So here we are, the final day of this year's Cheltenham Festival.
Following our success with Un De Sceaux and Let's Dance yesterday, we're trying to finish the meeting with some more winners...
Selections on scale of 1-5 Points. (1 means quietly fancied; 5 means strongly fancied.)
JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) - 13:30
Unbeaten in five starts for Philip Hobbs since arriving from France. Impressive when winning the Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow by 13 lengths as well as winning three times at Cheltenham this season, which include a nine length victory in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle on Festival Trials day in January. A rapidly improving horse, he will not be inconvenienced by the ground and can feature prominently here.
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Defi Du Seuil 4pts Win - 9/4 at SkyBet
(Money Back If Your Horse Loses)
Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) - 14:10
Winner of the Triumph Hurdle at last year's Festival Ivanovich Gorbatov has been keeping smart company so far this year and reverting to handicap company for this event, he looks interesting off a rating of 148.
Gordon Elliott has had a superb Festival and Mick Jazz looks to be rapidly improving. A winner at Punchestown last time out, he has progressed rapidly this year and a mark of 142 may not be beyond him.
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Ivanovich Gorbatov 1pt E/W - 12/1 at SkyBet
Mick Jazz 1pt E/W - 12/1 at SkyBet NON-RUNNER
(SkyBet are paying 6 places)
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) - 14:50
Has looked a very smart prospect over hurdles so far this season, the son of Shantou is unbeaten in four starts over timber and was a decisive winner at Naas last time. The step up to three miles should really highlight his stamina-laden qualities. A solid jumper, strong traveller and seemingly very good, he has to take a lot of beating in this event. My NAP of the entire meeting, I expect very good things.
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(Read More in our Festival NAP preview here)
Death Duty 5pts Win NAP - 5/2 at BetVictor
Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) - 15:30
It may be my heart ruling my head but I just think this could be Cue Card's year. A faller when tanking into contention in this race last year at the third last, I think this could be his last real chance to have an outstanding chance of winning this event. Impressive when winning the Ascot Chase last time, that should have left him spot on for this assignment he has to run a big race in an average Gold Cup.
At a price Champagne West could also run well. He has benefitted from the switch from Philip Hobbs' yard to Henry De Bromhead. A winner of his last two starts, which included a gutsy victory in the Thyestes Chase, he could outrun his price in Racing's Blue Riband event.
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(Read More in our Gold Cup preview here)
Cue Card 2pts E/W - 5/1 at BetVictor
Champagne West 1pt E/W - 20/1 at BetVictor
St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - 16:10
Enda Bolger's On The Fringe still looks one of the real class acts in this field and has a chance of winning this race for the third consecutive year. The Exit To Nowhere gelding was a superb second on his reappearance at Leopardstown in February and Bolger is a master at getting this horse ready to prime in the spring and he rates as a strong selection.
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On The Fringe 4pts Win - 7/4 at BetVictor
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - 16:50
A winner of his last three starts, Philip Hobbs excels with his handicappers and No Comment looks well placed to run a big race. His latest win at Plumpton was franked by the second that day winning a competitive handicap hurdle at Sandown last weekend and he would have to go close based on that form in this event.
Battleford has finished second on his last two starts to decent sorts in the shape of The Storyteller at Thurles and Monalee at Clonmel. Willie Mullins does like to target this race and running off a handicap rating of 135, he could step up on his latest form in this event. Willie Mullins has had a decent end to the week and the son of Midnight Legend was second in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper last year, before chasing home stable companion Bacardys in a bumper at Aintree. He should appreciate the drop down to handicap company and could show his class here.
No Comment 3pts E/W - 8/1 at bet365
Battleford 1pt E/W - 10/1 at bet365
(bet365 are paying 5 places)
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) - 17:30
The Paul Nicholls-trained Le Prezien is a very decent sort on his day and after winning a couple of chase events earlier this term, he was fourth in a hot contest at Sandown. Nicholls looks to have him primed for this two mile race which will really suit him and I can see him running a very big race.
Jessica Harrington has already had a winner this week with Supasundae and Rock The World is interesting returning from a break, having not run since October. He may have been readied for this event and has been well supported.
Le Prezien 2pts E/W - 6/1 at BetVictor
Rock The World 1pt E/W - 11/1 at BetVictor
Words By: Danny Archer
