Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Gold Cup Day

mailburner

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo, Class 1, 2m 179y, 15 runners)

14:10 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m 179y, 26 runners)

14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 7f 213y, 20 runners)

15:30 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 3m 2f 70y, 10 runners

16:10 St. James's Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (5yo+, Class 2, 3m 2f 70y, 24 runners)

16:50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (4yo+, Class 2, 2m 4f 56y, 24 runners)

17:30 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3 Handicap) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m 62y, 24 runners)


Do yer worst...for anyone looking to get out of jail here, not sure what to say..mission near impossible

carq

Lots of muggy races here , don't have a huge opinion on any of them!

Gold cup I am tempted by cue card but he needs to overcome the stat of a horse of his age never winning (gaultstats.com)

The two dons I am ambivalent about, but heard riccis comments after vataours performance must give djackadam a big chance

Will be glad for some direction on some of the lower races - surely Elliot is due a few ?

ShaneU

Got good word for Blue Hell in the second race, get on.

uxiant

King George form given another massive boost today. Cue Card will be tough to beat.

clever user name

Complete minefield. Nothing else to be said :pac:

Will probably end up going for Djackadam, but Cue Card has won me a good few quid in the past...as has Paint the Clouds.

May stick to a placepot tomorrow.

mailburner

plan was djak after vautour coming out but cant back it at 3s

torn between cue card and smad ew

carq

ShaneU wrote: »

Got good word for Blue Hell in the second race, get on.

On him ante post at 16 e/w

Djackadam 11/4?? Too short surely!?

Any word on jetstream jack ? Big buzz last year and he never turned up

corny

The front four in the market are all too short if you ask me. Bookies are licking their wounds.

I like Don Poli but i'm terrified he'll get outpaced when it matters on good ground. If i get 6 to 1 i'll probably have a small bet though. I defy anyone to have a strong opinion on the race.

Ben Gadot

I recovered a bit today after an awful first two days. I've already antepost bets on Don Poli at 7/1 (10 win, 15 ew) and Don Cossack at 6/1 so I might just leave it.

Money came for DC before the King George so I won't be sucked in if they keep backing him before the off tomorrow. 11/4 is crazy for a horse who has it all to prove tomorrow.

Shane732

Zubayr
On The Fringe
Djakadam
Shantou Village

Today was a great day - I'm happy with the return from the 3 days so far so will be keeping it tight tomorrow.

mickmackmcgoo

Djakadam is short enough but he ran a cracker last year and if you watch it back he was hampered badly at the top of the hill and coneygree got away but Djakadam kept going after him and wasn't beaten far at all. I'm speaking through my wallet maybe but I can't see him being beaten

average_runner

Great day for me today, won 300 on an accumulator, with black Hercules and the three big favs coming in.

Fancy cue card tomorrow but don't see any good accumulators.

diomed

1. Footpad 9/1
2. Great Field 8/1
3. Shantou Village 9/2
4. Don Cossack 11/4
5. Paint The Clouds 13/2
6. Flying Angel 11/1
7. Rock The World 11/1

Mad_Dave

Amended selections

1:30 Clan des Obeaux 2pts e/w
2:10 Blue Hell 1pt e/w, Some Plan 2pt e/w
2:50 Shantou Village 2pts win, Jonniesofa 1pt e/w
4:10 Paint the Clouds 1pt win
4:50 Childrens List 1pt e/w
5:30 Velvet Maker 1pt e/w

Paint The Clouds/Djakadam 0.5pts win

11.5pts staked

Black_Ninja

Dandridge in the Grand Annual

ON ZEE BRIDLE

Great fields wins

Jaxxy

Have 3/4 on an accumulator so far. It all rests on Don Cossack tomorrow. PP offering me 70 quid to cash out now, but if DC comes through, it'll be worth more than three times that.

Me nerves. All over a fiver bet, ggaaahhh.

abarkie

Jaxxy wrote: »

Have 3/4 on an accumulator so far. It all rests on Don Cossack tomorrow. PP offering me 70 quid to cash out now, but if DC comes through, it'll be worth more than three times that.

Me nerves. All over a fiver bet, ggaaahhh.

Why don't you lay the stake out on Betfar / Betdaq?

posturingpat

ON ZEE BRIDLE wrote: »

Great fields wins

Cheers Mystic meg,this racing craic's handy. Where do i collect?

posturingpat

Jaxxy wrote: »

Have 3/4 on an accumulator so far. It all rests on Don Cossack tomorrow. PP offering me 70 quid to cash out now, but if DC comes through, it'll be worth more than three times that.

