The ultimate day of the Cheltenham Festival is already upon us. The place did the time go?
It is time to exit with a bang. We have got a jam-packed day forward, with seven extra races together with the most important of the lot: the Boodles Gold Cup.
Right here, Every day Mail Sport brings you our professional racing ideas, that includes a variety, major hazard and reside outsider for every race…
The Boodles Gold Cup is again! Every day Mail Sport brings you the chances and professional recommendation forward of one among racing’s largest occasions – PLUS ideas for the motion from the remainder of the day
JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE
1.20: GRADE ONE — 2 MILES, 1 FURLONG
Willie Mullins has received 5 of the final six renewals and saddles 9 this time round.
Probably the most attention-grabbing of his crew appears to be Proactif, who made a successful steady debut at Fairyhouse when beating the reopposing Macho Man. That kind appears stable, with the third horse ending fifth within the Fred Winter juvenile hurdle on the opening day.
Connections of Highland Crystal will even be inspired by the opening-day victory of Saratoga, a horse she narrowly at Naas in February. Receiving a mares’ allowance from the geldings, she appears to have a really stable probability.
Harry Cobden partnered Kitzbuhel to victory for Mullins on Wednesday and rides Mon Creuset for him. The gelding received his sole begin in France and appeared poised to justify favouritism on his steady debut at Naas earlier than sprawling on touchdown two out.
SELECTION: PROACTIF…4-1
MAIN DANGER: HIGHLAND CRYSTAL…1-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: MON CREUSET…18-1
WILLIAM HILL COUNTY HURDLE
2.00: HANDICAP — 2 MILES, 1 FURLONG
Murcia runs in the identical colors as final yr’s winner Kargese and has with a strikingly comparable profile to her stablemate.
She was an emphatic winner of the Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree final season and formed effectively when ending fourth on the Dublin Racing Pageant behind the reopposing Bowensonfire.
With a swing within the weights this time, she appears able to turning that kind round. Dan Skelton ensured Sinnatra met the qualifying necessities for this race by giving him a hurdle begin at Warwick final month and he could possibly be attractively handicapped from a mark of 133.
At greater odds, final yr’s Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle second Sixandahalf makes some enchantment. She can be partnered by Conor Stone-Walsh, who received Wednesday’s Cross Nation Chase aboard Closing Orders.
MURCIA…17-2
MAIN DANGER: SINNATRA…13-2
LIVE OUTSIDER: SIXANDAHALF…12-1
MRS PADDY POWER MARES’ CHASE
2.40: 2 MILES, 4½ FURLONGS
Panic Assault is unbeaten in 4 begins over fences since becoming a member of Dan Skelton and seems to be thriving regardless of now being a 10-year-old.
She produced a dominant show when successful the Paddy Energy Gold Cup in November earlier than turning into the primary horse since 2004 to finish the Paddy Energy Gold Cup-Coral Gold Cup double in the identical season. Her fluent leaping is a serious asset, one thing that continues to be a slight query mark for final yr’s winner Dinoblue, who survived a mistake on the ultimate fence when scoring at 1-4 at Fairyhouse in January.
Diva Luna has received each of her chase begins this season and completed third within the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle final yr. With Ben Jones, who received aboard Meetmebythesea on Thursday, within the saddle, she may make all.
SELECTION: PANIC ATTACK…5-2
MAIN DANGER: DINOBLUE…85-40
LIVE OUTSIDER: DIVA LUNA…8-1
ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE
TT NOVICES’ HURDLE 3.20: GRADE ONE — 3 MILES
Eleven of the previous 12 winners had already recorded a victory over 2m7f or additional over hurdles, leaving Thedeviluno, Kazansky and Moneygarrow as the one runners to satisfy that key development.
Moneygarrow has received his final two begins since a wind operation. The Dan Skelton yard had a number of contenders for this however rely solely on the six-year-old. Thedeviluno must reverse kind with Physician Steinberg following their assembly within the Navan Novice Hurdle in December. Nonetheless, that contest was run over 2m4f and he has since demonstrated his stamina by successful over three miles.
Kazansky should additionally flip round kind with Physician Steinberg after ending runner-up on the Dublin Racing Pageant, however as a earlier Grade Two winner over 2m7f he has proven he possesses the stamina required for a race of this nature.
