Well here we are, Friday 13th. Gold Cup day. It's been an up and down week. How will it end?
13:20, JCB Triumph Hurdle
Maestro Conti 7/1, 2pts win
Minella Study 6/1, 2pts win
Willie Mullins has a strong hand here but it's not easy to set them all apart on what we've seen so far. Instead, it could be chancing that Britain wins this race for the first time since 2019. Maestro Conti won the trial here well in January and looks to be improving for his racing. Minella Study was mightily impressive at this track in December and has been kept fresh ever since.
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14:00, William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
Karbau 9/2, 2pts win
This looks a more open renewal than recent times but Willie Mullins has won this in 4 of the last 6 years and looks set to strike again. Sinatra is interesting but inexperienced while Joyeuse must enter calculations now the rain has come. It could be that Karbau is the graded horse in a handicap however. He ran a cracker off an absence last time out and this has been the plan.
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14:40, Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase
Panic Attack 11/4, 2pts win
Dinoblue brings the best form into this and as last year's winner she must be respected although she's never been at her most impressive here. Instead, Panic Attack can strike for the Skelton's. Imperious this year in the Paddy Power and Coral Cup. We have no idea where the ceiling lies.
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15:20, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Kripticjim 20/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
This is a top heavy and Irish heavy market but this race often throws up a surprise. The Tizzard's have had a couple of horses run stormers this week and it could be that Trial's day winner Kripticjim has been overlooked. He seems to have bundles of stamina and loves a battle which is key for this race.
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16:00, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
The Jukebox Man 7/2, 2pts win
Grey Dawning 14/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)
The Gold Cup this year lacks a superstar but it's an open race. The form from the King George is key. Gealic Warrior may well have won that day if things had fallen differently but his stamina for this trip has yet to be proven and Jango Baie has the same questions. The Jukebox Man did so well to win that day when he looked beaten it could be that he will be hard to pass again here. He's unbeaten over fences and looks like he will actually improve for this track. Grey Dawning must also have a sound each-way chance now the rain has come. He's been trained to the minute for this and is a multiple Grade 1 winner. Last year's winner is respected but needs a big turnaround.
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16:40, Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
Con's Roc 13/2, 2pts each-way (4 places)
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17:20, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Andashan 16/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
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