After another record-breaking Cheltenham Festival – can Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh cap their exploits by teaming up to land the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup with Djakadam?
Second to Coneygree last year, the seven-year-old rather blotted his copy-book when falling in his prep race at Cheltenham in January eventually won by Smad Place. It was not the first time that he’d failed to cope with the fences at Prestbury Park but he’s a real talent who could well go one better than 12 months ago if everything fell into place. That said, he was beaten fair and square by Don Cossack at Punchestown last season, when Cue Card was only fourth, so does have some improving to do and he’s short enough now at the general 3/1.
Don Cossack would probably have gone close to catching Cue Card and Vautour in the King George at Kempton had he not fallen two out. The runner-up has already franked that form at Cheltenham this week and Gordon Elliott’s charge is also a general 3/1. Cue Card is the best staying chaser in the UK and is 4/1 with most bookmakers, though there is a slight doubt concerning his stamina over 3m2f.
DON POLI may not have the class of some of his rivals but he’s a tough stayer who will be charging up the hill when others have cried enough. William Hill could have blundered in putting up the assumed Mullins’ second string at 5/1 as he ran an excellent trial for this in the Lexus at Leopardstown in December and won the RSA Chase at The Festival last year with his stamina.
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Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Best Odds
Don Cossack and Djakadam (3/1), Cue Card (4/1), Don Poli (5/1), Smad Place (10/1), Carlingford Lough (25/1), O’Faolains Boy (66/1), On His Own (80/1), Irish Cavalier (100/1)
ZUBAYR only made his debut over hurdles less than three weeks ago – but what a debut it was!
Held up behind in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton, Paul Nicholls’ juvenile made relentless headway down the back straight and cruised to the front on the bridle before the last to record an effortless victory. He made decent opposition look positively pedestrian and the Adonis has always been a good trial for the JCB Triumph Hurdle – I’ll be looking no further for the winner at 5/1 with BetVictor.
JCB Triumph Hurdle Current BetVictor Odds
Ivanovich Gorbatov (9/2), Zubayr (5/1), Sceau Royal (15/2), Footpad (9/1), Who Dares Wins (11/1), Connetable (12/1), Let’s Dance (14/1), Clan Des Obeaux and Apple’s Jade (16/1), Tommy Silver (20/1), Frodon and Leoncavallo (25/1), Gibralfaro (28/1), Consul De Thaix (33/1), Big McIntosh (150/1)
The Vincent O’Brien Handicap Hurdle is always one of the most competitive races at The Festival and there are 26 due to face the starter this year.
This is not a race in which to throw all your eggs into one basket as the winner will need luck in-running. Several bookmakers are offering place betting down to fifth place so check before you bet.
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I can see HAWK HIGH running well at the general 33/1 as he’s at his best on good ground. he won the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in his younger days and his last success also came on this sort of surface at Aintree back in 2014. he’s had just the one run this winter so will be fresher than some and Tim Easterby wouldn’t have sent him down from North Yorkshire for the day out.
STARCHITECT ran a cracker in the Betfair considering he was returning from a lay-off. He’s another who will enjoy the better going and his jockey Tom Scudamore is having a good week – he is a general 12/1. Modus, widely available at 16/1, is a smart novice who still has time on his side while Blue Hell (10/1 with BetVictor) beat Coral Cup winner Diamond King on his latest start so has to be respected.
Vincent O’Brien Handicap Hurdle Current Best Odds
Great Field (8/1), Superb Story (9/1), Blue Hell and All Yours (10/1), Starchitect and Henry Higgins (12/1), John Constable (14/1), Modus, Wait For Me and Cardinal Walter (16/1), Dicosimo and Sternrubin (20/1), Mad Jack Mytton, Montbazon, Some Plan and Cheltenian (25/1), Devilment, Hawk High, Fethard Player, Sizing Tennessee and Bentelimar (33/1), Draco, Francis Of Assisi and Ivan Grozny (40/1), Kayf Blanco and Zamdy Man (50/1)
