The fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the main event of the year for National Hunt followers with the Gold Cup as the main event on the day.
Fourteen horses were declared at the 48 hour stage for the Chasing Blue Ribband event, headed by the reigning champion Bobs Worth.
Barry Geraghty once again teams up the 2013 winner and comes to Cheltenham off the back of one of his most impressive performances in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
King George winner, Silviniaco Conti is the main danger to Bobs Worth according to the BETDAQ markets with Irish Gold Cup winner, Last Instalment next on the Exchanges and leads the Irish challenge. First Lieutenant, On His Own and Lord Windermere complete the Irish challenge as Lyreen Legend is a doubtful starter.
Third in the Gold Cup two years ago, The Giant Bolster will attempt for glory once more as will Knockara Beau who beat the great Big Buck’s over hurdles last time out in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Bobs Worth’s trainer Nicky Henderson also saddle Triolo D’Alene who is the mount of AP McCoy while Grand National hope Teaforthree, Katenko, Houblon Des Obeaux and Cloudy Too complete the line up in what should be an enthralling Gold Cup.
The card opens with the Triumph Hurdle and 16 runners are set to go to post. Willie Mullins’s Gitane Du Berlais was the most notable absentee from the field and he relies now on Abbyssial and Adriana Des Mottes. Tiger Roll represents Gigginstown and will be the mount of Davy Russell while Aidan O’Brien has his first runner of Hurdles at Cheltenham with Plinth for JP McManus. Lindenhurst and Guitar Pete complete the Irish runners.
It is the Paul Nicholls trained Calipto that heads the BETDAQ market with Daryl Jacob set to ride. Jacob and Nicholls teamed up in 2011 to win the race with Zarkandar. Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson has declared by Kentucky Hyden and Royal Irish Hussar.
Nicky Henderson will also be very keen to win the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, a race named after his father, and he runs French Opera, Tanks for That and Anquetta entered. Henderson has won the race just once when Bellvano won in 2012. Twenty four horses are declared for the finale of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival.
The other big Handicap on the card is the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle where a full field of 28 go to post with the weights headed by Willie Mullins’s Diakali. Former Cheltenham winners Flaxen Flare, Cinders And Ashes and Cheltenian are also in a strong looking field however, last week’s Imperial Cup winner Baltimore Rock did not make the cut and connections miss out on a bonus for winning both races.
Willie Mullins’s stronghold on the Novice division looks set to continue with Briar Hill being a short priced favourite for the 20 runner Albert Barlett Novice’s Hurdle. Last year’s Champion Bumper winner faces a strong field as he bids to hold onto his unbeaten record.
All the main protagonists stood their ground in the Amateur riders Gold Cup, the CGA Foxhunters. On The Fringe heads the market for the team of JP McManus, Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry. Oscar Delta who was extremely unlucky in the race last year takes his chance once more.
The Pipe stable have yet to win the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle, the penultimate race of the Festival and David Pipe has entered just one, Vieux Lion Rouge in the 24 runner field.
The closing day of the Cheltenham Festival is sure to be an enthralling last day as we crown the final champions for 2014 in the big race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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