Cheltenham Festival 2018
My best bet of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival runs in the
opener on Gold Cup day with Apple’s
Shakira (1.30) a confident selection to maintain her unbeaten record in the
Triumph Hurdle under Barry Geraghty. The well-bred filly is a full sister to
Gordon Elliott’s multiple G1 winner Apple’s Jade and couldn’t have been any
more impressive in her two starts for trainer Nicky Henderson. Her
stamina-laden pedigree should see her thrive on the new course and she should
make it 3 from 3 at Prestbury Park.
The drying ground should aid the chances of Ivanovich Gorbatov (2.10) in the County
Hurdle, with last year’s beaten favourite potentially well-treated from a 3lb
lower mark. His chances are aided further by the 3lb claim of conditional
jockey JJ Slevin and he has obvious claims at a place that seemingly brings the
best out of him.
He is one of 5 Irish raiders at the head of the first
half-dozen in the weights in a race that the Irish have dominated in recent
renewals. Stablemate Tigris River should appreciate better ground, whilst the
Mullins trio of Bleu Et Rouge, Lagostovegas and Sandsend should all go well for
the Closutton handler.
I’ve been waiting for Divin Bere to resurface since
disappointed earlier in the campaign and I expect him to go well in a
first-time tongue tie for trainer Paul Nicholls. The selection was narrowly
beaten in the Fred Winter at last year’s festival and I expect him to thrive
over the likely cavalry charge over the minimum trip.
Nicky Henderson should land the opener and is expected to complete
a G1 double with challengers Santini and Chef Des Obeaux (2.50) vying for
favouritism in the Albert Bartlett, with marginal preference for the latter Noel
Fehily. The selection has impressed on soft ground at Kempton and Haydock,
bolting-up in bottomless ground at the latter, and looks to have the desired
stamina for such an attritional test.
Might Bite (3.30) can complete an emphatic treble in the
Cheltenham Gold Cup under Nico de Boinville. The talented gelding isn’t shy of
a quirk, as seen when holding on from stablemate Whisper in the RSA Chase at
the festival 12 months ago, but is getting more and more professional with
every run and looked better than ever in the King George. He warrants maximum
respect and with BetVictor’s 4 places cannot be out of the first four home.
The Foxhunter is something of a guess-up, and is ultimately
a race where is pays to side with the more ‘professional’ jockeys amongst the amateur
ranks. Nina Carberry has won two of the last three renewals aboard On the
Fringe and both he, and last year’s winner Pacha du Polder, appear vulnerable
to younger legs.
The pair of Wonderful
Charm (4.10) and Foxrock remain relatively unexposed for a pair of 10yos
and looks over-priced at 8/1 under the excellent pair of Sam Waley-Cohen and
Katie Walsh respectively. The former was arguably unlucky not to get the job 12
months ago, staying on well to finish second in the closing stages, and can go
one better under the galloping dentist.
Much like Wednesday, the final three races of the meeting
are horrendously difficult, and the Martin Pipe is no exception with a field of
unexposed novices and Willie Mullins saddling three and Gordon Elliott saddling
a further five.
I think the home faithful can gain a deserved consolation
however with both Melrose Boy and Diese
des Bieffes (4.50) making plenty of appeal and marginal preference for the
latter under James Bowen. The selection was a beaten favourite when unlucky in
the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton and should remain ahead of the handicapper
despite a 2lb rise at the weights.
Plenty have been campaigned around the Grand Annual and I
like the pair of Vaniteux (5.30) and
Theinval for Messrs Pipe and Henderson respectively. The former is
well-handicapped on his Ayr success last season, whilst the latter remains the
trainer’s last hope of winning the race named after his old man. Theinval ran a
blinder to finish third 12 months ago and must go close from an unrevised mark.
1.30 Apple’s Shakira (Nap)
2.10 Ivanovich Gorbatov/Divin Bere
2.50 Chef des Obeaux/Santini
3.30 Might Bite (NB)
4.10 Wonderful Charm/Foxrock
4.50 Diese des Bieffes/Melrose Boy
5.30 Vaniteux/Theinval
For all the latest odds head to www.BetVictor.com
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