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If there were any lingering doubts about the pecking order in the Willie Mullins staying division, they were emphatically answered at Fairyhouse yesterday. Grangeclare West produced a career-best performance to land the Bobbyjo Chase, leaving some high-class rivals and the bookmakers, scrambling to reassess the Cheltenham Gold Cup market.
Under a cool Paul Townend, the ten-year-old travelled with a menacing ease that suggested he was a class above his Grade 1 peers. While Gerri Colombe and Stellar Story fought out a spirited battle for the minor honours, they were ultimately powerless to resist the winner’s surge after the final fence. It was a display of raw power that has seen his price collapse for the Friday showpiece at the Cheltenham Festival.
With State Man sidelined for the season, Mullins has been searching for the horse to spearhead his 2026 raid. While he admitted during his recent Stable Tour that some of the string “hadn’t sparked yet,” there was plenty of electricity on show here.
“He’s a horse that has always promised this,” said Mullins post-race. “We’ve had to be patient, but he’s matured into a real staying chaser. The Gold Cup is the obvious target now, and he’s earned his seat at the table.”
The Closutton maestro also provided updates on his bumper squad, with Love Sign d’Aunou remaining the clear favourite for the Champion Bumper after a flurry of weekend support. With over 15 wins already in that race, the trainer’s grip on the Festival’s “flat” finale looks as tight as ever.
Across the Irish Sea, the battle for the British Trainers’ Championship continued to simmer. Dan Skelton’s decision to keep Heltenham busy paid dividends as the nine-year-old bounced back from recent jumping frailties to score at Newbury.
Carrying the same colours as last year’s fourth-place finisher Flegmatik, Heltenham looked a much-improved model under Harry Skelton. After two falls in his previous starts, this was as much a confidence-restorer as a lucrative prize-grab. The trainer, who is currently locked in a fierce battle for the title, will no doubt be looking at the Plate Handicap Chase, newly moved to Tuesday this year, as a potential landing spot for his resurgent chaser.
As we enter the final ten days before the “Cheltenham Roar,” the landscape is shifting. The withdrawal of certain stars has opened the door for the likes of Grangeclare West and Lossiemouth to define their legacies.
While the Irish dominance at Fairyhouse sends a clear message to the home team, the grit shown by the Skelton yard suggests the British won’t be handing over the trophies without a fight. With the Mares’ Hurdle moving to Thursday and the Ryanair Chase taking a prime-time slot, the tactical puzzles of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival are finally starting to click into place.
