We’re now halfway through another fantastic Cheltenham Festival and have already witnessed some superb races and outstanding performances. Here’s hoping the final two days deliver more of the same. Below are our best bets for the remainder of the week. Tom has tipped us two winners and is a man in good form. Enjoy the rest of the Festival, and best of luck with all your selections!
Thursday 12th March – Day Three
Richard – HERAKLES WESTWOOD (17:20) 9/1 E/W – The Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a race which requires a stamina laden horse and a talented amateur rider and in Herakles Westwood ridden by Finnian Maguire we have both. The selection won over this course on his last outing and significantly on good ground. It would be great to see Lambourn trailer Warren Greatrex back in the Festival Winners Enclosure and put a stop to the recent Irish dominance in this race.
Tom – WODHOOH (14:40) 8/11 – I was trying to pick one out at a bit of a bigger price, but if we’re talking about a confident fancy for Thursday, it simply has to be Wodhooh. With her chief ante-post rival Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle, this should be a comfortable enough race for Wodhooh, whose trainer has said is his best chance of a winner at the Festival this year. She’s only tasted defeat once over hurdles (when runner-up to Lossiemouth at Aintree last year) and is going from strength to strength. I simply cannot see her losing.
Meena – IMPAIRE ET PASSE (16:00) 6/1 – A high-class hurdler and chaser who comfortably beat Gaelic Warrior here in 2023. He looks good value in this race and is more than capable of causing an upset.
Matt – WODHOOH (14:40) 8/11 – I am going to have to agree with everything Tom has said! I can’t see past Gordon Elliott’s mare. I will also give a shoutout to MEETMEBYTHESEA (14:00) 8/1 E/W who I put up as one to follow at the start of the season and at a huge price, HOME BY THE LEE (15:20) 40/1 E/W.
Friday 13th March – Day Four
Richard – JALON D’OUDAIRIES (15:20) 14/1 E/W – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is a real test of stamina which throws up numerous decent staying chasers of the future. Gordon Elliott runs 4 and of that quintet I like the profile of Jalon d’Oudairies. 4th in the Champion Bumper here 2 years ago shows his undoubted raw ability and after a season missed through injury hes making up for lost time now. A 2nd at Leopardstown over Christmas was swiftly followed by a win at Naas, he’s ground versatile and looks like hes been crying out for the step up to 3 miles.
Tom – DINOBLUE (14:40) 6/4 -Willie Mullins has won three of the five runnings of this race, including last year with DINOBLUE, who looks a good thing to go back-to-back in the race. The 9YO ran out an easy winner of the race last year, and has continued in similar form this season, winning her last two races comfortably. I respect Panic Attack and Spindleberry, but they will need to put in career-best performances to beat Dinoblue, and even if they do improve, I still think Dinoblue will have their measure.
GAELIC WARRIOR (16:00) 7/2 – In the Gold Cup, I’d be keen on Gaelic Warrior, who put in an excellent effort to finish runner-up to Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup last month. Prior to that, she was third in the bunched finish of the King George, and I’d fancy him to come out on top in this with Paul Townend back in the saddle.
Meena – THE JUKEBOX MAN (16:00) 4/1 – Won a strong renewal of the King George at Christmas and has solid from at the track.
GREY DAWNING (16:00) 12/1 E/W – Stylish winner of the Betfair Chase and had a nice prep for this in January. Good to soft will suit him well and can run well at a nice price.
Matt – HAITI COULEURS (16:00) 6/1 E/W – It looks a tricky day for punters and the Gold Cup is a fascinating contest. One of my favourite horses in training is Haiti Couleurs, whom I’ve backed every time he has run this season and I’ll be doing the same again.There are certainly horses with more class in the race, but I’m hoping Sean Bowen can get him into a good jumping rhythm out in front and allow him to grind his rivals down. He’s versatile regarding the ground and looks capable of running a big race at each-way odds, although the price isn’t quite as generous as it once was.
Odds correct at time of posting – 8:40am Thursday 12th March
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