Cheltenham preview: Gold Cup day
It had been an opening two days to remember for punters at Cheltenham but the bookmakers cleaned them out again on the meeting’s St. Patrick’s Day yesterday – Gold Cup day might be better for bettors.
Friday marks the pinnacle of jumps racing with the Gold Cup itself at 15:30 and there has been serious market support for A Plus Tard. All the each-way value in the reigning champion slipped away yesterday afternoon indicating that connections were confident of a good run despite the horse having not been seen under rules since November when he was pulled up in the Betfair Chase.
Galopin Des Champs’ fall when 10 lengths clear of Bob Ollinger in last year’s Novice Chase is a concern although the horse had been priced at a little longer than 6/4 since before Christmas so clearly connections were confident. The charge for A Plus Tard saw him touch 2/1 at one stage yesterday afternoon but has since settled back down to a slightly wider-than-before 13/8.
Last year’s runner-up and 2020 champion Minella Indo looks excellent value at 20/1 on a track and ground he will relish.
If A Plus Tard wins, however, punters will be kicking themselves silly with hindsight due to his emphatic 15-length victory in 2022. Of the top three in the market, he has the least to prove and a lack of recent runs may be countered by the fact that he usually goes well fresh.
Hunches
13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle
It is well-documented that Lossiemouth was hard done by when beaten three lengths in Leopardstown last time out and should go well today. The eye-catching four-year-old grey filly is a potential superstar in the making and could be favourite for a Mare’s Hurdle before too long. Blood Destiny is a more attractive price too and is surely set to make it a Mullins 1-2 in this after an emphatic 18-length victory last time out.
14:10 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
Top weight Sharjah is a wide price considering his talent but with 12 stone aboard this is a tough ask even for him. Gin Coco looks well-weighted but even wider out is Faivoir who is preferred. There is no telling whether this enigmatic 8-year-old will have his act together this afternoon but with wins at Cheltenham previously and a light weight in combination with an excellent trainer-jockey behind him, at 33/1 he is well worth trying.
14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Three Card Brag looks a good bet for the McNeil’s but is drifting in the market while Corbetts Cross remains solid. Value can surely be found lower down the market given that since the race’s inception in 2005, there have only been three victors with a shorter SP than 5/1. A small play on Dawn Rising appeals given his form in Ireland.
15:30 Boodles Gold Cup
This looks like a Gold Cup for the ages. There is enormous strength in depth. They often go a gallop in the Gold Cup but an obvious frontrunner isn’t easy to spot here – Sounds Russian and Ahoy Senor may cut it out but neither seems likely winner. While the odds may still be in Galopin Des Champs’ favour he is still unproven at this level. A Plus Tard, however, has been here and done it all before and would represent Blackmore’s second-most romantic of the week after Honeysuckle on Tuesday. A Plus Tard’s turn of foot suits the climb better than King George winner Bravmansgame’s although Paul Nicholl’s horse looks a fair price – he may struggle with today’s ground, however. As mentioned earlier, Minella Indo at 20/1 looks a fantastic price for a small play and a bit of fun.
16:10 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
Vaucelet’s market favouritism is well justified but this is a very open race. Billaway and The Storyteller look like more attractive bets.
16:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
It looks like a tussle for the punters again as Impervious looks best set to outgun Valorie De Gassy here. Neither horse has lost this season but J P McManus looks set to land him a third Festival win this week and a first for Colm Murphy.
17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Frankly, any of these stand a chance. Molly Ollys Wishes appeals but has lost some of her swagger. She was well beaten by Gold Tweet on trials day and has never won a race against males so will have plenty to do. Paul Nicholls’ Irish Hill is selected on form and weight.
