Cheltenham Festival 2024: Day 4 tips for Gold Cup, Albert Bartlett ...

15 Mar 2024

Scottish Daily Record

Share on FacebookShare

Share on XTweet

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Day 4 tips for Gold Cup Albert Bartlett

Our man, Bob Cross, is here with his picks for the final day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

By Bob Cross

And just like that we are on day four of the Festival – Gold Cup Day.

When we look back on this festival I am sure 2024 will not rank among the finest for a number of reasons.

Nevertheless, who knows what lies in store for the final day of the meet.

We start with the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 1.30. Wille Mullins has won three of the past four runnings of this race and, with the defection earlier in the week of Sir Geno,I expect him to have this trophy on his mantelpiece this evening.

The question is – which one of his SEVEN entries will get their head in front? I am siding with KARGESE who finished in front of a few of the competition at Leopardstown last month. My each way selection is the Joseph O’Brien trained NURBURGRING, who looks as though he has a bright future regardless of the result here.

Our tipster Bob Cross provides his runners and riders for the final day's races (Image: Hamilton Advertiser)

Next up, at 2.10, is the County Hurdle. Gordon Elliott hit the bar a couple of times earlier in the week before landing yesterday’s Stayers Hurdle with Teahupoo. I fancy two of his horses to run well here. KING OF KINGSFIELD makes his handicap debut and i am of the view he will finish in front of my each way selection, PIED PIPER, who enjoys racing here.

The 2.50 is the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle and i am siding, again , with a Willie Mullins inmate. DANCING CITY (n/b) won convincingly at Leopardstown last month and has clearly improved leaps and bounds in the past year. Each way selection is CAPTAIN TEAGUE.

Then it is the main event, The Gold Cup. Last year's winner GALLOPIN DES CHAMPS will be a short price to retain his crown – and not without good reason! He lost twice after winning this but looked back to his best when winning the Irish Gold Cup last month.

An each way shilling is being invested on L’HOMME PRESS who returned after a year off to win at Lingfield before finishing second at Ascot. The Cheltenham Gold Cup was always his target and he deserves his place in this field.

Cheltenham Racecourse

The Hunters Chase is off at 4.10 and, guess what? I am tipping another Willie Mullins trained gelding! BILLAWAY came from a different parish to finish a very close runner up last month at Naas. He has a great record in this race second in 2020 and 2021 before winning in 2022. Last year he was going well before taking an uncharacteristic fall.

QUINTIN’S MAN is our each way selection. He ran well last time out at Haydock and may outrun his odds.

The penultimate race of the meet is the Mares’ Chase. If the day goes the way i think it will go this will be another crown for the Mullins team. DINOBLUE (nap) looks bulletproof. She lost her unbeaten run last month when chasing home El Fabiolo. She lost nothing in defeat and I do not see anything in this race to trouble her.

A speculative each way shilling is being invested in PINK LEGEND. I am overlooking her last two outings (which were less than impressive) and remembering her two previous runs in this event where she has been placed.

The curtain comes down on the Festival at 5.30 with the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

Sir Alex Ferguson, owner of Monmiral, celebrates winning the Pertemps Network Final

Sir Alex Ferguson was in the winners enclosure twice yesterday and he has a chance of a hat-trick when SONIGINO takes his place in this line up. Our final each way selection of the year is QUAI DU BOURBON – another French bred, Willie Mullins trained gelding!

And that is us for another year !

Look out for Worth A Few Bob tips every week on the back page of the Hamilton Advertiser.