Thursday tends to be the most competitive day at the Cheltenham Festival. We are trying to land the £300,000 jackpot on the day through five races at Cheltenham and one each from Hexham and Sedgefield.
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The ITV7 couldn’t be simpler, as you have to pick a selection in each of the seven selected races and if they all win then you can win a share of the huge jackpot. The free-to-play game offers you the chance to win enormous prizes, so why not check out our explainer article that tells you all you need to know.
Race 1 – 1.30 Cheltenham (Turners Novices’ Chase)
Not an easy opener to predict, though the step up in trip has been long awaited for FACILE VEGA and it could well unlock new heights. Always held in the highest regard, the superbly-bred seven-year-old has disappointed over 2m1f the last twice, but was never beaten too far and his chase debut at Navan was excellent in the most testing conditions so far. Given his decorated mother was a star over 2m4f, this trip should mean he improves significantly, and though he faces a greater British challenge than in most races in the shape of Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny, it is worth backing the Mullins bandwagon to roll on.
Race 2 – 2.10 Cheltenham (Pertemps Final)
A long-term fancy for this has been yet another Mullins horse in ICARE ALLEN, who has been put away for this since qualifying back in November. The form of that qualifier has not particularly worked out, but the performance strongly suggested more was to come over this trip and his mark is unchanged; there is likely a lot more to come from this Graded winning juvenile hurdler who was twice placed at the Galway Festival last summer.
Race 3 – 2.30 Hexham
Ready preference is for BREEZE OF WIND, who has been in excellent form and was only narrowly denied a four-timer last time out by a horse who has bolted up again since. Stuart Coltherd’s charge is only 1lb higher for that effort and looks like a horse who should be fine stepping up to the marathon 4m trip.
Race 4 – 2.50 Cheltenham (Ryanair Chase)
This could end up being the most enjoyable feature race of the meeting because of the open betting market. Despite Irish dominance, it might pay to side with STAGE STAR, who has demonstrated top class form over course and distance and is easily forgiven pulling up in desperate ground on New Year’s Day. Soft ground is no problem for him and he looked a Grade 1 horse in a handicap when readily winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. Defending champion Envoi Allen is feared, as is Capodanno, winner of the Cotswold Chase on Trials Day.
Race 5 – 3.30 Cheltenham (Stayers’ Hurdle)
A race I have already previewed for GG in which I argued SIRE DU BERLAIS could well defend his title in what looks a similar test to last year. He will be readied to perfection for this, though stablemate Teahupoo may turn the tables.
Race 6 – 3.58 Southwell
Narrow preference in a competitive but poor quality race is for INEXPLICABLE, who has largely run well in races of this nature and put in a decent mark in a handicap last time out that would have been better than this.
Race 7 – 4.10 Cheltenham (TrustATrader Plate)
Gordon Elliott won this with The Storyteller in 2018 and SAINT FELICIEN could be a very similar type. Though not campaigned at the highest level like that exalted stablemate, the seven-year-old has been competitive on all four of his chase starts, getting off the mark most recently from a Willie Mullins horse who has won since. His mark of 146 is not the kindest given by the British handicapper, but there is a fair chance he has more in the tank and is worth taking on against the two clear favourites (both British-trained).
ITV7 At The Cheltenham Festival: How To Play The Free To Enter Game To Win Huge Prizes
All National Hunt eyes will head to Prestbury Park between Tuesday 12th March and Friday 15th March as the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will see the premier jumpers from the UK & Ireland do battle in what are four fabulous days of top quality action. The ITV7 will be running every day at the Cheltenham Festival…
Sat 09 Mar 2024