IF the Grand National is the people’s race, then there’s no doubt the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one for the purists.
A fabulous 2023 Festival draws to a close this afternoon with one horse about to gallop into racing’s history books.
PAChappers loves the look of Minella Indo in the Gold Cup – but keep an eye on Noble Yeats storming home up the hill[/caption]
Appropriately, hotpot Galopin des Champs is the one I think will do so in the Boodles-sponsored Grade 1 feature.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has always looked a monster and was desperately unlucky when coming down late on last year in the Turners Novices’ Chase.
He stayed on well to land the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup last time and I’ve never been concerned about his stamina even though some have doubted his ability to see out the Gold Cup distance.
In a cracking renewal set to include last year’s impressive victor A Plus Card, I’ll also have a few quid eachway on the latter’s stable companion MINELLA INDO who should never be in the region of 20-1.
The 2021 Gold Cup hero and 2022 runner-up might well hit the frame again for Henry de Bromhead.
Gold Cup day gets under way with the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle over two miles and one furlong.
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I’ve long been all over LOSSIEMOUTH for this and I’m not changing my mind now.
The Rich Ricci runner, another ridden by Townend and trained by Mullins, was unlucky to be beaten by Gala Marceau at Leopardstown last time and I expect the filly to turn that form around.
This has always been her target and a huge player.
The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one furlong might go to PEMBROKE, who looks a promising type for the Skelton team of trainer Dan and jockey Harry.
This is his first try in handicap company but he has useful track experience having chased home a promising horse in a novice event at the track last time.
A slight drop in trip here is no issue and he’s a player eachway.
The Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is over three miles.
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU looks a very strong stayer and might not be a crazy eachway chance here at big odds for Elliott and Jordan Gainford.
My hope has rattled off easy wins at Thurles and Limerick recently and looks a promising horse in the making, though might be more a chaser than hurdler but should be staying on well so an eachway chance.
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After the Gold Cup is the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase over an extended three miles and two furlongs.
The fact that VAUCELET is the chosen one for trainer David Christie and jockey Barry O’Neill is a big pointer to his chance.
Recent successes at Stratford and Down Royal suggest he will take all the beating and connections have a line on last year’s hero Billoway through the absent Winged Leader.
The penultimate race of Cheltenham 2023 is the superb Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase over an extended two miles and four furlongs.
Hard to get away from ALLEGORIE DE VASSY for Ricci, Mullins and Townend.
The French import has always looked classy and impressed at Thurles in January. Stamina is no issue and her yard knows the time of day. I expect her to be too good.
Finally the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and four furlongs.
I’m very keen on COOL SURVIVOR for Elliott and Sam Ewing, for all my selection might like a bit further.
There was nothing wrong with his fourth from off the pace to Good Land at Leopardstown in Grade 1 company and a mark of 140 looks workable.
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