Steve Ryder is back with four tips for the Cheltenham Festival.
14:10 Cheltenham
It is rare that I select three horses in one race but I feel they all hold strong claims with bookmakers offering up to seven places on the County Hurdle.
The Skelton team are having a fantastic festival with four winners and L’EAU DU SUD (best priced at 4/1) is Harry Skelton’s only ride of the day. The six-year-old was well fancied for the Greatwood Hurdle here on his reappearance but was suffering with ulcers and he looked the most likely winner of the Betfair Hurdle until Iberico Lord headed him in the final furlong of the race. He is only 6lbs higher in this race and he looks sure to go well once again on heavy ground.
The form of KING OF KINGSFIELD (best priced at 6/1) received two notable form boosts earlier this week with both Slade Steel and Ballyburn winning Grade 1 novice hurdles. The Gordon Elliott trained six-year-old finished 2nd on his first three hurdling starts including when 2nd behind Farren Glory in a Grade 1 before beating Mirazur West by six lengths at Leopardstown when ridden more patiently. He finished 3rd behind Ballyburn and Slade Steel in the Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and runs here off a mark of 140 on his handicap debut which is the same as his Irish mark.
The final selection is the consistent MAGICAL ZOE (best priced at 12/1) who has form figures of 1125122 over hurdles. The Henry De Bromhead trained six-year-old finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the festival last season before winning on her reappearance at Gowran Park. She was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Irish Point at Down Royal when in receipt of weight before finishing 2nd at the Dublin Racing Festival off a mark of 137. She runs here off a 7lb higher mark but with her consistent profile, she looks sure to run well.
15:30 Cheltenham
The Gold Cup is a fascinating contest this season but I will be surprised if GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (best priced at EVENS) doesn’t retain his crown. The Willie Mullins trained eight-year-old is unlucky not to be a three-time festival winner and has looked back to his commanding best on his previous two starts.
Defeated by Fastorslow in his two starts following his success in this last year, he won the Savills Chase by 23 lengths at Christmas before reversing form with Fastorslow when beating him by 4 ½ lengths in the Irish Gold Cup.
Galopin Des Champs is 9lbs clear on ratings in this race, has no question marks about the track, trip or ground and I expect him to emulate stablemate Al Boum Photo and win back-to-back Gold Cups.
