As another dazzling Cheltenham Festival draws to a close punters will be looking to sign out of the meeting on a high after a largely disastrous week for favourite backers.
High profile defeats for Dunguib and Master Minded on Tuesday and Wednesday left the nation’s leading bookies jumping for joy and it was not until Big Buck’s’ power-packed victory in Thursday’s World Hurdle that layers tasted a poor result.
Still, with confidence overflowing the leading bookmakers are offering a number of promotions and free bets to customers on Friday in an attempt to lure them back into the betting jungle.
Racingbase tipster Nick Wilby takes a look at today's action:
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle
2m1f Grade 1 juvenile hurdle
A far from vintage Triumph Hurdle to get the fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival underway and the bookies will be looking to pile the misery on punters by getting Irish duo Alaivan (4/1, Ladbrokes £200 free) and Carlito Brigante (9/2, Ladbrokes £200 free) beaten by an outsider lurking in the pack. Alaivan is the current market leader and there is no doubt that he is a very classy individual.
Rated 110 on the flat for trainer John Oxx, he bolted up with a 17 length victory in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse on only his third start over obstacles, after being turned over at odds-on by the less fashionable Carlito Brigante at Leopardstown. He is undoubtedly smart but it is doubtful that the hustle and bustle of a Triumph Hurdle will suit a horse with his limited physical presence.
Carlito Brigante should be favourite for the race based on his facile victory over Alaivan at Leopardstown but his moderate flat form seems to be held against him and fellow Irish raider Seacant Star (9/1,Ladbrokes £200 free) will be popular hailing from the Willie Mullins yard. However a chance is taken on PITTONI (16/1, Paddy Power £100 free bet) to bounce back to form for trainer Charles Byrnes and this former John Oxx inmate heads into the race with Grade One winning form to his name.
Nick Wilby’s selection: Pittoni each-way (16/1, Paddy Power)
Ladbrokes are offering customers a free £200 bet on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival – sign up here now.
2.05 Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle
2m1f handicap hurdle
Yet another daunting handicap puzzle at this year’s Festival and it could be that we have a 10/1 favourite, such is the fierce competition on offer in this Grade Three. Tito Bustillo (9/1, Bet365 £200 free) is sure to be popular for the Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh combination and Rock Noir (12/1,Ladbrokes £200 free) is also sure to be heavily backed for connections, but it is worth taking an each-way punt on the very classy NOBLE PRINCE (12/1, William Hill £35 free) who was sent off 7/10 favourite for the 2009 Group One Prix du Cadran less than two years ago. Having tackled more experienced and battle-hardened opposition on his last two starts, he enters handicap company on a feasible mark and with the ground likely to suit, he could run exceedingly well if everything drops into place.
Bellvano (10/1, Paddy Power £100 free) is respected and Tawaagg (10/1, Blue Square £10 free) cannot be left out of calculations.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Noble Prince each-way (12/1, William Hill £35 free)
Paddy Power are offering their customers a remarkable £100 free bet on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival – sign up now.
2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
3m Grade One
A fascinating clash between a whole host of unexposed potential improvers and there is a number of horses who look likely to benefit from their step up in trip. It is not hard to see why Tell Massini (9/2, Bet365 £200 free) is the favourite for the race and Reve De Sivola paid the ultimate compliment to the horse when chasing home Peddlers Cross in the Neptune Investment earlier in the week, while Restless Harry (8/1, Blue Square £10 free) is held in the highest regard by his trainer.
However, SHINROCK PADDY (9/1, Paddy Power £100 free) arrives at Cheltenham on the back of a scintillating victory in a Grade One at Navan and he looked as if a step up to three miles would be right up his street. The form of the race has been franked and while he will not want the ground riding too good, he looks a potential superstar in the making. Quel Esprit (7/1, William Hill £35 free) and Enterprise Park (8/1, Blue Square, £10 free) can chase him home.
Nick Wilby’s selection: Shinrock Paddy (9/1, Paddy Power £100 free)
Blue Square are offering customers a free £10 bet on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival – sign up now using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS.
