William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival, picking out his best bets in all of the seven races.
Cheltenham, Friday
The Triumph Hurdle (1:20pm) looks a really strong race. I think East India Dock is a worthy favourite, Hello Neighbour comes here with good form as well, but LULAMBA made a big impression when winning in Ascot. That was a strong race and it was a really good performance on his second start over hurdles. I was lucky enough to ride four Triumph winners for Nicky [Henderson] over the years, and he certainly knows the type of horse required to win this race. He’s a fine, big horse, with a lot of scope and the vibes from Seven Barrows are very strong.
KARGESE is the one I’d want to be on in the William Hill County Hurdle (2:00pm). She’s gone to the head of the market, which is no surprise. Some of her form last season was brilliant, she was second to Majborough in the Triumph, she was second at Aintree and then won at Punchestown. Her return at Ascot in January was a good one, when just looking to need the run, and I think she’s going to be well prepped for this. Willie [Mullins] generally doesn’t over-race horses in their five-year-old season, so she comes here after only one run, but at the same time the handicapper hasn’t had a chance to see her. She still has a lot of potential for improvement from last season and I think she’s a very strong favourite.
DINOBLUE beat Allegorie De Vassy last time in Naas, when giving her six pounds, and gives her a pound less in the Mares’ Chase (2:40pm). She was probably unlucky to get beaten in this race last year, when they dropped her right out because the ground was soft. She had a little bit to overcome then, but she ran a brilliant race. Better ground here at this trip looks ideal for her. She comes out on top of the ratings and if she puts her best foot forward, she’ll be hard to beat.
There are plenty with chances in the Albert Bartlett (3:20pm) but THE BIG WESTERNER is the one for me. It was a really good staying performance from her last time out in Limerick, and this race is all about stamina. She has the seven pounds allowance, which is a big help, and to me she looks the right type for this. One I did think was of interest each-way was BALLYBOW. He put in a real staying performance to win in Clonmel last time and he is another that could be perfectly suited to this test.
I think GALOPIN DES CHAMPS can win a third Gold Cup (4:00pm) to join the greats. He’s so uncomplicated and is such a classy performer. He’s been brilliant at Leopardstown this season and his form is pretty much identical to last season. If he turns up in the shape he has been in for the last few seasons, there’s no reason to suggest he can’t do it – he’s the class act of the race. With the ground being good-to-soft, I think Banbridge is a horse that can run a big race, but I see him chasing Galopin Des Champs home, I don’t see him troubling him.
ANGELS DAWN won the Kim Muir two years ago, and then fell at the second last when challenging in the same race last year. With such good course form to her name, she looks to hold a good chance in the Hunters’ Chase (4:40pm). She arrives here in good shape having beaten Ryehill in a point-to-point on her last start and that would look to be the strongest recent piece of form.
In the Festival finale, the Martin Pipe (5:20pm), Kopeck De Mee has been all the rage and by the sound of it he’s already home and hosed. There probably isn’t much value in his price now though. The one I like as an each-way play is Nicky Henderson’s runner EAST INDIA EXPRESS. He was a good winner last time out at Kempton and had won in Ascot prior to that. He looks to me like a progressive type and one with a big chance in a race that’s potentially dominated by the favourite, but he has to go and do it.
