Daily Star racing professional’s Thursday ideas after choosing shocking Cheltenham winner

Daily Star Sport’s racing expert Jason Heavey is back with his Thursday picks after tipping Il Etait Temps for victory over Majborough on Wednesday

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It was another succesful day at Cheltenham Festival for Daily Star Sport’s racing expert Jason Heavey who turned his nose up at odds-on favourite Majborough, instead opting for eventual winner Il Etait Temps.

Act Of Innocence, Vanillier, Jazzy Matty and Bass Hunter all delivered on his each way selections during a fruitful afternoon. And he’s now back with his selections for Thursday as all roads leads to Friday’s Gold Cup.

Heavey has joked he doesn’t like to tip odds-on shots but one horse is “impossible” to oppose, while he’s also offered an alternative to Jonbon in the 4pm Ryanair Chase in his Thursday selections.

1.20 RYANAIR MARES’ NOVICES HURDLE

OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW is a bit of a value play against another so-called banker Bambino Fever. Gordon Elliott’s mare is unbeaten this season in three hurdles and ran away with a Grade Three at Fairyhouse last month.

Earlier she had beaten Bambino Fever by half a length at Naas. Her latest win came at 2m2f so she has the stamina to bomb up the hill.

Bambino Fever won the Champion Bumper 12 months ago and it is no surprise she is a warm favourite – she could go off odds-on – but that is a hell of a short price in such a big field. So the 4-1 about Oldschool Outlaw appeals more.

Everything else in the race is a double digit price so place backers have plenty to go at. Jackie Hobbs and La Conquiere look the best of the British challenge. Place De La Nation was fifth in last year’s Triumph and chased home Oldschool Outlaw last time, so 20-1 looks a bit generous.

Henry De Bromhead has a fine record in this race and ECHOING SILENCE has been targeted at it since December and 14-1 is a fair each-way punt.

TIP: OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW

Each-way: Echoing Silence

2.00 JACK RICHARDS NOVICES HANDICAP CHASE

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MEETMEBYTHESEA gets the vote in a wonderfully competitive renewal.

Ben Pauling’s novice has done little wrong this season with two novice chase successes over two miles before being thrown in at the deep end behind Lulamba at Newbury. He never got involved but that run qualified him for today’s contest and kept his handicap mark on a very attractive perch.

The price has largely gone for Meetmebythesea (11-2) and he may go off favourite but he has a super profile. He gets almost a stone from Sixmilebridge – a Grade One winner in the Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown.

He is also a course winner so expect Kielan Woods to have him at the head of affairs. Regents Stroll, who cost Sir Alex Ferguson and pals £660,000, carries plenty of Ditcheat confidence and Paul Nicholls won this with Caldwell Potter last year.

I like THE BLUESMAN as an each-way poke at 20-1. Sean Bowen rode a confident race on him to score at Haydock last mont.

TIP: MEETMEBYTHESEA

Each-way: The Bluesman

2.40 CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE

I don’t like tipping odds-on shots but WODHOOH is impossible to oppose. Gordon Elliott’s amazing mare has won nine of her 10 races over hurdles and her only defeat came to yesterday’s heroine Lossiemouth.

Last year she won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle and this season she has continued her progression with imposing victories at Ascot and Leopardstown.

People talk about ‘bankers of the week’ and there is no such thing. But Wodhooh must be as close as you get. Willie Mullins’ Jade De Grugy is talented and is only 4lb behind Wodhooh on official ratings.

She will try to keep the favourite competitive while Dan Skelton’s Take No Chances is tough and consistent but was six lengths behind Wodhooh at Aintree last April, so looks held.

The main threat is the improving Feet Of A Dancer. Paul Nolan’s mare was fourth in last year’s Pertemps and has since taken her form to new heights and at 9-1 can chase home the jolly.

