Cheltenham Day 4 Tips – Win and Each-way Selections for Friday

1.20 JCB Triumph Hurdle  

The opening race on Gold Cup Day is the Triumph Hurdle which looks set to be an absolute cracker. Quilixios has been moved into 3s from 4s by the bookies due to Rachel Blackmore’s excellent Thursday at the Festival. Tritonic won the Adonis last time out at Kempton and showed he was a quality operator on the flat and the Alan King charge cannot be ruled out here.

The one I’m siding with is Zanahyir (6/4 WIN) who has been kept fresh for race and has some of the best pieces of Irish Juvenile form. I believe Zanahyir will thrive off the strong pace which will inevitably be set here. The now Denise Foster trained 4-year-old is a real slick hurdler and won last time out by 3 lengths despite the evident slow pace which did not suit.

One I’m willing to take a punt on here is Haut En Couleurs E/W (20/1 E/W) who has only run once over at Auteuil in October last year. The horse went clear of the field that day along with one another and showed a great attitude to stick his neck out and grab the victory. The 4-year-old has since been purchased by the Donnelly’s who are no mugs when it comes to purchasing quality horses. Willie Mullins now trains the horse and I believe this to be a very interesting contender as I do not believe the trainer or owners would be sending him here without a chance.

1.55 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle 

Next up is the County Hurdle which as ever is a real competitive handicap.  The one I like here for my win bet is Third Time Lucki (7/1 WIN) who was fourth in last year’s Champion Bumper and I believe the Skelton’s who have an excellent record in this race have always had this race in mind for the 6-year-old.  I was impressed with the performance at Kempton on boxing day winning by 9 lengths comfortably. This will be run at a frantic pace which will suit the selection so let’s hope for a bold showing.

Another that has caught my eye here is Petit Mouchoir (33/1 E/W) who certainly is a group horse running in a handicap. Ordinarily carrying top weight in a competitive handicap would put me off advising a horse of this profile but the caveat is the very talented claiming jockey Jordan Gainford takes off a handy 7lbs and that cannot be ignored. The Denise Foster trained 10-year-old has been operating in graded company in his last 3 runs without disgracing himself and an impressive 3rd in the Galway Hurdle demonstrates the Grey can mix it in these big field handicaps.

 

2.30 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 

The next race is the Albert Bartlett which looks another real competitive race and one which I’ve struggled to get a handle on throughout the season from an ante-post perspective. I believe to win this race you need an out and stayer which abit of experience despite this being a novice race.

Fakiera (11/2 WIN) is another from the Denise Foster yard that I expect to go well, this horse looks like it has been crying out for a testing track like Cheltenham over today’s trip. The 6-year-old is not the easiest on the eye and we can expect him to be off the bridle at halfway getting his ears scrubbed off. Fakiera has stayed on in an eye-catching manner in his last two runs and I just think has the ideal profile to land a race like this.

I have to give a shout for Pats Fancy (40/1 E/W) who has the in form Rachel Blackmore on board and a decent Cheltenham run under his belt earlier this season. I’m willing to forgive his poor performance last time out at Doncaster when half the field pulled up. The Rebecca Curtis charge gives the impression he will suit better going which he will certainly get today.

 

3.05 Well Child Cheltenham Gold Cup  

The feature of the Festival is of course the Gold Cup which is contested over 3m 2f. This is a real strong renewal of the race and I believe two winner Al Boum Photo (3/1 WIN) faces his most difficult task yet when going for three on the bounce. That being said he is my win bet here it’s difficult to oppose the Willie Mullins trained 9-year-old who has been through his usual preparation of a trip to Tramore on New Year’s Day and heads here fresh and ready to seal the hattrick.

My each way play here is Frodon (14/ E/W) who has been in excellent form this season. If Bryony Frost can set the fractions from the front, I cannot see the Paul Nicholls charge finishing outside of the places here. Frodon produced an excellent weight-carrying performance late last year at Cheltenham defeating Grand National Favourite Cloth Cap. We can put a line through the Aintree run where 8 fences were missed out due to low sun. The King George winner has the ideal profile to perform well here and I believe the market is underestimating him.

 

3.40 St James Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters Chase

The next race is the Foxhunters which is normally contested by amateur jockeys over the Gold Cup distance. This year due to the restrictions in place the professionals are taking the rides and this leads me onto my selection the classy hunter chaser Billaway (3/1 WIN) who has Paul Townend on board. The selection was second in this race last season and has barely put a foot wrong since winning impressively last time out at Naas. I expect the Willie Mullins trained charge to overturn the form with last year’s winner here.

 

4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

The final race of the festival is the Martin Pipe which is contested over 2m 4f by conditional jockeys. The one I like here is Fire Attack (14/1 E/W) who has ran admirably in novice hurdles over in Ireland so far this season. The Joseph O’Brien trained 6-year-old put in a decent performance behind the highly rated Thedevilscoachman last time out when clattering the last otherwise I believe he would have got closer to the winner. The selection gives the impression he will be suited by the step up in trio and also by a much stronger pace which is likely to be set here.

 

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