It has been a fantastic three day of racing and we are looking forward to the Blue Riband of The Festival with the Magners Gold Cup. This looks a very open Gold Cup and a race that has had everyone mulling over the various contenders for hours. I would have been much more in favour of Lost In Translation, if the Tizzard yard were in much better form, however Al Boum Photo has been giving all the right signals and has had the ideal preparation.
Look forward to seeing a massive crowd on Magners Gold Cup day.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.30 The JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m
This will be run at a cracking pace with Goshen my selection vying with Allmankind to take on the lead. Goshen has shown he has a tendency to jump to the right, yet in his three hurdles starts he has trounced his opposition without even always jumping well.
Last time out he at Ascot her beat the very useful Nordano by 11 lengths and that is very good form.
Unibet 11/4 win
2.10 The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle 2m
Embittered turned in his best effort to date when a staying-on sixth under a 7lb claimer at Leopardstown last time and clearly a big field/good pace brings out the best in him. J J Slevin takes over the steering for the Joseph O’Brien yard and the drying ground will suit.
Unibet 22/1 each way.
2.50 The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race 2m 7f
Thyme Hill was just over 2l behind Envoi Allen in last year’s Champion Bumper but was doing all his best work at the finish and it was always on the cards he’d be best stepping up in trip. Something of a forgotten horse, he’s already got a defeat of Tolworth winner Fiddlerontheroof under his belt and has plenty of Cheltenham experience too, winning here in November. The drying ground looks sure to suit and he can defy the big priced outsiders tag in the Albert Bartlett.
Unibet 4/1 win
3.30 The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup 3m 2f
Al Boum Photo can do what many have failed to do by retaining his Magners Gold Cup crown. He has the same preparation as last year with his one prep race as last season, winning comfortably at Tramore when easily beating Acapella Bourgeois by six lengths ridden hands and heels. Al Boum Photo has a racecourse gallop since, and Willie Mullins has been back in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham with Min on Thursday.
Unibet 4/1 win
Monalee for the Henry De Bromhead team looks the each-way play, given he was only a head behind Delta Work at Leopardstown and looks like he’ll stay this trip well. Fourth in last year’s JLT, he will be doing all his best work at the finish.
Unibet 25/1 each way
4.10 The St James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 3m 2f
Hazel Hill saved my Friday last year at The Festival and I’m looking forward to seeing her win here once again
Hazel Hill came second to one of her key rivals Minella Rocco at Wetherby at the start of February when a short-priced favourite. However there with excuses that day, as her rider felt she wasn’t right and trainer Philip Rowley has stated that she will be A1 this afternoon.
She had looked as good as ever at Sheriff Hutton before that and that is the way to judge her.
Unibet 5/1 win
4.50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m
Capeland with Byrony Frost in the plate is a bit of a forgotten horse and has a good each-way chance. He will like the ground conditions here much more than the heavy ground when he wasn’t effective last time out. Capeland looked very useful at Ascot in November and the quicker they go up front (and there’s plenty of pace on) the better his chance late.
Unibet 22/1 each way
5.30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
Indefatigable was fifth in the Mares’ Novice last year, doing all her good work late on. She’s been better still stepped up to two and a half miles this year and ran a personal best at Warwick on her latest start in February, giving a penalty away to some decent sorts. She won at Cheltenham last April and was second to the talented Dame De CompagnIe (winner on Wednesday) at Prestbury in December.
Unibet 40/1 each way
