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Man On The Spot (SL) previews day four of the Cheltenham Festival and makes Grumeti his best bet on the card.


1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Karezak’s form ties together a few of these. He’s finished behind Old Guard, Hargam and PEACE AND CO in three of his last four runs but the latter comes out best at the weights. Nicky Henderson runs three in this but the unbeaten Falco gelding is his number one and was impressive here on Trials Day in January. Hargam is no slouch, however, and the other Henderson runner Top Notch has yet to taste defeat since arriving from France, though may not be as effective on the quicker ground. Willie Mullins is another who is triple-handed and his filly Petite Parisienne beat stablemate Kalkir in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month so is definitely worth a second look. Pain Au Chocolat has beaten Devilment and Old Guard in his last two starts so is another with each-way claims but the fly in the ointment could be Beltor. Robert Stephens’ charge won the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle on the bridle last month, despite racing with the choke out for much of the trip. He clearly has an engine but the blinkers will have to help him settle better here if he’s not to run out of steam.

2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Five-year-olds have much the best record in this and there are plenty to choose from this year. The Irish also have a decent record in the race which used to bring down the curtain on the meeting until the schedule was swapped around a few years ago so Modem goes on the short-list. He was second in the normally-informative Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown in January and filled the same spot in a Grade 2 at Naas subsequently but Rich Coast, Orgilgo Bay and The Game Changer are returning from a break. So is QUICK JACK, though that isn’t normally a problem for one from his yard and he’s unexposed over hurdles having made giant strides on the Flat when last seen. Tony Martin’s charge will love the ground and could be a blot on the handicap so gets the nod. Violet Dancer held off Cheltenian to win the betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month but there may not be much between the pair on the revised terms. Third Activial ran well in the Coral Cup here on Wednesday and Ebony Express, who was in touch when brought down two out, won the Imperial Cup at Sandown last week so the form looks solid. The latter will collect a massive bonus if he wins again here. Hawk High won the Fred Winter here last year and could also go well while a market check is advised on McCoy’s mount Princely Conn. Max Dynamite may be the pick of his stable’s five runners.


2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

This looks wide-open but previous form over 3m is usually a pre-requisite and it’s also been an advantage in recent years to have had experience of Cheltenham. Only a few fall into both categories so we’ll concentrate on those. Willie Mullins has declared five and his Black Hercules will probably start favourite. His fourth in last year’s Champion Bumper was a good effort considering the trip and he’s been steadily improving over timber, making all in a Grade 3 over 3m at Cork in December. Blaklion was just caught by Caracci Apache in a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January but he’d won at that level here in December and his subsequent third to Parlour Games at Newbury in between has been franked. He looks a solid each-way choice as there will be no hanging about here and a few of these will have to prove they stay every inch of the trip if they are to get involved. A few favourites have won this in recent years but there have been just as many shock results and a win for DEFINITLY RED could be another. Brian Ellison’s stayer was beaten by Native River over 2m6f on his hurdling debut at Newcastle but has left that form well behind since. He stayed on gamely to beat Fletcher’s Flyer in a Grade 2 at Haydock last time and can confirm that form with the second, despite worse terms, as the quicker ground won’t be a problem. Martello Tower boast very solid form in Ireland so may be the pick of the remainder, though we’re probably yet to see the best of Value At Risk.


3.20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)

A bumper field for racing’s Blue Riband and it looks one of the most open Gold Cups for many a year. Ten of the 18-strong field are Grade 1 winners and Lord Windermere bids to follow up his victory of 12 months ago. He’s won both previous races at The Festival but there shouldn’t be much between Davy Russell’s mount, The Giant Bolster, On His Own, Silviniaco Conti and Bob’s Worth again. The latter won the race in 2013, when The Giant Bolster was fourth, but Cheltenham hasn’t brought the best out of Silviniaco Conti in the past though he is easily the best of the home team over 3m. Djakadam has been well backed since defying a big weight in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in January but only one six-year-old has won this in the last 50 years and his overall form doesn’t measure up against a few of these. Many Clouds has made giant strides this season and was completing a hat-trick when beating Smad Place and The Giant Bolster in a Grade 2 on Trials Day here in January. But he would have undoubtedly preferred a softer surface and is closely matched with Holywell on the form book. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge, a Festival winner 12 months ago, shouldn’t be underestimated but Don Cossack has been cleaning up in small field in Ireland and will find this much tougher. There is nothing wrong with the form of Road To Riches, however, as he had a number of these behind when winning the Lexus Chase in December and the rest will have recharged his batteries. However, there is a question mark over his stamina in a fast-run race over 3m2f. Mark Bradstock is taking a gamble in running CONEYGREE against these battle-hardened Grade 1 performers but believes his novice is something special. He never looked in any danger when leading from start to finish in the Denman at Newbury last time and Nico de Boinville’s mount can put these to the sword as well.

4.00 St James's Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

Salsify, who won this in 2012 and 2013, is back for a hat-trick bid having missed out through injury last year. He’s sure to have improved for a comeback run behind Prince De Beauchene at Leopardstown last month but has ground to make up on the second in that race, ON THE FRINGE. Enda Bolger’s charge was only third in this last year but had an interrupted preparation and can reverse that form with runner-up Carsonstown Boy - he’ll get every assistance from Nina Carberry. Paint The Clouds will enjoy the faster ground and looks a threat. He wasn’t that impressive when beating Quinz at Doncaster last time but beat the useful Shoreacres on the bit on his previous start under Rules and will stay every inch of this trip. Paul Nicholls had a struggle to get No Loose Change qualified but he should run well now he’s got here while the prolific pointer Current Event has the past form to figure. The up-and-coming Seventh Sign is also worth a second look, though might just lack the experience for a race like this.


4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Edeymi was due to run in yesterday’s Pertemps Final so could be a doubtful runner but Jolly’s Cracked It is interesting on his fifth in the betfair Hurdle. While Le Mercury was third in a Grade 2 handicap at Ascot in January. There is no reason why Roi Des Francs won’t go well having won a Grade 3 at Clonmel last month - he doesn’t look overburdened on his handicap debut. Stablemates McKinley and Killultagh Vic also come into the reckoning and Forthefunofit took a step in the right direction when beating Party Rock at Huntingdon and Patrick Cowley can take off 5lb. Punchestown winner Noble Endeavor and Bordoni are worthy of consideration but we fancy a big run from MACNICHOLSON. Jessica Harrington gave him a pipe-opener on the all-weather last month after resting him through the worst of the winter weather and he ran well until getting outpaced up the straight. This is his ground and trip and he can give Ger Fox a thrilling Festival ride.

5.15 A.P. McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Ned Buntline will almost certainly start favourite as he bids to make A P McCoy’s final ride at The Festival a winning one. He is only 4lb higher than when a fast-finishing second in the race last year – ahead of Claret Cloak, Next Sensation, Eastlake and Tanks For That – and will have been aimed at the race again so has every chance of lifting the roof off the stands with a victory but we fancy GRUMETI (NAP) to spoil the party. A very smart hurdler – he ran in last year’s Champion Hurdle and was third in the Triumph Hurdle in 2012 – he beat Chris Pea Green at Plumpton on his penultimate start and blinkers should help him jump better than he did over a longer trip at Sandown in January. Alan King also runs Turn Over Sivola, who has each-way claims, while Blood Cotil could go close to ending the meeting on a high note for the Mullins team. Karinga Dancer could also go well if his jumping holds up with course specialist Ted Veale another for the short-list.