Friday 15 March 2019

Up for the Cup

Cheltenham's a sporting venue that's witnessed its fair share of drama down the years. But if anyone ever compiles an official  Desert Island Discs of top Festival days, yesterday's events will easily make it into the final eight.

From Bryony Frost's never-say-die front-running ride on Frodon to win the Ryanair Chase, to the sight of the Andrew Gemmell-owned Paisley Park surging up the run-in under Aidan Coleman to collar Sam Spinner and land a memorable Stayers' Hurdle, it was enough to turn hardened racegoers to blubber.

Throw in a win for Lizzie Kelly on Siruh Du Lac in what used to be known as the Mildmay of Flete and Barry Geraghty's monumental effort to lift Sire Du Berlais over the line in the Pertemps Final and 2019 St Patrick's Thursday will go down in the annals as an all-round top day.

Followers of Philippos were rewarded with 3/1 winner Defi Du Seuil in the JLT and Not Many Left placed at 16/1 in the Pertemps for e/w backers.

Today we move on to the main event: it's Cheltenham Gold Cup day and there's a seven-race card which is trickier to crack than doing The Times crossword in the dark.

Still, you're a long time dead so let's see how we get on. The opening race, the Triumph Hurdle, features one of the talking horses of the meeting in the shape of the former classy flat racer, Sir Erec. On a week which has seen a few shocks I'd be inclined to take him on.

As for the Blue Riband Gold Cup at 3.30 itself, the weather may yet play a part. Last year's contest was run on really soft ground bringing out the eventual winner Native River's endless supplies of stamina. If the rain stays away today we could be in for a thriller with several runners jumping the final fence in unison. What price a photo-finish anyone?

Be lucky!

1.30
Each-way: Quel Destin (9/1, generally) Gardens of Babylon (11/1, generally)

2.10
Each-way: Crooks Peak (14/1, generally), Countister (16/1, generally), We Have A Dream (25/1, generally).

2.50
Win: Birchdale (6/1, generally), Allaho (8/1, generally) NAP

3.30 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Each-way: Bellshill (10/1), Bristol De Mai (25/1, generally) NB

4.10 
Win: Road To Rome (8/1, generally), Shantou Flyer (8/1, generally)

4.50
Win: Whatswrongwithyou (8/1, generally)
Each-way: Bun Doran (14/1, generally)

5.30
Win: Early Doors (7/1, generally)
Each-way: If You Say Run (201, generally)



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