The 14-1 shot who could start Champion Bumper favourite and more Cheltenham Festival nuggets you might have missed
Deputy Ireland editor David Jennings divulges some of the things that made his ears prick this week
The countdown to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival is ticking towards squeaky-bum time and the Jockey Club's media days in Ireland this week saw some of the biggest names in the game talk about their squads for the big banquet in the Cotswolds in just over four weeks' time. Here are some unmissable nuggets from the two days . . .
Who's this year's State Man?
Willie Mullins might not be able to train a handicap chase winner at Cheltenham for love nor money but he sends out handicap hurdle winners at the festival with his eyes shut and the County Hurdle, in particular, has been his baby since 2010.
Thousand Stars was the first of seven winners in 15 seasons for the Closutton camp and they've won three of the last five with Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022) and Absurde (2024).
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Published on inDavid Jennings
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- Why this Cheltenham runner-up is my jumps horse of the year - and no, it’s not the one you’re probably thinking
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