Three days of the Cheltenham Festival are in the history books and we now head to the fourth and final day of action.
And that means it is Cheltenham Gold Cup day, the race that gives the famous festival its name and also its most prestigious trophy.
The bookmakers have taken a bit of a caning on the opening two days of the festival and on Day 3 things started more brightly for them with two short-odds favourite falling short in their quest to win a big race of the day.
That trend continued into the later races too, giving a day the bookies will certainly be happy with.
All this brings us nearly onto the final day of the festival which not only features the signature race, but also the JCB Triumph Hurdle, County Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
But before we take a look at what is in store for Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham, let’s take a look at how Day Three panned out for us and whether we had the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!
All odds shown were from bet365 Sport.
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Cheltenham Day Three Winners
- 1.30 – Stage Star – 15/2– (Mighty Potter 3rd, 6/5 fav)
- 2.10 – Good Time Jonny – 9/1– (E/W Hector Javilax, 19th, 16/1 )
- 2.50 – Envoi Allen – 13/2 – (Shishkin, 2nd, 5/6 fav))
- 3.30 – Sire Du Berlais – 33/1 – (Blazing Khal, 6th, 3/1 fav)
- 4.10 – Seddon – 20/1 – (Datsalrightgino, Fell, 11/1)
- 4.50 – You Wear It Well – 16/1 – (Luccia, 4th, 13/8 fav)
- 5.30 – Angels Dawn – 10/1 (E/W – Anightinlambourn, POS, 12/1)
Day 3 proved to be the day the bookies struck back with defeats for the likes of Mighty Potter and Shishkin proving to be good results for the bookmakers and with Sire Du Berlais landing the big Stayer’s Hurdle race at odds of 33/1, the bookies had a much bigger smile on their face after day three than they had the opening two days of the festival.
So with Day 3 in the history books, what do we have in store for Day Four and who will we pick to win the big one on Gold Cup day?
Cheltenham Festival 2023 Day Four – Gold Cup Day – 17th March
1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle
Field
- Active Duty – 100/1
- Almuhit – 100/1
- Ascending – 40/1
- Blood Destiny – 2/1
- Gust of Wind – 40/1
- Hypotenus – 33/1
- Jacovec Cavern – 150/1
- Jipcot – 33/1
- Jupiter Du Gite – 25/1
- Rightsotom – 33/1
- Cinsa – 66/1
- Gala Marceau – 9/2
- Je Garde – 33/1
- Lossimouth – 7/4 fav
- Zenta – 16/1
With Willie Mullins saddling up almost half the runners in the race, it is easy to suggest that the Irishman has a great chance to land the win here and of all his entries into the event Lossiemouth is the one I feel has the best chance although I expect Gala Marceau , Blood Destiny and Zenta to go close too.
Bet365 Boost Available – Lossiemouth – was 7/4 now 15/8
Our Tip – Lossiemouth – 15/8 fav
2.10pm – County Hurdle
Field
- Sharjah – 8/1
- Pied Piper – 16/1
- Winter Fog – 11/1
- Saint Sam – 25/1
- First Street – 18/1
- Ballyadam – 22/1
- Aucunrisque – 11/1
- Hunters Yarn – 6/1
- Prairie Dancer – 40/1
- Glory And Fortune – 40/1
- Highway One O Two – 40/1
- Anna Bunina – 50/1
- Milkwood – 25/1
- Filey Bay – 9/2 fav
- Pinkerton – 25/1
- Path D’oroux – 12/1
- Petit Tonerre – 18/1
- Highland Charge – 40/1
- Ganapathi – 80/1
- Magnor Glory – 25/1
- Pembroke – 10/1
- Gin Coco – 9/1
- Faivoir – 50/1
- Glan – 40/1
- Wonderwall – 20/1
- Luttrell Lad – 100/1
- Teddy Blue – 40/1
- Nibiru – 33/1
Filey Bay, Hunters Yarn and Sharjah are amongst the shorter priced selections in the County Hurdle while Pembroke is a very well backed option too. However, after winning two very good races last year, Gin Coco looks to have been well prepared for this race and the extra 4lb in weight shouldn’t be an issue.
Bet365 Boost Available – Pembroke – was 10/1 now 11/1
Our Tip – Gin Coco – 9/1
2.50pm – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Field
- Affordable Fury – 40/1
- Chianti Classico – 33/1
- Corbetts Cross – 9/2
- Dawn Rising – 25/1
- Embassy Gardens – 9/1
- Favori De Champdou – 14/1
- Hiddenvalley Lake – 9/1
- Idalko Bihoue – 66/1
- Letsbeclearaboutit – 16/1
- Monty’s Star – 14/1
- Rock My Way – 20/1
- Saint Palais – 50/1
- Sandor Clegane – 12/1
- Seabank Bistro – 25/1
- Search For Glory – 25/1
- Shanbally Kid – 16/1
- Stay Away Fay – 20/1
- Thomas Mor – 33/1
- Three Card Brag – 7/2 fav
- Weveallbeencaught – 25/1
When Gordon Elliott, who has had another excellent festival thus far, is bullish about the chances of one of his chargers in a race, it is wise to take notice. Three Card Brag is the horse to watch out for here after steadily improving all season and he looks ready to land the big win here.
