The Doncaster winners heading to the Cheltenham Festival

Racing at Doncaster Racecourse throughout the season has been a regular breeding ground for former Cheltenham Festival winners.
Mister Fisher. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty ImagesMister Fisher. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Mister Fisher. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Superstars such as Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Paisley Park have all run at the track before going on to glory at the Cheltenham Festival in their careers.

The Racing Post has taken a look at a number of horses who have won on Town Moor this season and look set to play a key role at this week’s four-day extravaganza at Prestbury Park.

Fisher has leading claims in Marsh

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One horse to take very seriously at the Cheltenham Festival is Nicky Henderson’s Mister Fisher. He produced an assured performance to capture the Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster over classy sort Al Dancer and he is set to contest the Arkle (Tuesday, March 10) or Marsh Novices’ Chase (Thursday, March 12) at Prestbury Park. The latter race is his first preference, for which he is a general 7/1 shot and looks to have outstanding claims of going close in the race.

Ramses De Teillee gearing up for Albert Bartlett bid

The David Pipe-trained Ramses De Teillee was an emphatic 17-length winner of the Grade Two River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster in January, staying on strongly under Tom Scudamore. Since successful at Haydock in graded company, the eight-year-old is a live each-way player at around the 12/1 mark in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday, March 13 at The Festival. A proven stayer and a horse who even contested last year’s Grand National, he has an attractive profile and is of interest in the three-mile event.

Buttons to be the leading Lady at Cheltenham

North Yorkshire trainer Philip Kirby’s stable star, Lady Buttons has a 100% record at the track this season with a victory over both fences and hurdles. The 10-year-old was a game-winner of a listed event over fences at Doncaster in December, before accounting for some talented rivals with an emphatic success over timber on Town Moor in January. She holds three entries at the Cheltenham Festival, firstly in the Grade One Mares’ Hurdle (16/1, March 10) where she could take on high-class mares Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle, the Grade One Champion Chase (50/1, March 11) featuring Altior, Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi or she could pitch into handicap company for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual on March 13 for which she is 14/1 shot. Wherever she ends up given her record of three wins from four starts this season, she is sure to run well.

Allart a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle candidate

Nicky Henderson has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal for the Cheltenham Festival which includes Supreme Novices’ hurdle hope Allart. The six-year-old is unbeaten in his last two starts and romped to victory by 14 lengths at Doncaster in February. A 14/1 shot for the opening race of the meeting on March 10, he is progressing with every run and bids to emulate stable companion Altior in winning the two-mile event for Henderson.

Go with the Flow

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Kim Bailey trains locally to Cheltenham and is set to saddle the unexposed First Flow in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase on Friday, March 13. The eight-year-old cantered to a 25-length win on Town Moor in February and is 20/1 shot for the two-mile event at The Festival.

Fox & Pass two others to note

Big prices at 40/1 and 33/1 respectively for the Triumph Hurdle on Friday, March 13, Fantastic Ms Fox and Navajo Pass have also landed Listed and Graded honours at the track this term, but will have to take another step forward to land the two-mile Grade One event. Navajo Passk, trained by Grand National winner Donald McCain also holds an entry in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for which he is 20/1.

Doncaster big-race winners running at the Cheltenham Festival

Mister Fisher – Arkle Novices’ Chase (12/1, March 10) or Marsh Novices’ Chase (7/1, March 12)

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Lady Buttons - Mares’ Hurdle (16/1, March 10), Champion Chase (50/1, March 11) or Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (14/1, March 13)

Ramses De Teillee – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (12/1, March 13)

Allart – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (14/1, March 10)

First Flow - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (20/1, March 13)

Fantastic Ms Fox - Triumph Hurdle (40/1, March 13)

Navajo Pass – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (20/1, March 11) or Triumph Hurdle (33/1, March 13)

For all of the latest Cheltenham Festival analysis, stats and previews, head to the Racing Post Cheltenham Festival Tips