Me nerves. All over a fiver bet, ggaaahhh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsXEbqS7cpE :cool:

rossom

1.30 Cheltenham

Footpad 9/1

The Triumph is not a race that I'm too fond of and Footpad is a token selection for the all conquering Willie Mullins' yard. Despite being unfancied in comparison to his stablemates on his last start, he defied market weakness to beat two fellow Mullins inmates comprehensively in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown and I thought there was no fluke about that performance given they went a good clip. It also is quite noteworthy to me that Mullins thought his representative in the Fred Winter Voix Du Reve wouldn't have a chance off a mark of 139 (would have gone very close had he not fallen at the last) and I think that bodes well for the yard's juveniles in this race. With Ruby Walsh on top, I've had a small each way at 10/1 but it's not a contest I'll ever be confident in.

2.10 Cheltenham

Blue Hell 10/1

For a number of months, I have been very confident about Blue Hell for the County Hurdle and despite the British handicapper giving him an extra 5lb and despite being 22lb above his last win I think he's still quite a bit ahead of the handicapper. Having never quite put it all together for previous trainer Tony Mullins, new trainer Alan Fleming seems to have found the key to this 6 year old as he was imperious on his stable debut when comfortably winning a race that has worked out ridiculously well. The runner up Diamond King has won both races since including the Coral Cup on Wednesday off a 17lb higher mark, the 4th home Keppols Queen won a Grade 3 and was unlucky not to finish closer than 6th behind Vroum Vroum Mag on Tuesday, the 5th home Henry Higgins (reopposes here on 6lb better terms) absolutely slaughtered an incredibly competitive Leopardstown after that whilst the 6th won next time too. On the face of it, racing her off 22lb higher mark looks huge but I do feel that this 6 year old is a little bit better than a handicapper and he's been primed for this since. I think good ground will bring out further improvement and I'm quietly confident Blue Hell can win this valuable contest.

2.50 Cheltenham

Barters Hill 9/2

Coming into Cheltenham, I thought defeat was out of the question for this unbeaten 6 year old and although it's slightly disconcerting that he was apparently a bit soar after working on Wednesday I'm confident he'll be 100% fit and, if he is, I'm struggling to see him getting beaten. Repelling all comers in his 7 starts to date, this gritty and incredibly talented front runner just cannot be passed thus far and I personally don't think we have reached the bottom with him yet. Top Class in Bumpers and the same over hurdles, this Grade 1 winning Novice has beaten a number of good horses along the way and I have no doubt about his class. With the ground holding no concerns, it is a slight concern that Ben Pauling's charge will be taken on in a big way up front but I still think he's going to prove too strong and resolute for his rivals and 9/2 is a much bigger price than I was expecting.

3.30 Cheltenham

Djakadam 3/1

Although coming here off a fall in jumping's showpiece event is not ideal, I rate last years Gold Cup winner Coneygree incredibly highly and I fancy last years runner up Djakadam to go one better and land the Festival's main attraction and given the dominant Willie Mullins his first success in the race. In what looks a terrific and wide open event, my initial fancy Vautour's defection and subsequent demolition of the RSA must say a lot about how Djakadam is working at home and his runner up spot in this last year is certainly the strongest form on paper to my eyes. I see the next three in the market as legitimate dangers (I believe 4/1 will be briefly available on Djakadam tomorrow) to the selection but I'm confident that, if Djakadam replicates his performance in this last year, he will come home in front and give the best trainer around his first win in the contest.

4.10 Cheltenham

Paint The Clouds 13/2

Warren Greatrex's 11 year old Paint The Clouds was my strongest bet of the festival last year until the rain came and scuppered his chances and I was genuinely shocked he was able to finish 3rd in this contest on soft underfoot conditions he absolutely hates. Finally, he gets his quick ground conditions which he oh so badly needs and I can see him coming out on top of this with doubts about the market leader this year. Last years winner On The Fringe was sensational last year as he took the Hunter Chase showpieces at the three major festivals last year but that is a seriously intensive schedule and I certainly have doubts if he has sufficiently recovered this year. He was very disappointing on his reappearance when a well beaten 7th (2nd in the corresponding race last season) and, although he'll be very tough to beat if back to his best, Paint The Clouds is one of the most ground dependent horses in training and I'm confident he can put up a bold show under top amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen

4.50 Cheltenham

Children's List 12/1

Trainer Willie Mullins has taken this contest for the last 2 years and I think his 6 year old Children's List represents the best chance of his three ponged assault. Appreciably better on good ground, Children's List has been progressing well on ground that doesn't suit him having run a good 4th in a strong race and a fine 2nd last time out and I think that he has a lot more to offer returned to a sound surface. The excellent David Mullins gets on board and I think, with good ground key to this horse, we could see even more improvement which should hopefully see him land this for the yard for the 3rd successive year.

