KOPEK DES BORDES is prohibitive odds but likely to give favourite backers a winning start to the 2025 Cheltenham festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained youngster remained unbeaten with a scintillating success in Grade One company at the Dublin racing festival last month, which catapulted him to the top of the betting for this.

A keen going sort, he is given a first-time hood, which could help settle him down, racing in such a lively atmospheric amphitheater. Paul Townend is likely to sit handy and keep things simple on this talented son of No Risk At All.

Seeing strong support in the market to remain unbeaten, Kopek Des Bordes is the one to beat in the Supreme after landing his opening two races over hurdles. Setting himself up nicely when cruising to a 13-length victory last month in Grade 1 company, he stayed on impressively with his jumping looking far more polished than his debut in December, and he looks set to go well again in a first-time hood.

Despite not jumping as fluently as ideal, MAJBOROUGH is the most likely and obvious winner on this modest-looking Arkle Novices’ Chase.

Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner has easily scored on both chase outings, displaying a high cruising speed. With a clear round, he should blast away from his four rivals, considering he is at least 6lb or more ahead on official ratings.

Taking on the well-fancied Majborough, Jango Baie is a top performer who looks open to further improvement on his third start over fences. Recording results of 1,1,2,2,2 over hurdles, Jango Baie looks an even better chaser when making easy work here in December, beating Springwell Bay by 6 ½ lengths, who then went on to win by nine lengths next time out. Boosted form, and considering he was only narrowly beaten by Handstands last time out on testing ground, conditions look more suited in today’s affair.

Runaway 15-length Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase winner, KATATE DORI, could still be feasibly treated, despite a 12lb rise for that easy success.

The Sam Thomas-trained seven-year-old was registering a third win over fences, from four attempts, and jumped soundly that day. Those towards the front of the market have good records in this race, over the previous 10 years, with 6-1 winners in 2023 and 2024.

Winner of the Albert Bartlett back in 2023, Stay Away Fay made the successful switch to fences later that year, where he landed a quick-fire double when making all. Although not producing his best last year, he’s the sort who can run well when fresh, and with Harry Cobden in the saddle looking for his fifth win from nine starts on the gelding, the duo can’t be ruled out at a big price.

It’s tough to look beyond last year’s easy winner, LOSSIEMOUTH, despite arriving after a fall at Leopardstown.

Her previous runner-up position to Constitution Hill in the G1 Christmas Hurdle reads extremely well, and she should have too many gears for her rivals. She is unbeaten over this 2m4f trip and was successful in her previous two runs at the Cheltenham Festival.

Opting for the Mares’ Hurdle over another battle with Constitution Hill, Lossiemouth holds leading claims up against her own sex and will be looking to bounce back from her fall last month. A comfortable winner of this last year and considering she was travelling well before coming down last time out at Leopardstown, a winning return looks on the cards to keep her perfect Cheltenham record intact (3/3).

2023 G1 Champion Hurdle winner, CONSTITUTION HILL, has scared away many of the opposition, including Lossiemouth.

The Nicky Henderson superstar was mightily impressive in winning his much anticipated comeback at Kempton in December, beating the aforementioned Lossiemouth.

Brighterdaysahead is the rapid improver in the shake-up, having secured a brace of Grade One races already this term, including beating the reopposing (and reigning champion) State Man twice.

She does still have 5lb to find with the selection, on official ratings, with Constitution Hill a perfect 3-3 at this venue and yet to taste defeat in 10 runs under rules.

Unbeaten in his 10 career starts, Constitution Hill is looking to regain his Champion Hurdle crown after withdrawing last year with an unsatisfactory blood test. Overcoming a multitude of issues last year and returning to land the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton before continuing his dominance this year in the International here in January, he hardly broke stride and looks set to land his 11-timer and second Champion Hurdle.

In what promises to be another wide-open Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, MURCIA is taken to end Willie Mullins’s drought in the race.

The daughter of Doctor Dino was highly tried on debut for this yard, when downfield in a Grade Two. She fared better, dropped in class next time, finishing 2nd at Naas – that race has thrown up the winner of this contest in four out of the last six years.

Like every runner here, she could have improvement to come, with competition headed by the obvious favourite, Stencil, who stamped his claims for this, firmly, after running behind Triumph hope East India Dock.

Winless on the flat in seven appearances before making the switch to hurdles last year, Liam Swagger improved dramatically when landing back-to-back wins, which included a win in Listed company. Beaten at a short price (8/15) on his last appearance over hurdles in December, he made his reappearance on the flat last month, where he won well by 4 ¾ lengths and holds bold claims back in this sphere today.

TRANSMISSION is one of the more likely winners, with the rise to this stamina-sapping journey likely to suit.

Form figures of 212 over fences at this venue are encouraging – coupled with the chance of reversing form with Haiti Couleurs, with a 2lb pull in the weights, on this favoured quick ground conditions.

Paddy Mullins, who was aboard the partnership’s win here in November, is back to take the ride, which boosts confidence.

Taking well to fences late last year after a successful hurdling campaign, Transmission looks better over fences already from his three appearances and is open to further improvement. All three of his chase starts have come here at Cheltenham where he has produced finishes of 2,1,2, and considering he ran on to finish second behind Haiti Couleurs when last seen here in December after making a mistake four from home, he looks a solid bet to reverse those placings here today.