This Gold Cup headlines the action at Cheltenham on Friday 15th March
Stellar Story, Gerri Colombe and Waterford Whispers feature in our Cheltenham day four selections
Expired
Will Galopin Des Champs retain his Gold Cup crown on Friday? (Getty)
The Cheltenham Festival draws to a thrilling conclusion on Friday afternoon. Defending champion Galopin Des Champs heads a field of 12 for the 2024 Gold Cup. Viewers have got two further Grade Ones to enjoy on day four, along with two handicaps and two conditions races.
With Sir Gino out of the race, this year's Triumph has been left to the mercy of Willie Mullins. Mullins has utterly dominated this race in recent years, with Paul Townend riding three of the last four winners.
This year, Paul has opted to partner with Storm Heart, despite finishing second to Danny Mullins and Kargese in the Spring Juvenile. Mark Walsh and Majborough now top the market in Sir Gino's absence, but I'd be very surprised if Storm Heart wasn't sent off as the strong favourite.
At the prices, I'll chance my arm each-way with one of Willie's outsiders, BUNTING (10/1 at StarSports). Brian Hayes' mount who won well in France, handled heavy ground well when winning on his Irish debut and was only beaten two lengths when fourth in the Spring Juvenile, where Bunting hit traffic a couple of times as he attempted to challenge from the rear. He represents plenty of each-way value, especially with some firms paying out on the first four places.
Neither of the two horses that I fancied at the ante-post stage will run in Friday's County Hurdle, so I'm back to the drawing board with this handicap. One who I do like is MAGICAL ZOE (12/1 at QuinnBet) for in-form trainer, Henry De Bromhead.
Magical Zoe stayed on from out the back to finish second in the 2023 Mares' Novices' Hurdle. De Bromhead's mare has since won a Listed race on heavy ground, pushed the classy Irish Point close at Down Royal and finished a luckless second in a handicap at Leopardstown. Adrian Heskin's mount would be more comfortable on better ground, but she's got more than enough form on this sort of surface to suggest she can challenge off 144.
PETIT TONNERRE (25/1 at StarSports) is an interesting runner, having spent all season competing in good-quality novice chases. Jonjo O'Neill's six-year-old was only beaten two lengths in the November Novices' Chase here in November, fourth in the Grade One at Sandown and wasn't put into the race on either of his most recent handicap starts.
I backed Petit Tonnerre in this race 12 months ago, where he made a terrible mistake at the third-last before staying on up the hill to finish seventh. Jonjo O'Neill's six-year-old runs off a four-pound lower mark on Friday and a first-time visor could help his cause.
2024 County Hurdle Best Bet - Magical Zoe E/W
2024 County Hurdle Value Bet - Petit Tonnerre E/W
2:50pm Cheltenham - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tips (see full preview)
Paul Townend will ride Readin Tommy Wrong in this year's Albert Bartlett. Willie Mullins' star powered to victory in the Lawlor's Of Naas last time out, after which Daryl Jacob said he'd be even better over two miles. Townend's record on day four is incredibly strong and, when Willie has had multiple runners in a Grade One over the past four year, Townend's mount has been the best finisher 70% of the time.
That being said, the average winner of the Albert Bartlett over the past 20 years is around 16/1, so it's not a race where it usually pays to back the favourite. I'll be taking a stab at two at lengthy prices, starting with THE JUKEBOX MAN (22/1 at QuinnBet) for Ben Pauling.
A two-time winner on heavy ground earlier in the season, The Jukebox Man was only beaten two lengths when third in that slow-motion finish to the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. Ben Pauling has been having a fantastic season so far and stepping up to three miles will only help this budding stayer.
STELLAR STORY (40/1 at Hollywoodbets) has some solid form to his name too. Gordon Elliott's star beat Il Atlantique in a bumper, finished just five lengths adrift of Slade Steel at Navan in December and was only beaten a length in the three-mile Grade One at Limerick on heavy ground. Jack Kennedy's mount was only beaten 11 lengths in the Nathaniel Lacy last time out, around a speed track in Leopardstown that was never likely to suit. Soft ground at Cheltenham should be ideal.
2024 Albert Bartlett Value Bet 1 - The Jukebox Man E/W
2024 Albert Bartlett Value Bet 1 - Stellar Story E/W
This won't be a popular pick with most, but I'm taking Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow on in the 2024 Gold Cup with GERRI COLOMBE (9/1 at StarSports), who was beaten in last year's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase by The Real Whacker. In truth, most of Gerri Colombe's novice chasing form looks poor on paper, and Gordon Elliott's star has 23-length to find on Galopin Des Champs from their clash in the Savills Chase.