5.30 Cheltenham

Next Sensation 10/1 & Velvet Maker 12/1

Despite slight concern about him having needed another breathing operation, Next Sensation looks to have been plotted up for this race all season and off just a 1lb higher mark I can see him taking a lot of beating as he looks to land this contest for the 2nd time in a row. A blazing front runner, Next Sensation was actually 4th in this contest 2 years ago when he probably went off a little too quick under Richard Johnson as he was nabbed close home and having shown very little (similar to this year) last season he came alive with a thrilling victory last year under a great Tom Scudamore ride. His poor form this season isn't of concern given what he did last year and I think the stable have done a great drop getting him dropped 7lb in 4 runs this year. Clearly prepared for this race, if Tom Scu can get his fractions right in front I think he'll prove very hard to catch.

Alan Fleming's Velvet Maker is another horse who is very interesting in my eyes and a mark of 146 may underestimate him. A decent hurdler for Tony Martin, Velvet Maker made his stable and chasing debut at Naas back in November when a very impressive winner when he beat Dysios (rated 131) very easily. It now gets very hard to weigh up his two latest runs as he ran behind the sensational Douvan on both occasions and it seems that he was just out to get some good experience in the face of an impossible task. It is guess work as to see how good he really is but I do think that he'll handle the conditions well and I believe he is the sort of horse who will relish a race run at a frantic pace which is guaranteed here. He could be well in or might be harshly judged but he is very unexposed and worth an each way play at 12/1 in my eyes.

mick malones mauser

ON ZEE BRIDLE wrote: »

Great fields wins

Maybe. .but draco was 2nd to him at leopardstown and is 50/ 1 with bet 365. Worth a shilling each way

StringerBell

ShaneU wrote: »

Got good word for Blue Hell in the second race, get on.

I wouldn't bother, I'm waiting on him for a treble and a four fold. Its just not been that kind of week for me!

HarshOstrich

Cheltenham 1.30
Zubayr
Paul nichols seems to think this is a special horse and after winning a key trial last time, will only improve from it,
Big chance.

2.10 Starchitect
This looks the most wide open race of the festival.
Starchitect ran a fantastic race last time and threw a blunder in at the last but still finished off 2nd in a very competive race, will love the ground and has a very solid profile over hurdles.

2.50
Shantou village
Will love the ground and the trip, has the best form in the field, barters hill hasn't beat much over hurdles and looked laboured in doing so, shantou village form ties in with the Neptune horses which usually has a better quality of horse that this race.

3.30 cue card
Best form in the field this year
Nuff said

4.10 on the fringe

4.50 squouateur
Beat my pal mall dini handy last time and mall dini went in today

5.30 dandridge
Beat champion chase 6th just Cameron very easily last time albeit getting lumps of weight, but the manner in which he overtook everything really caught the eye, needs the good ground and at the foot of the weights must go close.

Wicklow Brave

I'm so torn in the Gold Cup. Jesus...it will be some f%& ing race.

JP Liz V1

Smad Place e/w in Gold Cup

I said

Wicklow Brave wrote: »

I'm so torn in the Gold Cup. Jesus...it will be some f%& ing race.

Had road to riches e/w.im going for don poli now

mailburner

think it'll take something special to beat zubayr in the triumph

chinguetti

1.30 Zubyar
2.10 All Yours
2.50 Gangster
3.30 Don Poli - still debating if I'll go with Djakadam as heard he was catching pigeons 2 weeks ago and as he was working with Vautour, you have to consider him even with his jumping.
5.30 The Saint James

Faugheen

The more I look at Don Cossack's Aintree and Punchestown wins last year, the more I think he should blitz this field.

But then I look at his record around Cheltenham and I find myself back at square one.

mailburner

think if you can forgive last years run then its cossack all the way

dickenson famous5

Blue et rough in the Albert bartlet and don poli gold cup my bets today,

CorkColin

Bets for today

Small Lucky 15 for fun

Footpad 9/1
All Yours 18/1
Barters Hill 9/2
On the fringe 3/1

And Main bet

Cue Card Ew 4/1 Goodluck all

Kauto

ShaneU wrote: »

Got good word for Blue Hell in the second race, get on.

Total bridle horse who barely stays 2 miles. Has no chance in this especially as there is sucks run from second last to the last. You need to stay strong.

sham69

footpad
blue hell
barters hill
djakadam
paint the clouds
children list

dandridge and next sensation in the last..

