2.10pm – County Handicap Hurdle – Ivanovich Gorbatov (8/1)
TWELVE MONTHS AGO Ivanovich Gorbatov was upsides Apple’s Jade at the last hurdle in the Triumph. With Barry Geraghty in control, Ivanovich cruised through and won convincingly.
A year later and Apple’s Jade saw off the Willie Mullins duo of Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini on Tuesday, yet Gorbatov is still a decent price for the County Hurdle.
Okay, so he certainly hasn’t set the world alight in his runs this season – but he’s been finishing behind class horses such as Petit Mouchoir, Apple’s Jade, Vroum Vroum Mag and Shaneshill.
His best results have come on good, quick ground which he should hopefully get at Cheltenham, and he’s a course and distance winner.
Owner JP McManus won this race five years ago with Alderwood at a massive price of 20/1, and it would be no surprise if Ivanovich Gorbatov has been laid out for this race at tempting odds.
2.50pm – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Death Duty (2/1)
Gordon Elliot is having a stormer of a week and that can continue with Death Duty. The trainer has been raving about this horse for months and there’s more hype around him than the latest Alt-J album.
Death Duty has put in a number of convincing performances over two-and-a-half miles in Ireland – with most being on soft or heavy ground.
Critics will say he’s never done three miles on quick ground, but the vibes from the yard are that he’ll cope no problem.
Last time out, Death Duty put in his best performance to date, winning a Grade 1 Novice Hurdle in Naas by nine lengths, while before that he was driven clear of Monalee at Navan.
Augusta Kate is the big danger – and one Ruby Walsh fancies would have beaten Death Duty had she not fallen at the last hurdle in Naas – but all the vibes from Elliot’s yard suggest Death Duty is a good thing.
3.30pm – Cheltenham Gold Cup – Djakadam (7/2)
It’s time for the feature race of the week – the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Djakadam has been the bridesmaid the last two years for the duo of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, but third time’s the charm and he could put his nose in front when it matters.
It’s the race owner Rich Ricci is desperate to win and Djakadam has the assets to win gold this time around. His jumping is solid, and he’s only finished outside the top three once in his last 10 starts – with seven of those being in Grade 1 company.
Last time out, he was third in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, but showed signs of tiredness after running just 17 days earlier in his seasonal reappearance. His season will have been dictated by the Gold Cup so don’t be too concerned that Outlander was in front of him in the Lexus.
Only one of the last 21 winners has been aged 10 or over so that is a significant negative for 11-year-old Cue Card, while Native River, despite showing some incredible form in winning the Hennessy Gold Cup, Welsh National and Denman Chase this season, has never faced a test quite like the unique Gold Cup.
Djakadam’s experience and consistency can see him finally come out number one.
- At the time of writing a treble of Ivanovich Gorbatov, Death Duty and Djakadam pays out at 120/1
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