13:30
Friday kicks off with the Triumph Hurdle and I think it could be the best renewal of the race in years.
I loved the way Vauban 2/1 won at Dublin Racing Festival and I think he’s improved since. Willie doesn’t run too many in the Triumph; he often keeps them until their novice season, giving them more time but Vauban must have shown him plenty early on.
14:10
Colonel Mustard 6/1 wouldn’t have been out of place in the Grade 1 Supreme or Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, so you’ve got to be sweet on him in a handicap. It doesn’t make it easier, but he’s certainly better than some of these. I’d love to see Lorna Fowler win a big one at Cheltenham, too.
14:50
Jamie Codd joined the Betway Twitter Space last Sunday evening and he was very sweet on Ginto 5/2 and actually, when you look through his form, it’s very hard to argue. He’s won plenty, seems to stay very well and could still be improving. This isn’t the strongest running of the race and I think he’ll be very tough to beat.
15:30
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the race everyone would love to win and most trainers don’t get to win one in their career, but I think Henry de Bromhead might be winning his second on the spin and with the same horse as last year.
Minello Indo 9/2 comes right at this time of year; he loves Cheltenham, he truly operates around the place and he stays so good. He’s swept off his feet at other courses, but his jumping holds up here and he always gives his best. It’s not been a great for Robbie Power, who’s been injured for a lot of it, but I bet he’d not mind if he won the Gold Cup!
16:10
I don’t follow the Hunter Chase form that much, so I don’t have a solid selection in this. From a personal point of view, I’d love Billaway 5/2 to win for Willie and Patrick. They’ve gone close so many times and I’d love to see him win.
16:50
I’ve long been a fan of Concertista 100/30 in the Mares’ division as she’s been very good over hurdles and fences and although we haven’t seen that much of her over fences, she’s the best horse in the race and will take all of the beating.
I do have a slight concern that her inexperience of fences might be vulnerable against Elimay’s experience, but she’s got the class.
17:30
The final race of the Festival is the Martin Pipe for the Conditional Jockeys. It gives them the biggest stage to have a great ride and we all know how well Willie [Mullins] and Gordon [Elliott] do in the race. They both target horses at it and clearly have done again.
They’re both going to have plenty of obvious chances, but I’m not sure which one will win! I just hope they all come back safe and give the younger jockeys a great spin.
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