SELECTION: MONEYGARROW…9-1
MAIN DANGER: THEDEVILUNO…5-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: KAZANSKY…16-1
BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
4.00: GRADE ONE — 3 MILES, 2½ FURLONGS
A fiercely aggressive renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup offers the spotlight of the day, with the important thing piece of kind showing to come back from the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. On that event, The Jukebox Man narrowly obtained the higher of Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie in a tightly-packed end, with Ryanair Chase third Banbridge shut up.
Jango Baie is unbeaten in two begins at Cheltenham, together with a dramatic late victory within the Arkle final season, and formed at Kempton as if this sterner stamina check would swimsuit him. His coach Nicky Henderson has received this race twice and is already a winner at this yr’s Pageant.
The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, is unbeaten in 4 begins over fences and he confirmed super dedication when battling again to disclaim Banbridge by a nostril within the King George VI Chase.
He nonetheless has to conclusively show his stamina on the finish of this journey, having appeared to wrestle over the gap when working within the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle two seasons in the past, however his ranking has risen 20lbs since then.
Envoi Allen is a well-recognized face on the Pageant, having run there in every of the previous seven seasons with kind figures of 11F3123. He confirmed he retains loads of means when beating subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury on his reappearance at Down Royal, and a victory for such a preferred veteran could be one of the vital warmly acquired moments of the week.
SELECTION: JANGO BAIE…5-1
MAIN DANGER: THE JUKEBOX MAN…5-2
LIVE OUTSIDER: ENVOI ALLEN…33-1
PRINCESS ROYAL HUNTERS’ CHASE
4.40: HANDICAP — 3 MILES, 2½ FURLONGS
Emmet Mullins runs Its On The Line on this contest for a fourth consecutive yr, and he can be hoping the nine-year-old can lastly go one higher after ending second every time.
The choice was second of three in a point-to-point final day out however this distinctive check ought to play to his strengths.
Wonderwall was saved recent forward of his victory on this contest final yr and connections have opted for a similar preparation. He returns following a 124-day break after a win in November and appears the precept hazard.
At greater odds, Chemical Power may outrun his value after two six-length victories in Irish point-to-points earlier this season. The ten-year-old completed second within the Nationwide Hunt Chase on the pageant in 2023. A repeat of that efficiency would put him firmly within the combine.
SELECTION: ITS ON THE LINE…5-1
MAIN DANGER: WONDERWALL…11-2
LIVE OUTSIDER: CHEMICAL ENERGY…4-1
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE
5.20: 2 MILES, 4½ FURLONGS
Cheltenham Pageant kind is a key issue when figuring out possible winners, and all three of the horses mentioned right here carry that invaluable expertise.
Air Of Entitlement defeated Sixandahalf, who traces up within the 2.00, and Diva Luna, set to run within the 2.40, when successful the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle final yr, and this step up in journey may play to her strengths.
Sa Fureur was fourth within the Grand Annual in 2024 earlier than ending additional down the sector within the Coral Cup final yr. Each of these runs got here off marks of 145 — he now has a ranking of 138.
Act Of Authority was runner-up on this race final yr behind Thursday’s Mares’ Hurdle winner Wodhooh. He returns this yr from simply 1lb greater at 135, and with Lewis Saunders within the saddle after driving him 12 months in the past, he may outrun his odds.
SELECTION: AIR OF ENTITLEMENT…1-1
MAIN DANGER: SA FUREUR…20-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: ACT OF AUTHORITY…6-1
ONE TO SAVOUR
Cheltenham Gold Cup, by Dominic King
There are many excellent races because the Pageant reaches its climax, with the Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Hurdle all full of high quality. However to recommend one other contest is extra attention-grabbing than the last word problem of the Gold Cup could be absurd. The angle for this column, nevertheless, is a particular deal with Envoi Allen.
It could be anticipating a bit bit an excessive amount of for him to win what is called the Blue Riband of Nationwide Hunt racing however this gelding actually deserves some headlines for house owners Cheveley Park Stud.
He’s 12 now and that is anticipated to be the final time he takes to a racecourse. Envoi Allen has had 30 races in his profession, collected £1,117,315 and received 17 instances. His consistency, class and sturdiness set him aside. However delve a bit deeper into his report and one thing outstanding is there in entrance of you.
