CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL TIPS – DAY FOUR: Can anybody cease Galopin Des Champs retaining the Gold Cup?

After a dramatic first three days of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, the final day is upon us and it promises to be a fitting finale.

There are seven more races for punters to take in, with 65,000 people set to pack into the course in total and millions more will follow the action on TV.

The Festival’s showpiece will see heavy favourite Galopin Des Champs looking to retain the Gold Cup.

The day starts with the Triumph Hurdle at 1.20pm with the County Handicap Hurdle.

Here, Mail Sport brings you our racing experts’ tips ahead of the final day of the Festival, featuring a selection, main danger and live outsider for each race.

TRIUMPH HURDLE 

1.20: GRADE ONE, 2 MILES

Willie Mullins throws 11 runners at this but the home team have the leading contenders. East India Dock, handy on the Flat, has won all his three hurdle races, two of them at this track, and has achieved form that would have won this race in the past.

He may be up against a special talent in LULAMBA. The French import gave Mondo Man 10lb and brushed him aside at Ascot in January. He looks to have multiple gears.

Hello Neighbour, best of the Irish, efficiently won the Grade One juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

Mondo Man may have been beaten by Lulamba but he was the classiest of these on the Flat and will get more suitable ground for the first time over jumps, so he appeals as a long shot.

SELECTION: LULAMBA…………………………..5-2

MAIN DANGER: EAST INDIA DOCK……………………….2-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: MONDO MAN………………………..25-1

COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE 

2.00: 2 MILES 

Last year’s winner ABSURDE has a great chance again. He was fifth in the Melbourne Cup on his latest start in November, an improvement of two places on his run the year before. Absurde won this on heavy ground last year but the drier surface today should be more suitable. 

Paul Townend won on Absurde last year but chooses Kargese, last season’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up. She was disappointing at Ascot in January but must be showing encouraging signs. 

McLaurey was a winner in his first handicap and looks to be improving fast, while Valgrand represents a stable which has won this race four times in 10 years. Lark In The Mornin won the juvenile handicap hurdle at last year’s Festival, while Hansard showed he might be returning to form last time 

SELECTION: ABSURDE…………………………..11-2 

MAIN DANGER: McLAUREY……………………7-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: HANSARD………………………16-1

MRS PADDY POWER MARES’ CHASE

2.40: 2 MILES, 4 FURLONGS

Limerick Lace beat DINOBLUE by three-quarters of a length in this race last year but meets her rival on 3lb worse terms and has been below par in two starts this season, prompting suspicions a run in last year’s Grand National left its mark. She is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.

Dinoblue has continued to mix it with decent two-mile chasers. She has yet to win over as far as this and was ridden with restraint last year in a bid to last home. Less testing conditions probably mean she can be ridden slightly more positively.

Allegorie De Vassy finished second in 2023 and fourth last year, but she was beaten by Dinoblue last time over two miles at Naas and seems likely to come up short again.

Brides Hill is the other to consider.

SELECTION: DINOBLUE………………………………11-10

MAIN DANGER: ALLEGORIE DE VASSY……………7-2

LIVE OUTSIDER: BRIDES HILL……………………………………6-1

ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE

3.20: 3 MILES

The most unpredictable of the Festival’s novice hurdles usually throws up long-priced winners.

Stamina is needed, and the unbeaten DERRYHASSEN PADDY has it in abundance. He narrowly won at Windsor last time but that sharp track didn’t suit him.

The Big Westerner, who gets the mares’ weight allowance, impressed at Limerick in December, while Wingmen’s placed efforts behind Final Demand and The Yellow Clay have been boosted this week. Jasmin De Vaux, last year’s Champion Bumper winner, was behind Wingmen in both those races. He has been let down by his jumping but, interestingly, Paul Townend picks him to ride from the Mullins squad.

Wendigo, second in Newbury’s Challow Hurdle, and course-and-distance winner Jet Blue are contenders along with Ballybow, while Port Joulain is probably better than he has shown.

SELECTION: DERRYHASSEN PADDY………………..11-1

MAIN DANGER: THE BIG WESTERNER……………….5-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: : PORT JOULAIN……………………..25-

BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 

4.00: GRADE ONE — 3 MILES, 2½ FURLONG 

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is at the peak of his powers as he bids to join the select group of three-time race winners. Like last year, he has recorded decisive victories in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup in the build-up.