Best of luck everyone...

dave81

Ah hell, it's a shocking hard card Today. Couldn't even nap a place in five races. Gangster is my biggest fancy today. Very worried about bleu et rouge. Going drinking so it could be an expensive day.

Nicholls looks to have a strong chance in the first. Which one though? A lot of people like clan des obleaux, zubyar obviously favourite and should improve. I keep coming back to Tommy silver and who dares wins. Speedy horses and good ground could bring them into play. I backed Leoncavallo a while back, too big a price, when you consider sceau Royals price. I'll have a cut at something else too.



I might split and back ew on the form of diamond kings win. Blue hell looks good. Also Fethard lady. Why is this horse a crazy price, he had diamond king behind too?. Have a look at his form. If an outsider springs a surprise today, it will be him.

Gold cup? I'll probably back djack. One to watch and not bet on.

Alcohol now will have firmly kicked in. I won't have had one winner. It's very hard to abandon on the fringe. His prep run was poor though. I don't think an 11 year old has won this, I could be mad wrong. A British trained horse taking this? Never. Can't be having that. It came to pass surely will improve and he is the one to keep an eye on.

Next race. Pleace the race card on a dart board. Spin around three times and let fly. You will be closer than me. Maybe squ or qualango.

Repeat same technique. At this stage, alcohol has kicked right in. I've made my third trip to the bank machine. Confidence has returned even though i haven't had one place all day. I'll drunkenly follow the gamble Dandridge. I'll definitely be backing sizing coldeco also. My god, his form is mighty. He is slipping under the radar because he fell at the first in a very very good race last day. He wasn't unfancied either.



Good luck everyone. I'm getting pis sed no matter what happens!!

mossym

gods will need to be smiling today me thinks

djakadam to win
velvet maker, Squouateur, paint the clouds, barters hill and blue hell in a mix of trebles and accumulator
footpad and childrens list in an e/w double.


few euros left to play around with during the day,but the week has been good so today is for fun

ShaneU

Cue Card w/o Don Cossack 3/1 seems value

Squouateur smashed into 7/2 everywhere now

thelostboys23

dave81 wrote: »

Ah hell, it's a shocking hard card Today. Couldn't even nap a place in five races. Gangster is my biggest fancy today. Very worried about bleu et rouge. Going drinking so it could be an expensive day.

Nicholls looks to have a strong chance in the first. Which one though? A lot of people like clan des obleaux, zubyar obviously favourite and should improve. I keep coming back to Tommy silver and who dares wins. Speedy horses and good ground could bring them into play. I backed Leoncavallo a while back, too big a price, when you consider sceau Royals price. I'll have a cut at something else too.



I might split and back ew on the form of diamond kings win. Blue hell looks good. Also Fethard lady. Why is this horse a crazy price, he had diamond king behind too?. Have a look at his form. If an outsider springs a surprise today, it will be him.

Gold cup? I'll probably back djack. One to watch and not bet on.

Alcohol now will have firmly kicked in. I won't have had one winner. It's very hard to abandon on the fringe. His prep run was poor though. I don't think an 11 year old has won this, I could be mad wrong. A British trained horse taking this? Never. Can't be having that. It came to pass surely will improve and he is the one to keep an eye on.

Next race. Pleace the race card on a dart board. Spin around three times and let fly. You will be closer than me. Maybe squ or qualango.

Repeat same technique. At this stage, alcohol has kicked right in. I've made my third trip to the bank machine. Confidence has returned even though i haven't had one place all day. I'll drunkenly follow the gamble Dandridge. I'll definitely be backing sizing coldeco also. My god, his form is mighty. He is slipping under the radar because he fell at the first in a very very good race last day. He wasn't unfancied either.



Good luck everyone. I'm getting pis sed no matter what happens!!

That's my day pretty much too - cant wait.

Dont worry dundalk is on at 6 - thats where the alvohol consumed wins us our money back.

mossym

looks like money coming on clan des obeaux in the first. 20/1 in to 16/1 in to 14/1. hardly due to ted walsh tipping it on the morning line

RobertKK

13.30 Footpath
14.10 Great Field
14.50 Long Dog
15.30 Don Poli
16.10 On the Fringe
16.50 Squouateur
17.30 Rock The World

HarshOstrich

Changed my mind on cue card for gold cup, I think if don Cossack jumps well and a good position he will win, cue card will be bang there I have no doubt

icanmunch

mossym wrote: »

gods will need to be smiling today me thinks

djakadam to win
velvet maker, Squouateur, paint the clouds, barters hill and blue hell in a mix of trebles and accumulator
footpad and childrens list in an e/w double.


few euros left to play around with during the day,but the week has been good so today is for fun

Think I will go for footpad /childrens list e/w double aswell. seems very possible and gives good odds

another36

1.30 ivanovich gorbatov .
ew let's dance.
2.10 modus / Draco
2.50 long dog
ew bleu et rouge.
3.30 don Cossack
4.10 on the fringe. /paint the clouds?
4.50 squoateur .ew urano
5.30 rock the world .ew bright new dawn

Various singles / multiples

Very undecided definitely will be a bookies day.

