PADDY POWER CHEAT SHEET TIPS
13:20: Triumph Hurdle (2m1f)
RUBY WALSH: I’m a fan of PROACTIF, who seems to have improved markedly since his win at Fairyhouse on his Irish debut. The same could be said for Macho Man, who followed him home that day, but Proactif should be good enough to give JP McManus another winner.
HARRY COBDEN: MON CREUSET is a nice horse and I worked him on Tuesday. I obviously didn’t press any proper buttons but he gave me a nice feel. He was unlucky not to win last time out at Naas and I’m delighted to have picked up the ride. I feel he’s got a good engine but it’s just whether we’re good enough on Friday!
JOHNNY DINEEN: They may have seen Narcisco Has ruled out but Willie Mullins & JP McManus may have a ready-made replacement in PROACTIF for Friday’s curtain raiser. A good winner of a 2m maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on debut in January having won over 2m 2f in France, there’s plenty of improvement to come.
PATRICK MULLINS: MACHO MAN can reverse the form with Proactif and looks too big a price under Brian Hayes on their last running. Paul Townend has opted for Selma De Vary who has huge potential but is a tricky ride and will be held up and that’s not ideal.
MATT CHAPMAN: I’ll chance MINELLA ACADEMY here for Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins. He’s a big price for the stable and ditched by Paul Townend, but Mullins did it with an outsider in Poniros last year and Minella Academy looked very good on his only run for a different stable. Could be anything.
14:00: County Hurdle (2m1f)
RUBY WALSH: He might not be a ’State Man’, but KARBAU ran really well behind Glen Kiln in the Limestone Lad Hurdle. The forecast rain will suit him more than his stablemate Murcia, and that may have swayed Paul Townend’s decision to make him his only handicap ride of the week. He’s got a really good chance.
HARRY COBDEN: I’m not sure this is the most competitive County Hurdle we’ve seen! JUBILEE ALPHA has been below par this season. Her first run at Wincanton was very good but we haven’t properly hit the bullseye with her since. A fast run race over 2m should suit her well so I’m looking forward to riding her.
JOHNNY DINEEN: JOYEUSE won the valuable hurdle race at Newbury last season and has been gradually working her way down the handicap since. At the prices, she looks a good option to hit the places at least.
PATRICK MULLINS: KARBAU could have a little bit up his sleeve now dropping to handicap company. He’s been placed in grade company at Aintree and Punchestown as a novice and was beaten by a race-fit rival on seasonal debut. Paul Townend rides and could be a graded horse in a handicap.
MATT CHAPMAN: There are much sexier horses than JUBILEE ALPHA (each-way) but she’s interesting for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. The mare has been traveling well in classy races without finishing off her races and I’ve long thought she simply doesn’t stay. She drops to 2m now and off a fast pace might surprise a few. A mark of 139 should be very workable.
14:40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (2m4½f)
RUBY WALSH: DINOBLUE looks rock solid for my money. She was excellent when winning this race last year and has had an ideal preparation to defend her crown. I can’t see beyond her!
HARRY COBDEN: I can see DINOBLUE winning although I do like Spindleberry. She’s a very good mare.
JOHNNY DINEEN: She won this last year and has taken the same route this season too when winning at Naas in her prep run. It’ll take a good mare to lower the colours of DINOBLUE.
PATRICK MULLINS: DINOBLUE can retain her crown. She’s very consistent and has top-class form against the geldings and sets a very good standard. While she perhaps isn’t at her best at this track, she has more than enough class to fend off the new challengers.
MATT CHAPMAN: Dinoblue a strong favourite but I’m happy to weigh in with PANIC ATTACK for Harry and Dan Skelton. The mare has been brilliant this season, winning all three races including the Coral Gold Cup, a Listed contest and the incredible Paddy Power Gold Cup here. She jumps like a stag and stays. She will be no pushover.
15:20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3m)
RUBY WALSH: Doctor Steinberg has obvious claims, but this is a race that can throw up some big-priced winners. I’m siding with ESPRESSO MILAN, who should really enjoy this step up in trip with a strong gallop. He’s the value selection.
HARRY COBDEN: HIPOP DE LOIRE won at Galway last summer and he looks a good horse. He stayed well and I’m not worried about the 3m distance. He’s quite a big price but he could be overlooked in the market.
JOHNNY DINEEN: The former point-to-point winner ROAD EXILE takes a big step up in distance for this 3m test that has thrown up a few shocks in its time.
PATRICK MULLINS: The ground might be a concern for DR STEINBERG the step up in trip to three miles should help to offset that. He sets the standard on form from his DRF win and can confirm his superiority.
