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GOLD Cup day. The pinnacle of the national hunt season for many and I’m no different. This year’s race has seen a few big names drop out but we’re still left with a fascinating prospect. The rest of the card has plenty of intriguing races too and I’m keen on a few for Friday.
Triumph Hurdle
A race exclusively for four-year-old novice hurdlers so the form isn’t particularly deep and you need to bear in mind that some horses can improve significantly between races at this age. The two who have been prominent in the betting all season are Defi De Seuil and Charli Parcs.
The former is unbeaten over hurdles, looks like a classy horse and is a worthy favourite but favourites don’t have a great record in the race and I’m not sure he has beaten much in his runs so far. Charli Parcs fell last time out when it looked like he would lose anyway and despite that defeat he is still shorter in the market than the horse who won that day MASTER BLUEYES. He really quickened away at the finish and looked a classy animal and is still available at an each way price. He looks the safest option to me.
Two of the Irish contenders are also of interest in the shape of Mega Fortune and Dinaria Des Obeaux. The former might be best on softer ground and I think his form doesn’t quite justify his price. The latter is quite a big price but her form isn’t quite top quality and the fact that she has clattered a couple of hurdles late on in her races would be a concern – there is little scope for hurdling errors in a race like this. I have stopped short of tipping either of them despite initial interest.
Recommendation
- 1 pt e/w Master Blueyes – 6/1 NRNB with 10Bet
County Hurdle
Fiercely competitive stuff this handicap hurdle and there is a fair bit of luck in running needed given the short distance and the number of runners who bunch up round the bends.
The classy Arctic Fire will carry top weight if he turns up and there are a few other horses with cracking form in the shape of Modus, Diego Du Charmil (won the Fred Winter for us last year) and North Hill Harvey (unlucky not to finish closer in last year’s Champion Hurdle). I don’t have a strong selection at the moment and will revisit in my daily guide for Friday when the jockey bookings are confirmed and we know who definitely goes for the race.
Recommendation
- No bet
Albert Bartlett
A tricky one this and I haven’t picked the winner since the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze back in 2012. Willie Mullins, despite his plethora of winning novice hurdlers, has never won the race so that would be a black mark against his name for the race.
The favourite is DEATH DUTY and despite favourites not having a great record I am very interested in this lad. He is unbeaten over hurdles and trainer Gordon Elliott is very keen on him so he is my idea of the winner. His previous form has suggested that he will relish this test and has the touch of class that is needed.
Recommendation
- 2 pt win – Death Duty – 2/1 NRNB with 10Bet
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is absolutely wide open as far as I’m concerned. Is Cue Card too old? Will he get up the hill? Can Djakadam come back and win it at the third time of asking? Is Native River as good as connections think and as good as his wins in the Hennessy and Welsh National suggest? Is there an outsider waiting to spring a surprise? A full review from me will follow in Friday’s daily guide. In the meantime I’m keeping my powder dry.
Recommendation
- No bet… yet
Foxhunters Chase
I said it last year and I find myself saying it again – ON THE FRINGE wins this. Despite his age (12 years old now), his return at Leopardstown in January was as good as he has ever looked at that stage of the season and he always peaks in the Spring. He has always been far too good for the Foxhunting level but he gives JP McManus a nice chance of a festival winner each season and it’s no different this time.
Wonderful Charm holds plenty of appeal as an alternative but it’s no guarantee that the distance of this race will suit and the other alternatives don’t look like they will have the class if On The Fringe turns up and does his thing. Get him in your accumulators, sit back and enjoy.
Recommendation
- 3 pt win – On The Fringe – 11/8 NRNB with 10Bet
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
The ‘boys race’ as some of the less PC folk call it, this one is for apprentice ‘boys’… and girls… and gives the younger jockeys a chance to shine at the festival. It is usually run at an absolutely frantic pace so you need a horse who can jump the hurdles as slickly as possible and then stay all the way up the hill. Those that go haring off at the start tend to be picked off at the end.
One that I think might fit the bill at a big price is CATAMARAN DU SEUIL. His handicap mark has benefited from a flop at Wetherby sandwiched between two easy wins at Wincanton and Carlisle. He looks the sort who could be miles ahead of the handicapper and if he goes for this race (entered elsewhere too) he might be able to sit out the back and pick them off coming up the hill.
Recommendation
- 1 pt e/w – Catamaran Du Seuil – 25/1 NRNB with 10Bet
Grand Annual Handicap Chase
This is the ‘get out’ stakes – the last race of the festival run over 2 miles and it’s always a fiercely competitive chase. If you do one thing this week please don’t give all your cash back to the bookies in this last race. Stick to a staking plan and hopefully we end up ahead. I’ve not got anything of particular interest for the race at the moment but check back on Friday for the daily guide and I might have a bit of value for us then.
Recommendation
- No bet
