Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Preview

The Cheltenham Festival has certainly served up its share of thrills and spills, from spectacular performances to flopping favourites and much more besides. All things must come to an end however, and Friday sees the drama draw to a conclusion for another year. And as ever, the meeting goes out with a bang, with the headline act being just about the classiest jumps race on the planet. Here we pick out our best bets in the big one of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in addition to a couple of solid looking bets on the undercard.

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Gold for Galvin and Gordon

2021 Gold Cup champ Minella Indo hasn’t looked quite at his peak this term but did take a step in the right direction last time out and can’t be ruled out in his repeat bid. It is however last year’s runner up A Plus Tard who heads the betting having posted a brilliant win in the Betfair Chase and only been beaten a short head in the Savills Chase last time out. He likely won’t be far away, but it is the horse who got up to chin him on the line in that contest over in Ireland who will be carrying our cash here. Hailing from the yard of Gordon Elliott, Galvin needed every yard of that 3m trip in the Savills Chase, but did still manage to get there, and seems sure to be suited by the step up to 3m2½f. Successful in the National Hunt Chase in 2021, the mount of Davy Russell is fancied to bag a second Festival triumph in the biggest one of them all.

• Galvin to Win at 10/3 with William Hill

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Crest Looks Best

The Irish have taken four of the past five editions of this staying contest for the novice hurdlers, and look set to make a bold bid once again with Gordon Elliott’s five-time seeking, Ginto leading the charge. Looking just the type of resolute galloper to go well in this, he likely won’t be far away, but is nevertheless trying both this trip and the track for the first time. Overall we feel the trophy may remain on home soil this season, and the one to do it is Henry Daly’s giant of a horse, Hillcrest. Having scored over this trip in heavy ground at Haydock last time out, he surely wont be found wanting in the stamina department, whilst his win in the Listed Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle here in January suggests the hill should hold no fears. Boasting excellent form in the book, backed up by rock solid times he is taken to but that huge stride to good effect here.

• Hillcrest at 7/2 with Betfred

St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup: Winged To Lead Them Home

Billaway heads the betting for the big Hunter Chase on the card but has done so in each of the past two seasons, without managing to win. Whilst respected, he doesn’t look to offer much in the way of value, particularly as there is one amongst the opposition who beat him by no fewer than 12 lengths in January of this year. That horse hails from the small yard of David Christie and goes by the name of Winged Leader. Seemingly still improving at eight years of age, it wasn’t only the winning margin which impressed in that January display, but also the ease with which he cruised clear. This is tougher, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised should he prove up to the task.

• Winged Leader to Win at 5/1 with Betfred