Seven races are left of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Matty Sutcliffe has been busy not just this week, but throughout the season with his ante-post bets for Cheltenham.
His final column on the meeting includes four best bets for the final day at Prestbury Park.
1:20 Cheltenham – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo) – Minella Study 11/2 3pt WIN
Minella Study has been well-backed since putting him up ante-post at 20/1 for this race, and while we also have Selma De Vary in a good position ante-post too, I’m incredibly confident in the chances of Minella Study who is my NAP of the festival.
The Study of Man gelding is three from three over hurdles, the first which came for John Nallen at Tipperary in July. The form of that wasn’t all that strong, but he improved again when winning the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby in October for Adam Nicol.
He then improved starkly when winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial over C&D. I was seriously taken by that performance, he was keen enough the whole way without cover for the majority, but he took off in impressive fashion off the turn for home and quickly put the race to bed with a professional leap at the last.
Visually it was a remarkable performance and that form was franked by the second, who he was giving 7lbs to, after he finished second in the Fred Winter on Tuesday. He’s been minded for this race since, perhaps due to being on the go for a while, and I’m of the opinion he can conjure up a special performance here.
2:00 Cheltenham – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Karbau 11/2 1pt WIN
Paul Townend and Willie Mullins have teamed up to win four of the last nine runnings of the County Hurdle and Townend’s sole handicap ride of the meeting comes here with Karbau, which has to be taken into account.
The son of Cokoriko was well beaten in the Supreme last season, but fared better when third in both the Aintree Top Novices and Punchestown Champion Novices’ Hurdle.
He was a beaten favourite on seasonal debut in January, but the winner had the benefit of multiple runs and the pair pulled nicely clear of the third and fourth, who both acquitted themselves well in Grade 3 company next time out.
A mark of 150 doesn’t look an obvious gift, but Paul Townend’s choice speaks volumes and he has to be considered.
3:20 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Road Exile 33/1 1pt EW 4 places
The Albert Bartlett has a habit of throwing up a big priced winner and Road Exile can emulate connections’ success with Stellar Story in this race in 2024.
The Harzand gelding was a point-to-point winner for Cormac Doyle before beaten a neck on bumper debut for Gordon Elliott by the now 138 rated I Started A Joke. He backed that up at Limerick when a well backed four-length winner.
He was a disappointing third on hurdles debut at Down Royal in November, but it’s telling he started off there given Gordon Elliott has won that race five times in the last seven years, including with multiple Cheltenham Festival winners.
He then made all to win at Navan, reversing the bumper form with I Started A Joke. Jasmin De Vaux won that race in 2024, before going on the win the Albert Bartlett. He appeared tapped for toe in the Moscow Flyer, and this step up in trip can unlock further improvement.
4:00 Cheltenham – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Haiti Couleurs 6/1 1pt WIN
I’m not a huge fan of the King George form – for all it was an excellent race – holding up in a Gold Cup and Haiti Couleurs is given the nod. The Dragon Dancer gelding is reminiscent of the old fashion chasers that’s been lacking in depth in the Gold Cup in recent years, displaying a gutsy effort to win the National Hunt Chase last season.
He backed that up with an excellent effort in the Irish Grand National, marking himself as a very talented staying chaser. He blotted his copybook at Haydock, but a reason was discovered for that and he was expertly brought back to land the Welsh Grand National off top-weight.
He had a successful preparation for this when a seven length winner of the Denman Chase, and he can emulate Native River, another former Welsh Grand National winner, who landed the Denman in 2018 before winning the Gold Cup.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:20 Cheltenham – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo) – Minella Study 11/2 3pt WIN
2:00 Cheltenham – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Karbau 11/2 1pt WIN
3:20 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Road Exile 33/1 1pt EW 4 places
4:00 Cheltenham – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Haiti Couleurs 6/1 1pt WIN
Road ExileMatty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Day 4 Tips
FAQs
What are today’s Cheltenham Festival tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing on day 4 at Cheltenham on Friday 13 March.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Festival tips were published at 3.15pm on Thursday 12 March.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.