Races

Andrew Hawkins’ Cheltenham Preview: Day 4

Posted on | Posted by Andrew Hawkins

RACE 1

The final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the G1 Triumph Hurdle for four-year-olds over 3400m. In the world of National Hunt, this race is similar to a juvenile feature like the Golden Slipper. It has produced plenty of future stars of the jumps scene, including eventual dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll. This does look a race made for LOSSIEMOUTH, who is coming off a defeat at the hands of her rival again in GALA MARCEAU at Leopardstown last month. However, she was impeded and based on a December performance where she had eight lengths in hand over Gala Marceau, I think she can atone here. They do look the top two, with BLOOD DESTINY perhaps the only other chance.

Numbers: 14-12-4-15

Suggested Bet: Lossiemouth WIN

RACE 2

If you are looking for a future Melbourne Cup horse, perhaps the County Hurdle is the race to watch. Cup runners like Wicklow Brave and Max Dynamite came through this race, while 10-length G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Francis Of Assisi finished sixth in this race six months before his Flemington triumph. I’m going to go against what I’d usually do in this race and instead side with the classy SHARJAH. He has a lot of weight to carry and he looks to be past his best but get the feeling he might still have one big performance left in him. That would certainly be required to win here. His stablemate HUNTERS YARN looks a big threat, while last year’s runner-up FIRST STREET and the enigmatic PETIT TONNERRE are two worth including as well.

Numbers: 1-8-5-17

Suggested Bet: Sharjah WIN

RACE 3

The G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, contested over three miles for the future staying hurdlers, is a springboard to the Stayers’ Hurdle in years to come. On exposed form, it’s hard to go past CORBETTS CROSS who has really come into his own in recent runs. He only need to run to those performances to win here. Like the profile of FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU, who is unbeaten since returning from a year on the sidelines. THREE CARD BRAG, a son of one-time Caulfield Cup fourth Jet Away, looks to be a indomitable staying type who should be suited here too.

Numbers: 3-19-6-18

Suggested Bet: Corbetts Cross WIN

RACE 4

The highlight of the week is the G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup over approximately 5300m. This steeplechase is like the Cox Plate or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – it is National Hunt’s championship race. NOBLE YEATS is trying to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup the year after winning the Grand National – a feat never achieved, although 2005 Aintree victor Hedgehunter went close when second at Cheltenham the following season. Think of it as a Melbourne Cup winner coming back and trying to win the Cox Plate the following year – only the likes of Phar Lap, Rising Fast, Might And Power and Makybe Diva have managed to achieve that. It’s a difficult task but think he can achieve it on testing ground, getting the better of the immensely talented GALOPIN DES CHAMPS.

Numbers: 9-6-2-4

Suggested Bet: Noble Yeats EACH WAY

RACE 5

The St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup is considered the “amateur Gold Cup” because it is for amateur riders and for what are, essentially, amateur horses. That means, the conditions mean that it is restricted to horses who have not been running under rules in recent times. The 13-year-old SHANTOU FLYER was second in this race in 2019, having been placed at the Festival in 2018 and 2021 too. He mixes his form but he’s a contender here at a big price if he can run anywhere near his best. VAUCELET ticks so many boxes and he’s right in the mix.

Numbers: 21-23-13-8

Suggested Bet: Shantou Flyer EACH WAY

RACE 6

The penultimate event of the Cheltenham Festival is also the newest race of the week, the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase over 4150m or thereabouts. It has only been run twice, both times by Willie Mullins, and it appears that he can make it three straight with the very promising ALLEGORIE DE VASSY. She has won both of her chasing starts by 19 lengths apiece and the testing ground and Cheltenham course should suit her down to the ground. I’d go far as to say that, from a betting perspective, she’s the best of the week. IMPERVIOUS looks to be her only danger while the rest are running for place money.

Numbers: 1-3-6-2

Suggested Bet: Allegorie De Vassy WIN

RACE 7

The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over just shy of 4100m brings the curtain down on the Cheltenham Festival. As the name suggests, it is a race restricted to conditional jockeys who are apprentices under the age of 26 who have won less than 75 races under rules. It’s a wide open race to close the card and it might be best to side with IROKO, who is unbeaten from two starts this season. He ticks a lot of the boxes for a winner of this race and Irish rider Aidan Kelly made an eye-catching Cheltenham debut when second on Salvador Ziggy in the Pertemps Final yesterday. At a huge price, MOLLY OLLYS WISHES is worth including in all exotics.

Numbers: 8-4-3-10

Suggested Bet: Iroko EACH WAY

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