Cheltenham Racing Tips
Ruby Walsh
Tuesday, 15:00 – Champion Hurdle – State Man
Tuesday, 16:10 – Mares Hurdle – Lossiemouth
Wednesday, 13:30 Gallaghers Novices’ Chase – Ballyburn
Wednesday, 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Fact To File
Matt Chapman
Wednesday, 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices Chase – Stay Away Fay
Thursday, 13:30 – Turners Novices’ Chase – Ginnys Destiny
Friday, 13:30 – Triumph Hurdle – Sir Gino
Friday 14:50 – Albert Bartlett – Gidleigh Park (each-way)
*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.
Ruby Walsh
Tuesday, 15:30 – Champion Hurdle – State Man
Even before the defection of Constitution Hill, there were plenty who fancied State Man to get his revenge this year, having finished runner-up to The Special One last season. Paul Townend never felt STATE MAN travelled with the fluidity he’s shown in his races in Ireland and comes into the Champion Hurdle unbeaten in four Grade 1 races since chasing Nicky Henderson’s superstar home last season. I’m sorry Matt, the first-day feature is going back to Ireland this time.
Tuesday, 16:10 – Mares Hurdle – Lossiemouth
If State Man wins the Champion Hurdle, Paul Townend mightn’t have to wait too long for the next Irish winner on the board as the flying grey LOSSIEMOUTH was imperious on her seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner is five wins from six starts since arriving at Willie Mullins’ from France, her only defeat coming in a long odds-on defeat at the hands of stablemate Gala Marceau.
Normal service was quickly resumed though and she comes here unbeaten in her last three starts. The slight concern is the 2m 4f trip but such was the impression she made last time that punters and pundits alike wanted her to run in the Champion Hurdle rather than the Mares’ Hurdle. Why settle for one, when you can have two, though Matt?
Wednesday, 13:30 Gallaghers Novices’ Chase – Ballyburn
The guessing game is finally over as Willie Mullins has declared BALLYBURN for Wednesday’s opening 2m 5f contest rather than the Supreme Hurdle on Tuesday that opens the four-day fiesta. I’ve always felt that Ballyburn – who was so impressive when winning at the Dublin Racing Festival last month – would discard the opposition in whatever race he ran in. I see no reason to change my mind now.
There’s a real feeling that the Irish could dominate Tuesday’s card and with Ballyburn coming out to bat in the first race on day two, things aren’t going to get any easier for the home side.
Wednesday, 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Fact To File
To be fair to the home challenge, there’s only one reason why the like of Stay Away Fay, Grey Dawning & Broadway Boy won’t be cheered into the winner’s enclosure, and his name is FACT TO FILE. Runner-up in last year’s Champion Bumper, he switched straight to Novice chasing this season and hasn’t disappointed. He was beaten by American Mike on debut but since then has sauntered home in a beginners chase and Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown. There will be tougher tests along the road and this contest is no gimme, but he’s gone down as Irish ‘banker’ material already and don’t be surprised to see him go right to the top in the years ahead.
Matt Chapman
Wednesday, 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices Chase – Stay Away Fay
Speaking of the Albertt Bartlett, last year’s winner of that three-mile novice STAY AWAY FAY is two wins from three starts over fences this season and the softer the ground the better his chance in the Brown Advisory Novice Chase on Wednesday. He ran well in open company last time when third to Capadanno and The Real Whacker at this track. If Ruby thinks Fact To File is the real deal, this Paul Nicholls’ runner will keep him honest all the way up Cleeve Hill.
Thursday, 13:30 – Turners Novices’ Chase – Ginnys Destiny
We switch to the New Couse for day three of the Festival where GINNYS DESTINY will be a tough nut for trainer Paul Nicholls in the day’s opener. The English will really fancy their chances in this as Paul Nicholls’ one-time assistant Dan Skelton is really bullish about the chances of Grey Dawning too.
Ginny’s Destiny has gotten better with each run and has loads of form mixing it with the best of the English novices this season. The Nicholls’ runner bids to emulate stablemate Stage Star who took a similar path to victory last season.
Friday, 13:30 – Triumph Hurdle – Sir Gino
I backed the one-time ante-post favourite for this race, Burdett Road, at 33-1 and couldn’t believe what SIR GINO did to him at Cheltenham last time in the Triumph Hurdle trial. He looked an absolute monster for trainer Nicky Henderson who must surely think he’s one of his ‘bankers’ for the week after Constitution Hill was ruled out late last week after a dodgy scope.
The English will need every winner they can get on the final of the four-day festival. If the Henderson yard bounces back to form earlier in the week, England expects Sir Gino to repel the Irish raiders in the opening race on the final day.
Friday 14:50 – Albert Bartlett – Gidleigh Park (each-way)
GIDLEIGH PARK did not impress everyone when he scored at Cheltenham last time and I felt he carried his tail a bit high on that occasion, so something may have been bothering him. That said he’s clearly very talented and looks like a horse that will improve with each run.
He’s a confirmed stayer and also handles soft conditions. With the Irish raider Ballyburn confirmed for Wednesday’s opener, trainer Harry Fry and connections may opt for the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday instead. He’s worth an each-way play in either race.
Cheltenham Racing Tips
Ruby Walsh
Tuesday, 15:00 – Champion Hurdle – State Man
Tuesday, 16:10 – Mares Hurdle – Lossiemouth
Wednesday, 13:30 Gallaghers Novices’ Chase – Ballyburn
Wednesday, 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Fact To File
Matt Chapman
Wednesday, 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices Chase – Stay Away Fay
Thursday, 13:30 – Turners Novices’ Chase – Ginnys Destiny
Friday, 13:30 – Triumph Hurdle – Sir Gino
Friday 14:50 – Albert Bartlett – Gidleigh Park (each-way)
*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.
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