Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 9 March 2026

I thought that it would be fun, on the eve of what many view as the most exciting day of the jumping year, to make a few speculative predictions for the week ahead.

Despite not having the number of short-priced favourites that he had last year, Willie Mullins is still at very skinny odds to end the week as champion trainer. With over 70 runners during the course of the week, he is 7/1 on to finish top but the equivalent of 5/1 on – trading at 1.2 on Betfair – with Gordon Elliott next best at 8/1, Nicky Henderson at 10/1 and Dan Skelton at 12s. Those three are currently 9.8, 24 and 16 on Betfair.

The bridge jumpers may step in at 1.2 on Mullins but there is also a market without him, with Bet365 going 6/4 Elliott, 2/1 Henderson and 5/2 Skelton. This is very tight, but I would give Dan Skelton the slight edge.

Bet365 are offering prices on the number of winners owned by JP McManus. They go 4/7 under 6.5 and 5/4 over 6.5. Initially I thought that he would struggle to get more than seven, as many of his chances are in the handicaps, but his horses are mostly at the head of the market so I’m swerving this.

The market on the top jockey is of more interest.

Bet 365 go 4/5 Paul Townend, 2/1 Mark Walsh, 5/1 Jack Kennedy and 10/1 Harry Skelton. On Betfair the respective prices are 2.6, 3, 6 and 16, but to very limited liquidity.

Having suggested no bet in the JP McManus market, I am perversely quite keen on Mark Walsh to be top jockey. As you are aware he will be losing his job as the main rider for McManus this spring, but he has been riding superbly well since that announcement and he has a point to prove.

He has more opportunities in the handicaps than Paul Townend, who has some difficult choices to make in many of the races. The Betfair price of 1.74 for Walsh without Townend is quite attractive for those who bet short.

There may not be an obvious star name to look forward to this week, but I cannot recall a previous Cheltenham which has aroused such interest and speculation in the media, with a particularly strong following in the social networks.

I wish you the best of good fortune in the coming days.

Bye for now

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