The Final Furlong Podcast

This week on The Final Furlong Podcast Weekend Betting Guide, Emmet Kennedy is joined by Andy Newton, Jake Wilkes and Peter Michael to break down every race on Trials Day at Cheltenham, plus the best betting angles at Doncaster and Fairyhouse.

If you’re serious about Festival betting, this is the card that quietly produces winners for:
• The Ultima
• The Plate
• The Stayers’ Hurdle
• The Turners
• The Albert Bartlett

We strip away the hype and focus on profiles, trends and prices that actually matter.

🟥 Cheltenham Trials Day — Full Card Preview

Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase

A proven Festival pipeline.
La Landaire, Simply The Betts, Mister Whitaker, Stage Star, Jagwar and others all came through this race.

We highlight:
• Double-figure angles
• A 16/1 bet
• Why “well-handicapped losers” often matter more than winners

Exchange Handicap Chase

Jagwar primed to step forward
Moon d’Orange defends
Strong Festival handicap clues hidden in the pace shape

Glenfarclas Cross Country

J’Arrive De L’Est must win to make the Festival
Final Orders and Cromwell’s hot yard
Course specialists only

Cotswold Chase (G2)

Grey Dawning vs L’Homme Presse vs Spillane’s Tower
Gold Cup trial or red herring?

Cleeve Hurdle (G2)

Impose Toi carries a penalty
History says that doesn’t matter
Key Stayers’ Hurdle prep

AIS Novices’ Hurdle

Act Of Innocence bidding to book his Turners ticket

🟦 Doncaster & Fairyhouse

River Don, Yorkshire Rose & Solerina clashes
Plus big prices the market may have missed

💰 This Week’s NAPs

Andy + Emmet: same Evens NAP
Peter: 11/8 Friday & 15/8 Cheltenham
Jake: 15/8 NAP, 20/1 NB, 9/2 Doncaster play

Proper prices. Proper reasoning. No guesswork.

If you bet Cheltenham seriously, this episode is essential preparation.

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for weekly previews & Festival insight
🎧 Follow on Spotify, Apple & Podbean
💬 Comment your NAP of the weekend

Presented by 1xBet Ireland. More than 7000 events per day, fast withdrawals, and new customer specials. The link to 1xBet.ie is here: ⁠https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH ⁠18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. 1xBet knows the craic. Bet with your head, not above it.

⚡ Proven Form: Winners tipped recently at 20/1, 16/1, 14/1, 12/1, and 10/1.🎯 Smart betting meets sharp analysis — only on The Final Furlong Podcast.

💬 Comment below 

👍 Likes appreciated.

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Form Tools: Proform is the essential tool for punters looking to make money from betting on Horse Racing. Our form book covers Jumps and Flat racing in the UK and Ireland. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proformracing.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @FinalFurlongPod

Email: [email protected]

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In this special edition of The Final Furlong Podcast, Emmet Kennedy is joined by Paul Ferguson, author of the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, to strip away the noise, hype, and headline winners, and focus on the trends, profiles, and performances that actually matter for the Cheltenham Festival. If you’re serious about Festival betting, preparation beats guesswork, and this episode is built for that purpose.

🟥 THE FESTIVAL PIPELINES — RACE BY RACE

12:05 — Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase

A quietly productive Festival race that has historically fed:

The Plate

The Ultima

Multiple Festival winners including La Landière, Un Temps Pour Tout, Stage Star

We examine:

well-handicapped losers

What red flags suggest a horse is Saturday-fit but not Festival-class

The biggest historical mistake punters make reading this race

12:40 — JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (G2)

One of the most important Triumph trials of the season.

We discuss:

How much juveniles can improve between January and March

A potential star for Paul Nicholls?

Traits that scream “Festival candidate”

1:15 — Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

A key feeder for:

The Plate

The Ultima

Occasionally even the Ryanair

We ask:

Does winning here help or hurt Festival handicapping?

Why finishing strongly can matter more than winning

Whether Jaguar is a Grade 1 winner in waiting 

1:50 — Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Specialist Festival division.

We assess:

Experience vs upside: Final Orders vs J’Arrive De L’Est

The impact of age, banks experience, and course form

The most common misread punters make in these races

2:25 — Cotswold Chase (G2)

Is it still relevant as a Gold Cup Trail?

We debate:

How many Gold Cup winners this race has actually produced

Why this running could be a slog


Grey Dawning, Spillane’s Tower, and what really matters historically

3:00 — International Hurdle (G2)

Champion Hurdle implications loom large.

We analyse:

How strong a Champion Hurdle guide this race really is


Sir Gino, The New Lion, and the market’s role

3:35 — Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle (G2)

A vital Stayers’ Hurdle pipeline.

We look at:

How often Cleeve winners follow up in March

The critical age profile


Impose Toi, Strong Leader, Doddiethegreat

Whether mares remain underestimated in staying divisions

4:10 — AIS Novices’ Hurdle (G2)

Albert Bartlett and Ballymore clues.

We discuss:

Which Festival race this most often feeds into

Another Henderson novice ace?

