Paddy’s stable of top pundits and tipsters have run the rule over our Triumph Hurdle odds, but who are they backing in the opening race on day four of the Cheltenham Festival?
The race could be heading to the Brits for the first time since 2019 as East India Dock and Lulamba have been locked in a ding-dong battle for favouritism in Paddy Power’s betting market.
The former, trained by James Owen, is three from three over timber and boasts C&D form in the book courtesy of January’s Grade 2 victory, but that has taken a knock as the horses behind finished well down the field in Tuesday’s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
The latter was a hurdles winner in France before moving to Nicky Henderson’s yard and he smashed the reopposing Mondo Man, an incredibly classy Flat horse, on stable debut
Dublin Racing Festival winner Hello Neighbour spearheads the Irish brigade and has never been beaten in either code.
Cheltenham Festival odds can be found on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise, our experts’ tips for the first race on day four of the 2025 meeting are below.
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Cheltenham 1.20 tips
Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Matt Chapman
East India Dock brings in the Flat experience, but LULAMBA might just be in a different league for Nicky Henderson. The French import looked top class on British debut at Ascot and can go on to much better things. Although the Ascot runner-up Mondo Man was beaten subsequently at Kempton his effort suggests the form is decent enough.
Harry Cobden
I’ve seen LULAMBA school at Nicky Henderson’s when I was there and he’s the horse to beat. This is a very exiting race and while East India Dock is the solid one because we’ve seen how good he is, if I could pick a ride in this race I’d side with Lulamba. His performance at Ascot was almost freakish.
Mick Fitzgerald
LULAMBA is smart and was an impressive winner at Ascot on debut. I can see him going down the Cheltenham Gold Cup route in years to come but for now he can start off his career in the big time by winning the Triumph Hurdle.
Patrick Mullins
It looks to me like the English runners are stronger than the Irish ones this year and LULAMBA fits the bill as the likely winner. I prefer the profile of an ex-French jumps horse rather than an ex-Flat horse, East India Dock, who has been on the go all season.
Ruby Walsh
I fancy EAST INDIA DOCK. I really liked his win on Cheltenham Trials Day. I love the way he jumps, I love his attitude and the way he tries. He’s gutsy, he’s tough and he can get the better of Lulamba.
Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Tips
- Paddy’s Ultimate Cheltenham Cheat Sheet for day 4 of the 2025 Festival
- ITV Racing pundit Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips for Friday
- Harry Cobden’s Cheltenham Tips for day 4 of the 2025 Festival
- Mick Fitzgerald’s Cheltenham Tips for Friday
- Patrick Mullins’ Cheltenham Tips for day 4 feature a 14/1 shout
- Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham Tips for day 4 of the meeting
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