Jamie Radford has four betting tips for the final day at Cheltenham.
13:30 Cheltenham
As mentioned the Triumph hurdle has been blown wide open by the withdrawal of ante post favourite Sir Gino. Nicky Henderson’s horses have been running as if something is amiss for a few weeks now. The performances of Jeriko Du Reponet, Iberico Lord and Marie’s Rock on Day One prompted the trainer to make high profile withdrawals which included Jonbon, First Street and Shishkin.
Sir Gino has been the latest to fall and his absence has seen this race turn into a fantastic betting heat. One who looks overprices is BUNTING, who on jockey bookings looks well beneath the pecking order from the Willie Mullins battalion. Going into the Dublin Racing Festival he had one start this season in a maiden hurdle compared to winner Kargese experience in a Graded race over Christmas.
For such precocious juveniles who are improving so quickly, that matters and he was only beaten 2 ½ lengths into 4th. He ran on strongly that day and the new course will suit him well. At 16/1 he should be backed each-way.
0.5pts each-way Bunting @ 16/1
2:10 Cheltenham
I put up L’Eau Du Sud in a Festival Lucky 15 and I wouldn’t put off anyone keen to back him. His defeat to Iberico Lord in the Betfair is the best form on offer here and Dan has won four recent renewals of this race. That included Faivoir last year who also runs again but I don’t like his record when turned out quickly which has happened a few times after the Morebattle hurdle.
L’Eau Du Sud can go very close but it’s just a price thing right now. Instead I would cast attention to PETIT TONNERRE for Jonjo O’Neil and J.P. McManus. He was a running on 7th in the race last year off a mark of 140.
His chasing career has looked promising without blowing the world away and he’s dropped down to a mark of 136 over hurdles as a consequence. Reverting back to the smaller obstacles, in a first time visor with bags of course form, he can go close.
1pt each-way Petit Tonnerre @ 28/1
14:50 Cheltenham
Ginny’s Destiny’s run in the Turners has calmed my anxiety over the form of Paul Nicholls’ stable and I think CAPTAIN TEAGUE can run a big race in the Albert Bartlett. His 3rd in last year’s Champion Bumper has worked out extremely well with 2nd placed Fact to File winning the Brown Advisory whilst a string of winners have come out in behind.
Although he was beaten at odds on Cheltenham in November, I think that soft ground is crucial for him and he really impressed me when winning the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. The finishing speed of the race was around 91% meaning that stamina really came to the fore and now stepped up to 3 miles back at the course of his Champion Bumper 3rd, he can go well.
0.5pts each-way Captain Teague @ 8/1
17:30 Cheltenham
The last race of the day, as everyone searches for a get out of jail free card. I like Gordon Elliott’s BETTER DAYS AHEAD in this. His 4th to Slade Steel at Navan now reads exceptionally well and I thought he ran well behind Asian Master last time out. He needed that run for a handicap mark and the winner ran better than the bare result in the Supreme.
The drop back in trip didn’t suit him anyway that day, and this previous 3 mile winner will appreciate the return to 2m 4f on the new course.
Stayers often win this race with Galopin Des Champs and Don Poli both on its roll of honour and I think he can go very well.
