TORNADO STRIKE

Rebecca's ready to rule again in finale

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GORDON ELLIOTT has made no secret of the fact he rates EL CAIROS (1.20) very highly, so this speedy beast will carry my each-way wonga in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle over two miles, which kicks off the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Fifth in the Champion Bumper at last year's meeting when partnered by an amateur, the six-year-old showed a sparkling turn of foot to bolt up at Thurles in late January under today's top-class jockey Jack Kennedy.

Word has reached me from the Emerald Isle that Willie Mullins took KOPEK DES BORDES (2.00) to Fairyhouse and Punchestown recently, where his horse jumped like Dick Fosbury alongside more experienced stable companions.

Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero scored on his only chase start at Navan in November in a race that has produced a trio of winners. This classy animal can call the tune in the Singer Arkle Novice Chase run over two miles.