Separating genuine stayers from flat-track bullies

Bounce risk, trainer patterns, and stamina tells

🟦 BONUS: DONCASTER TRIALS

Quickfire Festival relevance from:

River Don Novices’ Hurdle

Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle

Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle 

Including:

Which Doncaster races translate best to Cheltenham


Nurse Susan: Pertemps or Mares angle?

Horses worth tracking regardless of Saturday’s result

📘 WEATHERBYS CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL BETTING GUIDE 2026

For serious Festival punters, this is the book that separates preparation from guesswork.

Print & Digital Bundle available now. Usually €23.95 — already a 45% saving — but Final Furlong listeners save even more.🎟️ Use promo code FFCFBG26 at checkout on weatherbysshop.ie or weatherbysshop.co.ukGet £4 off Print, Digital, or Bundle editions.

🔵 Presented by 1xBet Ireland. More than 7,000 events per day, fast withdrawals & new customer specials.👉 https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH 18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. Your game. Your odds. Your 1xBet.

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for Festival prep, trends & sharp analysis🎧 Follow on Spotify, Apple & Podbean for instant episode drops💬 Comment: Which Trials Day runner are you keeping onside for March?👍 Like & share to support the show and grow The Final Furlong community
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The Cheltenham picture shifted dramatically this weekend, and The Final Furlong Podcast is here to break it all down. Emmet Kennedy, Adam Mills, and Jaime Wrenn review the key talking points from a crucial weekend of racing, with Cheltenham Festival implications everywhere you look.

🟥 OLD PARK STAR — SUPREME FAVOURITE EMERGES

We start at Haydock, where Old Park Star delivered an explosive performance to become Supreme Novice Hurdle favourite with 1xBet.

The parallels are striking: Same race, Same trainer, & Same path as Jonbon, before his Festival duel with Constitution Hill

Is 9/4 actually too big for the opening race of Cheltenham 2026?
Or has the market already overreacted?

🟦 JONBON RETURNS — AND IL ETAIT TEMPS FALLS

At Ascot, Jonbon roared back to form with his 11th Grade 1 and back-to-back wins in the Clarence House Chase.

We ask: Where does JP’s gelding go next? Is his Champion Chase challenge back on track? And what now for Il Etait Temps, once favourite for the Queen Mother, now 8/1 after a heavy fall?

🟩 PROTEKTORAT, WINDSOR & RACING LOGIC

We pay tribute to Protektorat, now a millionaire after back-to-back Fleur de Lys Chase wins — a modern jumps stalwart.

But we also question: The logic of running jumps racing at Windsor. What it says about fixture planning and priorities

🟨 FESTIVAL PROSPECTS — WHO’S COMING, WHO’S NOT

Eachtotheirown: handicap debut winner — can he mix it in Grade 1 company? Mighty Park: sensational hurdles debut — Grade 1 this season? Espresso Milan: Potato Race contender or hard pass? Strong opinions. No fence-sitting.

🟪 NOVICE CHASERS & HORSES TO FOLLOW

Salver wins another graded novice — but the real takeaway might be behind him. We explain why: Wade Out, Jeriko Du Reponet, & Moon Rocket are horses you want firmly on side for the Spring Festivals.

Plus, Adam and Jaime each give their horses to follow from the weekend.

🔵 Presented by 1xBet Ireland. More than 7,000 events per day, fast withdrawals & new customer specials 👉 https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH 18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. Your game. Your odds. Your 1xBet.

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for weekly reviews, previews & Festival insight🎧 Follow on Spotify, Apple & Podbean for instant episode drops💬 Comment: Who is your horse to follow from the weekend?👍 Like & share to support the show and grow the community

⚡ Proven Form: Winners tipped recently at 20/1, 16/1, 14/1, 12/1, and 10/1.🎯 Smart betting meets sharp analysis — only on The Final Furlong Podcast.

1xBet social media pages:
Х: https://x.com/1xbet_ireland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1xbet.ie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1xbet.ie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1xbet-ireland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1xBet_Ireland

Form Tools: Proform is the essential tool for punters looking to make money from betting on Horse Racing. Our form book covers Jumps and Flat racing in the UK and Ireland. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proformracing.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @FinalFurlongPod

Email: [email protected]

In association with Adelicious Podcast Network. Hosted on Megaphone. 

Follow us for free on Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/3e6NnBkr7MBstVx5U7lpld
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the second Final Furlong weekend preview of 2026, and the team are swinging big.Emmet Kennedy, Andy Newton, George Gorman and Peter Michael take apart Saturday’s feature races on ITV Racing from Ascot and Haydock, with value plays, and bold NAPs

🟥 FEATURE RACE - CLARENCE HOUSE CHASE (G1), 3:30 ASCOT

A heavyweight showdown:


Il Etait Temps: 5 straight wins, twice demolishing Jonbon


Jonbon, now with Harry Cobden, chasing back-to-back wins


Thistle Ask, up 43lbs for the Skeltons and taking a huge leap into Grade 1 company

Is this the moment the Champion Chase pecking order flips?
Or does Jonbon remind everyone he’s still elite?

🟦 PETER MARSH CHASE - 2:00 HAYDOCK


Myretown: three wins, two falls — Gold Cup pretender or paper tiger?


