Cheltenham Tips: Gigginstown House Stud Festival Lucky 15

Fury Road – 8/1

With Conflated expected to tackle the Gold Cup, Gigginstown Stud are likely to have just the one representative in this year’s Ryanair Chase in the shape of FURY ROAD, who I believe has a great each-way chance against Shishkin on the back of an excellent third in the Irish Gold Cup. 

The nine-year-old, trained by Gordon Elliott, was formerly a smart hurdler, who ran well to finish third in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2020 behind Monkfish and has developed into an even better chaser, which includes a win at the highest level and he seemingly handles most ground based on his form. 

He ran below expectations in the 2021 Stayers’ Hurdle when pulled up having sent off just 4/1 but since tackling the larger obstacles, he has been consistently dining at the highest table and he ran a perfect trial for this race when third behind Galopin Des Champs and Stattler in the Irish Gold Cup. 

He has improved with each start this season and given he has been the only horse able to go toe-to-toe with Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs over fences, it was a true testament to his ability and class and that will serve him well back down in trip here, in what is evidently an easier race. 

Mathematically, he should be a lot closer to Shishkin in the betting and I respectfully believe he is Gigginstown’s best chance of the week. If he turns up at Cheltenham in the same form as last time, back down in trip, he must surely be a big player in what is a more wide-open renewal than the market suggests. 

Death Duty – 25/1

The Gordon Elliott-trained DEATH DUTY had lofty expectations when he was a youngster, ever since he won his first four starts over hurdles, including a Grade 1 but when he was sent off a short-price favourite for the 2017 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, he unseated his rider at the last when looking set to finish a disappointing sixth. 

He then won three on the spin over fences in 2017, including another Grade 1, and was then unfortunately sidelined with injury for the best part of nearly three years in 2020. He hasn’t looked the same horse since but he has still boasted strong form and in the last couple of years he has worked his way into form despite his advancing years. 

He won the Grand National Trial at Punchestown last February off a mark of 138 and ran well in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival to finish sixth of 24 off a mark of 144. He unseated his rider on his return but ran a really good race to finish third of 18 in the Troytown back in December off 140 and put aside a poor showing in the Paddy Power Chase to finish second in the Grand National Trial again last time off 138. 

The assessor has taken a lenient view of that display, only putting him up a pound, and I think he would have a really good each-way chance in the Kim Muir rather than tackling the Ultima again, as it looks a weaker race on paper. He is nearly a teenager but he has proved time and time again he’s no back number and at double-figure odds, he is worth an interest. 

Midnight Run – 16/1

The Plate Handicap Chase is a tricky handicap, likewise to the rest of the handicaps, but the one horse who’s interesting of the Gigginstown Stud entries is MIDNIGHT RUN, who could be a major player should he adapt to the course on his first visit to Cheltenham. 

He is a much better chaser than a hurdler and has largely been running well against genuine Grade 1 horses. He was running well in the Drinmore Novice Chase until he fell late on and has returned in fine form this season, running well in a brace of Graded events before winning a Grade 2 on his penultimate start. 

Ultimately, he was outclassed in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time but if he does line up here, he would be making his handicap debut in this sphere off a mark of 141. I think he would be better suited to this race and has a touch of quality about him, so there’s reason to like his credentials. Hopefully he doesn’t run in the Grand Annual though! 

Cool Survivor – 8/1

In the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, I really like the claims of COOL SURVIVOR, who has the right sort of profile for the race having shaped well when fourth in a Grade 1 last time behind Good Land at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

He won his first couple of starts over hurdles and while he proved no match for Hiddenvalley Lake next time when second, he caught the eye with a staying-on fourth when virtually upsides Sandor Clegane at the finish. That reads good form in the context of this easier task. 

He wasn’t suited to the drop in trip but the way he kept on was promising and the stiff uphill finish will play to his strengths. An opening handicap debut mark of 136 seems reasonable and, with the prospect of a lot more to offer, Gordon Elliott’s charge could turn out to be a great bet in the finale.