IT MIGHT WELL be hard to top what we’ve seen so far, but the finest form of equine entertainment is ready to go out with a bang, and we’ve got a tasty each-way treble for you to sink your teeth into.
1.30pm – Triumph Hurdle
I can almost hear Davy Russell’s groans as I say this, but my festival NAP runs here – and that’s the might of Apple’s Shakira. Let’s just check some boxes. Runs on heavy or soft ground? Tick. Cheltenham form? Well, all her runs have been at Cheltenham. Impressive margin of victory to date? Nearly a combined thirty lengths. Far be it from me to get overly excited about any juvenile runner, but she’s the absolute banker of the week.
Connections clearly think a lot of Stormy Ireland if she’s being sent here instead of the likely less-competitive Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. She looked a good purchase for Willie Mullins after she destroyed a weak field at Fairyhouse in December, but it’s hard to know how much faith you could put into that. If we don’t know the answer, we’re about to find out.
Redicean ran to a mark of 85 on the flat but has improved for the switch to hurdles. A lot of English punters are very keen on his chances, but giving seven pounds away to the market principle is a daunting ask.
Praise must come too for Mr Adjudicator – his two starts over hurdles have been impressive – especially beating out Farclas (who re-opposes) and Espoir D’allen.
Selection: APPLE’S SHAKIRA (2/1)
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
This looks a particularly weak renewal. At least from the outset, there doesn’t appear to be a Unowhatimeanharry, a Martello Tower, a Monalee or even a Barters Hill.
There’s a chief formline to watch here, and that’s the market principles battling it out back in December at Newbury. Granted it was over 20 furlongs and not three miles, but the market seems to suggest that Chef Des Obeaux can reverse the form. I’m not so sure.
The suggestions that the favourite was done for toe seem a tad misplaced, and there’s every chance Santini would have found plenty over a sterner test.
Selection: SANTINI (4/1)
3.30pm – Cheltenham Gold Cup
As one Vincent McMahon would have christened it had he opted for sweaty horses instead of showcasing sweaty men – this is the Granddaddy of them all.
With the ground drying out, punters have every right to renege on their outside ambitions of Definitly Red winning this race. The course thrashing of classy sorts like Bristol De Mai in the grade two Cotswold Chase was mightily impressive, but it was on bottomless ground and that’s the key to Brian Ellison’s stable star.
It would be an incredible story should Edwulf find himself in front at the furlong marker, but this is beyond him, as it is with Total Recall.
Road To Respect is getting a serious lack of it – and he could easily slip into a place, as well as the bizarrely-priced experienced head of Djakadam.
Killultagh Vic would have won the Irish Gold Cup had he stood up but given there’s no real guarantee on how he has come out of the race, you would be going in blind here.
Our Duke was well-held in the same race, and his price is somewhat baffling, although you know Jessica Harrington will be meticulous in her preparation. Native River probably needs this race to be extended to ten miles if he’s to outstay the classier sorts in behind.
Which means this race is going the way of the best chaser on the planet – Might Bite. Evidently not without his quirks, the maverick son of Scorpion is a tricky proposition in the sense that you need to deliver him late to really get the best out of him, but he also has to race prominently to get into his rhythm.
He’ll likely go off in front, which will see plenty take a keen hold on their mounts. As in the King George, there’s a real sense that if he’s asked for more when the time comes, he’ll find it. Might Bite has bitten and he will bite again.
Selection: MIGHT BITE (9/2)
Each-Way Treble:
- Apple’s Shakira (2/1)
- Santini (5/1)
- Might Bite (4/1)
Fancy a punt on Cheltenham? Ireland’s biggest bookmaker Paddy Power have the odds on every market – plus money back as a free bet on all losers if the SP favourite wins. Check out our Cheltenham odds here, or simply download the Paddy Power app for iOS or Android.
For more tips, insight and the odd star columnist, head over to Paddy Power news.
All odds correct at time of writing.