Royale Pagaille: seeks a third major Haydock strike

We dissect which trends matter — and which are traps.

🟩 SUPREME TRIAL - 1:25 HAYDOCK (G2)


Old Park Star: Henderson’s rising star


Hurricane Pat: the live danger

Is this the Supreme Novice Hurdle clue punters have been waiting for?

🟨 OTHER KEY RACES

Ascot — Warfield Mares’ (G2)
Is the market sleeping on La Conquiere or Peter’s 5/1 must-back?

Ascot — 2m5f Handicap Chase
Is Harry Cobden + Neon Moon the right combination again?

Haydock — Acca Freeze Handicap Hurdle
Peter and Emmet put up a 28/1 swing they both love.

Ascot — Holloway's Hurdle
George fires in a confident 14/1 selection.

💰 THE BIG PRICES

Andy: 9/4 NAP, + strong views elsewhere

George: 5/2 NAP

Peter: 5/1 headline NAP

Emmet + Peter both love a 28/1 pop

George also swings at a 14/1 shot

Proper betting. Proper opinions. No fence-sitting.

🔵 Presented by 1xBet Ireland. More than 7,000 events per day, fast withdrawals and new customer specials. 👉 https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH 18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. Your game. Your odds. Your 1xBet.

Subscribe on YouTube for weekly previews, expert insights & Festival analysis

Follow on Spotify, Apple & Podbean for instant episode drops

Comment below: Who wins the Clarence House?

Like & share to support the show — and grow the Final Furlong community!

Presented by 1xBet Ireland – more than 7000 events per day, fast withdrawals, and new customer specials. The link to 1xBet.ie is here: ⁠https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH⁠ 18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. 1xBet knows the craic. Bet with your head, not above it.

⚡ Proven Form: Winners tipped recently at 20/1, 16/1, 14/1, 12/1, and 10/1.🎯 Smart betting meets sharp analysis — only on The Final Furlong Podcast.

1xBet social media pages:
Х: https://x.com/1xbet_ireland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1xbet.ie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1xbet.ie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1xbet-ireland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1xBet_Ireland

Form Tools: Proform is the essential tool for punters looking to make money from betting on Horse Racing. Our form book covers Jumps and Flat racing in the UK and Ireland. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proformracing.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @FinalFurlongPod

Email: [email protected]

In association with Adelicious Podcast Network. Hosted on Megaphone. 

Follow us for free on Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/3e6NnBkr7MBstVx5U7lpld
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Novice Hurdlers Week on The Final Furlong Podcast as Emmet Kennedy, Adam Mills, and Jamie Wrenn take a forensic look at the horses lining up for the three other major Cheltenham Festival novice hurdles:

• Turners Novices’ Hurdle• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle• Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

And we start with the big question… is No Drama This End the right favourite at 7/2, or is the Paul Nicholls buzz horse there to be taken on?

The boys debate whether the market has this one right - or whether one of the improvers can mow him down come March.

🟩 RUNNERS DISCUSSED - CONTENDERS, RISERS & SLEEPERS

Turners & Bartlett potentials: Skylight Hustle, Ill Sort That, Sober, Sortudo, Doctor Du Mesnil, Idaho Sun, Lazare De Star, Act Of Innocence, The Reverend, Doctor Steinberg, You Proof

Mares’ Novice challengers: Bambino Fever, Oldschool Outlaw, La Conquiere, Larinka, Place De La Nation

Form lines, ground angles, staying power, trainer intent -every profile gets tested.

🟦 BIG QUESTIONS ANSWERED

• Should you take 7/2 about No Drama This End — or lay him all day?• Which novices are improving faster than the market admits?• Who’s likely to shorten between now and Trials Day?• Which festival-only horses the team are most excited about?

One panellist has a “bet before they run again” pick…and another flags a horse who could be half his current price come March.

Presented by 1xBet Ireland – more than 7000 events per day, fast withdrawals, and new customer specials. The link to 1xBet.ie is here: ⁠⁠https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH⁠⁠

18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. 1xBet knows the craic. Bet with your head, not above it.

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for Festival previews, betting insight & expert breakdowns🎧 Follow on Spotify, Apple & Podbean for instant episode drops💬 Comment: Who is your novice hurdler to follow at Cheltenham?👍 Like & share to grow The Final Furlong community

⚡ Proven Form: Winners tipped recently at 20/1, 16/1, 14/1, 12/1, and 10/1.🎯 Smart betting meets sharp analysis — only on The Final Furlong Podcast.

💬 Comment below 

👍 Likes appreciated.

1xBet social media pages:
Х: https://x.com/1xbet_ireland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1xbet.ie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1xbet.ie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1xbet-ireland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1xBet_Ireland

Form Tools: Proform is the essential tool for punters looking to make money from betting on Horse Racing. Our form book covers Jumps and Flat racing in the UK and Ireland. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proformracing.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: @FinalFurlongPod

Email: [email protected]

In association with Adelicious Podcast Network. Hosted on Megaphone. 

Follow us for free on Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/3e6NnBkr7MBstVx5U7lpld
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices