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Dave Nevison's Gold Cup day tips: A 50-1 pick after 25-1 winner
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Fri 14 Mar 2025
Dave Nevison takes aim at the handicaps again plus also has a fancy for the JCB Triumph Hurdle as our top tipster shares his best bets for the final day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
1.20 Cheltenham: Lulamba
1.20 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Dave Nevison
Finished: 2ndSP: 11/4
Willie Mullins has made this race his own over the past few years but British-trained runners mount a strong home challenge with East India Dock, and my fancy Lulamba.
Nicky Henderson is no stranger to JCB Triumph Hurdle success and this ex-French gelding has been close to favourite for this race since he won impressively at Ascot on his first, and sole, start in Britain.
He had already won at Auteuil before joining Nicky Henderson and carried a 10lb penalty, but he was backed into odds-on and won impressively in a race that has worked out very well.
Hopefully he will progress further, and he will be tough to beat here if so.
2.00 Cheltenham: Lark In The Mornin
2.00 William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Dave Nevison
Finished: 14thSP: 11/2
Lark In The Mornin did me a favour when landing the Fred Winter at this meeting last year but then disappointed when a shortish price in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock, with no obvious excuses.
However, it very much looks as though a success in the William Hill County Hurdle has been the plan for this season, and the signs definitely looked encouraging last time out.
He was backed into favourite at Leopardstown and was held up too far back, but was picking up well late on, and certainly wasn’t knocked about.
He should be spot on for this and there is nobody better at getting one ready for this meeting than Joseph O’Brien.
5.20 Cheltenham: Act Of Authority and Punctuation
Dave Nevison
Finished: 2ndSP: 28/1
Dave Nevison
Finished: 15thSP: 40/1
Lewis Saunders regularly rides this seven-year-old for Olly Murphy, and has won on him twice already this season plus has ridden him well on each of Act Of Authority’s latest starts, only for a slow pace to find him out.
There certainly won't be a lack of pace in this contest, and this big field could provide the ideal scenario for this strong-travelling type to excel.
He has been beaten off a mark of 134 the last twice, but I think in this type of race, that rating will not be beyond him. This trip might well prove ideal for him, too.
Punctuation looks to be gradually settling in to life at the Nicky Henderson yard and after two decent runs for his new stable, he might be spot on for this, and definitely rates each-way value at 50-1.
He has been a consistent performer on the flat as well as over jumps, and won seven races for Fergal O’Brien, including at this track.
He plugged on well on his latest start at Kempton and the stiffer finish over this trip looks set to suit him better than that flat track.
He will not lack for assistance in the saddle, with the excellent Freddie Mitchell on board.
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