Festival Form Lines: Arkle Favourite Lulamba, Handicap Plots, Cheltenham Dark Horses, & 16/1 Tip

February 9
1h 23m

Episode Description

The Final Furlong Podcast | Weekend Review & Cheltenham Festival Clues

Emmet Kennedy is joined by Adam Mills, Jaime Wrenn, and Barry Doyle to break down a huge weekend of National Hunt racing packed with Cheltenham Festival contenders. From Arkle favourites to Supreme dark horses, Gold Cup questions to handicap plots, this is a proper race-by-race review of what actually matters for March.

🟥 Arkle Chase picture – Lulamba takes over

Lulamba followed in the hoofprints of Sprinter Sacre and Altior by winning the Game Spirit Chase (G2) and is now a strong favourite for the Arkle with 1xBet. 

Can he give Nicky Henderson a seventh Arkle victory?

We also assess: • Steel Ally – unbeaten in three starts over fences after the Kingmaker • Salvator Mundi – Grade 1 hurdler who split the panel completely • Does he belong at Cheltenham or is Aintree the better fit?

🟦 Supreme Novice Hurdle angles

Sober Glory clocked a time over three seconds quicker than Tutti Quanti on the same card and now sits around 16/1 for the Supreme.

Two of the panel are very keen. One isn’t convinced.

Is he the real deal or just flattered by the clock?

And speaking of Tutti Quanti – could he actually be a Champion Hurdle dark horse?

🟩 Gold Cup & staying chase clues

Haiti Couleurs followed up his Welsh Grand National win with victory in the Denman Chase (G2).

Could he follow the Native River path and develop into a Gold Cup contender?

Plus:

🟨 Novice chasers to note

Oscars Brother impressed in the Ten Up Novice Chase, but the eye-catcher was runner-up The Wallpark, now surprisingly dropped in the weights by the handicapper and firmly on the notebook list.

🟪 Cross Country & Festival specialists

Vanillier made it back-to-back wins in the PP Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase and looks set for another big run at Cheltenham.

Is he primed for a second Festival success?

🟧 Juveniles & handicappers to follow

We also highlight: • Highland CrystalSaratogaMunsif – strong Fred Winter profile • Oldschool Outlaw vs Bambino FeverZanooshPanda Boy for the Hunters Chase • Dinoblue in the Mares Chase

Plus each panellist names their horses to follow from the weekend heading into the spring festivals.

🎁 Listener giveaway with 1xBet

We’re teaming up with 1xBet to send listeners to the Punchestown Grand National Trial with VIP hospitality.

To enter:

  1. Subscribe to the 1xBet YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1xBet_Ireland
  2. Subscribe to The Final Furlong Podcast YouTube channel
  3. Comment below with your answer to our question, who trained the winner of last years 1xBet Grand National Trail at Punchestown?

Competition runs from 9 February 2026 to 12 February 2026. One winner will be selected at random and contacted directly.

With thanks to our betting partner 1xBet Ireland. https://cutt.ly/0r7bzDoH 18+. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly.


🔵 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.

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