MATT CHAPMAN: The Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over nearly 3m. Few really stay this trip, but THEDEVILUNO looks a very strong horse at the distance and comes here in great form on the back of a win in Grade 2 company at Doncaster. He’s beaten a decent animal in Skylight Hustle in a maiden and might well be up to this task.
16:00: Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m2½f)
RUBY WALSH: GAELIC WARRIOR bids to give connections a Champion Hurdle – Gold Cup double, and I’m with him. Any rain will be an advantage to him, and the race set-up should be ideal with plenty of pace on. I can see him being dropped in towards the inner, powering through on the run to the last, and the rest, as they say, is history!
HARRY COBDEN: It was a last-minute call up to ride SPILLANES TOWER but I’m absolutely delighted. He’ll appreciate plenty of rain which I’m hoping we get. I was impressed with his win in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January even though I’m not sure that’s enough to win a Gold Cup but we’ll see! He jumped brilliantly and won nicely that day. I’m happy to get the ride and I’m delighted to be a part of it. Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie are the biggest dangers.
JOHNNY DINEEN: It’s a wide-open Gold Cup this year and SPILLANE’S TOWER proved there was life in the old dog yet when hosing up in the Cotswolds Chase at this venue last time. He’s had a stop-start career, but a win now would make up for all of it
PATRICK MULLINS: The feature race of the week and GAELIC WARRIOR can get revenge over his English rivals for his King George defeat. The track will bring out the best for him and with a fast pace guaranteed by Haiti Couleurs, he can get some cover and provide Paul Townend with his fifth win in the race and equal Pat Taaffe’s record.
MATT CHAPMAN: INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN has been awful since winning this race last year and there are plenty of up-and-coming young horses who can take this prize, none more so than Jango Baie who has a huge chance on his staying on run in the King George. However, last year’s hero has proven stamina and when I spoke to trainer Gavin Cromwell earlier in the week he said there was definitely a bit of spring back in the hoof of his hope. A first-time tongue strap might also help.
16:40: Hunters’ Chase (3m2½f)
RUBY WALSH: I fancy PANDA BOY, who was a solid handicap chaser for Martin Brassil. He qualified with wins in this discipline at Thurles and Naas. You need to be a strong stayer to win the Hunters’ Chase, and he ticks that box. He’s the most likely winner with John Gleeson on board.
HARRY COBDEN: If I had to pick one I’d side with I’d go for ITS ON THE LINE who has been second in the last three renewals of this race!
JOHNNY DINEEN: A three-timer runner up in this Hunters Chase you know you’ll get a good run for your money with ITS ON THE LINE. Hopefully, Derek O’Connor can coax a last effort from him to finally get his head in front.
PATRICK MULLINS: ITS ON THE LINE is too big a price and is admirably consistent. He’s still only nine and could be coming into his prime now with regards to this race. He can make it fourth time lucky at the Festival.
MATT CHAPMAN: I could see a decent effort from CHEMICAL ENERGY here for Mr. B O’Neill and Gordon Elliott. The 141-rated chaser has won his last two starts in point-to-points and should be a strong stayer here with past efforts including a sixth in the Cross Country here last year and a former effort in the Irish National.
17:20: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)
RUBY WALSH: KEL HISTOIRE and Jump Allen both have solid chances, and I’ve just come down on the former. His overall form is stronger, and he’s got an eye-catching jockey booked in Michael Kenneally. He can deliver the goods in the lucky last.
HARRY COBDEN: JUMP ALLEN has a good chance. He’s a hardy type and he might have a couple of lbs (in weight) up his sleeve. He’ll come up the hill well and if he’s in good form, he’s got a shout.
JOHNNY DINEEN: Willie Mullins has three of the market leaders for the festival finale but I’m with JUMP ALLEN who had a couple of entries but takes up this engagement. Anna McGuinness will ride. He was last seen on the final day of the jumps season at Sandown last April and it looks to me they’ve been trying to protect his handicap mark for a big prize at Cheltenham. This is it.
PATRICK MULLINS: We’ve two big bullets to fire in the finale with Kel Histoire and JUMP ALLEN who I have a real soft spot for. He’s a good ground horse and won well in a handicap hurdle at Sandown last year. He’s still unexposed and there could be more juice in his handicap mark. Anna McGuinness is a real addition to him and can finish off the Festival on a high.
MATT CHAPMAN: ACT OF AUTHORITY was second in this last year to Wodhooh and can hopefully go one place better off just a 1lb higher mark. He ran poorly at Ascot last time when never involved but prior to that he had been in good form this season. Olly Murphy trains with Lewis Saunters riding.
