THE FINAL day of the Cheltenham Festival and Al Boum Photo has an excellent chance of winning his third Cheltenham Gold Cup in a strong renewal. There is no doubt that Champ comes to the race in great form for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, having looked really impressive in the Game Spirit at Newbury, when jumping really well. A Plus Tard has been much talked about and yet you wonder if he will really stay on strongly enough up the hill.
The Triumph Hurdle looks a cracking renewal and I’m looking forward to the typically competitive handicaps too.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.20 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1f
Tritronic rated 99 on the flat has the speed, also stays and has plenty of class as he showed at Kempton last time out when looking really visually impressive on his second career appearance over hurdles. On that occasion he beat Casa Loupi by ten lengths, having beaten the same rival by only a length on debut. He also gave the impression there is so much improvement to come and he really could be back at The Festival in the Unibet Champion Hurdle next year. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 9/4 win NRNB
1.55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
Ganapathi for Willie Mullins was a good second to highly progressive Dreal Deal at Punchestown in the Moscow Flyer when looking like the winner coming to the last. Then at the Dublin Racing Festival he appeared to be travelling as well as anything in that race before not getting home over two miles six furlongs, when finishing fifth to Gaillard du Mesnil (second to Bob Olinger in the Ballymore) . Nevertheless, he caught the eye in a major way and the end-to-end gallop of the County Hurdle will suit him over this shorter trip. Ganapathi’s opening handicap mark of 140 looks favourable too. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 11/2 each way NRNB
Fifty Ball for the Gary Moore team was marked up in my Long Shots piece last month when he had entries in several races, including the Ballymore and Martin Pipe over longer trips. He has showed how effective he is at around two miles with his wins at Ascot and Sandown, followed by a good second to Soaring Glory at Newbury. Fifty Ball gave every indication at Newbury that he has plenty of improvement to come and he is certainly ground versatile too. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 11/1 each way NRNB
2.30 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m
Torygraph has really thrived since stepping up in trip, winning comfortably at Fairyhouse in December and then following up in good style at Thurles, when going away nicely at the finish. This very much looks like this race has been the plan and you can really see Torygraph finishing strongly up the hill in determined style. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 5/1 win NRNB
Pats Fancy is worth a small each wager in a race which has seen some big priced winners in recent years and this is certainly not a strong renewal. Ignore his last run behind The Cob (runs today) in truly testing conditions at Doncaster when never going a yard. Instead, look at his second here over this trip in December when staying on behind Make Good. Note that Rachael Blackmore takes the ride for Rebecca Curtis. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 40/1 each way NRNB
3.05 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2½f
Al Boum Photo (nap) has a great chance of taking his third Gold Cup, which has been overlooked by many and whilst many of his rivals have continued to blot their copybooks
throughout the season Al Boum Photo is the one to beat.
Al Boum Photo has followed his usual preparation and once again showed his wellbeing when winning at Tramore on New Year’s Day, beating Acapella Bourgeois by three times the distance that he did in 2019.
I tipped Al Boum Photo in my Unibet column for last year’s Gold Cup and believe he will strike again for the Willie Mullins team. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 5/2 win NRNB
4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
Leoncavallo might not fit the age profile of recent winners as a nine-year-old, however he has plenty going for him, is ground versatile and looks a good each way shout for the inform David Pipe yard. He was due to run in the Imperial Cup last Saturday at Sandown, unfortunately traffic problems meant he had to be withdrawn. Leoncavallo certainly goes well fresh, and he ran really well in the Cesarewitch last October when last seen. His last start over jumps was a winning one, when easily beating Oscar Rose at Stratford last July. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 20/1 each way NRNB
Whatsupwithyou looks overpriced and had two good runs at Cheltenham last autumn, including when second to Stimulating Song at the November over a furlong further. He was committed plenty early enough that day and on his only start since at Kempton, he was fifth to Monte Cristo, when his yard were going through a quiet period. There is every chance of improvement here on his return to Cheltenham and ground conditions will suit. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.
Unibet 40/1 each way NRNB
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