Cheltenham Festival: 'He could be set to send Arouet over for the Triumph Hurdle'

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing so every jumps trainer in Britain and Ireland wants to get on the board.

There’s significant crossover between Flat and Jumps every year and 2026 is unlikely to be any different.

The likes of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson like to spoil the Flat party at Royal Ascot in the summer and even the Breeders’ Cup in the former’s case, so it’s no surprise that some trainers who are more Flat-focused like the idea of gaining revenge.

Here are some trainers who are definitely more geared towards the Flat, who could make a splash at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Joseph O’Brien: Streamlining for Success

Although technically a dual-purpose trainer, Joseph O’Brien is definitely more focused on the Flat these days and his National Hunt team is a lot more streamlined than it used to be.

The McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is a race which he has done well in in the last decade, especially as he has won the last two renewals.

It’s a thoroughly competitive race, so the fact that he has managed to perfectly prepare successive winners is impressive.

O’Brien has entered three horses for this year’s renewal and all of them are less than 20/1. Glen To Glen is potentially the most interesting of the bunch, as his improving profile suggests this test will suit, but Dignam and Kizlyar can’t be dismissed either.

His best chance of a winner has to be the Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 winner Talk The Talk though, as he looks like a serious contender for both the Supreme and the Turners.

There wouldn’t be many surprised faces if he comes out on top.

James Owen: The Juvenile Specialist

Owen is also a dual-purpose trainer, but he has had in excess of 400 more runners on the Flat in the last five seasons, which qualifies him for this list.

He is also a very good trainer of juveniles and East India Dock came very close to winning the Triumph last year. Ammes looks very well treated off a mark of 128 in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

It’s noted that connections decided to protect his mark after finishing second in a Listed contest at Wetherby that has worked out well.

This son of No Nay Never warmed up for Cheltenham with a spin on the Flat at Lingfield recently and, having won two races over hurdles impressively, his current mark might underestimate the four-year-old by quite some way.

The Pure Flat Raiders: Twomey and Donnacha O’Brien

There’s absolutely no argument about Paddy Twomey’s status as a Flat trainer and his record in Ireland is formidable.

Maintaining a very healthy strike-rate of 29 per cent on the Flat in Ireland over the last five seasons, he’s one of the shrewdest operators around.

He could be set to send Arouet over for the Triumph Hurdle and the 101-rated ex-Flat horse finished third at Gowran on his first start over hurdles earlier this month.

His Flat form suggests he could be smart, but a significant amount of improvement would be required.

Donnacha O’Brien’s Kilmeaden is his only ever runner over hurdles and the juvenile is entered in a Grade 1 and a handicap.

The handicap option might be the way to go and the form of his Punchestown maiden victory has since been boosted by the runner-up.