Bet365 Boost Available – Embassy Gardens – was 9/1 now 10/1
Our Tip – Three Card Brag – 7/2 fav
3.30pm – Cheltenham Gold Cup
Field
- Ahoy Senor – 16/1
- A Plus Tard – 7/1
- Bravemansgame – 6/1
- Conflated – 14/1
- Eldorado Allen – 100/1
- Galopin Des Champs – 15/8 fav
- Hewick – 25/1
- Minella Indo – 20/1
- Noble Yeats – 9/1
- Protektorat 14/1
- Royale Pagaille – 50/1
- Sounds Russian – 25/1
- Stattler – 9/1
What a fantastic field there is for this yeas Gold Cup. A Plus Tard, Noble Yeats, Protektorat, Bravemansgame and Stattler may all be amongst the shorter priced favourites but my pick is Galopin Des Champs, the long-time favourite of the race who, if he can stay the course, should be right in the thick of it at the end.
Bet365 Boost Available – Noble Yeats – was 9/1 now 10/1
Our Tip – Galopin Des Champs – 15/8 fav
4.10pm – Hunters’ Chase
Field
- Billaway – 8/1
- Black Op – 28/1
- Bob and Co – 14/1
- Brain Power – 28/1
- Cat Tiger – 25/1
- Chris’s Dream – 10/1
- Dandy Dan – 40/1
- Dorking Clock – 20/1
- Famous Clermont – 13/2
- Go Go Geronimo – 33/1
- I K Brunel – 40/1
- Its On The Line – 20/1
- Le Malin – 28/1
- Mighty Stowaway – 50/1
- Moratorium – 100/1
- Myth Buster – 66/1
- Not That Fuisse – 40/1
- Premier Magic – 25/1
- Rocky’s Howya – 12/1
- Secret Investor – 14/1
- Shantou Flyer – 33/1
- The Storyteller – 20/1
- Vaucelet – 11/4 fav
- Wotzizname – 100/1
Vaucelet dominates the betting here and it is easy to see why with three wins in its last three races, he has performed against some top-quality horses too, that some other winners in the race have not. However, my tip here is Bob and Co each way, a very talented horse that had a first and two seconds before a fall in his last race.
Bet365 Boost Available – Vaucelet – was 11/4 now 3/1
Our Tip – E/W – Bob And Co – 14/1
4.50pm – Mares’ Chase
Field
- Allegorie De Vasy – 5/4 fav
- Elimay – 20/1
- Impervious – 11/4
- Riviere D’etel – 16/1
- Dolcita – 40/1
- Jeremys Flame – 11/2
- Magic Daze – 11/1
- Pink Legend – 50/1
- Zambella – 25/1
Allegorie De Vassy is the favourite here but I think that Impervious has a great chance. The horse has won her last three races after not being too impressive last season and while Allegorie De Vassy has equally good form, I just feel that Impervious improvement puts her just ahead of her main opponent here.
Bet365 Boost Available – Impervious – was 11/4 now 3/1
Our Tip – Impervious – 3/1
5.30pm – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Field
- Felix Desjy – 20/1
- Might I – 10/1
- Cool Survivor – 11/2
- Molly Ollys Wishes – 22/1
- Imagine – 5/1
- Mark Of Gold – 20/1
- No Ordinary Joe – 25/1
- Iroko – 9/1
- Spirit of Legends – 22/1
- Saylavee – 28/1
- West To The Bridge – 28/1
- Spanish Harlem – 9/2 fav
- Au Fleuron – 28/1
- Irish Hill – 16/1
- Firm Footings – 16/1
- Non-Runner
- Impulsive One – 28/1
- In From The Cold – 50/1
- Haxo – 16/1
- Buddy One – 20/1
- Non-Runner
- Hollow Sound – 80/1
- Hey Johnny – 40/1
- Fifty Ball – 66/1
- Innatendue – 100/1
- Vultan – 100/1
Non-Runners – Wonderwall, Grozni
The 28th and final race of the festival sees some interesting options including Imagine, Iroko and Spanish Harlem. My pick though it Might who has finished second over the hurdles here and at Aintree and Sandown and who, despite not landing a win, has four top three places in his five starts thus far.
Bet365 Boost Available – Iroko – was 9/1 now 10/1
Our Tip – Might I – 10/1
Cheltenham Tips Tracker After Day 3
I started Day 3 a huge £1.50 up, and after deciding not to look at buying my own private jet, I sat with steely determination to turn that small profit into a larger one. Well on Day 3 things turned for the worst with no winners to report, meaning it’s all to do on Day 4!
- Total Bet – £220 (£80 + £70 + £70)
- Total Returns – £151.50 (£66 + £85.50 + £0)
- Profit/Loss – -£69.50 down after day three.
