Galopin Des Champs can become only the fifth 3-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and at Unibet 8/15 he looks unopposable. He will get all the plaudits he so thoroughly deserves and keep his unbeaten record over fences.
Inothewayurthinkin is my main each way selection see below and I’m having a small each way bet on Ahoy Senor at Unibet 40/1 as the yard are in flying form and if he is on a going day.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.
See you there!
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1 (2m 1f)
East India Dock is a remarkable price given he’s got the best form in the race, is proven at Cheltenham, seems happy on both good and soft ground, is a classy Flat performer, and has the time figures to back up the visuals. There’s quite simply no negative side to him, and yet he’s still 2-1 and bigger. Make the bookies pay for their insolence!
2:00 County Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Pinot Gris is overlooked in the market on the back of a game front-running performance at Leopardstown over the Christmas period when just pipped near the line by Enniskerry after looking like the winner at the last in a 19-runner Handicap Hurdle. On his previous appearance, he cruised up in a Novice Hurdle at Naas when never having to come out of third gear to score his second victory over hurdles on good to yielding. This five-year-old dual-purpose performer has clearly been laid out for the County Hurdle, will handle the conditions and has the right attitude to run well in a race where 20-1 and above runners have won five of the last ten renewals.
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 (3m)
Jet Blue is a French raider with serious claims having won over course and distance here in December in his most recent performance. That was a progressive performance, and this classy type has finished in the first three in twelve of his fifteen career starts.
Wendigo was originally marked up in my Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post selections at 20/1. He easily won at odds of 1/11 on at Wetherby last month and this strong travelling type looked in fine order ahead of this race. On his previous start he finished second at 25/1 to the very smart New Lion, winner of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December over 2m 4½f when looking outpaced at one point and then headway from two out to stay on well up the run-in, highlighting his potential. He can a big race in a very competitive renewal of the Albert Bartlett.
Derryhassen Paddy is an interesting contender, and it’s worth reiterating that, for his Windsor win last time, he was the outsider of the five on initial shows but went off the 2-1 favourite. He showed a tremendous attitude to get back up and beat Honky Tonk Highway that day once the latter had taken the lead off of him at the last, and whilst that form needs improvement here, he has lots of potential.
4.00 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Grade 1 (3m 2½f)
Inothewayurthinkin has been supplemented and ran well to finish fourth behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival. He will step up again and chase the favourite home.
5.20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 4½f)
No Ordinary Joe (nap) was a very respectable seventh in the Martin Pipe last year and second to Iroko in 2023. He has only raced three times this season, but it was a much better effort at Warwick last time, despite not looking entirely fit. He was close enough two out to throw down a challenge but was not given a hard ride by Callum Pritchard, who nudged him along to stay on after the last, beaten just a shade over two lengths in fourth.
The handicapper left him alone for that, meaning a mark of 138 will be 2 lb lower than last year, and he has to be in the mix.
Please remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safer Gambling section for more information, help and advice.
