Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: See the best bets on Gold Cup Day!

The biggest day in the National Hunt season comes at us on Friday as Cheltenham plays host to Gold Cup day! The crescendo of the Cheltenham Festival, Friday promises to be another brilliant card of action and you can check out all our Cheltenham tips on our dedicated section. In this piece, however, Billy Grimshaw goes through the card and gives his best bet in all seven races...

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13:30 Cheltenham - Triumph Hurdle

To say Willie Mullins has this race in a chokehold is a bit of an understatement, with the leading trainer in Cheltenham Festival history training the first four in the market. In truth, this looks a three horse race and they are all housed at Closutton, with Bloody Destiny and LOSSIEMOUTH battling for favouritism and Gala De Marceau not far behind. Paul Townend has chosen to ride Lossiemouth over Blood Destiny and I think he has picked correctly, so will be siding with the mare in Ricci silks to bounce back and claim this prize.

She was seriously well regarded over in France before being bought and sent to Willie Mullins, and the hype proved to be justified with her cruising successes in her first two starts in Ireland. Those wins saw her slashed for this race and she was odds on before losing her unbeaten record at the Dublin Racing Festival to stablemate Gala De Marceau. Lossiemouth had dismissed her stablemate in the previous meeting between the pair and met plenty of trouble at Leopardstown while Gala De Marceau had a clear run from the front.

Obviously juveniles can improve at different rates and Gala De Marceau definitely posted a career best in winning at the Dublin Racing Festival, but with a clear run I'd have fancied Lossiemouth to reel her in. This race should be run to suit Lossiemouth and I reckon she has a bit more tactical speed than her main market rival Blood Destiny, who looks set to be a fine staying chaser in time but may have to settle for second behind the favourite here.

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14:10 Cheltenham - County Hurdle

Just beaten last time out in the Betfair Hurdle, and pulling a mile clear of third, was Filey Bay for JP McManus and Emmet Mullins. In the aftermath of that race plenty of punters were purring about his chance of going one better in this very race and he clearly has an outstanding chance. In a race as hot as this one, however, the blood hardly gets pumping for a 5/1 shot. Hunters Yarn is next in the market and looks a perfect type for this race for Willie Mullins after the team decided to head here rather than to the Supreme, but again he's not been missed by the bookies.

The Skeltons are already on the board with a handicap plot in Langer Dan, who did this column a favour in the Coral Cup, and their runner here Pembroke looked desperate for this drop in trip last time out when being outstayed at this course over the intermediate trip. He rates the best of British, but Harry Fry's Gin Coco is not far behind. However, I am plumping for a selection in the same colours and for the same team as in the Triumph with SHARJAH. 

He has been far from the force of old this season, but his Cheltenham form and back class mean he cannot run in a handicap like this, even off a mark of 155, and not carry my cash. This is a horse who has finished second in two Champion Hurdles, and if he runs anywhere near that form he will simply have too much for the rest of the field here.

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THREE CARD BRAG looks the one to beat in this race, both on form grounds and now on conditions grounds too with soft ground almost a certainty. He has been slashed in the betting over the last few days and nearly halved in price but to my eye he is the most likely winner on the back of his latest run. He is a relentless galloper and will absolutely love this first attempt at three miles, and with his latest win coming by 12 lengths on soft/heavy at Fairyhouse everything is set up for him to produce a massive run. 

There are a few in here who could make into top class chasers next season, particularly Corbetts Cross, while there are also some at big prices who could be worth backing each-way to hit the frame if the race becomes a slog as expected. One I think is underestimated in the odds tables at the time of writing is Shanbally Kid for Willie Mullins, and I toyed with recommending backing him each-way, but will stick with the favourite for Gordon Ellliott.

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15:30 Cheltenham - Gold Cup

This race really does revolve around the question racing fans have been asking all season; is Galopin Des Champs the superstar he has looked so far? If he is, he will probably bolt in and write his name into the history books, however at the prices I have to take him on. Last season's winner A Plus Tard is apparently back to himself at home according to team De Bromhead after his awful attempted defence of the Betfair Chase last November. He's not been seen since but with a lack of obvious pace in the race, this could once again be run to suit him and pacier types so he is respected.

