Cheltenham Day 4 Betting Tips and Predictions for Gold Cup Day

Cheltenham day 4 betting tips for Friday 15th March including the big race of the week, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Day 4 of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival features the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the festival comes to a close and below you’ll find our Cheltenham day 4 tips from Ciaran Murphy.

 

Cheltenham Day 4 Betting Tips

Race	Tip	Bet
1.20pm - Triumph Hurdle	East India Dock	9/4
2.00pm - County Hurdle
2.40pm - Mares Steeple Chase
3.20pm - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
4.00pm - Cheltenham Gold Cup	Galopin Des Champs	8/15
4.50pm - Hunters Chase
5.20pm - Martin Pipe Hurdle

 

1.30 Triumph Hurdle

This race revolves around the well being or otherwise of long time antepost favourite Sir Gino, with Nicky Henderson yard under a huge cloud. 6 of his 9 runners on the first 2 days of the festival were pulled up while stable stars Constitution Hill, Jonbon and Shiskin didn’t even make it to the course. And while he was visually impressive last time out, he beat an arguably below-par Burdett Road and Milan Tino who couldn’t win the Boodles off 126. The Irish Novices have also filled the first 5 places in both the Supreme and the Gallagher Novice Hurdles. There is no doubt that he needs to be taken on and Closutton is clearly the place to go to find one to do so. 

Willie Mullins obviously has a strong hand and respect has to be given to Paul Townend’s choice Storm Heart. He was very impressive on debut at Punchestown and ran credibly in defeat to Kargese at the DRF. However 3rd that day, on stable debut, was MAJBOROUGH. He led most of the way round before possibly tiring late on his first run in 10 months. He has form on heavy ground in France and while perceived wisdom is that he is going to be a better chaser, that’s no reason why he can’t pick up this pot along the way. 

Salvator Mundi is worth a market check on stable debut but may be one for next year’s novice hurdles while the ground has probably gone against DRF eye catcher Ethical Diamond. 

• 1.30pm Tip: Majborough – 9/2 with BetVictor.

 

2.10 County Hurdle 

In my ante-post handicap Lucky 15 column, I made a case for KING OF KINGSFIELD whose mark remained unchanged from his Irish 140 rating. Given that on his latest start, he was 3rd to Ballyburn and Slade Steel, that form could not be working out much better and he clearly has a favourites chance. 

That article also made a case for Pied Piper, effectively running off a 1-pound lower mark than when second in this race last year, albeit I would prefer slightly better ground for him though. And while the same can be said for Emmet Mullins’ SO SCOTTISH, there was a lot to like about his run at the DRF, where he travelled like a dream before probably hitting the front too soon. One of the best target trainers in the business, if that was a prep for a big day today, he won’t be far away and at 16/1 represents great each-way value if handling softer-than-ideal conditions.

• 2.10pm Tip: King of Kingsfield –  5/1 with bet365.
• 2.10pm Tip: So Scottish (each-way) – 14/1 with Coral.

 

2.50 Albert Bartlett

Another race that I analysed from an ante-post perspective (see it here) and advised backing Dancing City at 8/1. However, that was on the assumption that Reading Tommy Wrong would end up in the Gallagher Hurdle and instead, he rocks up here as Paul Townend’s choice. As a result his odds (3/1) are skimpy in what looks an open contest. The form of Ile Atlantique and Predators Gold on Wednesday would not inspire confidence in either horse and with RTW yet to race over 2m 4f, I will reluctantly be looking elsewhere

Despite pointing out the poor performance of the British Novice Hurdlers this year so far, it was the same story last March before a British winner of this race. Perhaps it will be Deja Vu here with Harry Fry’s unbeaten novice GIDLEIGH PARK fitting a lot of the trends as a 6-year-old with 3 hurdle wins under his belt, the last of which was at the course. The second that day, Lucky Place, defied horrific stable form to place 4th in the Coral Cup on Wednesday while last year in a bumper GP readily dispatched The Jukebox Man who reopposes here. He is a very strong travelling type with plenty of stamina in his pedigree and should be bang there at the finish. At 7/1, he represents the best value in the race in my eyes. 

• 2.50pm – Gidleigh Park – 7/1 with Coral.

