It’s the final day of the Cheltenham Festival and racing immortality awaits for the mighty Galopin Des Champs who goes in search of his third consecutive Gold Cup. All lovers of the sport will be hoping everything goes to plan for Willie Mullins’ stable star and that history will be written this afternoon.
He’ll have eight rivals and good to soft ground to cope with when the tapes go up for the Gold Cup at 4.00pm, but a much bigger filed goes to post in the opener - the Triumph Hurdle.
TRIUMPH HURDLE
This looks a throwback to some of the older renewals of the big championship races for juveniles, when luck in running played such a big part. The picture is complicated further by the fact that Willie Mullins runs 11, three of whom have never run over hurdles before.
The safest option looks to be EAST INDIA DOCK, who has the best form coming into the race and is proven at the track. His yard is in flying form, too.
He may have most to fear from another British runner, Lulamba, but with bookies paying extra places on the race, there are a couple at bigger prices look worth a second look.
The first is MONDO MAN who was the best of these on the flat and seems to be getting the hang of the jumping game after two runs (the first of which was behind Lulamba).
The other is WILLIE DE HOUELLE, who can put his experience to good use. He looks a strong stayer and could nick a place up the hill.
COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE
An unusually small field goes to post for the County Hurdle at 2.00pm.
It is a race that has been dominated by Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton in recent seasons, and both have serious chances again this year. Ethical Diamond could be pick of the Mullins’ runners, but preference is for VALGRAND who should be suited by dropping back in trip on ground that really suits him. He has been freshened up for this and has course form from earlier in the season.
Another with course form is LARK IN THE MORNING, who won the Fred Winter at last season’s Festival on heavy ground that wasn’t expected to suit him. He can improve again on a sounder surface and looks to have been laid out for this.
IRISH PANTHER looks the best of those at bigger prices as he seems to be improving for his new yard.
MARES’ CHASE
The Mares' Chase is up next and the lineup is dominated by Cromwell and Mullins runners.
The expectation is that the underfoot conditions could really suit BRIDES HILL and she is taken to return to winning ways here
ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE
The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle often throws up surprise winners and another shock could be on the cards here.
Stamina is obviously key and this extended trip has always looked likely to suit a couple of Willie Mullin’s runners - ARGENTO BOY and SOUNDS VICTORIOUS.
Hailing from a smaller yard means that YELLOW CAR may have been underestimated in the market. He is improving fast and is a proven stayer having won a decent race at Doncaster last time out.
He might be the pick of the outsiders, with some bookmakers offering five places.
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
It is the big one at 4.00pm and Galopin Des Champs is clearly the best horse in the race and deserves to win this. He is arguably the best Irish staying chaser since Arkle and can match that great horse’s three Cheltenham Gold Cups this afternoon.
He makes little appeal as a betting prospect, however, and with nine runners set to go to post there are some attractive each way options.
Top of the list is MONTY’S STAR who has had his season geared towards today. Expect him to run his best race of the campaign so far and with his yard in great form he can give the favourite most to do.
His run in last season’s Brown Advisory behind Fact A File looks an even stronger piece of form after that horse took the Ryanair in such thrilling style yesterday.
The drying ground should suit BANBRIDGE and The Real Whacker and both can go well. The former is less exposed at the trip and has the greater potential to cause an upset.
HUNTERS’ CHASE
We go from top class to tally-ho with the Festival Hunters' Chase.
Top of our list is MUSIC DRIVE, a horse with some decent Cheltenham form as novice hurdler for Gordon Elliott two seasons ago. Tuned up with two convincing wins in point to points to peak for today, he looks a very interesting contender here.
Another worth a bet is SHEARER for Paul Nicholls, who lines up here having been a very useful campaigner under rules, including some good efforts as a hurdler here at Cheltenham.
He’s won both starts as a Hunter convincingly this season, and with his trainer sure to have him ready for a big run with his daughter on board, he looks a decent play here at a double figure price.
Gina Andrews has a tremendous record in this sphere, and her FAIRLY FAMOUS also looks one to have on our side here.
Two point wins this season show he’s in good heart, but it’s his two course victories in Hunter Chases over this sort of distance that really take the eye - he looks sure to go well with stamina and jumping assured.
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE
The Martin Pipe Hurdle looks as compelooks as competitive a contest as ever, and with some of the superstars of the game having won this in the past, this is sure to be a really hot contest again this year.
We like the chances of TOPONTHEGO, a horse who looks to have been campaigned with one eye on this race all season by his shrewd trainer.
Two recent runs over two miles has got him into this off a nice racing weight, and this step up back to two and a half looks sure to bring out some improvement.
Another worth a bet is the Nicky Henderson trained PUNCTUATION, who looked ready to come back to his best after a recent stable switch when running a promising race last time.
A winner of a big field handicap like this one at Aintree two seasons ago, he’s the type to run well here at a nice each way price.
Finally, don't forget that you can still get Cheltenham free bets for today's Festival races.