SHAMROCK ON DAY FOUR OF THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: SHAMROCK turns his attention to the Irish challenge on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival – racing again starts at 1.30pm.
It’s been a great week so far for the Irish trained runners and hopefully there will be a winner or two on the final day.
1:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle) (4yo, Class 1, 2m 1f, 16 runners)
Nicky Henderson looks to have a strong hold on this year’s Triumph with the unbeaten pair Peace And Co and Top Notch backed up by Tony McCoy’s mount Hargam – quite a trio. Willie Mullins also saddles three, of which the pick looks to be Petite Parisienne who handled the step up in class well to win the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out. At around 3.8 on the BETDAQ place market she looks the best bet in the race.
2:05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m 1f, 25 runners)
The first of several impossible looking handicaps on the card. Willie Mullins has five of the runners here but I think the best of the Irish might be the Tony Martin trained Quick Jack who has been rested for this. He was a winner of a handicap here at Cheltenham in 2013 and since then has run well on the flat including finishing a close up third to Big Easy in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last October – a race in which he was sent off favourite. It’s quite possible he remains well handicapped over hurdles.
2:40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Spa Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 3m, 20 runners)
Another Willie Mullins assault on the race with five contenders. Arbre De Vie is a big price with Paul Townend onboard but I think has solid place claims. The five-year-old has had three races – in France, Ireland and England – improving with each start and last time romped home by 11 lengths over 2m 5f and should relish the extra distance. At around 6.2 on the BETDAQ place market he looks worth an interest even allowing for the huge step up in class.
3:20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 3m 2f 110y, 17 runners)
An incredibly open renewal of the blue riband event of the week and although Silviniaco Conti, fourth last year, looks set to go off favourite on BETDAQ it would come as no surprise to see a late gamble develop in the race. There’s actually quite a strong Irish challenge headed by Djakadam, Carlingford Lough and Road To Riches. Of that trio I prefer the chances of the Noel Meade trained Road To Riches who stayed on well to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last time out and comes into this on a hat-trick having previously won the Jnwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal with ease.
4:00 St. James’s Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (5yo+, Class 2, 3m 2f 110y, 24 runners)
On The Fringe looks a likely winner for Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry. The ten-year-old is really consistent and ran a great race in this last year when third to Tammys Hill. On that form he will need to reverse form with Carsonstown Boy who was second but I think that is entirely possible.
4:40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (4yo+, Class 2, 2m 4f 110y, 24 runners)
Mckinley for Willie Mullins has place claims here. He sprang a massive surprise at 33/1 when beating odds on stable rival Tell Us More at Naas in a Grade 1 and then struggled in a more competitive Grade 1 at Leopardstown. However, back in handicap company and as a place bet looks entirely a different proposition.
5:15 A.P. McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (For The Johnny Henderson Challenge Cup) (Grade 3) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m 110y, 24 runners)
Whatever you think of Ned Buntline’s chances you can guarantee one thing. You will be forced to take much shorter than the true odds. Currently 5.6 on BETDAQ he is A P McCoy’s last Festival ride and just to add to the ‘scripted’ ending the race has also been renamed after AP too !!! Good luck to AP – I’m having a small bet on Ted Veale who was an excellent third in a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last time out.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
1.30 PETITE PARISIENNE (place)
2.05 QUICK JACK (win and place)
2.40 ARBRE DE VIE (place)
3.20 ROAD TO RICHES (nap)
4.00 ON THE FRINGE (win and place) (next best)
4.40 MCKINLEY (place)
5.15 TED VEALE (place)
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