King George VI Chase winner Banbridge has won two of his three races here. He gets his ground but his stamina for the most attritional test he has faced is the big question mark. That will not be a problem for Inothewayurthinkin, an easy winner of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase last year and who stayed on when fourth to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup.

Corbetts Cross and Monty’s Star might contest the minor place, as could big outsider Ahoy Senor if a breathing operation has worked. He has his ground conditions, too.

MAIN DANGER: INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN…………………………7-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: AHOY SENOR………………………50-1

FESTIVAL HUNTERS’ CHASE

4.40: 3 MILES, 2½ FURLONGS  

ANGELS DAWN won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the track in 2023 and she was challenging again when she fell two out last year. She has won her two point-to-points this winter, pulling six lengths clear of Ryehill most recently.

Its On The Line is a shortlist must, having been second in each of the last two years, but he has been below par in the build-up — brushed aside by Ryehill and Ontheropes in a Hunters’ Chase at Punchestown last month.

That clearly makes Ryehill a live hope but he would have preferred softer ground.

Willitgoahead is a rising talent who has been snapped up and sent to Gordon Elliott since his latest Hunters’ Chase win at Thurles. Shearer and dual course winner Fairly Famous fly the flag for the home team.

SELECTION: ANGELS DAWN…………………………………7-2

MAIN DANGER: WILLITGOAHEAD……………………..5-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: FAIRLY FAMOUS……………………14-1

CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP

5.20: 2 MILES, 4½ FURLONGS

Kopeck De MEE was one of the big talking horses in the build-up to the meeting. Plenty believe he is very well handicapped on his first run since being bought in France, something the Willie Mullins stable has not knocked down.

But the Gordon Elliott stable also targets

this contest and WODHOOH, six from six over hurdles, sets a high standard. Her course-and-distance win from Joyeuse and Take No Chances looks even better with hindsight and she looked to have a bit in hand.

No Questions Asked has some useful novice form, as does Minella Sixo. Punctuation, who won a conditional jockeys’ race at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in 2023, is an interesting outsider.

SELECTION: WODHOOH………………………….4-1

MAIN DANGER: KOPECK DE MEE……………….5-2

LIVE OUTSIDER: NO QUESTIONS ASKED……20-1

Punter Power

Your best chance of beating the bookies this week is to stick with Mail Sport’s brilliant team of tipsters, led all the way through the Festival by former Grade One-winning jockey Lizzie Kelly and our very own top tipsters Steve Ryder and Chris Baker. . .

Lizzie Kelly (FESTIVAL-WINNING JOCKEY)

FIRST things first: Jagwar! What a fantastic result for Josh Guerriero and Ollie Greenall in the Plate Handicap Chase and, clearly, the piece of work I was involved in and wrote about in these pages yesterday made the difference!

Seriously, you can’t underestimate the importance of a result like that for a yard that’s just getting going; this proves what they did with Iroko for JP McManus at the Festival in 2023 — winning the Martin Pipe — was no flash in the pan. Here’s to many more wins.

In the Triumph Hurdle, I won’t be deserting EAST INDIA DOCK (NAP), who has won over course and distance already this season. He has plenty of ability and he will need it to hold off Hello Neighbour, the best Irish challenger.

I liked KARGESE a few weeks ago for the County Hurdle but her price has gone since Paul Townend was booked to ride her. If you are looking for value, Valgrand, trained by Dan Skelton — who has a good record in this race — is the one.

LIMERICK LACE will win the Mares’ Chase, while the two I like in the fiendishly difficult

Albert Bartlett are JET BLUE and Sounds Victorius.

You are not going to get rich backing GALOPIN DES CHAMPS for the Gold Cup but I just want him to win with every ounce of my being. This is his date with destiny and I couldn’t be more obsessed with this incredible race horse.

Let him make history!

Selections: 

1.20……………….EAST INDIA DOCK

2.00………………………..KARGESE

2.40………………….LIMERICK LACE

3.20………………………….JET BLUE

4.00………..GALOPIN DES CHAMPS

4.40………….FAIRLY FAMOUS (NB)

5.20……………………NURSE SUSAN

Steve Ryder (ROBIN GOODFELLOW)

Willie Mullins has a strong hand in the County Hurdle (2.00) but I prefer the chances of LARK IN THE MORNIN (NB).

The five-year-old won the Fred Winter at the Festival last season on heavy ground but should be much better on this faster surface. He remains well-handicapped off 132 and caught the eye with his finishing effort in the fog at Leopardstown at Christmas.

