PADDY POWER’S CHEAT SHEET FOR DAY FOUR: Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Patrick Mullins, Matt Chapman and Harry Cobden supply up their ideas for Friday’s races at Cheltenham
Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Patrick Mullins, Matt Chapman and Harry Cobden have made their selections ahead of day four of the Cheltenham Festival.
In Paddy Power‘s daily cheat sheet, the five experts have picked out the horses they expect to impress as the biggest week in the British racing calendar comes to a close.
Seven races will take place in total, with the likes of GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and DINOBLUE backed for success.
See all of their selections for the final day on Paddy Power’s cheat sheet below.
Day four of the Cheltenham Festival takes place on Friday and there is plenty to look out for
The first three days gave us significant drama and there are seven races to follow on Friday
13:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle
RUBY WALSH
I fancy EAST INDIA DOCK. I love the way he jumps, his attitude and the way he tries. He’s gutsy, he’s tough and he can get the better of Lulamba.
MICK FITZGERALD
LULAMBA is smart and was an impressive winner at Ascot on hurdles 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.
HARRY COBDEN
Palladium was a late non- runner and I was looking forward to riding him. I’ve seen LULAMBA school at Nicky Henderson’s when I was there and he’s the horse to beat. If I could pick a ride in this race I’d side with Lulamba. His performance at Ascot was almost freakish.
PATRICK MULLINS
It looks 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.
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.
Lulamba, trained by Nick Henderson, is a strong contender for Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle
14:00 – County Hurdle
RUBY WALSH
I expect the winner to come from one of the five-year-olds like Lark In The Mornin, Kargese, Ndaawi and Ethical Diamond. The price has gone on Kargese so maybe NDAAWI (each-way) offers the value now.
MICK FITZGERALD
ABSURDE was a good winner of this race last year and I fancy him to do the same again. Drying ground will not be a problem and connections have spoken about him as Melbourne Cup type, that’s the sort of class he has.
PATRICK MULLINS
The handicapper hasn’t missed ETHICAL DIAMOND. I’m happy to be riding him as he likes dry ground, has plenty of speed and reminds me of last year’s winner Absurde who also returns to defend his crown.
MATT CHAPMAN
ABSURDE will have been laid out for this after scoring last year and has the ability to repeat the dose off 8lb higher in the handicap. The better ground should suit him more this time.
14:40 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
RUBY WALSH
I’m with DINOBLUE but I’m not massively confident! This could be another race where we get a bit of a surprise.
MICK FITZGERALD
It’s hard to look past DINOBLUE for Willie Mullins, JP McManus and Mark Walsh.
HARRY COBDEN
DINOBLUE will go off favourite and she will be very hard to beat!
PATRICK MULLINS
It’s unoriginal but DINOBLUE can make it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival. The 2m 4f trip will be less of an issue on better ground and she has the best form in the race.
MATT CHAPMAN
I’ll stick with ALLEGORIE DE VASSY for Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci. Beaten by re-opposing Dinoblue at Naas last time, I’m hoping a stronger gallop will be right up her street.
There will be a lot of expectation on Dinoblue and she could prove to be very hard to beat
15:20 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
RUBY WALSH
JASMIN DE VAUX needs to improve but the track will help his jumping. ARGENTO BOY (each-way) wasn’t too far off the The Big Westerner in a maiden hurdle and has a squeak at the prices.
MICK FITZGERALD
The French raider JET BLUE looks a solid each-way play to me in a wide-open contest. He was a good winner when proving he stayed 3m when winning the trial for this in December.
HARRY COBDEN
I’ll be riding MA SHANTOU and he’s got a little chance. I’ve won this race twice and Ma Shantou is hardy, he jumps and he’s slightly overpriced.
PATRICK MULLINS
WINGMEN has shown his toughness in other races and the step up in trip can bring out the best in him.
MATT CHAPMAN
JET BLUE (each-way) has a little to find on some of these but the French raider was really impressive at the track last time and I think he’ll be hard to keep out of the frame. Stamina is his strong suit.
16:00 – Cheltenham Gold Cup
RUBY WALSH
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS should win as he should have far too many gears for the rest of these. A forecast of Galopin Des Champs to beat Inothewayurthinkin could be an extra value pick.
MICK FITZGERALD
He’s going for a place in history and I believe that GALOPIN DES CHAMPS will win his third consecutive Gold Cup to join Best Mate, Arkle and Cottage Rake in the record books.
HARRY COBDEN
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is different class and there isn’t anything else in here that can beat him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. There isn’t even a tactical way that he gets beaten.
PATRICK MULLINS
The two-time champ GALOPIN DES CHAMPS bids for immortality as he tries to win his third Gold Cup. We couldn’t be happier with him but it’s not a gimme.
MATT CHAPMAN
Last year’s Gold Cup had strength in depth and GALOPIN DES CHAMPS still won well so in a lesser renewal he should be a good thing barring accidents.
Galopin Des Champs is aiming for his third Gold Cup on what will be an action-packed Friday
16:40 – St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase
RUBY WALSH
The form of ANGELS DAWN at Cheltenham is outstanding. She won the Kim Muir a couple of years ago and she would have placed in last year’s race if she didn’t fall two out.
MICK FITZGERALD
The drier the ground the better the chance of ALLMANKIND who used to be trained by Dan Skelton and was a very smart novice chaser.
PATRICK MULLINS
ANGELS DAWN comes here on the back of two wins, has course form, is dropping in grade and should be very hard to beat.
MATT CHAPMAN
ITS ON THE LINE was second in this last year to Sine Nomine and I’d be hopeful he can go one better this time around.
17:20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
RUBY WALSH
The question is how much better than a mark of 136 does KOPEK DE MEE need to be to win this race. He has a great mentality and he’ll be an easy ride. I’m not going to go against him.
MICK FITZGERALD
EAST INDIA EXPRESS will love better ground and with Freddie Gordon riding for his own stable he can claim an extra 3lbs. That’s a big help as he’s already ridden him to win his last two races.
PATRICK MULLINS
It won’t be easy but KOPEK DE MEE could be well handicapped and we hope he can close out the meeting on a successful note for us.
MATT CHAPMAN
NO ORDINARY JOE (each-way) was second to Iroko in this in 2023 off a mark of 139 and he gets in this time off 138. He’s not an easy horse to predict but has claims for Nicky Henderson with Freddie Gingell on top.
