Ginger Joe's Cheltenham 2023 Day 4 Preview & Picks!

Gold Cup Day - The final Festival countdown

It’s the final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival already and it's a day that many of you have been looking forward to since the start of the Jumps season. Well, now your wait is almost over and this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will soon be revealed!

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13.30: The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

It’s almost a dead cert that the winner of the Triumph is going to come from the Willie Mullins yard, but the question is, which one will it be! From my perspective, I think it will be between Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny.

Although Lossiemouth lost to stablemate Gala Marceau last time out, there was nothing clear cut about how events unfolded. During the controversial Leopardstown race, an error made by an outsider meant that Lossiemouth ended up at the tail end of the field.

To her credit, she made an awesome comeback, skirting the entire field and still almost catching Gala Marceau at the line. Gala Marceau is also running in this race and although she is near the top of the market at 4/1, I don’t think she has any chance of even getting close to Lossiemouth here.

Blood Destiny is the current 13/8 Favourite. She is a mare that looks open to any amount of improvement, she has a great attitude and I think she will be well suited by Cheltenham’s new course. That said, I won’t be backing her myself, I’m sticking with Lossiemouth at 7/4, but not in a big way. I’m far more interested in watching how this renewal of the Triumph unfolds.

14.10: The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle HCP) 2m 1f

On a day that has been dominated by Willie Mullins over the last few years, my selection at this point has to be Sharjah, who owes connections absolutely nothing and clearly has the best form in the race.

He may not quite be the force of old, but his ability should be more than sufficient for him to get competitive here. He represents massive each way value at 8/1 and has to be worth a second glance. For now, Sharjah is my sole selection, but I will have another look at this race on the day.

14.50: The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m

The Albert Bartlett is a race dominated by big-priced winners and I think this year will be no different. Monty's Star, nicely priced at 10/1, is my wild card selection. Although he only just hung on to win last time out at Clonmel, he is open to a lot of improvement and should not be underestimated.

I’m genuinely surprised there hasn’t more support for him following that win. Especially as connections have won this race before, with Gold Cup winner Minella Indo. Monty's Star looks like he came out of that same mould, so I’m going to get stuck in before his price goes.

Ready to Roar?

Cheltenham Parade Ring

15.30: The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) 3m 2f

I’m sure that I don’t need to tell you that the Gold Cup is the highlight of the entire Cheltenham Festival. But it is very much a race where everyone has their own opinions about who is most likely to win. But these are the three horses I personally believe will fill the first three places.

Galopin Des Champs is on at a ridiculously short price of 6/4 to get the job done. But it’s not a foregone conclusion that he will win. There are some seriously strong contenders waiting in the wings, who might just have something to say about how this year’s renewal unfolds.

First in the queue is last year’s winner A Plus Tard, who seriously impressed me with his turn of foot at Cheltenham last year. It was a truly awesome performance and if he is able to reproduce that same form again this time, then he is massively overpriced at 15/2. He is the one to beat in my opinion.

Another I’m particularly keen on is Stattler, who will be able to put his stamina to good use at Cheltenham. I think he’s somewhat underrated and he may just surprise a few on the day. Better still, he’s still available at double figure odds at selected bookies.

16.10: The St James Place Hunters’ Chase aka The Foxhunter Chase (HCP) 3m 2f

The Foxhunters is a race I don’t usually get too involved in, but Chris’s Dream definitely brings in a class angle and he could go very well indeed. Better still, at 7/1, he’s also at a very decent price. Despite being 11 years old, he looked better than ever during his last two runs and I expect him to go seriously well again here.

I am also going to back From The Heart, at a huge price of 66/1. This is a great each way punt and my biggest odds for this year’s Festival. He ran very well for Phillip Hobbs and if he has retained any of his ability, then he’s sure to outrun his price tag. He is a decent traveller and a careful jumper, who is more than capable of filling a place here.

16.50: The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 1/2f

The Mares Chase has been a brilliant addition to the Cheltenham Festival and a race that I love watching as well as working out the punting puzzle that it brings. I'm going to start here by saying that while the short-priced Favourite, Vallegorie De Vassey, clearly has an engine, her jumping is all over the shop and she's hard to rely on coming to Cheltenham.

My pick for the Mares' this time around has really shown an exciting level of support in the market. I put up Impervious at 14/1 ante post and now she's as short as 7/4. She has been a revelation since being sent over fences and is a tremendously powerful mare.

I always really liked the look of her as a novice Hurdler, but with her style of running and jumping, Hurdles really never suited her well. She has definitely come forward for these longer trips over fences and I think she is the one to beat here.

17.30: The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 4f

The very last race of the Cheltenham Festival is always one I like to get stuck into. This time around I think Spanish Harlem, priced at 5/1, yet another from the Willie Mullins team, will take some stopping.

He has been very well-supported and this is probably worth following based on what we’ve seen from him in his recent starts. He is one that is likely to go chasing next year and looks like he has a big enough engine for that too. His mark seems to be fairly handy and I imagine he will be patiently ridden with enough left to come up the Cheltenham hill strongly.

My second choice is Cool Survivor at 6/1, who is representing Gordon Elliott’s yard. He has a similar profile to Spanish Harlem and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him. After all it’s your very last chance to clock up one final winner this year.

The final Cheltenham 2023 countdown begins...

2023 Cheltenham Festival Day 4 selections. Gold Cup, Albert Bartlett Triumph hurdle, betting.co.uk

Last call for Cheltenham 2023 bonus hunters

Be sure to check out the Betfred Cheltenham Special bonus offer and also If you haven’t done so already don’t forget to take advantage of all of the other offers available to you here on betting.co.uk.

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