Cheltenham Day 4 – Once more unto the breach, dear friends!

What a performance from Vautour. A very very impressive demolition job in the opener adds another string to Willie Mullins’ bow for next year’s staying chases. He really was awesome.

That aside it was a day for the bookies, most certainly.

As I mentioned, I hope you kept it tight! A few each way bob back on Grand Vision doesn’t give me much to talk about, so without further ado, I’ll drive on!

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle: Nicky Henderson hit the target for the first time this year on Day 3. Whilst it’s taken him a while to get off the mark he’s got a strong record in this race, winning it 5 times. I’m hoping the pick of his lot, Peace and Co can go well. I was very taken after Doncaster, as were most people, and I think he should hold off the rest.

14:05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle: Obviously, Richard Newland’s Ebony Express is hunting for the bonus after winning the Imperial Cup at Sandown last weekend and is most likely very well handicapped. However, the one I like here is Cheltenian. A winner of the Champion Bumper a few years ago, and by all accounts a new horse after a wind op. Carries plenty of weight, but I still fancy his each way chance at around 14/1.

14:40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Taking on Willie Mullins horses at the head of the market hasn’t paid off this week, but I’m nothing if not consistent, so I’ve overlooked Black Hercules here. The one for me is No More Heroes for Gordon Elliot and Gigginstown. I’d be willing to forgim him his last run.

15:20 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase: A real open Gold Cup. Opinions are divided which bodes well for bookies, if they can shake off some of their antepost liabilities on Silviniaco Conti. Personally, I feel the Nicholls horse has improved a fair share this year but a flat track looks the key to him. Maybe I sound like an old parrot regurgitating the views of the crabs in the press but I do genuinely feel he’s a flat track horse. It’ll be a great race, gan dabht, with the contenders in this category looking to be very well grouped on ability. I could go on forever talking about each one, but I’ll cut to the chase. The one I like is Road to Riches. This lad was a good winner of the Lexus and has answered pretty much every question asked of him since Galway bar a slight blip over an inadequate trip at Gowran. He’s a big price and should go very close indeed.

16:00 St. James’s Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup: Having a share in Prince de Beauchene has been a nice excuse to keep a very close eye on the Hunter Chase sphere this season. I honestly think that the best Hunter Chase run in the world, yes the world, this year was the Raymond Smith Memorial at Leopardstown on Hennessy day. Our fella won by ¾ of a length from On the Fringe, who coincidentally was backed like defeat was out of the question suggesting he was 100% on the day and wont improve too much. The eye catching run was Salsify. Mad fresh, he jumped and travelled well out of his comfort zone pulling his way to the front as they passed the stands first time. He ran extremely well and was upsides jumping the second last. He blew up at the last and was cosied into 4^th with only one backhander administered by Coleman Sweeny as our lad went on. I really think he will improve no end for that after some 18 months off the track. I don’t buy the Paint the Clouds hype just yet. If I may, I’ll quote myself from 2013 on Salsify; “…the Irish Hunter Chasers are in a class of their own and this lad is the valedictorian. Owned by the Mother, trained by the Father, ridden by the Son there will be scenes of jubilation if he can come home in front.”

16:40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: Tricky. I’ll be backing two against the field. Michael Cowley takes the ride on a horse for Jonjo by the name of Forthefunofit, who is talented, and won well enough at Huntingdon the last day. I’d have a little each way nibble on him and on McKinley who is very well handicapped in my eyes.

17:15 A.P. McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase: Well, it’ll be the last time you’ll see AP McCoy in the saddle at a Cheltenham Festival. The name of the race has been changed as a tip of the cap to the perpetual Champion Jockey. He rides Ned Buntline, who is the market leader at the moment. I might just back it in cash and keep the bet slip for posterity. But there’s no such thing as a fairy tale is there??!! Mount Colah could go well at a big each way prize, but all eyes will be on the champ.

So that’s it for the 2015 Cheltenham festival, folks.

Hopefully we can come out on top!

Slán tamaillín,

T