Cheltenham Festival tips: How To Bet £20 on Gold Cup day

saves its best for last with Gold Cup day and the home of Jump racing could do with a rousing send-off after a week of squelchy ground, Nicky Henderson's travails, no cross-country race and a number of high-profile stars missing out because of ill health or late setbacks.

Those have been out of the course’s control although, inevitably, there will be more discussion about too many horses having too many options, which in turn leads to dilution of the greatest show on turf. Nobody can grumble about that on Friday, though, with a fabulous card featuring more than 100 runners.

With light rain forecast overnight into the morning, testing ground is on the cards for the highlight of the whole week, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. A searching test of stamina won’t be an issue for Galopin Des Champs, the hot favourite, who is much the most likely winner.

He overcame early adversity to win in decisive fashion 12 months ago and raised the bar even higher when a spectacular 23-length winner of the Savills Chase in December.  Any notion that big effort might have left a mark was pretty much dispelled when he put his old adversary, Fastorslow, in his place when retaining his Irish Gold Cup crown last month.

A second Gold Cup success would cap a momentous week for his trainer, Willie Mullins, but there’s not much margin for error in his price – he’s no bigger than 11/10 – and I’ll instead be having an each-way punt on Corach Rambler. His price has shrunk over recent days but Coral still go 18/1.

The Lucinda Russell-trained ten-year-old is 3/3 at Cheltenham and has come alive at this meeting in the past two years, swooping from off the pace to gain gain back-to-back victories in the Ultima – including at the expense of Fastorslow 12 months ago. He subsequently went on to gain a commanding victory in the Grand National when he again showcased all his jumping prowess and stamina.

He’s got it all to do with Galopin Des Champs on official ratings, being rated 20lb inferior, but if the race turns into a slog, which it just might, then the work of the number crunchers might not be worth much. If the race falls apart, then he’s capable of picking up the pieces from off the pace.

There won’t be any hiding places in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, either, and that should play into the hands of The Jukebox Man, who is a general 22/1.

This six-year-old is among Ben Pauling’s team of top novices this season and looks a thorough stayer, winning three times at Ffos Las (where the ground is invariably demanding) and showing what he could do at a higher level when a close third to Captain Teague in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas. 

He looks all stamina and so the step up to 3m seems sure to suit, plus he arrives fresh on the back of a 76-day break. The stable will be on a high after Shakem Up’arry’s superb success in the Plate on Thursday.

I’ll probably have a saver, too, on Gidleigh Park because this strapping gelding  has looked a horse with a big future. He beat The Jukebox Man when they met in a bumper a year ago and, like him, has since progressed well.

The other Grade One card is the JCB Triumph Hurdle and, in the absence of Sir Gino, Willie Mullins is responsible for half of the 14 runners.

His Majborough and Storm Heart head the market but Kargese beat that pair fair and square at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and looks a value punt to confirm her superiority. There's plenty of 13/2 available.

She’s a strong traveller who has done little wrong in France or Ireland. Danny Mullins has ridden in each of her past two starts since her switch to Closutton and retains the ride.

The BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle features any number of likely players. My shortlist quickly became a long list and it was tempting to give the race a complete swerve but I can’t let the classy Pied Piper go unbacked at 11/1 with Sky Bet, who are offering seven places for each-way players. He's 12/1 with those who go six places.

Gordon Elliott’s strong-travelling six-year-old really should have won this race under a big weight last year but a slight peck at the last, coupled with Davy Russell possibly not being at a full fitness (he later gave up some rides), led to him being being beaten a head by Faivor. That horse gave a timely reminder of what he is capable of when looking unlucky not to land the Imperial Cup last weekend.

Pied Piper had finished a close third to Vauban in the Triumph Hurdle 12 months earlier, having previously breezed home on Trials Day, so it’s clear he’s well served by the challenges of Cheltenham.

His efforts last autumn included him finishing runner-up in the Cesarewitch, off a mark of 96, and I like the fact that Danny Gilligan is taking 3lb off his back as every little helps in contests such as this. He’s been off 111 days but this race has no doubt been ringed in his calendar ever since his near-miss last year.

It could be a fabulous day for Gilligan because he also has bright prospects aboard Better Days Ahead in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle. Bet365 make him 10/1.

He went off at the same price for the Champion Bumper last year but the race didn’t pan out for him and finished well beaten.

The six-year-old has taken well to hurdling with his close fourth behind Slade Steel and Lecky Watson in a Grade Two contest at Navan in December now looking better than it did at the time.

Better Days Ahead dropped down to an inadequate 2m at Navan last time and was outspeeded by Asian Master in the closing stages. But he was effectively conceding 15lb to the winner, who gave the form a considerable boost when beaten about five lengths in the Supreme on Tuesday.

Stepping back up to 2m4f seems sure to suit Better Days Ahead and his form in and around Grade One horses suggests an opening mark of 140 in handicap company is lenient.

I’ll probably also have a small bet on Yeats Star, his stablemate. His form has a solid look and I like the fact he’s already proven over further. He looks underestimated in the betting at 20/1.

My other two fancies are Premier Magic, in the hunters’ chase, and Limerick Lace, who contests the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

Premier Magic was a shock 66/1 of the hunters’ chase last year but there was no hint of a fluke and he followed up in runaway style when returning to Cheltenham in May.

Bradley Gibbs, his trainer and jockey, has resisted running him under Rules this winter – instead letting him warm-up with easy point-to-point victories.

Its On The Line stayed on stoutly when chasing him home last year and heads the market. He’s the obvious threat but it’s difficult to comprehend why Premier Magic is trading at 13/2.

Limerick Lace has been a revelation this term and breezed home at Doncaster last time. She stays well, being proven over as far as 3m, and that can help her master Dinoblue, who has done most of her racing over 2m and is burdened with a Grade One penalty.

How To Bet £20 on Day Four of the Cheltenham Festival: 

1.30 Cheltenham: Kargese £2 win at a general 13/2

2.10 Cheltenham: Pied Piper £1.50 each-way at 11/1 with Sky Bet (seven places)

2.50 Cheltenham: The Jukebox Man £1.50 each-way each-way at a general 22/1 (four places)

3.30 Cheltenham: Corach Rambler £2 each-way at 18/1 with Coral (three places)

4.10 Cheltenham: Premier Magic £3 win at a general 13/2

4.50 Cheltenham: Limerick Lace £2 win at 9/2 with Coral and Ladbrokes

5.30 Cheltenham: Better Days Ahead £1 win and £1 each-way at a general 10/1 (five places)

2.10 Cheltenham: Pied Piper  

4.10 Cheltenham: Premier Magic 

4.50 Cheltenham: Limerick Lace 

1.30 Cheltenham: Kargese  

2.50 Cheltenham: The Jukebox Man 

3.30 Cheltenham: Corach Rambler 

5.30 Cheltenham: Better Days Ahead 

LEG 1: Kargese (14) and Storm Heart (12)  

LEG 2: Pied Piper (1) and Zenta (2) 

LEG 3: The Jukebox Man  (15) and Gidleigh Park (6) 

LEG 4: Galopin Des Champs (1) and Corach Rambler (2) 

LEG 5: Premier Magic (6) and Its On The Line (5) 

LEG 6: Limerick Lace (8) and Brides Hill (4)