Sticking with the theory this will not be a fast run Gold Cup, I'd be against stayers like Stattler, Noble Yeats and Minella Indo as I can't see them having the necessary pace to kick for home come the final furlong. Ahoy Senor will probably lead the field but is a seriously unreliable proposition, but it is another British runner having his first season in open company that I am with and that is Paul Nicholls' King George winner BRAVEMANSGAME.

Nicholls is adamant he has finally filled into his frame and is confident stamina will be no issue over this trip, and with top jockey Harry Cobden in the saddle and his awesome jumping technique I can see him being prominent all the way round before shooting away up the straight. Of course, Galopin Des Champs will be lurking and try to hunt him down, but at the prices I will take my chances Bravemansgame will have enough to see him off and complete the iconic King George / Gold Cup double in 2023.

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As awesome as the Gold Cup looks, the race following it is not exactly one that gets pulses racing as the Hunters Chasers take centre stage. Some formerly classy operators like Chris's Dream are in the field, but the people in the know will not have favourite Vaucelet beaten under Barry O'Neill. He hasn't been missed in the market, however, and I will take a chance on the old boy BILLAWAY each-way to defend the title he won so dramatically last season.

Punters know what they are going to get with Billaway by now, with the eleven year old almost certain to belt a few along the way and look like he has no chance before a late rally. His form figures in this race are 2-2-1 and I think he looks a brilliant each-way bet at the very least with extra places on offer, and if the race is run to suit (plenty of pace up front) he could be staying on best just like in 2022 and go back to back. 

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16:50 Cheltenham - Mares' Chase

Last season's Mares' Chase was a thriller and this year's looks an even higher quality renewal, with two star mares heading the market. First up is Allegorie De Vassy, probably the most talented runner in the field but with a run style that will give favourite backers a fright. She jumps erratically and often to her right, so at 6/4 I am happy enough to leave her alone. Her nearest market rival is running in the same silks as last year's winner Elimay, who runs again but looks past her best, and that is IMPERVIOUS. 

Unlike the favourite, Impervious is an impeccable jumper of a fence and if trainers were switched around I'm confident she would be favourite here. Her form is rock solid and she has beaten the boys on two occasions over in Ireland, so I am happy to row in behind her and think even if Allegorie De Vassy does get round without a mishap (far from certain), our pick has the class to see her off up the Cheltenham hill.

Wrapping things up for Day 4, and indeed the entire Festival, is the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey's Hurdle. A race plenty of trainers love to win, none more so than Martin Pipe's former assistant Gordon Elliott, there are plenty in here with claims. Spanish Harlem was well beaten by Three Card Brag last time out but there is no disgrace in that and he heads the betting for Willie Mullins, closely followed by the first of Gordon Elliott's battalion Imagine.

Iroko is respected in the iconic green and gold silks, but I am going to take a chance on one at a big price to at least run well and hit the frame here in SPIRIT OF LEGEND. I liked his seasonal reappearance at Navan and then he further excelled next time out when finishing second before being brought down on his third run of the year when he had every chance. He looks on a nice mark for this if we excuse his flop last time out at Fairyhouse and at juicy odds I think he can hit the frame and maybe even win the race for Henry De Bromhead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Day 4  Of The Cheltenham Festival

Where can I watch day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival?

To ensure you don't miss any of the action on the final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, tune in to ITV1 from 1 PM to 4:30 PM. The live coverage will include five thrilling races. If you can't access a TV, don't worry - you can still watch the event through ITV X's online platform. However, if you want to catch the final two races, you'll need to switch to a subscription-based channel like Racing UK (available on Sky Channel 426 and Virgin Channel 536).

Here's a helpful tip: if you have a funded account, you can easily watch the final races on several popular betting sites such as Betfair, Paddy Power, and of course bet365.

For even more insider information, check out ITV4 (and ITV X) for a preview show of the day's racing from 8:30 AM to 10 AM. Hosted by Oli Bell and the team, the preview show will take a look at what's to come on day 4.

What is the weather forecast for day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival?

Anticipate light rain on the day following the penultimate day of racing, with dry conditions prevailing overnight and temperatures hovering around 9° Celsius until approximately 10 AM. Subsequently, there will be intermittent light rain showers throughout the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, but temperatures will climb to a maximum of 14° Celsius.