In the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (5.20), WODHOOH (NAP) can upset the touted Kopeck De Mee. The Gordon Elliott-trained mare is unbeaten in six starts over hurdles and the form of her latest victory over course and distance has received multiple form boosts. Joyeuse, who finished second that day, is now rated 19lb higher having won since; the third, Take No Chances, finished third in the Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday; and the fourth, Royale Margaux, has also won since. Off only 11lb higher, she looks the one to beat.

Selections:  

1.20………………HELLO NEIGHBOUR

2.00…….LARK IN THE MORNIN (NB) 

2.40………………………BRIDES HILL

3.20………………..FLICKER OF HOPE

4.00…………GALOPIN DES CHAMPS

4.40…………………ANGELS BREATH

5.20………………………..WODHOOH

Chris Baker (WIZARD OF ODDS)

THE Gold Cup looks to be a penalty kick for reigning champion Galopin Des Champs — and his odds reflect that. There is plenty of value elsewhere on the card, though, and I fancy WENDIGO (NAP) to run a big race in the Albert Bartlett (3.20). He warmed up for this with an easy win last month but his run two starts back is the main reason for my confidence, as he finished second in the Grade One Challow at Newbury. The winner that day was The New Lion, who landed the opening race of the day on Wednesday.

The Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap (5.20) looks to be a good opportunity for WODHOOH (NB) to extend her unbeaten record over hurdles to seven. Gordon Elliott’s lightly raced mare has made just one start this season and it came over today’s course and distance in December. She caught the eye that day, while the form of that race looks rock solid. She has taken another hike in the weights and the nature of big-field handicaps means she’ll need luck in running, but I’ve been looking forward to her bid all week.

Selections: 

1.20………………..EAST INDIA DOCK

2.00……………………….VALGRAND

2.40………………………BRIDES HILL

3.20………………………….WENDIGO

4.00………..GALOPIN DES CHAMPS

4.40………………………….SHEARER

5.20………………….WODHOOH (NB)

HORSE OF THE DAY

LIFT ME UP — BY DOMINIC KING

The St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase is the amateur riders’

Gold Cup and the most fascinating runner in a contest which has thrown up plenty of shock results is Lift Me Up, who is owned by Christian and Geri Horner.

Trained by Maxine Filby — once an elite-level mountain bike racer who competed against Laura Kenny — Lift Me Up is one of three horses that the Horners have at her yard in Banbury.

Commitments in Melbourne ahead of the first grand prix of the Formula One season will prevent Red Bull chief Horner from attending Cheltenham but he has vowed to get up in the middle of the night, glued to his laptop, to see how Lift Me Up fares in a race that is always a remarkable spectacle.

The Hunters’ Chase, of course, is the contest in which double Olympic gold-medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton finished fifth in 2016. Pendleton had not sat on a horse until the previous year but she guided Pacha Du Polder around the twists and undulations of the Cheltenham course with great care.

Lift Me Up will have the assistance of Jack Andrews, a jockey who defies physics in that he is able to ride even though he is 6ft 4in, and there is no doubt the story will provide a fascinating strand to the Festival.

The Horners were on course when Lift Me Up won at Warwick in January and they were hugely thrilled by what they saw.

Yes, the competition is fierce today and there is a strong word for second-favourite Willitgoahead, trained by Gordon Elliott, but Lift Me Up has a sporting chance at the very least — and will be a decent price, too.

PLACEPOT MOLE – DIGGING FOR WINNERS

To win the Tote Placepot, you must select horses to be placed in the first six races on the Cheltenham card. There is a chance to win big for a small stake, especially if the favourites miss out.

All money staked goes into a pool and is divided among the bet winners after Tote deductions.

If you choose more than one horse in a race, that increases the number of bets or permutations.

Race 1 (3 places): Hello Neighbour (no 5), Lulamba (7)

Race 2 (4 places): Absurde (2), Hansard (6), Valgrand (12)

Race 3 (3 places): Dinoblue (1)

Race 4 (3 places): Ballybow (2), Derryhassen Paddy (3), Jet Blue (11), Wendigo (17)

Race 5 (3 places): Galopin Des Champs (4)

Race 6 (3 places): Fairly Famous (7), Shearer (18), Angels Dawn (24)

PERM: 72 LINES x 10p

STAKE: £7.20