3.20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
3m2 1/2 f Grade One
The third instalment of the long running rivalry between stablemates and arch-rivals Kauto Star (4/5, Bet365 £200 free) and Denman (5/1, Ladbrokes £200 free) and a mouth-watering clash looks in store. It’s impossible to oppose Kauto Star and he is taken to land his third Gold Cup in four years, confirming himself as one of racing all time legends. A bloodless 36 length victory in the King George at Kempton proved that the horse is better than ever and he is almost impossible to oppose.
Denman was right back to the brilliant best he’d shown putting Kauto Sword to the sword in the 2008 Gold Cup when annihilating stablemate What A Friend in the Hennessy Gold Cup, but the wheels soon came off when he fluffed his lines in the Aon Chase at Newbury last time out. He is clearly better than that and if he were to bounce back to his best then it could be the battle we have hoped for all season, but even if he is back to his formidable self it may not be enough to stop the champion.
While Kauto Star looks by far and away the most likely winner, COOLDINE looks a decent price at 2/1 (VCBet, £100 free) in the betting without Kauto Star and Denman market. He is open to plenty of improvement and could have the better of Imperial Commander (15/2, Paddy Power outright market, £100 free), a horse who’s stamina remains in some doubt.
Nick Wilby’s selection: Cooldine in the betting without Kauto Star and Denman market (2/1, VCBet £100 free)
Coral are offering new customers a free £50 bet on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival – sign up using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS now.
4.00 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
3m2 ½f Class Two
A wide open renewal of the Foxhunter and a case can be made for a number of the leading contenders, particularly the overwhelmingly well handicapped Roulez Cool (4/1, VCBet £100 free bet) who runs with 9lbs in hand on official ratings. He has had this race in mind for some time and has been gambled on accordingly, but he is a short price for such a competitive race and it is worth taking a chance on one of the outsiders, notably ON THE NET (33/1 Stan James £25 free bet) who heads into the race in search of a hat-trick. The trip and ground look perfect and he may outrun his big odds.
Nick Wilby’s selection: On The Net each-way (33/1, Stan James £25 free bet)
Stan James are offering punters a free £25 bet on the 2010 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup. Sign up now using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS.
4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
2m4 1/2f Class Two
Another baffling handicap for punters to try and sort out and it doesn’t look like the sort of race you really want to be getting too involved in. Ashkazar (6/1,Ladbrokes £200 free) will be popular and if he returns to his best then he could be very well handicapped while C’esta Ca (10/1, Bet365 £200 free) and Peveril (8/1, Paddy Power £100 free) will have their supporters for their top stables. However, once again a chance is taken on an outsider and down at the bottom of the weights LOVE OF TARA (40/1, Stan James £25 free) could outrun her big odds. Despite a 4lb hike in the weights, she runs off a light weight and her trainer is expecting a bold showing.
Nick Wilby’s selection: Love Of Tara each-way (40/1, Stan James £25 free bet)
Blue Square are offering new customers a free £10 bet on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, sign up now using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS.
5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup
2m 1/2f Grade Three
Paul Nicholls’ one time Arkle Trophy market leader Tataniano (11/1, William Hill £35 free bet) could run a huge race if he is resumes his upward curve of improvement, but he is not even the first choice of Ruby Walsh and it could be better to turn to one of Nicky Henderson’s highly talented trio, YOU’RE THE TOP (nb) (8/1, Ladbrokes £200 free), French Opera (11/1, Bet365 £200 free) and Pepsyrock (20/1, VC Bet, £100 free). You’re The Top is open to any amount of improvement and looks the stable first string based on jockey bookings, with Barry Geraghty hopping in the saddle. He could be tough to beat but his jumping will have to be at its best in such a competitive looking finale to the Festival.
Nick Wilby’s selection: You’re The Top (8/1, Ladbrokes £200 free)
William Hill are offering new customers a free £35 bet on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival – sign up with the firm now!