The extended two-and-a-half miles of the Challow Hurdle in 2025 sees Paul Nicholls bid for a record-extending seventh win in the Newbury Grade 1 for novices on Monday, 29 December with No Drama This End. Already compared to Denman, he could give the master trainer a fifth success in six seasons here.
Owned by the McNeill Family and Chris & Giles Barber, sons of Ditcheat yard landlord Paul, this five-year-old Walk In The Park gelding has landed consecutive Grade 2 races on the bridle. Nicholls has always thought the world of No Drama This End after he landing an English Point for Will Biddick.
Leaving his bare bumper form well behind since switching to the smaller obstacles, the Champion Bumper ninth looks to post better a Cheltenham result come the Festival. If No Drama This End wins the Challow Hurdle of 2025 as expected, then his position as ante-post favourite for the Turners (registered as the Baring Bingham) will only harden.
Patience is key 🔑
No Drama This End times it perfectly to storm home and win the @albert_bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/Bop7W1KumZ
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 14, 2025
With the notable exception of The New Lion last season, many Newbury winners of this festive feature have left their race behind in midwinter come Prestbury Park in the spring. Nicholls will hope to buck this trend also with No Drama This End and emulate protégé Dan Skelton in lifting the Challow-Cheltenham curse.
Before all that, however, he needs to complete the hat-trick. No Drama This End faces eight opponents in Berkshire including re-opposing fourth from November’s Albert Bartlett Trial (registered as the Hyde), Destination Dubai. A smart bumper horse for David Killahena & Graeme McPherson, there’s no reason why that form should be reversed now.
Starzand, Kalkbrenner Believed the Biggest Threats
With No Drama This End odds-on with Cheltenham bookies for the Challow Hurdle and fancied for the Festival, it’s double figure prices bar him at Newbury. While that suggests this race is at his mercy, Philip Hobbs has won this three times before and aims Starzard on the upgrade off two wins under Rules around Ffos Las.
An impressive wide-margin winner of his second Irish Point, his bumper success in West Wales confirmed that promise. Starzand followed-up on his hurdles debut somewhat snugly and not in the same effortless style as No Drama This End. He remains open to any amount of further progress, however, and could give the favourite most to think about.
Another thrilling finish at @NewburyRacing!
KLIMT MADRIK turns the tables with Kalkbrenner, gradually reeling him in after the last and gets his head in front close to home…@tlawes23‘ gelding follows in the footsteps of The New Lion, Stage Star, Bravemansgame and more! pic.twitter.com/aCjHRZWnVs
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 29, 2025
A head separated Ben Pauling’s Kalkbrenner and Toby Lawes inmate Klimt Madrik over the Challow Hurdle course and distance on Coral Gold Cup day. This pair meet again with the former 6lb better off with the latter. At those revised weights, plenty points to Kalkbrenner turning the tables. He may well delay his challenge until later, though.
Kalkbrenner hit the front three out and that’s an awful long way home still up the Newbury straight. The front two pulled 14 lengths and upwards clear of the remainder, so Klimt Madrik must be a useful horse too. Like Pauling, Lawes is a former assistant to Nicky Henderson with the pair striking out on their own well.
Tom Lacey four-year-old Montemares has won both of his starts around clockwise tracks Hereford and Market Rasen. He now takes on No Drama This End with no experience of racing left-handed. Joe Tizzard drops Ascot winner Etna Bianco back in trip, meanwhile, but his previous run at Cheltenham races suggests further is the way forward. Ludlow winner Tiptoptim and hurdling maiden Giantsgrave complete the line-up.
Challow Hurdle 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
It’s very hard to oppose NO DRAMA THIS END after two breathless victories in Grade 2s. If the Hobbs stable was in better form, then Starzand would perhaps be an even bigger danger than his price suggests. Off level weights, meanwhile, Kalkrenner should really be reversing course and distance form with Klimt Madrik.
Few others make much appeal. Tiptoptim represents the stable who finished second in this 12 months ago with Wendigo, though. Etna Bianco probably wants three miles already and similar comments apply to Destination Dubai. No Drama This End has already put the latter in his place and is justifiably all the rage to do so again.
