Cheltenham 2014 : Day 4 Preview

13:30 JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE

The fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival gets underway with the JCB Triumph Hurdle. The race has been previewed in more detail elsewhere on the website though the main focus of the arguement is that horses at the top of the betting market tend to do well. All but one of the last seven winners have gone off at single figures. This leaves five horses in the equation. Calipto is the 4/1 favourite with bet365 after two straight Newbury victories. Broughton is 6/1 second favourite after winning at Musselburgh last time. The choice though is for third favourite Guitar Pete who ran second at the course in November and has gone on to win the last two including a significant trial race at Leopardstown in February. The Dessie Hughes runner is a 7/1 chance and this looks the value selection.

RECOMMENDATION: Guitar Pete to win the race, bet365 best price

14:05 VINCENT O’BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE

Irish trainers have won the last four runnings of this and six of the last seven and it is that man Willie Mullins who has the favourite here in Arctic Fire at 13/2. That being said a fourth and a third on the last two starts do not suggest a sure fire thing and the value can be found taking on the horse, especially as the last seven winners have gone off at double figures. The second favourite is Cheltenian who won the 2011 Champion Bumper and is a horse that has to be respected. The selection though is for Lac Fontana who is a two time course winner including last time out in January. The Paul Nicholls yard does well in this race with three victories in two seconds in this and this looks a real each-way player at 12/1.

RECOMMENDATION: Lac Fonatana each-way, bet365 best price

14:40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES HURDLE

Briar Hill is clearly the one to beat with five wins from five career starts including a victory at the Festival last year in the Wetherbys Champion bumper and the Willie Mullins runner is the 13/8 favourite. Those looking to take on the six-year-old might want to consider Kings Palace who is also in fine form with three straight victories with two of these coming at Cheltenham. Each of these victories came in double figure length which is highly impressive and at the larger price of 7/2 looks the way to play it.

RECOMMENDATION: Kings Palace to win the race, bet365 best price

15:20 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Earlier in the week I was all about Bobs Worth to complete the double at odds of at 2/1, however since then I have changed my opinion. I have watched a number of races back of the top two in the betting and I am now going for Silviniaco Conti at 7/2. To me the Nicholls runner produced the most impressive run when winning the King George at Kempton in December and was really in the mix here before falling last year. I was less impressed with Bobs Worth at Leopardstown last time out and certainly not with the run at Haydock.

In addition consider an each-way play on The Giant Bolster at 16/1 who loves it round here which can not be said about Triolo D’Alene. The David Bridgwater runner is the value in battling it out against First Lieutenant and Last Instalment to take the third spot.

RECOMMENDATION: Silviniaco Conti to with the Gold Cup, BET365 best price
The Giant Bolster, each-way or to place, BET365 best price

16:00 FOXHUNTER CHASE CHALLENGE CUP

The absence of Salsify is a huge boost for the others after the horse landed this race in 2013 and 2012. This time out it is On the Fringe who is the 4/1 favourite for the race. The Enda Bolger runner comes here in good form with two wins and a second from last three starts.In addition a fourth in this race in 2011 suggest a know how of the course and the race. That being said this race has seen four of the last eight winners go off at 20/1 or bigger and so it might be worth a little interest in a larger price. Made in Time is 18/1 at the time of writing and the Rebecca Curtis runner has made a promising start to Hunter Chase career and looks to have scope for improvement.

RECOMMENDATION: Made in Time, each-way, BET365 best price

16:40 MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL HANDICAP HURDLE

Full Shift from the Nicky Henderson yard and the lightly raced five-year-old has impressed with two victories and one second from three career starts. Those looking to side with the horse can do so at 6/1. Vieux Lion Rogue is the 15/2 second favourite for Martin Pipe who will be desperate to land the race and has a good chance with a horse that is three from three over hurdles. I will take an each-way play on Open Day at a bigger price of 33/1. The Jonjo O’Neill runner will benefit from a drop in trip and with conditions to suit this horse with a second to his name at the course looks worth getting involved with.

RECOMMENDATION: Open Day, each-way, BET365 best price

17:15 JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP

Next Sensation at 7/1 is an excellent jumper who should be respected as should Claret Cloak at 8/1 who will love the ground. The Noel Meade trained Ned Buntline looks the pick of the Irish runners at 8/1 while Raya Star and Mr Mole both have claims at 9/1. The selection though is for Tanks for That who represents trainer Nicky who will be desperate to win the race named after his father. The 11-year-old looked impressive when winning at Kempton in February, has previous in coming second in this and has Barry Geraghty on board, 14/1 then makes logical each-way sense.

RECOMMENDATION: Tanks for That, each-way, BET365 best price

Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (14/03/2014) but are subject to change.

14/03/2014     © Frixo 2026