Cheltenham Tips: Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

A quality-looking Triumph in which the Irish contingent appear to have an edge on all known form and the pick courtesy of his recent Grade 1 success at Leopardstown is VAUBAN (NAP) (best price 2-1).

A dual winner on soft ground in France, the son of Galiway was strongly fancied to make a successful Irish debut at Punchestown and although he ultimately failed to justify odds of 4-9, he came out of the race with his reputation intact. Staying on well at the Co Kildare venue, he looked as though he was going to engulf Pied Piper when his main market rival lurched to the right and forced him to make a bad mistake and lose valuable momentum. Once back into his stride, he was gaining on the eventual winner hand over fist and that effort had to go down as a perfectly respectable one in terms of moving forward. Such is his high regard, connections felt he had sufficient class and qualities to take on the very best four-year-olds in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and as it turned out, their beliefs were realised in spades. Always travelling well in what turned out to be a proper test at the trip, Willie Mullins’ gelding showed a smart turn of foot in the closing stages to lower the colours of the hitherto unbeaten Fil D’Or and it came as no surprise to find the overall speed figure came out as well as anticipated. On the evidence of that display, the four-year-old chestnut sets a pretty high standard and even though his old rival has already proven himself over today’s C&D with his Grade 2 win, Vauban rates a strong choice to prove that he is the top dog in this division.

There’s a decent chance that State Man will prove to be a good deal better than his current mark at some stage, but COLONEL MUSTARD (best price 7-1) also appears to be extremely well treated following his sterling efforts in Grade 1 company last time and at the prices, he makes by far and away the most appeal.

Having a body of work that has taken in several of the top novice events on home soil, his latest effort against Sir Gerhard and Three Stripe Life was put into some context with that pair fighting out the finish of Wednesday’s Ballymore and there’s little doubt he looks a very well handicapped horse of a mark of 140 based on that run alone. Runner-up to Supreme runner-up Jonbon previously, he had the likes of Elle Est Belle and I Like To Move It behind him that day and with the rain in the last 24 hours coming just at the right time, the son of Makfi has the class to make his presence felt.

Due to all the rain during Wednesday, the conditions will demand the utmost reserves of stamina from the winner and with GALVIN (best price 7-2) one of the few in the field having proven top-class form over further, his ability to see out the trip well might just sway the blue riband in his direction.

Winner of last season’s National Hunt Chase, his first two outings this campaign suggested he’s probably a good deal classier than your average winner of that 3m6f event and he went on to back up that view in the Saville’s Chase at Leopardstown last time. In what turned out to be a proper test at the Dublin track, the son of Gold Well stayed on extremely strongly from two out and although many tended to concentrate on the possible ill-judged ride given to runner-up, A Plus Tard, time may tell he just be the better of pair, full stop.

MOUNT IDA (best price 2-1) and Elimay are closely matched on all known form, but the vote just goes in favour of the former in the belief she might just have the necessary stamina to get the job done up the hill.

One of the most remarkable winners of any Cheltenham Festival race in the Kim Muir last season, she was probably feeling the effects of that huge effort when only third behind Elimay, but it’s been a case of normal services resumed since. Off and running in a listed at Clonmel back in November, the daughter of Yeats turned the form around with her old advisory at Fairyhouse last time out and with that run likely to have put the finishing touches to her preparations, this admirable mare – who wouldn’t have been out of place in the Gold Cup – can strike again for her in-form handler.

A race where the big stables – mainly Irish – like to play their hands with some proven quality performers and having won it with Champagne Classic and Blow By Blow, HOLLOW GAMES (best price 8-1) has every chance of supplying the Cullentra House handler his third winner of this viciously-competitive conditional jockey’s handicap.

Looking back at the profiles of the winners from the past decade, quite of few had run at Graded level prior to coming here and that’s exactly what path the son of Beat Hollow has been asked to tread. Winner of a Grade 3 at Navan in November, the six-year-old has subsequently gone on to finish a creditable third in two Grade 1’s and with the latest of them coming in a good time figure at the Dublin Racing Festival, one could have made a case for him going down the Albert Bartlett route. Coming here to exploit a handicap mark of 143 instead, a strongly-run race should see this classy individual bang on the scene.

Of those at a bigger price, HE’S A HARDY BLOKE (best price 20-1) is worth more than a second look despite his recent figures not looking too clever at first glance. Sixth of 17 in hot two-mile handicap at the Galway Festival, Noel Meade’s charge ran a good deal better than his finishing position suggested at Leopardstown last month (forced wide off the home turn) and with the likelihood than he would improve significantly for his first run for 191-days, he should be just about spot on for this prize over a more suitable trip.