As we trot into day four of Cheltenham, here are Shea’s tips…
13:20
Best Bet (Win): Minella Study @ 7.00
Outsider (E/W): Macho Man @ 10.00
14:00
Best Bet (Win): Karbau @ 6.50
Outsider (E/W): Tellherthename @ 15.00
14:40
Best Bet (Win): Dinoblue @ 2.50
Outsider (E/W): Only By Night @ 8.00
15:20
Best Bet (Win): Thedeviluno @ 5.00
Outsider (E/W): King’s Bucks @ 21.00
16:00
Best Bet (Win): Gaelic Warrior @ 4.50
Outsider (E/W): Haiti Couleurs @ 6.50
16:40
Best Bet (Win): Con’s Roc @ 8.50
Outsider (E/W): Willitgoahead @ 15.00
17:20
Best Bet (Win): Wendrock @ 11.00
Outsider (E/W): East India Express @ 11.00
Pace Forecast: Even
Pace Insight: With the tempo unlikely to be particularly strong, this scenario could favour HAITI COULEURS (FR) ahead of INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (IRE)
Price Insight: GAELIC WARRIOR (GER) is expected to race prominently, but despite a pace setup that should suit, the horse has previously been beaten after trading significantly shorter than its Betfair Starting Price.
Day four of the Cheltenham Festival marks the thrilling finale of the week, with Gold Cup Day producing some of the most iconic moments in jump racing.
With highly competitive fields, powerful British and Irish teams, and several wide-open betting markets, the final day consistently delivers excitement. With rain in the forecast, brollies will be out for a busy day of racing that begins at 13:20.
Triumph Hurdle – 13:20
The opening race of the final day is the Triumph Hurdle. The race is two miles long on the New Course and has a history of producing future stars in the racing world.
This year is no different – Proactif leads the betting at the time of writing and has produced strong performances throughout the season. The one to beat.
County Hurdle – 14:00
The County Hurdle once again looks like the trickiest handicap of the Festival. Despite the field being slightly smaller than recent years, it poses a challenge to those racing.
Karbau and Murcia, both trained by Willie Mullins look to be the favourites and given the recent history of the race it looks like Mullins success will continue in the County Hurdle.
Mares Chase – 14:40
The first Mares Chase was only five years ago, introduced to Cheltenham Festival in 2021. The race shows regular patterns with all five past winners being trained in Ireland, Willie Mullins training three.
Dinoblue won by eight and a half lengths last year, whilst finishing second the year before. She returns this year looking to defend her crown with odds at 2/1.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 15:20
Often one of the toughest races of the four days, it was Jasmin De Vaux who secured the win for Willie Mullins last year, giving the trainer success in the race he was worked most strongly towards in recent years.
There is no surprise it’s Mullins’ Doctor Steinberg as the market’s favourite, heading into the race on the back of an impressive run of form.
Gold Cup – 16:00
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the race that every owner, trainer, and jockey dreams of winning. It is the blue riband of jump racing and the showpiece event on the final day of the Festival. Staged over three miles and two and a half furlongs, it tests a horse’s class, stamina and jumping ability from start to finish.
Much of the attention will be on The Jukebox Man. Not only has he produced the form to be a serious contender, but he is also owned by Harry Redknapp, which would make him one of the most popular winners of the week. Trained by Ben Pauling, he has already proven he can compete at the highest level and heads into the race as one of the leading challengers for jump racing’s biggest prize.
As Neil Warnock once said: “By all means enjoy it but enjoy it by being disciplined”.
