Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup day tips: TODAY'S best bets for day four with Galopin Des Champs favourite for showpiece
It has reached the final day of the Cheltenham Festival - with the Gold Cup the pinnacle of a fantastic week of racing.
Friday sees another seven races of top-class action and punters will be after revenge as no favourites won on Thursday, with Shishkin, Mighty Potter and Teahupoo all coming up short.
All eyes will be on the Gold Cup at 3.30pm.
Last year it was the 3/1 favourite A Plus Tard who rallied home with Rachael Blackmore on board to take the trophy home for trainer Henry De Brohmhead.
In 2021 it was Minella Indo, also trained by Bromhead, who was a 9/1 outsider.
However, this season there seems to be a clear favourite who only just missed out on festival glory last year.
Galopin Des Champs leads the betting but it still could be opened up on the day with the likes of A Plus Tard, Noble Yeats and Bravemansgame looking like worthy competitors.
And after Envoi Allen's victory in the Ryanair on Thursday, the money has been coming for the Cheveley Park Gold Cup runner ever since.
Here's our top tips for day four...
1.30: Triumph Hurdle tip
A great price for a horse that beat the favourite Lossiemouth at Leopardstown last time out.
Willie Mullins trains all three of the leading contenders in the betting, Lossiemouth, Gala Marceau and Blood Destiny.
The latter could be one of the best betting tips for Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup day though.
His form reads better the more you look at it; placing second behind Bo Zenith on hurdle debut, who has gone on to win two more hurdle contests as favourite in 2023.
Won well ahead of Sir Allen two starts ago, who was himself in the Grade 3 Boodles on Tuesday, and after defeat went on to win at Punchestown and Naas in December and February respectively.
The four-year-old gelding has then gone on to win at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths, beating Nusret (Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle winner) and Jazzy Matty (Boodles Juvenile winner).
It also seems tricky not to side with Gala Marceau to place, considering the application of a first time hood to settle her down.
2.10: County Handicap Hurdle tip
Placed second behind State Man in this last year while also beating the rest of the field including Colonel Mustard, Ballyadam, Cormier etc.
Hasn't quite put it together since apart from at Newbury when making all as top-weight in November, on season debut.
He then placed behind Marie's Rock here on New Year's Day and trailed as the favourite at Wincanton on February.
But a wind surgery just three days after suggests there was more to that loss, and the subsequent and swift fix could see huge improvement off just 2lb higher than running well in third here.
2.50: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle tip
Gordon Elliott's runners have mostly been running extremely well in these soft condition stamina-testing contests.
Which makes Three Card Brag the ideal candidate to continue that run going in the colours of the McNeill Family.
This horse loves the soft and heavy and looks like he'll be suited really well to this step up in trip, having won going away by 12 lengths to Spanish Harlem last time out under A P Heskin.
Unexposed at this trip and looks the big danger to the favourite having only finished in the top three on all his previous runs.
Notably, was only beaten by a neck to Inthepocket who came second to Il Etait Temps and fourth in the Supreme on Tuesday.
3.30: Gold Cup betting tip
Galopin Des Champs 6/4
The other Grade 1 chase and the biggest race of all sees a decent price on another favourite, Galopin Des Champs, also trained by Mullins.
The now seven-year-old was almost guaranteed the win at last year's festival in the Turners but fell at the last in a dramatic turn of events that gifted the win to Bob Olinger who ended up winning by 40 lengths in a four-runner contest.
Galopin was 12 lengths to the good when jumping the last and would have undeniably extended that lead had he jumped it successfully.
He showed his true potential in April winning at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths.
Before beating even tougher rivals next time out at Punchestown back in December, winning by 13 lengths to Fakir D'oudairies.
Now rated 175, there doesn't look a better favourite at odds against throughout the entirety of the festival. So far.
4.10: St James's Palace Festival Challenge Cup tip
Difficult not to side with this favourite who tops most of the field on ratings and form, with age also on his side.
Lost to Billaway at Punchestown in April as the even money favourite but blew the momentum going forward when he made a bad mistake at the last.
Wouldn't be a surprise to see him go and win this contest well as he loves these trips beyond 3m.
Always does just enough to win usually and clearly has a winning mentality to be in the lead.
4.50: Paddy Power Mares' Chase tip
This is another JP McManus-owned horse that stands a great chance, but more so for an outright win in this Mares' Chase over an extended 2m4f.
She faces a close favourite Allegorie De Vassy though and will need to be on song to win at 2/1.
The C A Murphy trained horse has won her last three, all since switching to fences.
Beating geldings like Journey With Me and Minella Crooner in a small field on heavy ground and now up against Mares could have that little bit more getting to the line.
Those victories in testing conditions can prove just how good Impervious can be at battling it out at Cheltenham Festival and can take it to the line, especially if the rain comes for it.
5.30: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle tip
Has markedly improved since having wind surgery in the summer and arrives here for Paul Nicholls on the back of the trainer's first festival win since 2020.
Has now recorded three wins this season and a close second on reappearance on November.
Heading up in the weights as a result and could still be improving which makes an ideal each-way candidate alongside another Mullins contender.
Michael O'Sullivan also rides and that has to be a boost to his chances given his 24% strike-rate over the last two weeks.
Not only that but Mullins has trained the winner in this race four times before and this has surely been the ideal race choice for this horse.
Notably came second to Three Card Brag two starts ago and if his jumping becomes more fluent here should be up there at the finish.
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