Cheltenham Day 4: Today's Placepot Tips from Architect

It’s the fourth and final day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and the Tote will be guaranteeing a minimum of £1 million in the Placepot for the final time this week at Prestbury Park.

Below you will find my predictions for all six Tote Placepot races on Day 4, including the feature race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which will take place at 15.30.

As well as the big race, the Triumph Hurdle, County Hurdle, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, Hunters’ Chase and Mares’ Chase will be part of today’s pool.

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle

Willie Mullins’ BUNTING scored very easily on his hurdles debut at Limerick on testing ground by eight lengths and did well to finish as close as he did last time out behind a couple of these when a staying-on fourth. A strongly-run race will massively help this strong traveller and I am optimistic he will acquit himself admirably. He is overpriced.

MAJBOROUGH won his only start in France and was highly-tried on his stable debut for Willie Mullins in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. Despite his lack of experience, he ran with extreme credit to finish a staying-on third after being briefly outpaced and should take a major step forward from that effort here.

Gary Moore’s SALVER has developed into a good juvenile hurdler, having won all four of his starts, including a wide-margin winner in a Grade 2 race at Chepstow back in December. This is obviously tougher, but he’s improving run-by-run and has to merit consideration.

Leg 1 Selections: Bunting, Majborough, Salver

14:10 BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle

I fancy the classier horses to come to the fore in the County Hurdle. PIED PIPER finished third in the Triumph Hurdle two years ago and came very close to winning this race last year when second by a head.

With his rider claiming three pounds, he’s technically a pound lower than last year, so another bold effort looks firmly on the cards.

ZENTA won three of her four starts over hurdles and finished third in last season's Triumph Hurdle before landing an Aintree Grade 1 race on her final start of the season. She ran really well when third in a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last time out, and she must have a serious chance of taking the spoils.

MAGICAL ZOE is another with great prospects in this race. She finished runner-up at last year’s Cheltenham Festival in a Grade 2 race, and having won on her return in a Listed race, she’s performed with credit to finish runner-up in her two starts since. Her latest second in a big-field handicap was respectable and I can see her going well in a race that will be run to suit.

Gordon Elliott’s KING OF KINGSFIELD has finished second in two Grade 1 races and could be very well handicapped on his handicap debut off a mark of 140. He should be well-suited to this race and has an excellent chance.

Leg 2 Selections: Pied Piper, Zenta, Magical Zoe, Hansard, King Of Kingsfield

14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

This is a wide-open edition of this gruelling Grade 1 race. The Willie Mullins-trained READIN TOMMY WRONG made it four wins from four starts when successful in a Grade 1 race last time out and, with the step-up in trip likely to bring about improvement, he is a major player. He is the choice of Paul Townend.

I also like the profile and chances of HIGH CLASS HERO. The seven-year-old is unbeaten in five starts under rules, and he won with plenty on hand at Thurles last time out and previously bolted up in a Listed race. This longer distance should massively play to his strengths, and I can see him being heavily competitive.

Another unbeaten runner is Harry Fry’s GIDLEIGH PARK. He has four wins from four starts and showed a good attitude when scoring here in January over shorter. He is a smart prospect in the making and must be feared for being open to a lot more improvement. Three against the field.

Leg 3 Selections: Readin Tommy Wrong, High Class Hero, Gidleigh Park

15:30 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

The highlight of the day and week at the Cheltenham Festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS re-established himself as the best chaser in this division with impressive Grade 1 wins at Leopardstown on his last couple of starts, including when beating Fastorslow by 4½ lengths in the latter race.

Willie Mullins’ charge was so good in winning this race last year and is strongly fancied to emulate former stablemate Al Boum Photo by becoming the ninth dual winner of the blue riband contest.

GERRI COLOMBE bagged two Grade 1 wins last season and won another top-level race when edging out Envoi Allen on his Down Royal return last time out. He was no match for Galopin des Champs in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but I’m sure he’s better than that and he should run well with this stiffer finish more in his favour.

Leg 4 Selections: Galopin Des Champs, Gerri Colombe

16:10 St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

FERNS LOCK has won four of his six starts under rules and, having gone close behind Its On The Line at Down Royal on his return, he subsequently won with loads in hand at Thurles. He is very consistent, jumps well and he should make a bold bid in a race where it is hard to see him out of the frame at the very least.

The most interesting runner is SAMCRO. He is a former two-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival and has been in superb form in point-to-point races of late. This will be his first go in this sphere and it’s clear to see that Gordon Elliott thinks he’s capable of running a big race. In his first go in this sphere, the veteran must be given the utmost respect.

Leg 5 Selections: Ferns Lock, Samcro

16:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase

RIVIERE D’ETEL beat a below-par Allegorie de Vassy by a wide margin in a Grade 3 race at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, and although the latter comprehensively reversed the form in February, she was going well when she fell in this last year having been badly hampered. She could make the frame at a big price.

Since finishing second in last year's Grand Annual, DINOBLUE has improved with each start, and although her winning run came to an end at the hands of the top-class El Fabiolo last time out, she will be hard to beat. Her only previous start over the trip resulted in defeat, but she’s a lot better now and has a fair chance.

Leg 6 Selections: Riviere D’etel, Dinoblue

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