The Gold Cup can be Envoi Allen’s eighth race at Cheltenham — he has been right here yearly since 2019 when he received Champion Bumper. In whole, he has galloped 17-and-a-half miles round these undulations. He has jumped 82 obstacles — 72 fences and 10 hurdles — and other than the Bumper, he collected the 2020 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (now the Turners Novices’) and the 2023 Ryanair Chase.
Davy Russell rode him within the Ballymore and described it as ‘the simplest trip I’ve ever had round Cheltenham — I used to be by no means going to lose at any level’, and Rachael Blackmore, his ally in 2023, adored the angle and willingness he regularly confirmed. The one blip got here in 2021 with a fourth-fence fall within the Ryanair.
On his most up-to-date begin, at Down Royal final November, he received the Champion Chase in terrific trend and confirmed that advancing years haven’t executed something to dilute his braveness, which is as ferocious as a lion. Henry de Bromhead, who took over his coaching profession in 2021, adores Envoi Allen and whereas he isn’t making any daring predictions towards a area of up-and-comers akin to The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie, he is aware of his cost is able to give his greatest.
‘He’s filled with himself,’ mentioned de Bromhead, who saddled Coronary heart Wooden to win the Ryanair on Thursday. ‘Cheveley Park are nice supporters of us and the sport. However the horse, he’s a legend, isn’t he?’ He’s — and also you don’t need to miss him on this race.
THE WIZARD OF ODDS
By Chris Baker
2.00: WILLIAM HILL COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE
Coach: 14 of the final 17 winners have been educated by Willie Mullins (8), Dan Skelton (4) or Paul Nicholls (2).
Age: 13 of the final 17 winners had been aged 5 or 6 years previous.
Betting: 13 of the final 17 winners had been priced at 1011 or greater.
Ranking: 14 of the final 17 winners have been rated between 134 and 141.
Final day out: 9 of the final 12 winners completed within the prime three final day out. Of these, 5 completed second of their final race.
Verdict: Jubilee Alpha appears to carry sturdy claims and may present Nicholls with one other win on this race. After being positioned in a Grade Two bumper at Aintree, this elegant mare then contested various first rate races as a novice final season, together with an eighth-place end within the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the Pageant. She ended the season with a Listed victory again at Cheltenham the next month. She has completed second in three of her 4 begins this season and drops again into handicap firm right here. Others to notice are Absurde, Karbau and Wilful.
4.00: BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHASE
Age: 16 of the final 17 winners had been aged seven, eight or 9 years previous.
Ranking: 15 of the final 17 winners had a ranking of at the very least 164.
Betting: 15 of the final 17 winners had been priced at 10-1 or shorter, with eight of them despatched off as favorite.
Final day out: 11 of the final 12 winners completed within the prime 4 final day out. Of these, eight received their final race.
Verdict: The Jukebox Man (NAP) is a robust match on tendencies and may observe up his good victory within the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day by successful the Gold Cup at present. Runner-up within the 2024 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on the Pageant after which once more in Aintree’s equal race, he has since gone unbeaten in all 4 begins over fences. Two of these wins have been over three miles and the way in which he rallied to get again up on the road at Kempton means that Ben Pauling’s cost may have no drawback with the additional distance right here. Welsh Grand Nationwide winner Haiti Couleurs additionally ticks loads of containers and appears to be the most important hazard with stamina assured.
PLACEPOT
Dinoblue and The Jukebox Man are chosen as bankers given their current kind. It’s arduous to see Physician Steinberg lacking out on a spot however Jalon d’Oudairies provides good worth so is added to the record. With 24 runners set to line up in leg two, three choices are made. Leg one could possibly be the trickiest with restricted kind on provide.
RACE ONE: (9) MAESTRO CONTI (19) SELMA DE VARY
RACE TWO: (12) JUBILEE ALPHA (2) ABSURDE (6) WILFUL
RACE THREE: (2) DINOBLUE
RACE FOUR: (2) DOCTOR STEINBERG (6) JALON D’OUDAIRIES
RACE FIVE: (11) THE JUKEBOX MAN RACE SIX: (7) ITS ON THE LINE (23) WONDERWALL
2 x 3 x 1 x 2 x 1 x 2 = 24 LINES
