It’s the day where Gold Cup champions are made, but as well as the feature race of the meeting at 3.30, the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is packed full of some of the best racing on offer. Andrew Mount, Dave Young and Kate Tracey have previewed every race, with their selections below.
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1.30 Cheltenham – Triumph Hurdle
Dave: “I think Sir Gino is one of the best short-priced favourites of the week. He looks like an older horse running in the juvenile division. One to mention if you want to have an each-way bet is Storm Heart, who was beaten in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. We have seen that form reversed a lot at Cheltenham and Storm Heart could do that with Kargese.”
Kate: “Storm Heart got stopped at a far from optimal time and as Dave says, that form at Leopardstown is often reversed. He is probably the only Irish horse in this division who has posted a wow performance.”
Andrew: “I think Sir Gino will win. They all finished in a bit of a heap at Leopardstown which gives that form a question mark.”
2.10 Cheltenham – County Hurdle
Andrew: “Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins combined have won eight of the last nine renewals of this race. There were also three County Hurdles for the Paul Nicholls yard when Skelton worked there! He struck last year with Faivoir and load your Placepot with horses from those two yards.”
Dave: “Bialystok would lap King Of Kingsfield on their recent formlines. I know Willie Mullins likes this horse and he’s got a great chance. Another one for Mullins is Westport Cove, who was 12 lengths behind Tullyhill in February; that was a case of getting a run in to prepare him for this.”
Andrew: “Outside of the big two yards in this race, an interesting one based on the Morebattle Hurdle form at Kelso is Jungle Jack. He could run a big race on his second run back after a wind operation.”
2.50 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Dave: “I still like Chapeau De Soleil if he runs here. He strikes me as a horse for this race. I’ve been put onto Irish Panther at 50/1 too, and we like a big price winner in this race. He has been beaten by Ballyburn, Farren Glory and Daddy Long Legs, which is good 2m form.”
Andrew: “If you back horses who finished second, third or fourth last time out, you would have made £59 to a level £1 stake. One that stands out in this category is Johnnywho, who was a good fourth to Captain Teague, then ran behind Gidleigh Park in Grade 2 company last time, getting outpaced before staying on.”
Kate: “I’m so pleased Johnnywho fits those trends. He can be forgiven his two defeats very easily as he does nothing but stay.”
3.30 Cheltenham – Cheltenham Gold Cup
Andrew: “I’m going to side with Corach Rambler. He’s had four runs in his life in March and April and he’s won all four. Six of the last ten Gold Cup winners have come from off the pace, so this should suit him.”
4.10 Cheltenham – Festival Hunter Chase
Dave: “JP McManus has bought It’s On The Line, maybe to guarantee a winner on the Friday! I won’t ever heavily invest in this race, but It’s On The Line stayed on strongly last year and has a favourite’s chance.”
Andrew: “These are generally races that I avoid. One angle to note is that nine of the last ten winners came from off the pace. Ten-year-olds will have got you through the Placepot in nine of the last ten years and one of those who stands out is Time Leader, who is a tentative poke at this stage.”
4.50 Cheltenham – Mares’ Chase
Andrew: “You can pick holes in most of these. One I’ve come down on for a small each-way bet is Pink Legend for Venetia Williams, who has had four runs on the New Course in her life with two wins and two places as her results. The second two years ago was in this race behind Elimay and she was third in this last year.”
Dave: “I think Allegorie De Vassy’s price is balmy. She finally got her head in front going left-handed last time. She was also weighted not to do so, but even though she is unreliable, she will stay and Dinoblue might not.”
5.30 Cheltenham – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Dave: “There’s no way this horse is outside of the first five: Quai De Bourbon. He is the horse who could be like Galopin Des Champs, with Sa Majeste being the smoke screen for his ability. No Ordinary Joe was the one horse in this tough period for Nicky Henderson who maintained his form too.”
Don’t forget to check out occasional Weekend Watch pundit, Matty Sutcliffe’s selections for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival as well as Dave Young’s weekly Cheltenham ante-post picks.
Dave Young’s Cheltenham Ante-Post Book
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