Cheltenham Friday Preview

Much better yesterday with a winner in the first race, backed up by betting correctly on the forecast and having a big priced placed runner as well, was followed by two or three places through the afternoon, before another big winner in race 6 and a nice place in the last.

After two of the worst day’s betting I have had for a while, I enter Friday slightly ahead of where I was on Tuesday morning. It’s a funny old game!

13.30 – Triumph Hurdle

The day kicks off with the Triumph Hurdle, the top race for 4 year old hurdlers. Unfortunately, so of the anticipation has been dampened by the withdrawal of the favourite, Sir Gino. The Henderson stable has some sick horses and it would appear that he is one of them.

In the absence of Sir Gino this looks like Willie Mullins might get back on track after not winning a race yesterday. He saddles 7 of the 12 runners including Kargese, Storm Heart and Majborough who were the 1-2-3 in the Irish equivalent of this race at Leopardstown. Kargese won that day but is the least fancied of the three today. Storm Heart is the one that makes most appeal to me on my data and speed ratings and I will back that one to win, but I will also back the three to provide the first two and the first three as they should not be far apart.

If the British are to maintain Thursday’s dominance, then it could be through Salver and I have backed this one each way. Unbeaten in four starts he looks very solid and is proven under today’s conditions. If the British form ends up being stronger than the Irish then he would look a big price.

14.10 – County Handicap Hurdle

A big field two mile hurdle this will be a fast run affair albeit on ground that should blunt some of the speed!

This is really competitive and I could make a case for many, but you cannot back them all. I ended up with three. I only discounted L’Eau Du Sud, King of Kingsfield, Absurde and So Scottish on the prices. All have very solid chances, but I thought three others had a similar chance and they were bigger odds.

Magical Zoe is my strongest fancy. Very strong under all of today’s conditions, I really like her chances and she is close to maximum each way bet material for me.

Zenta was my next best. It looks like it could be a Willie Mullins day and if so Zenta could be one of them. She is another well proven in the conditions.

Hansard is my last one. He is syndicate owned and it would be great to see a syndicate winner. He came out top on my speed figures and ticked several boxes. He is a decent price and rounds out my bets here.

14.50 – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

I cannot poke any holes in the chances of the favourite, Readin Tommy Wrong and he is probably the most likely winner. At around 2-1 though in a race that often delivers a surprise, he is not one I can back. Gidleigh Park is the big British hope and could be special, but again he was too short in the betting to appeal.

I do like Captain Teague who is solid and proven under conditions and he may improve in a stamina test as he looks a strong stayer. The Jukebox Man who was behind him earlier in the season has a similar profile and both look good each way bets to me.

To cover the Irish form, I will also back High Class Hero and Dancing City each way. Both are less fancied than stablemate Readin Tommy Wrong, but they are better prices and have good form lines and there is no guarantee that they will not prove better than the favourite.

15.30 – Gold Cup

Probably the highest class jumps race of the season and last year’s champ, Galopin Des Champs arrives here as a short priced favourite. He will probably repeat unless he makes a jumping error as despite being beaten by Fastorslow a couple of time, he very much proved he had the beating of that one when at his best last time out. He has beaten most of his Irish rivals and some of the British in this race last season.

He is one of the rare favourites that I will bet on this week as I think he will win and would like to get back some of my stakes on others if he does!

That being said, I have a maximum each way bet in this in Gerri Colombe. He has never been out of the places and if Galopin is below form, he is very capable of picking up the pieces. He and The Real Whacker were two novices from last year that everyone thought could be Gold Cup class and they have made it to the race.

If I like Gerri Colombe, I have to also back The Real Whacker who beat him last season. He has not been as good this term, but the conditions of this will suit him and I think he could bounce back with a big run. I have backed him each way as he is 50-1 and that is just too big for a winner at the Festival last year.

My 4th bet is Bravemansgame. Arguably he is the forgotten horse here but he and Galopin were miles clear of the field jumping the last in last years race and he is certainly capable of making the places again.

Five in the race is probably excessive, but I could not ignore Monkfish at a big price. He will love this ground and it could turn into a slog which would be right up his street. He just looked too big a price to ignore.

16.10 – Hunters Chase

Derek O’Connor has ridden both winners of the amateur riders races and he is on the hot favourite who has already beaten two of these rivals this season. What is not to like? Well the price for me! I don’t like short price bets and his speed figures do not back up the price, so whilst he will probably win, I will look elsewhere.

Ferns Lock is 2nd favourite and looks too short as he was beaten by It’s On The Line this season and looks too short a price given that.

The next three in the market are all each way prices and make some appeal. Premier Magic has good form under all of these conditions and the same could be said for Sine Nomine and Billaway. The latter was close up to the favourite last month and won this in 2022 and the price compensates for this.

Shantou Flyer came out OK on my data but he is 14 and surely cannot still be up to winning this whilst Samcro is a dual festival winner making his debut in this sphere so I cannot resist a small each way bet to go with the three listed above.

16.50 – Mares Chase

I simply cannot see this being won by something outside the top 4 in the market so against my norm, I am going to have to go with short prices.

Dinoblue might well win, but on heavy ground and racing over half a mile further than she has in most races, she looks too short in the market for me. She was unplaced on her only start at this trip and that is enough doubt to put me off.

Limerick Lace looks solid, but I prefer, but I prefer Allegorie De Vassy and she is a better price. I think I will back both but have more on the latter.

I could rule out Riviere D’Etel but her speed ratings are good and I have backed her before so she is a sentimental favourite and I will have a small each way bet to supplement the above two.

17.30 – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

A tricky close to the festival. Gordon Elliott runs seven here in a race he always likes to target.

The one I could not get away from though was Quai De Bourbon for Willie Mullins. He has one of the best riders in this one and making his handicap debut he could be anything and I would want him on my side, so he will be my main bet.

Lower down, I am prepared to forgive Sonigino for his disappointing run last time. The Nicholls runners are in good form and I think he could bounce back.

My third pick is Yeats Star. One of the Elliott seven. He has good form and could well get into the mix. He stays well which could be crucial here on heavy ground.