What impact will the weekend's racing have on Cheltenham ante-post markets?

L'Eau Du Sud to star as Sir Gino misses out

While Sir Gino's grip on the Arkle market is still strong, Saturday could see a shake-up after Nicky Henderson ruled his unbeaten star out of the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

The Seven Barrows supremo reported he ‘just had a bang on his hind leg [on Thursday] evening, which is sore’ and suggested he still hopes to find a race before Cheltenham.

Dan Skelton's L'EAU DU SUD has impressed in each of his three novice chase wins this season, most recently in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December when disposing of recent Irish Arkle second Touch Me Not in good style.

He'll be expected to bag the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday and is currently the shortest-priced British contender behind Sir Gino in the market.

With the ante-post favourite now staying at home this weekend, the Skelton team will be hoping L’Eau Du Sud can star at Warwick and stamp his ticket to the Arkle.

No Secret on Squirrel's rising stock

The William Hill Hurdle is one of the most eagerly anticipated handicaps of the early spring in the British calendar, and has in the past been known to throw up Cheltenham Festival winners.

The great Persian War won this race in 1968 before landing the Champion Hurdle the following month, while more recently good winners at Newbury include Zarkandar, My Tent Or Yours, Ballyandy and Pic D'orhy.

The last two renewals have gone to Aucunrisque for Chris Gordon and Iberico Lord for Nicky Henderson — both of whom line up again now in attempting to become the first horse to win multiple renewals since Rosyth in 1964.

Hughie Morrison will bid to thwart them with SECRET SQUIRREL, a six-year-old whose stock is on the rise.

He was second behind Henderson's Jeriko Du Reponet over C&D last season and signed off by finishing fifth in the Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown, always a good contest.

He has been building in three runs this season and goes here after winning a Class 2 handicap at Windsor's Berkshire Millions Festival last month, putting away a decent field.

He has a 5lb penalty for that but could be open to further progress and a solid showing on this occasion could entice connections to look at something like the County Hurdle in the Cotswolds.

Fascinating clash between Mullins mares in store

Over at Naas the Listed Opera Hat Mares Chase provides a cracking clash between the Willie Mullins pair DINOBLUE and Allegorie De Vassy.

The former was second in the Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last spring, beaten by Limerick Lace in the same JP McManus silks, while Allegorie De Vassy was behind in fourth.

Dinoblue was second to Energumene on her comeback at Cork and has since finished fourth behind rapidly improving Champion Chase contender Solness at Christmas.

Allegorie De Vassy, meanwhile, was last spotted at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day when dishing out a 25-length beating to Limerick Lace in a Grade 3 Mares Chase.

She won this race in 2024 and gets 6lb from Dinoblue now, but Mark Walsh's partner has often proved a more reliable conveyance.

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