Andrew Asquith looks ahead to Tuesday's racing with his tips from around the tracks, including a Nap selection on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
From Tuesday there will be a Daily Racing Tips takeover from Andrew Asquith as he underlines his best bets for the Cheltenham Festival and elsewhere throughout the week.
Tuesday selections for Cheltenham and beyond
MADARA – 16:40 Cheltenham (Nap)
MADARA is yet to win for Dan Skelton, but he’s seemingly been lined up for a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, and he looks well treated in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase.
He has some solid form in handicaps at the track, given a little bit too much to do when hitting the frame in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his debut for Skelton over this course and distance last season, and all the rage in the betting when runner-up in the December Gold Cup not long after.
Madara has only been seen twice this season and, on both occasions, he hasn’t been knocked about, very much catching the eye over a similar trip at Kempton last month. His rider didn’t go for everything that day, but he stayed on to finish never nearer than at the finish, and that will surely have put him spot on for this.
Skelton is one of the best target trainers around and he has a favourites chance in a typically competitive renewal with the cheekpieces back on and racing from a mark he's been competitive from in the past.
LULAMBA – 14:00 Cheltenham
LULAMBA is no longer favourite for the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase following strong reports surrounding Kopek des Bordes in recent days, but he has the edge on experience and has the superior form in the book.
He looked something out of the ordinary when brushing aside Be Aware in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, and comfortably saw off more experienced rivals stepping out of novice company in the Game Spirit at Newbury last month.
Admittedly, it may not have been the strongest renewal of that race, but he still won readily, well suited by a well-run race and looking better and better the further he went. Nicky Henderson’s star chasers of the past, Sprinter Sacre and Altior, followed the same path en route to the Arkle, and I think he’s really hard to pick holes in, a sound enough jumper who travels well and still has more improvement in him.
QUEBECOIS – 15:20 Cheltenham
The ground on day one of the Cheltenham Festival is strongly looking like being good to soft with selected watering taking place on Monday and that will suit QUEBECOIS down to the ground in the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase.
He remains a maiden over fences, but he’s another who appears to be building up to something, and remains at the right end of the handicap.
Quebecois failed to build on his promising debut over fences when well beaten at Sandown in December, but clearly, he wasn’t 100 percent that day as he proved when running a cracker in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase in January.
He looked the likeliest winner that day after landing in front after the last – he traded at 1.16 in-running on Betfair – only to be denied by the narrowest margin following the winner’s strong late surge.
It is probably best not to judge Quebecois on his latest effort which came in a novice over an inadequate two miles, that run just serving its purpose to qualify him for an open handicap this week, and this marked step up in trip should see him in a better light. His bold, fluent jumping will continue to stand him in good stead and he remains with more potential than most in this field.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL – 16:23 Wolverhampton
EXTRATERRESTRIAL didn’t show much on his first two starts, but he was much improved at Kempton last time, and that form has a strong look to it.
He was pushed along from two furlongs out that day, but wasn’t knocked about, leaving the impression there could be even more to come now he enters handicaps. The winner at Kempton looks potentially smart, while the runner-up won next time, and the timefigure also supports the form.
This step up in trip can also unlock further improvement and an opening mark of 70 looks fair.
DOLLAR’S DREAM – 18:15 Southwell
DOLLAR’S DREAM remains a maiden, but he’s shown improved form since entering handicaps and having his stamina tested, finishing runner-up on his last two starts, the latest coming over this course and distance.
He failed to land the odds on that occasion, but he was beaten only by a next-time-out winner, and was arguably in front too soon that day in what was a strongly-run race.
Dollar’s Dream was overhauled inside the final furlong having been sent for home two furlongs out, and he still looks well treated having been raised just 2lb in the weights. He isn’t long with this yard and will remain of interest given he remains unexposed at this sort of trip.
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Champion Again Ole 7/4
- Let It Rain 5/2 (NAP)
- Kap Vert 6/5
- Elements Of Fire 4/1
- Scorpio Rising 9/2 (NAP)
- Falco Des Pins 9/5
- Platin Moon 11/4
- Bergamo Gold 17/2
- Nikovo 15/8
- Saffron Dandy 25/1
- Blue Carpet 5/1
- I Am Me 2/1
- Delgany Deadline 3/1 (NAP)
- Kool Kid 9/4
- La Luna Artista 15/2 (NAP)
- Bank On Frank 2/1 (NAP)
- Forglen 5/2
- Pretending 10/1 (NAP)
- Flowstate 100/30
- Milcree 85/40 (NAP)
- Borgi 8/1 (NAP)
- Kel Du Large 3/1
- Wicksey 11/8
- Alondra 8/1
- Himself 5/4
- Maria Da Silva 7/4
- Ballin Boy 9/2
- Harbour Vision 6/1
- La Higuera 5/2 (NAP)
- Lord Capulet 6/4
- Made U Blush 11/2 (NAP)
- Eupator 11/8
- Kazar Forez 5/6
- Newton Tornado 9/2
- Ladronne 6/4
- Bel Ombre 85/40
- Morrophore 6/5
- Lewisham Grove 9/4
- Maximising 15/2
- Big Zouk 11/8 (NAP)
- Silver Thorn 3/1
- Merrimack 13/8 (NAP)
- My Champion 11/4
- Fasol 4/1
- Nebras 7/2
- Mapledurham 5/2
- Soldierofthestorm 9/4
- Lake Como 11/10
- Ballymackie 5/6 (NAP)
- Kruger Park 3/1
- Indeevar Blue 9/2
- Kitzbuhel 13/8
- Gazette Bourgeoise 7/2
- Supreme Malinas 7/2
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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