Despite those negatives, there are several reasons why I think Gerri Colombe is overpriced for the Gold Cup. Firstly, Elliott has been training his star with this race in mind for the last two years. Gerri Colombe won the Ladbrokes Champion Chase with an under-par performance in November - recording what was his fourth Grade One success over fences - and didn't run too badly over Christmas, considering the track at Leopardstown wouldn't suit him at all.
This dour-stayer looks tailor-made for the Gold Cup test. Davy Russell found himself too far back to challenge around the tighter Old Course in the Brown Advisory. Switching to the New Course will certainly suit, as will the ground, and I'll be hoping to see Jack Kennedy make the most of Gerri Colombe's stamina.
2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup Value Bet - Gerri Colombe E/W
Live Stream
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Gerri Colombe ridden by Davy Russell wins the Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices' Chase on Ladies Day during the second day of the Grand National Festival. (Getty)
One of the few things I do like about the Hunter Chase is that it shines the spotlight on smaller operations, so I'm happy to ignore the runners near the head of the betting. I do like Sine Nomine, but I'm not sure she finds a great deal under pressure and 3m2f around Cheltenham takes some getting.
QUINTIN'S MAN (28/1 at Hollywoodbets) is the opposite of Sine Nomine, in that he always does his best work in the latter stages of the race. At Cheltenham in May, Darren Andrews' mount was fifth turning for home and ended up winning by 17 lengths.
John Heard's seven-year-old beat Lalor and a couple of other decent rivals at Wincanton in February, before staying on well to place third on heavy ground at Haydock two weeks later. Quintin's Man is a quirky sort, but he's got some ability and plenty of stamina too.
4:10pm Hunters' Chase Value Bet - Quintin's Man E/W
Dinoblue will be the anchor leg in most Willie Mullins multiples on Friday. At her current price, I'm inclined to take on the favourite. I don't think Dinoblue will have any trouble seeing out this distance and she'll love the ground on Gold Cup day. There are, however, worries about her previous form at Cheltenham and she'll be giving weight to several dangerous rivals.
Given that Paul Townend rides Allegorie De Vassy, I could see the two Willie Mullins' mares being punted off the boards in the build-up to this Grade Two. That would cause LIMERICK LACE (7/2 at QuinnBet) to drift out to a more attractive price and I don't think Gavin Cromwell's mare is that far short of her market rivals.
Keith Donoghue's mount clocked an RPR of 152 when winning at Clonmel before going close in the Troytown, and she was far too classy for the British at Doncaster after Christmas. Limerick Lace will get the soft ground that she craves and we know how well Cromwell's horses take to Cheltenham.
2024 Mares' Chase Value Bet - Limerick Lace
5:30pm Cheltenham - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Tips
Having backed Iroko ante-post at 20/1 before his victory here 12 months ago, I'm hoping for another grandstand finish to this year's Cheltenham Festival. I'm putting my trust in the JP McManus colours again this year, having backed WATERFORD WHISPERS (7/2 at Hollywoodbets) at 12/1 a couple of weeks ago.
Henry De Bromhead's six-year-old beat decent rivals like Answer To Kayf and Ataboycharlie in his first couple of novice outings this season and ran a decent enough race when second on his handicap debut at Leopardstown in December. I love the way this six-year-old travels and sees out his races and I'm sure De Bromhead will have Waterford Whispers cherry-ripe for this assignment.
At a longer price, I'm going to back WHAT'S UP DARLING (12/1 at QuinnBet) for Gordon Elliott, who always plays a strong hand in the Martin Pipe. This son of Shirocco holds some strong form to her name this season, having beaten Dee Capo in a Grade Three before losing out last time to Mares' Hurdle runner Lantry Lady. Stepping up in trip should certainly suit a gelding who won a point-to-point by 13 lengths in December 2022. Conor Stone-Walsh is a strong jockey booking too.
2024 Martin Pipe Best Bet - Waterford Whispers
2024 Martin Pipe Value Bet - What's Up Darling E/W
Verdict
Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Top Tips:
Best Bet1: Waterford Whispers 5:30pm Cheltenham @7/2 at Hollywood bets - 15 Units
Best Bet2: Gerri Colombe E/W 3:30pm Cheltenham @9/1 at Star Sports - 10 Units
Best Bet3: Magical Zoe E/W 2:10pm Cheltenham @12/1 at QuinnBet - 10 Units
Best Bet4: Limerick Lace 4:50pm Cheltenham @7/2 at QuinnBet - 5 Units
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