Cheltenham Tips Tomorrow: Thursday Best Bets from Architect

Gordon Elliott’s FAROUK D’ALENE (best price 16/1) is without a doubt a graded horse running in a handicap and is a standout confident each-way bet in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

The nine-year-old will be in his element under these conditions. He was set to go very close in last year’s Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase when he fell at the second last fence, and that was a high-class renewal. 

He subsequently returned to hurdles with a marginal fine effort in defeat in a qualifier for this race at Leopardstown when beaten a neck into second place and makes plenty of appeal at this level with six places widely on offer.

Farouk D’Alene, 1pt E/W, 16/1, 6 places  

Ted Walsh has a strong chance of taking the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle with progressive mare GAOTH CHUIL (best price 8/1).

She beat the former last time out and is a progressive mare who has yet to finish out of the top two in all four starts this season. She must go well with the conditions to suit. 

Gaoth Chuil, 1pt WIN, 8/1

ICARE ALLEN (best price 10/1) was an excellent fourth in the Triumph Hurdle two years ago and has run very well in various high-quality handicaps since, which suggests he has a big pot in him. 

The six-year-old ran a solid race when third at Aintree last time out on his first try at this distance and has been left on the same mark for this contest. He looks very well treated off 142. 

Icare Allen, 1pt WIN, 10/1

Last year’s winner, ENVOI ALLEN (best price 7/2), landed a third Festival success when seeing off Shishkin in this 12 months ago and came very close to beating Gerri Colombe when nabbed on the line in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase last time out.

That latest effort from the 10-year-old indicates he is as good as last season, and his trainer and jockey are enjoying a great week. He is a high-class horse and is strongly fancied to follow in the footsteps of Allaho and win this for a second consecutive year. He should be shorter. 

Envoi Allen, 1.5pts WIN, 7/2

PROTEKTORAT (best price 9/1) does appear to be a touch overpriced for the Ryanair Chase, and his chances are increased after his jockey and trainer bagged a double yesterday. 

Last season’s Betfair Chase winner has run with credit in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the last two years, finishing third in 2022 and fifth in 2023, and has run well behind L’Homme Presse and Shishkin the last two times. 

This race looks tailor-made for him, and he always runs well at this course. With all the positives taken into consideration, he must be considered a leading contender. 

Protektorat, 1pt WIN, 9/1

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (best price 7/2) produced an excellent third-place finish to Gaelic Warrior in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick and shaped well when ninth of 25 in 2m5f Leopardstown on his handicap last month. 

With Derek O’Connor booked to ride, he could outclass today’s field in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase. 

Inothewayurthinkin, 1.5pts WIN, 7/2

As a cover in the Kim Muir, I’ll advise WHACKER CLAN (best price 10/1) who won here in his penultimate start (form that has worked out well) and warmed up for this with a spin over hurdles last time out. 

This has been the plan, and he will relish the conditions, so he could be the each-way value in the finale with six places widely available. 

Whacker Clan, 0.5 pts E/W, 10/1, 6 places 

I am staggered by the odds of SHARJAH (best price 25/1) in the Turners Novices’ Chase despite his advancing years. He is a quality horse who has finished runner-up in two Champion Hurdles and was fourth in last year’s County Hurdle under a monster weight. 

It’s worth pointing out that he got within three lengths of Constitution Hill over this trip at Aintree last year and gets on well with Patrick Mullins. If he can perform at anything close to his best, he undoubtedly has the class and ability to cause an upset, even with the ground soft. 

Sharjah, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1

I’m going to nominate ASTERION FORLONGE (best price 25/1) for the Stayers’ Hurdle now, who is ridiculously overpriced. His rating and form put him right in the mix with these. He’s competed at the Cheltenham Festival three times and ran well each time, including in last year’s Gold Cup. I can see him running a massive race with four places widely on offer.

Asterion Forlonge, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1, 4 places