Cheltenham Lucky 15 tips for Thursday
14:00 – Novices’ Handicap Chase – Nurburgring
15:20 – Festival Trophy Chase – Protektorat
16:00 – Stayers’ Hurdle – The Wallpark
17: 20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup – Nine Graces
*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.
More Cheltenham Festival Tips can be found on Andy’s Bet Club, including Cheltenham Each-Way Tips and Andy Robson’s Lucky 15.
He’s got some excellent horse racing algorithm tools on his website, while his horse racing experts will be providing tips and predictions across the Festival!
14:00 – Novices’ Handicap Chase – Nurburgring
NURBURGING showed promise on his only run at Cheltenham when 4th in last year’s Triumph Hurdle. He followed that run up with several progressive displays in Ireland, including a win over hurdles at Galway and a pair of 3rd place finishes in Class One events.
He looks well-handicapped over fences here from a mark of 143, which is a notable 7lb below his hurdle rating. His last three runs have been over bigger obstacles, so he’s used to them now, while the likelihood of quicker ground than he’s run on of late should draw even more improvement.
15:20 – Festival Trophy Chase – Protektorat
The veteran PROTEKTORAT has shown improvement with every run this season and he retains great form at Cheltenham after winning this race last year. He finished a huge 23 lengths in front of Djelo to win at Windsor last time out, and there can be no doubt about his ability to stay this distance.
Fact To File and Il Est Francais look far too short in the betting here. The former won a modest Grade One here last term, and the latter has shown his best form on flatter tracks.
Protektorat looks too big at this price and looks set to mount a bold bid to retain his crown.
16:00 – Stayers’ Hurdle – The Wallpark
THE WALLPARK has progressed well this season following several notable wins over hurdles in handicap races. He came 4th in the Grade One Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time out, beaten by the winner by three lengths, but the race wasn’t run to suit that day, and he should get some more joy from a testing track like Cheltenham.
That run ended a streak of four consecutive wins for The Wallpark, the latest being here at Cheltenham in October. He usually takes the race by the scruff of the neck and leads from the front, he’ll stay the trip and is a big danger to the favourite Teahupoo.
17: 20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup – Nine Graces
NINE GRACES was successful in winning her first chase with ease at Punchestown last time out, despite being hampered by a falling horse. It was an impressive display and one that sets her up nicely for a crack at the Kim Muir. Nine Graces is unexposed over this 3m2f distance which could bring about even more improvement.
She’s no doubt on the up and looks to have all the tools to cope with the testing Cheltenham track and the uphill finish. She’s a big player here in what’s an open field with no clear favourite.
Thursday Lucky 15 tips
14:00 – Novices’ Handicap Chase – Nurburgring
15:20 – Festival Trophy Chase – Protektorat
16:00 – Stayers’ Hurdle – The Wallpark
17: 20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup – Nine Graces
*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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