- Maybe Aidan O'Brien was right and City Of Troy is the best he's had - but we never got to see how good he really was
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