Day 1 down, Day 2 up just about, day 3 up!

I'd be happy enough with break even today.

Best of Luck today everyone.

Faugheen

13:30 Footpad
14:10 Blue Hell
14:50 Shantou Village
15:30 Don Cossack
16:10 Paint The Clouds
16:50 Children's List
17:30 Dandridge

Went with the Don at the end. Just hope he can get around now. Easily the best horse around.

mailburner

not expecting a whole lot today and only really fancy zubayr

zubayr
paint the clouds
blue hell


bigger bets on
zubayr 2/1 two places
smad place 7/4 three places..all over that, reckon it finishes ahead of dp and one of the others, usually makes the frame around here and better than ever this season

treble at 12s zubayr 2places/smad 3places/ptc 4 places (betw)

double at 5/1 zubayr 3 places smad 3 places (skybet)


on the beer for the day, best of luck to all

akelly02

Faugheen wrote: »

13:30 Footpad
14:10 Blue Hell
14:50 Shantou Village
15:30 Don Cossack
16:10 Paint The Clouds
16:50 Children's List
17:30 Dandridge

Went with the Don at the end. Just hope he can get around now. Easily the best horse around.

Hardly easily the best horse around now seriously there is nothing between a few of them

kksaints

Shantou Village in the 2 50. Paint the Clouds in the 4 10.
Still unsure about the Gold Cup, Don Cossack's record at Cheltenham and his run in the King George make me wary as does Djakedem fall last time out. Cue Card I dont think will stay and Don Poli running style doesnt generally suit the Gold Cup. If the ground was slightly slower Smad Place each way would be interesting but I think the ground is a little quick for him. Cant see any of the others finishing in the top three.

Wicklow Brave

Why the **** is Paul Townend not on Don Poli?? And why wasn't he on Valseur Lido yesterday?? Townend starts the week thinking he's on Djakadam or Vautour in the Gold Cup and instead he's on ****ing Irish Cavalier?! Bullsh*t. In solidarity with Townend I'm backing his first three rides ew.

1:30 Let's Dance 14/1
2:10 Ivan Grozny 50/1
2:50 Up For Review 20/1

My other picks are:

1:30 Who Dares Wins 14/1
Conceded weight the last day and didn't get the best of rides. Will love the ground. You'd think Dicky needs an oul Festival win, this could be it.

2:10 Starchitect, Modus
Modus looks thrown in and the ground is in his favour.

2:50 Barters Hill 5/1
I definitely don't want Dicky winning this one anyway. Drift on BH a bit concerning but this horse is very, very good.

3:30 May not have a bet
Head says Don Cossack, heart says Cue Card. King George form far superior to last year's Gold Cup. Vautour, Valseur Lido and Al Ferof against Road To Riches yesterday is evidence of that. Very hard to see past DC but he's liable to clout a few and that would be a huge worry. Can't have Djakadam - wants it softer and dismissed by DC at Punchestown last year. A leap of faith is required to back DP - 5/1 is too short for that. Would love to see Cue Card win it and I'll be cheering for him, money down or not. CC is a different animal this year and I think he can do it.

4:10 On The Fringe

4:50 Squouateur

5:30 Next Sensation, Bright New Dawn

Faugheen

akelly02 wrote: »

Hardly easily the best horse around now seriously there is nothing between a few of them

Don Cossack has the beating of all of them when you take his form from Aintree and Punchestown into account.

His turn of foot for a 3m horse is exceptional. His form around here would worry me, but I believe he's in the mould of Hurricane Fly in that Cheltenham might not suit him but he's classy enough to win.

Even if he doesn't win today. He beats them all around Aintree and Punchestown, probably Kempton too.

Wicklow Brave

Don Cossack not suited to Cheltenham is a red herring. Sh*te talk imo. I admire the horse but I've never really warmed to him. He's promised a lot and failed to deliver on the biggest stage: Cheltenham twice and the King George. His two runs at Cheltenham: he fell and last year made a lot of jumping errors. He could do that at any track though, like he did at Kempton. I think if he doesn't make any jumping errors he should win. Great race in store.