Fridays at Cheltenham Festival are momentous as it features the Gold Cup along with offering punters the last chance to capitalise on the biggest jumps racing event on the final day.
This year, the Gold Cup sees Galopin Des Champs the favourite again but at an incredibly heavy odds-on price as no other rival looks close to catching the horse that will undoubtedly become a legend of the sport.
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Friday’s at Cheltenham Festival also features the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle – a 2m1f hurdle contest for four-year-olds.
Trainer Willie Mullins has really dominated this race in recent years winning four times in the last five renewals including each of the last three: Majborough (2024), Lossiemouth (2023) and Vauban (2022).
The Gold Cup is a one horse race by the looks of things as Galopin Des Champs will be looking to make it three from three to win this race and really put his name in the history books.
It’s rare to see a horse like this Willie Mullins-trained gelding and for racing it’s great to have a super star to look forward to watching.
Cheltenham Festival Friday racing tips
- TRIUMPH HURDLE
1.20: East India Dock 5/2 - MARES’ CHASE
2.40: Dinoblue 9/4 - GOLD CUP
4.00: Galopin Des Champs 1/2
East India Dock
The Triumph Hurdle this year has a different feel to it with no clear favourite – though only five favourites have won in the last ten renewals and the shortest prices have come from Lossiemouth at 11/8 and Vauban at 6/4.
And Irish trainer Mullins shortest price this year in the race is a 14/1 shot Lady Vega Allen.
That’s partly due to her facing four unbeaten geldings who occupy the front four in the market and the filly could be heading for the Fred Winter instead.
Lulamba impressed a few with his comfortable win at Ascot in January while East India Dock has won by a distance in each of his three starts over hurdles.
He appeals over any other horse so far as the course and distance form can often prove to be invaluable.
Not only that but when winning over Static at Cheltenham he did so by an incredible 18 lengths over a horse that was rated 125.
Dinoblue
The Mares’ Chase is another very competitive clash on the Friday card.
Limerick Lace won this last year and is an each-way punt this time with Dinoblue, Bioluminescence and Allegorie De Vassy ahead in the ante-post market.
Dinoblue was only denied by less than a length at Cheltenham last year behind Limerick Lace, in what was a bit of a shock as the Willie Mullins-trained horse was the favourite – despite carrying 5lb more.
The mare hasn’t been seen over 2m4f since but has returned to winning ways, beating Allegorie De Vassy by a neck at Naas earlier in February.
Every winner of the Mares’ Chase so far in its four runnings has been won by a mare that have all placed in the top three in all of their previous runs leading up to victory at the festival.
Limerick Lace just hasn’t quite been the same since winning that race finishing well off the pace in each of her three starts since, which may have something to do with her running in the Grand National a month after Cheltenham.
It’s still early days and there should be a fair few more declarations that make this an easier task, even with 19 out of a maximum of 24 runners currently.
I’d have to stick with Dinoblue though with her apparent ability that made her a favourite last year and almost confirming that with a close run in second.
Galopin Des Champs
At this point it’s only winning bets that you want so Galopin Des Champs to win this for the third straight year is the best for racing for sure.
In the days leading up to it though more markets are available with distances, places or the one that may appeal; betting without the favourite.
That makes it a race between the rest of the field opening up the odds and providing a bit more value.
Banbridge is the second favourite at the moment but may drift if Fact To File backers hammer the odds in.
Either way I’d be keen on seeing Banbridge improve over this distance as he’s still so unexposed over this distance, having won on his first outing over 3m last time out beating Il Est Francais nicely at 7/1 at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Tom Lunn’s Horse Racing P/L
- From November ’24: +41.93pts
- From May ’24: +195.88pts
- From July ’23: +335.35pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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