Cheltenham Festival runner-up The Jukebox Man had a successful debut in his chase career for owner Harry Redknapp at the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase in Newbury.

After witnessing Shakem Up'arry secure a win in the prestigious meeting the day before, the well-liked former football manager seemed poised to achieve a notable Festival double in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Gold Cup day in March, but The Jukebox Man was narrowly defeated by Stellar Story at the finish line.

The six-year-old was immediately placed in Grade Two competition for his chase debut by trainer Ben Pauling and started as one of the 9-4 joint-favorites, alongside Captain Teague, who was aiming for a third consecutive win on the card for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Here we are—spring is in full bloom, the air is warm, and the aroma of the Flemington roses fills the atmosphere. It's the first Tuesday in November, signaling the time to race the Melbourne Cup over the renowned 3200 meters.

We have all the details you need to pick a winner in the big one.

1. VAUBAN (FR) - Back in Australia after having a seven-week spell. Quick out of a good barrier so it should be well clear of any early trouble. Last won two starts back in York. Could be one of the contenders.


2. BUCKAROO (GB) - Finished strongly to take second place in the Caulfield Cup on a soft track. Has had two wins from five starts this preparation and with the magic man Joao Moreira aboard will be among the chances.


3. CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) - Jumps from an awkward barrier having struggled so far this preparation. Ran 10th in the Caulfield Cup last start, but will appreciate the extra distance here. Won't be carrying my money, so that's one advantage it has.


4. WARP SPEED (JPN) - Was well beaten in the Caulfield Cup last start after a six-month spell. Will be better for that run, prefers the ground dry and has a nice draw for this. Would need to turn things around to win.

Ferny Hollow, after being away from the racing scene for over two years, made an impressive comeback in the Newlands Chase at Naas. However, it seems unlikely that the nine-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, will participate in the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. Ferny Hollow's last notable victory was in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham almost four years ago, wearing the Cheveley Park Stud colors. Unfortunately, injuries have limited his appearances since then to just three races.

After a successful start to his hurdling career at Gowran Park in the following season, he faced a long absence from racing for over a year. However, upon his return, he seamlessly transitioned to jumping fences and achieved consecutive victories, including a Grade One win at Leopardstown in December 2021. Since then, he had not been seen on the track.

Despite being absent from racing for 791 days, Ferny Hollow was heavily favored at odds of 2-5 for this Grade Three race. In truth, those who placed bets on him at odds-on would have had little to worry about throughout the two-mile contest.

Freddie Gingell is expected to retain his position as the jockey for Elixir De Nutz, the surprising winner of the Clarence House Chase, as they aim for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. The 18-year-old jockey has developed a strong connection with the 10-year-old horse, who has been performing exceptionally well under the training of Joe Tizzard this season.

Following their victories in the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and a significant Newbury handicap prior to Christmas, the partnership of Freddie Gingell and Elixir De Nutz joined forces once again to deal a minor setback to Jonbon's chances in the Champion Chase. They achieved this by defeating Nicky Henderson's top two-mile chaser in the rescheduled Grade One race at Prestbury Park.

This triumph at the highest level marked a significant achievement for Gingell. With owner Terry Warner expressing a desire to remain loyal to one of the youngest rising stars in the jockey weighing room, Gingell is now poised to experience his first championship event at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elixir De Nutz is currently experiencing a late surge of success in the latter part of his career. Despite his veteran status, he recently secured his second Grade One victory, a remarkable achievement five years after his initial triumph. Trainer Joe Tizzard is confident that the horse is now performing at the highest level and is in his prime as they prepare for the Champion Chase.

Barry Connell provided an encouraging update on Marine Nationale, the favorite for the Arkle, following a successful performance by another promising horse, William Munny, at Naas on Sunday.

The Download The BetVictor App (Pro/Am) Flat Race featured a field of five previous winners, including notable horses like Killultagh Vic (2014), Carefully Selected (2018), and Gerri Colombe (2021), who have all achieved top-class performances and have been recognized on the race's prestigious list of winners.

Wingmen, the even-money favorite, was expected to secure a fifth consecutive victory for trainer Gordon Elliott in the two-mile contest. However, despite initially racing prominently, Wingmen lost stamina towards the end of the race and had to settle for a third-place finish.

On the other hand, William Munny, who had won by a narrow margin on his debut at Navan the previous month, was priced at 13-2 to add another win to his record. Jockey Finny Maguire showcased excellent acceleration, overtaking both Wingmen and the eventual runner-up Fleur In The Park, and impressively crossed the finish line five lengths ahead to secure the victory.

Forward Plan made a remarkable comeback to snatch victory away from Al Dancer in the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton. Jockey Dylan Johnston took an assertive approach right from the start with the grey horse, utilizing his 5lb allowance to its fullest advantage aboard the Sam Thomas-trained runner in the three-mile race.

Flegmatik, Killer Kane, Bowtogreatness, and Blackjack Magic were all in pursuit, but as they approached the final obstacle, Al Dancer seemed to have left them all behind.

Yet, even though it seemed like Al Dancer had a comfortable lead after clearing the second-to-last jump, Forward Plan found a renewed burst of energy and started gaining ground. By the time they reached the last fence, Forward Plan had built up considerable momentum in his favor.