TIP: WODHOOH

Each-way: Feet of A Dancer

3.20 PADDY POWER STAYERS HURDLE

KABRAL DU MATHAN can pounce up the Cheltenham hill to mark a changing of the guard in the staying division. Dan Skelton’s upwardly mobile six-year-old has his stamina to prove but the drying ground will help him get home.

He can race keenly and Harry Skelton is likely to drop him out to relax him before coming through late. Kabral Du Mathan certainly has the speed.

In contrast Ma Shantou has proven his stamina and has improved markedly this season for Emma Lavelle, who trained previous winner Paisley Park. I fancy the British pair to see off 2024 winner Teahupoo and veteran Bob Olinger who won this race last year.

Teahupoo’s stablemate Honesty Policy could prove the biggest threat. He is not the biggest but has plenty of class and was a strong second to Impose Toi in the Long walk Hurdle.

Impose Toi is the forgotten hors elf the race and at 12-1 he is a juicy each-way price

TIP: KABRAL DU MATHAN

Each-way: Impose Toi

4.00 RYANAIR CHASE

IMPAIRE ET PASSE is a decent alternative to the odds-on favourite Fact To File.

The jolly makes no appeal to this tipster at odds of 8-11 but the 7-1 about Willie Mullins’ second string will do for me.

He is the one horse in the race with the untapped potential to put it up to Fact To File. Impaire Et Passe won the Turners three years ago when he battered Gaelic Warrior.

That form is top class, and while he has been lightly raced since and clearly tricky to train, he has collected three more Grade One victories along the way.

He had the perfect prep when flying home to collar Sa Fureur at Gowran Park last month, hinting that all the old ability is there. If he brings his A-game and Fact To File dips below his best it could be interesting.

Fact To File bolted up last year in this race and has sidestepped the Gold Cup for today’s easier assignment and his price is probably fair.

Jonbon is a surprise runner and gives the race plenty of added interest. He is still looking for his first Festival win despite 12 Grade One victories and he is each-way gold here at 7-1.

TIP: IMPAIRE ET PASSE

Each-way: Jonbon

4.40 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE

C’EST DIFFERENT is a rapid improver and gets the nod for trainer Sam Thomas.

The six-year-old has not looked back since winning twice in five days last February and has progressed well this campaign with victories at Market Rasen and then at Newbury where he stretched away to win decisively.

There is more to come, even off a 10lb higher handicap mark. Supremely West has been supremely well supported in the market as another plot by the Skeltons. He looks plenty short enough in the betting in such a hard race to win.

Absolutely Doyen is on a roll with four straight wins and is a solid player while the likeable Lavida Adiva and Melbourne Shamrock are others in the mix.

BOLD ENDEAVOUR was fourth two years ago and is back off a 13lb lower rating. He had a few runs for Laura Morgan but is now back with Nicky Henderson and caught the eye at Huntingdon on his comeback. Strong each-way claims at 12-1.

TIP: C’EST DIFFERENT

Each-way: Bold Endeavour

5.20 ROSCONN GROUP FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHASE

HERAKLES WESTWOOD ticks all the boxes in the Gold Cup for amateur riders. Warren Greatrex has done well with this progressive chaser – the winner of six races.

He loves Cheltenham – in fact all three of his runs this season have come at the track – and he was last seen on New Year’s Day staying on well to beat Katate Dori.

The handicapper has been kind in only putting him up 2lb and he has one of the best amateurs in the business on board in Finny Maguire. JP McManus has a good record as an owner in this race and has Waterford Whispers who, predictably, has been well backed.

He has some strong back form as he was second in the Martin Pipe two years ago. He also has the classy but quirky Jeriko Du Reponet who has top weight but is not the most reliable

KIM ROQUE is an interesting each-way play for Joseph O’Brien and has been attracting support. He ran twice at Cheltenham in the autumn and was not disgraced Kim Roque is a play for a place at 9-1.

TIP: HERAKLES WESTWOOD

Each-way: Kim Roque