Sean O'Keeffe: My 3 Fancies For Cheltenham 2025
It's that time of year again, and if you can't get excited for the Cheltenham Festival, you are in the wrong game.
I have been busy helping to put some of this year's runners through their final preparations, and it is all go, as you can imagine.
You can feel the excitement and a touch of anxiousness in the air at all the yards, and I can't wait to get going and to hear that famous Cheltenham roar.
For now, though, I am happy to start my new racing column with Gambling.com, and I am going to begin by picking out three horses to look out for this year.
Thursday, March 13 - 14:00 Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase - Asian Master
Asian Master had two nice runs in Beginners Chases this last year over two miles, but stepping up in trip for this race at Cheltenham will suit him.
He ran very well in the Supreme last year, finishing fourth, so he has the experience of Cheltenham too.
He is on a good mark and I would give him a decent chance in this open race.
Thursday, March 13 - 14:40 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle - Feet Of A Dancer
I'll be hoping to ride Feet Of A Dancer in the Pertemps on Thursday.
She is one I am looking forward to riding over there. She was a good third in the qualifier for this race at Leopardstown over Christmas.
She can improve a bit from that, as it was her first time over three miles. She was a little bit keen, so I'll need to get her to settle.
I would be expecting a big run from her.
Thursday, March 13 - 15:20 Ryanair Chase - Jungle Boogie
My third fancy is Jungle Boogie in the Ryanair Chase. He is a very high-class horse.
He is probably a little bit fragile but he is a very, very good horse.
I actually won a Beginners Chase on him when he was trained by Willie Mullins.
Henry de Bromhead is getting a good run with him now, and he won well at Ascot the last day over a two-and-a-half-mile trip.
The distance in the Ryanair is ideal for him. He was running really well in the Gold Cup last year but didn't seem to get home.
Dropping in trip is ideal, and the ground is going to suit him.
He has a great chance of running well.
I am looking forward to keeping everyone informed on what's happening at the Festival in my daily Gambling.com Cheltenham column.
If you want to keep track of what horses I will be riding throughout the week, you can keep an eye on the Sean O'Keeffe booked rides page.
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