Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Friday Tips
13:30 – Nurburgring
14:10 – King of Kingsfield (Each Way)
14:50 – Captain Teague (Each Way)
15:30 – Galopin Des Champs
16:10 – It’s On The Line
16:50 – Allegorie De Vassy
17:30 – Teddy Blue
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Friday’s card includes plenty to get excited about either side of the Gold Cup at 15:30 with seven races split across the day to wrap up the festival. Despite the temptation to roll the dice on less fancied runners in the Gold Cup, the gut instinct is to stick with the favourite Galopin De Champs to become the first winner to retain the crown since Al Boum Photo back in 2020. There’s value elsewhere on Friday, and Allegorie De Vassy in the 16:50 retains a strong price to bring home another win for Willie Mullins, if you’re sticking around after the Gold Cup.
13:30 – Nurburgring
The final day of Cheltenham 2024 gets under way with the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle over two miles and a furlong. With Sir Gino out it’s all change here. NURBURGRING was a fine third last time in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown with the useful Kargese in second. My hope was running on strongly that day and I suspect he has strong eachway claims here for Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin.
14:10 – King of Kingsfield (Each Way)
The County Handicap Hurdle is over two miles and a furlong. A bit boring, but KING OF KINGSFIELD will be very hard to keep out the places for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. The Gigginstown runner was third behind the class Ballyburn and Supreme hero Slade Steel at Leopardstown last time and a mark of 140 might be very generous. Worth a few quid eachway.
14:50 – Captain Teague (Each Way)
Another Grade 1 here in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles. CAPTAIN TEAGUE has been gagging for a step up in trip and this is his chance to shine for champion Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. The Bumper third from last year did well to land the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury last time, but he’s been crying out for a longer distance, and he gets ground the loves. Another eachway selection.
15:30 – Galopin Des Champs
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The big race of the week in the Grade 1 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup over an extended three miles and two furlongs. This is a Gold Cup which has strength in depth but there’s no doubt GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, the defending champion, is the most talented horse in the race and comes into this in great form after victories in the Savills and Paddy Power Gold Cup. Stamina is his forte and he should simply outstay the field with his class and ability. Another win for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Away from the selection, I will also have a few quid eachway on Corach Rambler, who does so well at this track and might outrun his odds. The Ultima winner loves to come off a strong pace at this track and he might slip into the frame for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox.
16:10 – It’s On The Line
Hunters’ Chase time now in the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup over an extended three miles and two furlongs. My two big fancies this week have always been Chianti Classic – who banged in on Tuesday – and ITS ON THE LINE who goes here for Emmet Mullins. Last year’s runner-up has been in tremendous form since, and while he’s a character who can do some odd things on the way round, I expect him to go one place better this time.
16:50 – Allegorie De Vassy
Here’s the beautiful Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase over an extended two miles and four furlongs. Many believe Dinoblue is a good thing in this but I like her stable companion from the Willie Mullins yard ALLEGORIE DE VASSY. Paul Townend is on top and she only has 3lb on ratings to find with the favourite. I believe the yard have changed a few things with her for this and she did well to win in heavy at Naas last time.
17:30 – Teddy Blue
Cheltenham 2024 comes to a close with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles. TEDDY BLUE is a massive price for Niall Houlihan and Gary Moore, but I think he might defy the odds. He’s on a mark of 131 despite finishing second in a handicap at Haydock in May last year off 132. This season he hasn’t been disgraced in the Lanzarote at Kempton or when fourth in behind Mothill at Ascot last time. It might be this trip stretches his stamina, but at the odds I’ll risk it.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Friday Tips
13:30 – Nurburgring
14:10 – King of Kingsfield (Each Way)
14:50 – Captain Teague (Each Way)
15:30 – Galopin Des Champs
16:10 – It’s On The Line
16:50 – Allegorie De Vassy
17:30 – Teddy Blue
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Read More
- Get all the latest Horse Racing Tips at Paddy Power News
- Cheltenham Free Bet Offers: Why Paddy’s better than the rest for Festival fun!
- Paddy’s Ultimate Cheltenham 2024 preview night – tips for every race, NAPs and insider info!
- Cheltenham Tips: Frank Hickey’s Handicap Fancies for the Festival
- Cheltenham Tips: Timeform’s 3 Best Handicap Picks non runner no bet at the Festival
- Cheltenham Tips: The 5 best-backed runners in Paddy’s non runner money back book
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