 

3.30 Gold Cup 

Galopin Des Champs turns up here to defend his crown and become Willie Mullins’ Second back to back winner in the last 5 years. He came into that race off an unbeaten campaign with stamina questions to answer, questions which he emphatically answered when powering up the hill to win by 7 lengths. And while he followed that up with consecutive defeats by the reopposing Fastorslow, I think that the blessing in this is that they had rediscovered how to ride him to best effect. I think we will see an even better performance this year and I can see no other outcome other than a GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (NAP) victory. I can also see plenty trying to take him on so don’t be worried if he drifts slightly on the day. 

Read our 1-2-3 prediction for the Gold Cup here.

If trying to figure out who could chase him home, preference would be given to the completely unexposed Gentlemansgame, having just his 4th chase start for Mouse Morris. He had subsequent Irish National winner I am Maximus 8 lengths behind on chase debut and was good value for his defeat of Bravemansgame (albeit in receipt of 6 pounds). He is clearly a hard horse to keep sound but when he turns up, he oozes quality and could run a big race. 

• 3.30pm Tip: Galopin Des Champs – 11/10 with Betfred.

 

4.10 Hunters Chase

Narrowly defeated last year at 28/1, IT’S ON THE LINE returns as an improved animal this year and aims to go one better, this time in the Green and Gold of JP McManus. He arrives of the back of 3 wins, including one over market rival Ferns Lock. Although he is 7 pounds worse off for just a half-length defeat, Ferns Lock has serious stamina questions to answer, a stone which cannot be thrown and Emmet Mullins charge. On his latest start, Ferns Kick defeated another Mullins horse, Romeo Magico and I’d imagine that gave Emmet an idea of where he stood. He also claimed at the start of the week that this was his best chance of a winner, and seeing how Corbetts Cross powered up the hill, that is some statement. 

Defending champion PREMIER MAGIC is probably a little overpriced in the market, coming here on a 7 race-winning streak. I would expect another strong showing and at 7/1, I would put anyone off an EW bet in case something goes amiss with the favourite. 

• 4.10pm Tip: It’s on the Line – 9/4 with bet365.
• 4.10pm – Premier Magic (each-way) – 13/2 with William Hill.

 

4.50 Mares Chase

The favourite Dinoblue will be very hard to beat here. Since her second in the Grand Annual last year, she has ran 5 races and been beaten just once by El Fabiolo. However each of these races was run over 2 miles and with the ground likely to remain soft/heavy, this trip will take plenty of getting. Connections seem adamant that this won’t be an issue and while I suspect that this will be the case, at 11/10, I would be happy to look elsewhere. 

RIVIERE D’ETEL was just 4 lengths being Allegorie De Vassey last time out in Naas over just 2 miles and is a pound better off here. Previous to that she slammed the same rival by 33 lengths over this trip and while this was flattering, she is around 5 times the price here. She wasn’t completely out of it when falling 3 out last year and while she is certainly better going right-handed but Gaelic Warrior has shown us this week that this isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. At 20/1, I’m willing to take an EW Swing. 

• 4.50pm Tip: – Riviere D’Etel (each-way) – 20/1 with bet365.

 

5.30 Martin Pipe

The last race of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is the Martin Pipe Handicap hurdle, a race for conditional jockeys and horses rated less than 145. It sees two very short-priced fancies for leading and in form stables, Quai De Bourbon for Willie Mullins and Waterford Whispers for Henry De Bromhead. Both could be absolute plot jobs and have been backed accordingly but in a race of this nature, their current odds make limited appeal. 

The last leg of the Handicap Lucky 15 mentioned earlier goes onto BETTER DAYS AHEAD who as predicted is the mount of Danny Gilligan (who along with Mikey O’Sullivan and Aidan Kelly are the standout Jockeys in the field in my opinion). That article highlights form lines with Slade Steel and Asian Master who came 1st and 4th in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and currently priced at 12/1, I think he is sure to go off single figures. 

No Ordinary Joe, has the assistance of the previously mentioned Aidan Kelly and is without doubt well handicapped, only a pound higher than when second in this race last year. If the stable have shown any signs of life prior to this, he is worth a second look. 

• 5.30pm Tip: Better Days Ahead – 10/1 with bet365.

 

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