Experts' Best Bets: Cheltenham Festival Day 4 tips with Enda McElhinney
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
It’s the concluding act of another brilliant Cheltenham Festival on Friday afternoon and that can mean just one thing, the Gold Cup takes centre stage.
It’s the most sought-after prize in the National Hunt season and this year’s renewal looks wide open with a field of 11 set to go to post.
The Racing Post’s Enda McElhinney supplies race-by-race expert picks for day four of the Cheltenham Festival.
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1:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Experts’ Best Bet: Selma De Vary at 4/1
Proactif looks like heading the betting for the Mullins yard as the Closutton operation goes for a fifth straight success in this race but it was stablemate SELMA DE VARY that got closest to Narciso Has at last month’s DRF in their Grade 1 juvenile and that contest has produced four of the last five winners in this. She could be the one now, though another Mullins inmate, Kai Lung, has seen the form of his Naas maiden win work out nicely here (beat the Fred Winter winner) and he could go well at massive odds.
2.00 – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Experts’ Best Bet: Ooh Betty at 50/1
A fierce handicap in which Sinnatra, Karbau and Sixandahalf are considered but OOH BETTY looks overpriced to perhaps run into the money. She won a Grade 2 at Ascot last time against her own sex for Ben Clarke and Ben Jones and gets in here light off 10st 4lb. The Westerner mare was second behind 2025 Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace in a Listed novice over 2m4½f on her only previous Cheltenham start and her fondness for racing handily could be a big asset on this week’s evidence.
2.40 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
Experts’ Best Bet: Only By Night at 15/2
Dinoblue is all the rage for this but her Festival record shows just one win from four, she’s 1-3 in this contest previously, while at nine she goes against the age trends too. ONLY BY NIGHT was second in the Arkle here last March and Gavin Cromwell pinpointed this race back in the autumn as the long-range target. She won first time out and her Grade 1 effort at Leopardstown over Christmas facing geldings is easily forgiven. She should be primed to the minute and looks like a major player.
3.20 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Experts’ Best Bet: Doctor Steinberg at 7/2
Kripticjim is a lively each-way contender for Joe Tizzard after his Trials Day success here but DOCTOR STEINBERG sets the standard for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend and still has lots of scope for better. He was too keen at the Dublin Racing Festival but still came home in isolation up front and if he conserves his early energy a bit better, he can outclass this field based on what we saw at Leopardstown.
4.00 – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
Experts’ Best Bet: Jango Baie at 4/1
Haiti Couleurs is the interesting stamina-horse, with definite Synchronised/Native River vibes about him, while Gaelic Warrior is classy on his day but has had three very hard races coming here. Last year’s winner Inothewayurthinkin has bombed out in three runs since, while a big run from the mighty Envoi Allen would bring the house down on his Cheltenham farewell.
The Jukebox Man beat both Gaelic Warrior (third) and JANGO BAIE (fourth) in the King George at Christmas but a decent blanket would have covered them. Nicky Henderson’s runner was outpaced before staying on, as he was in his Arkle win here last season. He’s got the profile of a Gold Cup winner and could relish this test at a course where he is unbeaten in two runs.
4.40 – Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
Experts’ Best Bet: Shearer at 18/1
It’s On The Line has another tilt at this and may go well, while Stattler is under Patrick Mullins but SHEARER was fifth last year having perhaps committed for home too soon. Gina Andrews rides today and is a positive jockey booking for Paul Nicholls, who has won this race a record four times. He should be sharpened up for his recent Haydock comeback and looks a key each-way player.
5.20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Experts’ Best Bet: Kel Histoire at 9/2
This has tended to be a benefit for Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, with eight wins between them including seven of the last 12. Galopin Des Champs was the last Mullins winner in 2021 (what became of him!) and KEL HISTOIRE looks a major contender this time to cap a big week for the trainer and owner JP McManus. His mark of 137 is no gimme but he has run with credit in a pair of graded races on home soil this season, remains unexposed and could be hiding considerable latent ability now going handicapping. Michael Kenneally rides and is worth at least 6lb in this Conditional Jockeys’ contest to round off the Cotswolds shenanigans for another year.
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