Cheltenham Festival Day 4

The third day of the Cheltenham Festival was as per normal, plenty of big outsiders winning and the bookies making plenty of money. I learnt my lesson over the years trying to find winners on the Thursday, it’s a road to the poor house.

There were a couple of short ones, Allaho was just about the cert of the meeting. Galopin Des Champs slipping on landing was cruel, he looks a monster the way he brushed aside Bob Olinger until the unlucky fall.

On to today.

The Juvenile Hurdles this season have been well above average. It’s been a vintage year and no doubt plenty of them will develop into top horses in the years to come.

Vauban seems to be held in very high regard by Willie Mullins and could take top rank next. Not going to get rich backing him but he’s hard to oppose. Connections say he could be a Melbourne Cup horse in time!

The hugely competitive County Hurdle always takes a huge amount of winning. State Man has been laid out for this and it’s quite possible we have a Willie Mullins double after the first two races. State Man could be anything, the talk suggests he’s a graded horse and much better than a handicapper. Of the English runners, West Cork looks the best chance and is an EW price.

The big race of the festival takes place at 3:30, The Gold Cup.

It’s hard to see the prize staying in England. A Plus Tard & Galvin are difficult to split and I think one of them will likely win. Al Boum Photo could be the EW pick at nice odds. We know he stays and will give his running.

The getting out stakes is the Martin Pipe at 5:30. If you need a winner here, good luck to you!

My pin has fallen on Hollow Games priced at 7-1 EW. He’s been running in graded races, will stay every yard and if bang there jumping the last, will love the battle to the line. Langer Dan has been trained for this race since finishing second last year and should also run well.