Can you believe it that we are here already - the final day! It has been a strange week with more downs than ups for racing fans with the week's superstars failing to deliver (Constitution Hill, Jonbon, Ballyburn, etc...). Still, despite the cold, it has been an entertaining few days as ever and here we go one last time.
13:20, JCB Triumph Hurdle
Lulamba 2/1, 3pts win
East India Dock 2/1, 1pt win
I was on Sir Gino at 16/1 for last year's Triumph and never got a run for my money but I fancy Lulamba to make amends for the same connections. I was at Ascot when he made his UK debut and was most impressed with how he looked in the paddock. He's a big horse who will make a chaser and so it was all the more impressive how much speed he showed to cruise into contention at the Berkshire track. He's open to bundles of improvement and should take all the beating here with East India Dock likely to pose the biggest danger.
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14:00, William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
Valgrand 8/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
I could go on all day about the Irish horses here but to be honest, I'm struggling to split them and as such I am happy to take a chance on Dan Skelton's novice - Valgrand. He bolted up by half the track here in the Autumn but hasn't got anywhere near that form in his subsequent runs. He's been put away for this race by the master trainer though and I'm sure he'll be cherry ripe now. He looked a decent horse the day he won and if he can bounce back to similar form, on ground he likes, then he must be going close.
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14:40, Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase
No bet
I'm sorry but I have no time for this race at the Festival. Move this to Sandown at the end of the season and I'll take a view but for me this will be the time to get a cup of overpriced coffee.
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15:20, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Wendigo 8/1, 1.5pts win
Jet Blue 7/1, 1pt win
I've been a fan of Wendigo for this race for a while and the recent market move has filled me with some confidence. He looked like a novice going places earlier in the season before finding The New Lion too hot to handle in the Challow. He ran well that day though to come through for second and is shaping like he'll relish this trip. Jet Blue is also on the list as I cannot get how well he won by here the last day out of my mind. The French have had a torrid week but this won at least has won at the track and looks sure to run well.
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16:00, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
No bet
Sit back, relax and watch the relentless galloper Gallopin Des Champs win his third Gold Cup.
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16:40, St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
Willitgoahead 5/1, 1.5pts each-way (5 places)
Ontheropes 25/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
Willitgoahead has been bought by powerful connections and sent to Gordon Elliott to do a job, and that is to win this race. He has been winning plenty of races in points but the last day he really impressed when winning a hunter chase well after travelling and jumping supremely. He's the up and coming force in this field and should go very well. At big odds I think Ontheropes should run well. He was classy under rules and is a stout stayer, as he showed when 5th in last season's Scottish Grand National. He ran well to finish 2nd in a decent hunter chase last time out when coming from behind and this race could really set up well for him to put in a good finishing effort.
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17:20, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
No Questions Asked 16/1, 1.5pts each-way (5 places)
Electric Mason 33/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
Kopeck De Mee will take up a huge part of the book here but he's short enough and won't take my money. I'm aware he could be thrown in though so I'm taking a chance on 2 each-way in stead. Ben Pauling has had a poor week but he has been very bullish about the chances of his novice here. No Questions Asked ran a mighty race to finish second in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon before winning at very short odds last time and that should have him spot on for this. He's totally unexposed and could turn out to be a lot better than these seasoned handicappers. Another novice I like at big odds is Chris Gordon's Electric Mason. He didn't run badly in the Challow at Newbury and is similarly unexposed.
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