“I’m not saying he’s Denman” — Paul Nicholls on No Drama This End’s Challow dominance amidst freezing Grade 1 clues

The racing schedule has gone into a mini-hibernation since the New Year as the freezing conditions wreak havoc across Britain and Ireland.

Monday has become a blank day and so what better time to take a look at some horses that have run across the last week that have caught the eye with a view to Cheltenham in March and maybe even further afield.

Kabral Du Mathan — Stayers' Hurdle @ 25/1 with bet365 El Fabiolo — Champion Hurdle @ 25/1 with bet365, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes No Drama This End - Turners Novices' Hurdle @ 4/1 with William Hill, Paddy Power

Skelton wary of asking too much of Kabral Du Mathan

Dan Skelton watched Kabral Du Mathan cruise to victory in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year's Day at Cheltenham before delivering a seasonally chilly warning about his Festival ambitions in the Cotswolds.

The six-year-old is unbeaten since moving from Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard to join Skelton and he turned the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 2 into a one-horse race from two out.

His trainer has suggested that favouring Fontwell's National Spirit Hurdle, then the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over 2m4f could be the plan.

"We'll definitely enter for the Stayers', but on balance we think we're going to go for the National Spirit and then Aintree," he said.

"We just feel that at six years old, with quite a strong travelling type of horse, there's a question as to whether it's quite the best plan to ask him that bigger question at this age. It might not be the smartest move."

El Fabiolo returns to form

Another Aintree Hurdle possibly emerged at Punchestown on New Year's Eve as El Fabiolo stormed home in the Make The Tote App Your New Year's Resolution Hurdle, recording his first victory since February 2024, for Willie and Danny Mullins.

He'd lost his way over fences in the interim, but is seemingly back on track now. The champion trainer is also a fan of Aintree's intermediate Grade 1 but hasn't completely ruled out the Champion Hurdle in March.

"We'll probably stay over hurdles for the foreseeable future, but I'll have a word with Simon [Munir] and Isaac [Suede, owners].

"I think that trip [2m3f] looked fine. He could go back to two miles. I'm looking at a race like the Aintree Hurdle."

With the trainer not ruling out a drop back to the minimum trip, El Fabiolo is a general 25/1 chance for the Champion Hurdle.

Nicholls won't hide excitement as Drama talk builds

Paul Nicholls won the final Grade 1 race of 2025 in Britain as No Drama This End took out the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury in pleasing style.

The 14-time champion trainer secured his record-extending seventh victory in the race, which has been won by Bravemansgame (2020), Stage Star (2021), Hermes Allen (2022) and Captain Teague (2023) in recent times but perhaps most famously by Denman in 2006.

No Drama This End is now 3-3 over hurdles and has added to his pair of Grade 2s with a top-tier success.

The Ditcheat supremo says he is 'right up there' with his best Challow winners and the comparisons to subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman aren't going away.

"I'm not saying he's Denman, but in 10 years I might," said the trainer. "If I had one that might be like him, if we're lucky, then he could be. He's got it all, and he's exciting."

No Drama This End heads the betting for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.