Cheltenham Tips: Paul Jacobs has some big-odds fancies for today’s Day 4 card

PJ likes Ganapathi and Royal Pagaille are huge prices today.

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 2 years ago

Paul Jacobs’ Cheltenham Friday betting tips:

1.30 Triumph Hurdle – Gala Marceau
2.10 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle – Pied Piper [Each-Way] / Ganapathi [Each-Way]
2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Three Card Brag
3.30 Gold Cup – Royal Pagaille [Each-Way]
4.50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase – Zambella [Each-Way]
5.30 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Au Fleuron [Each-Way]

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1.30 Triumph Hurdle – Gala Marceau

I am really happy with my original selection and although Blood Destiny could be absolutely anything he needs to improve his jumping and in that respect this course is ideal for him.

He could blow these away, but is way too short for what he has achieved and even though he remains open to significant improvement so does the mare. I won’t add to my punting profile here, but if there is one at a big price that could, at the very least, hit the frame then it could well be Hypotenus who made his Irish debut in a Grade Three and certainly wasn’t disgraced.

2.10 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle – Pied Piper (each-way) – Ganapathi (each-way)

With Icare Allen having been switched to the Coral Hurdle and given a hugely negative ride from out the back, I have had to reassess this race. The make-up of the field shows there are a high number of pressers and this could be run at a break neck pace which means on the New Course I will be looking for something to come through from the back of the pack.

Both Sharjah and Pied Piper are well handicapped at the top of the weights on their graded form and with the latter double the price of the former he was one I wanted on side.

I actually thought at the beginning of the season he could be a Stayers Hurdle candidate but Elliott has been at pains to try and prove he is a graded horse at the minimum trip, when he simply is not. A fast run two miles with give in the ground may well be his optimum output and I shall go into battle with him and a horse that was 11th in last year’s Coral Cup, Ganapathi, weakening on the long run between the final two flights.

That run came off a mark of 145 and he is now down to 131 after failing to make it at graded level over hurdles following a promising start over the larger obstacles. But his 5th of 19 to Gaillard De Mesnil at the Punchestown Festival in 2021 and more recently before going chasing, placed efforts in a conditions hurdle, rated 143, makes him an intriguing Goliath of an outsider here with the enhanced places.

2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Three Card Brag

I think Three Card Brag is a really solid play here and any more rain wouldn’t be a problem from this really old fashioned galloper. Should the ground dry out to say good to soft (soft in places) I think that the potentially classy Favori de Champdou will also play a part. I loved the way he travelled through the race when easing home in the Grade Two Lyons of Limerick and there should be plenty more to come from him.

3.30 Gold Cup – Royal Pagaille [Each-Way]

I put up the Venetia Williams’ trained stayer in the hope that there would be more rain at the track so I have been slightly disappointed with the actual amount of precipitation. But even more of a factor in his favour would be a faster run race than last year.

There is little doubt that the relative crawl played into A Plus Tard’s hands 12 months ago and I am sure all the relevant jockeys won’t allow that to happen again and be at the mercy of his finishing kick. So I am just going to sit on the nine-year-old and not back up in the hope that this feature becomes a proper test of stamina, as it always was down through the years.

4.50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase – Zambella [Each-Way]

I still think that this a lop sided market and Allegorie De Vassy may well have the best engine in the race but even that may not overcome her continued jumping to the right. It is not as if she is taking on second class rivals here either the majority of which have much more experience over fences than her.

Make no bones about it, she is top class, but I just wonder whether she will need more match practice and the time to back her could be at Punchestown.

Zambella remains over priced on what she has achieved, while Impervious may well be a better item over two miles and Jeremys Flame on a flatter track. But we do know is that this is the best renewal of this race, strength in depth wise, since it was first run in 2021.

5.30 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Au Fleuron [Each-Way]

I said in my original preview, this never nearer seventh of 23 in this race last year, runs off a 2lbs lower mark here, I fancy this has been the plot left of centre that hasn’t attracted as much attention from the Elliott camp as much as Imagine and to a lesser extent Firm Footings.

Having by passed the Albert Bartlett I still think that stable mate Cool Survivor is a massive player though. He was a huge eye catcher late on over two and three quarter miles at Leopardstown behind Good Land and a breakneck end to end gallop would certainly serve him well, but he has now been found in the market place.

Paul Jacobs’ Friday Cheltenham betting tips:

1.30 Triumph Hurdle – Gala Marceau
2.10 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle – Pied Piper [Each-Way] / Ganapathi [Each-Way]
2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Three Card Brag
3.30 Gold Cup – Royal Pagaille [Each-Way]
4.50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase – Zambella [Each-Way]
5.30 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Au Fleuron [Each-Way]

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