Alan Thomson's Tips: Cheltenham Day Four

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DAY three proved the toughest so far with a 4-7 winner in Laurina and 6-1 place with Supasundae finishing second.

On to the final today and here's hoping we can all finish with a flourish.

JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30)

The vibes have been strong for Apple’s Shakira and the ex-French filly is unbeaten in three starts for Nicky Henderson, all at Cheltenham on soft ground. Her 7lb sex allowance could tip the scales. French imports are 5/7 in this race and Henderson is seeking his seventh success in this four-year-old contest.

Willie Mullins fields a strong team, which complicated matters, but so-unlucky Ruby Walsh was jocked-up on the other filly Stormy Ireland, a winner by no less than 58 lengths at Fairyhouse.

Mr Adjudicator was only modest on the Flat but has won both starts for Mullins at Leopardstown.

Alan King is bullish about Redicean after his win in the Adonis Hurdle and the trainer has won it twice, with Katchit and Penzance. Redicean has to concede weight to Apple’s Shakira and Stormy Ireland, which is no easy task.

Recommended bet

APPLE’S SHAKIRA
(6-4, Betbright)

Randox Health County Hurdle (2.10)

Bleu Et Rouge will find life tough under top weight but the form of his second to Kalashnikov in the Betfair Hurdle looks bomb-proof. Willie Mullins’s runner was attempting almost the impossible trying to concede the winner 5lb and Bleu Et Rouge holds Spiritofthegames (third) and Remiluc (fifth).

Remiluc should get a lot closer, as he was slightly hampered by a loose horse at Newbury, and he fairly sluiced through the mud here in January when handing out a two lengths beating to Huntsman Son.

Mullins fields four other runners with live chances and, like Wednesday’s Bumper, it causes punters a lot of head-scratching.

Lagostovegas, third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, made a pleasing return to hurdles when third to Forge Meadow at Gowran Park, while lightly-raced Sandsend had a neck to spare over Forge Meadow at Naas at the end of January. Ruby Walsh was down to ride the mare Meri Devie, winner of a Listed race at Punchestown last month. It’s all a bit of a conundrum, but Bleu Et Rouge sets a fairly high standard.

Recommended bet

BLEU ET ROUGE e/w
(17-2, Betbright)

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.50)

Often it’s the survival of the fitness in this event, with the emphasis on courage as much as speed, and Santini and Chef Des Obeaux are two of many that fit the bill.

Santini needed every yard of the 2m 4f trip before wearing down Black Op here 48 days ago and he proved more than four lengths superior to Chef Des Obeaux when they clashed at Newbury on the first day of December. Chef Des Obeaux has since proved himself a real mud-lark by scoring at Uttoxeter, Kempton and Haydock.

Only a short head separated Poetic Rhythm and Mulcahys Hill in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in late December when the ground was riding heavy.

Chris’s Dream scored by more than 60 lengths at Clonmel on his first start for Henry De Bromhead and could be anything.

Recommended bet

SANTINI
(7-2, Betbright)

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30)

Might Bite has questions to answer on very deep ground but the King George winner may not have realised his full potential. He jumped supremely well at Kempton on Boxing Day and was idling all the way up the straight. Nico de Boinville won’t want to commit for home too soon under these conditions but Might Bite is very exciting.

Native River jumps and gallops on this testing ground and could hit the Gold Cup frame once again.

It has been another huge festival for the Irish and Road To Respect, winner of last year’s Plate, is another young horse with bags of potential. His victory over yesterday’s strong-travelling Ryanair victor Balko Des Flos at Leopardstown’s big Christmas fixture was clearly out of the top drawer.

Our Duke’s game victory from Presenting Percy over a shorter trip at Gowran Park has been made to look very good but he has ground to make up on Killultagh Vic, Edwulf, Outlander and Djarkadam on their running in the Irish Gold Cup.

Recommended bet

MIGHT BITE
(9-2, Betbright)

St James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup (4.10)

The ground may have gone against last year’s unlucky runner-up Wonderful Charm and that opens the door for Burning Ambition and Foxrock to fight out the finish.

A multiple point winner in Ireland, Burning Ambition duly hacked up in a maiden hunter chase at Limerck before running top hunter Gilgamboa fairly close at Punchestown.

Foxrock rattled off four straight victories for Ted Walsh between December and March last season and the ten-year-old made a pleasing debut for new trainer Alan Fleming when chasing home Gilgamboa at Thurles in January. That was his first start in 279 days, so he should strip a good deal sharper.

Useful grey Unioniste, a wide-margin scorer at Fontwell and Wincanton for Paul Nicholls, could be best of the home contingent.

Recommended bet

FOXROCK e/w
(13-2, Betbright)

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (4.50)

It usually pays to concentrate on the major stables. Mullins, Elliott and Nicholls have won six of the last seven renewals and have had 20 placed horses in this race.

Nicky Henderson falls into the major stables category and Diese Des Bieffes has the services of James Bowen. Diese Des Bieffes looks well treated on his fifth to stablemate William Henry in the Lanzarote Hurdle when sent off favourite and fourth home Topofthegame went agonisingly close in Wednesday’s Coral Cup.

Flawless Escape’s third to Total Recall at Leopardstown was a solid effort, finishing a short head in front of yesterday’s big handicap winner Delta Work. It’s not hard to envisage Flawless Escape being bang there at the last flight.

Elliott has another string to his bow in the sparsely-raced Sire de Berlais, a good second at Fairyhouse last month. It would be folly to ignore Gigginstown’s top weight Blow By Blow given their amazing form.

Carter Mackay represents the Mullins yard and is open to more improvement given a strong end-to-end gallop.

Recommended bet

DIESE DES BIEFFES
(7-1, Betbright)

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (5.30)

Rock The World took this last year, with Theinval third, and need consideration, but at bigger odds Bouvreuil has a real each-way shout on old festival form. He was third to Road To respect in last year’s Plate; split Ballyalton and Double Shuffle in the Close Brother Novices’ Handicap Chase the previous year and found only Qualando too good in the 2015 Fred Winter Juvenile. The drop to 2m is a concern but he is 3lb lower than last year in a weaker contest.

North Hill Harvey beat River Wylde 18 lengths here at the big November meeting, having edged out Sceau Royal by a neck at Cheltenham the previous month. He beat Modus in the 2016 Greatwood Hurdle, again at Prestbury Park, and Dan Skelton fits cheek-pieces for the first time.

Don’t Touch It has a bit of class having beaten Petit Mouchoir, Brain Power, Yorkhill and Charbel over hurdles, while Dolos should also be involved for Paul Nicholls.