Three big talking points…
1. GOLD (cup)… always believe in: AFTER TWO DAYS of wondering if this was the Cheltenham Festival to get away from Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, they bounced back with aplomb on Day Three with wins in the three Grade 1s.
Tomorrow, the pair hope that it’s third time lucky for Djakadam (7/2) who has finished second in the feature race of the festival — the Gold Cup (3.30pm) — the past two years.
Mullins, despite all his success, has famously never won the big one at Prestbury Park and Djakadam will have to reverse the result of the Lexus Chase over Christmas if he’s to stop Outlander (10/1) making it two wins in two years for Gordon Elliott.
Cue Card (7/2) would be an immensely popular winner but at 11, he’s in a race with Father Time as much as any of the other runners while many feel like Native River (7/2) has a live chance.
2. Defi Du Seuil to Triumph? We’ve already seen one undefeated record fall by the wayside this week — sorry Douvan — and another is one the line on Friday in the shape of Defi Du Seuil (2/1) in the Triumph Hurdle (1.30pm).
The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has won five of five including three around Cheltenham and looks like he might well be the best bet of the week.
However, only one of those wins has come in Grade 1 company and Charli Parcs (3/1) is expected to be the danger for the JP McManus owned horse. Don’t rule out Mega Fortune (7/1) for an in-form Elliott stable though.
3. Death Duty free money: Death Duty (2/1) is the class of the Albert Bartlett (2.50pm) and is unbeaten in his last four over the smaller jumps, including a Grade 1 at Naas after Augusta Kate (11/2) fell at the last when challenging.
It’s difficult to find a challenger but both Wholestone (5/1) and Monalee (8/1) will have their backers while there are many who think the aforementioned Augusta Kate could have won had she stayed on her feet in Kildare.
NAP of the day…
After two wins, we had to settle for a second yesterday but we’re confident of finishing with a flourish and while the odds aren’t going to make you a millionaire, Defi Du Seuil at 2/1 is the bet.
An each-way fancy…
At this stage you’re probably looking for something to have a small flutter on before the Gold Cup so why not L’Ami Serge (20/1) in the County Hurdle (2.10pm) who has 12 top three finishes in his 13 runs.
Accumulator…
€10 on Defi Du Seuil, Death Duty and Djakadam will return €405.00.
