Cheltenham Festival 2020 - Day Four

13:30 Triumph Hurdle

This looks like it could be run at a frantic gallop given the amount of prominent racers and that may suit the nutter that is Goshen. Although he has raced up with the pace in many of his recent starts, I think the bigger field here may allow him to settle better than he has in his last few races. He has been seriously impressive in all his starts over hurdles and the horse he battered by 11 lengths on his latest start won a very good handicap at Ascot by 16 lengths subsequently.

Solo is an obvious threat to the selection after his own impressive display at Ascot and is actually 5lbs clear of his nearest rival in this field according to the official handicapper. That rating is based on limited evidence though so I'm happy to pass on him despite the high regard his yard hold him in. Allmankind only has one way of running and it would take some performance to lead all the way in this.

Goshen 11/4



14:10 County Hurdle

Big field handicap = Bookies paying lots of places. Try and find the best terms you can, it looks like a few firms will be paying 6 places here.

The Betfair hurdle at Newbury looks a key piece of form in this and although he has been raised 4lb for finishing second, Ciel De Neige still looks feasibly treated with further improvement not out of the question, he looks a solid each-way option. The faller at the last left Aidan Coleman in front sooner than he would've liked but he still stuck on well in the closing stages. He also has a big tick in the box  of festival form after finishing a very good third in the Fred Winter last year.

There are a number of other runners here who also ran in the Betfair; Sir Valentine (4th), Zanza (6th), Oakley (7th) and Stolen Silver (8th). It may sound odd fancying the one who finished furtherest down the field out of that group of runners but Stolen Silver's finishing position really doesn't tell the full story. He was slowly away and towards the rear for the majority of the race, indeed approaching the last he still had 20 of the 22 runners in front of him. He powered home late on suggesting a return to the Cheltenham hill will suit him down to the ground. He ran well over course and distance earlier in the season when a close second trying to give Chantry House 6lb, the winner franked the form since with a win at Newbury and finishing third in the Supreme here earlier this week.

Ciel De Neige 8/1

Stolen Silver 14/1



14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

This is another race which has thrown up its fair share of shock winners with 50/1, 33/1 and 16/1 winners in the last three years. It is not a race I have a strong fancy in this year so I'm just going to chance a small token bet on Sempo for Joseph O'Brien. He has been brought along steadily for this since a solid enough seventh in the bumper here last year. It's likely we haven't seen the best of him yet and he was impressive in winning at Thurles, the fourth placed horse from that race has won since and it's likely there is still more improvement left in JJ Slevin's mount.

Sempo 12/1

15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Now for the big one. Although this is obviously the festival centre piece, it is one I'm not that fussed about having a bet in. Al Boum Photo is going for back to back wins in this and has had a fairly similar preparation as last year when he was very impressive. He is still only 8 years old and its entirely plausible that he has further improvement in him so I will probably end up siding with him.

Clan Des Obeaux could hardly have been more impressive in winning the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and is clearly still improving but stamina is still a big question he has to answer. Delta Work is still unexposed over fences and is the younger improver in this field, he has proven he stays three miles well but the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although only 2 furlongs further, presents a whole different test to what he has done before.

Al Boum Photo 7/2



16:10 Foxhunters Chase

I'm going for my selection mainly based on the chat surrounding Staker Wallace and the fact that he has the master Jamie Codd on board. He's been getting talked up around the preview ciruit, including by Nina Carberry who would be an infinitely better judge than me on this race, so I'll leave it at that.

Staker Wallace 6/1



16:50 Grand Annual

This is normally a pretty brutal test of a horses jumping capabilities and Chosen Mate was pretty slick at Gowran Park last time when bolting up. He had Capuccimix trailing in his wake 11 lengths behind that day, he bolted up by 11 lengths himself on Sunday which gives a really solid look to the form. He has the brilliant Davy Russell on board and appeals as the bet at around 6/1.

Gordon Elliott has another live contender in Eclair De Beaufeu who won well when beating Paloma Blue at Leopardstown but I would rather side with one with a more experience jockey in the saddle, given the nature of the race.

Chosen Mate 6/1



17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

I've been waiting for this horse to run all week and he looks a tasty enough price. Flash The Steel has been kept fresh for this by the shrewd Dan Skelton and this has been the long term plan. He has only had two runs this season, the first of which a convincing win in a high quality Grade 3 at Chepstow in October. The second placed horse won both his next starts (albeit over fences) convincingly. He also had festival winner Imperial Aura in behind that day along with Indefatigable. The latter also lines up here and is 8lb higher than when behind the selection courtesy of a strong run behind another festival winner, Dame De Compagnie.

Dan Skelton's runner has only run once since that Chepstow win, one which is worth ignoring as he clearly didn't stay the 3 mile trip that day. Kept fresh since in an aim to protect his mark and Dan Skelton mentioned this was the aim some time ago. 6 Places available each-way I think this race could be run to suit him perfectly and with first time cheek pieces for the occasion, he is one of my bets of the week.

Flash The Steel 18/1