The big day is here, the finale, every race this week has all led up to this one, the Gold Cup, and unlike they did on Monday, I don't think they'll be watering it anymore, do you?
But I can't wait to sink my teeth into this preview, despite all races looking tricky, but that's what we want when Cheltenham comes around.
For most people it's like a cup final, and we should truly embrace just how competitive all the action can be.
We're all set anyways, and under starters orders, so let's get this final blog preview of Cheltenham 2022 underway shall we?
Race one - 13:30pm Triumph Hurdle Grade 1 2m (12 runners)
Vauban was impressive last time out at Leopardstown when winning his Grade 1 against Fil Dor.
I think that form will hold up here and he will at least beat him, I just also think the form from his first run over hurdles will hold up as well.
Pied Piper beat him that day by 1/2 length, then he went on to win the Triumph Trial around the track and cruised clear in that race.
His track form is a positive and everything else should suit so it's just a case of has he still managed to improve as much as Vauban did from that first meeting.
Knight Salute is my each way pick from the Milton Harris yard. He's five from five over hurdles, winning the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton last time and hasn't done anything wrong so far so at 16/1 he should give a good account of himself again.
Race two - 14:10pm County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 2m (28 runners)
The Skeltons Handicap Hurdle, I mean, the County...
A race loved by the brothers since Dan started training, and they always have one lined up for this race, having won it three times as a trainer, twice with Harry on board.
West Cork is one of their entries this year, and he came back from a 21 month lay off to land the Greatwood Hurdle here back in November.
Dan has continued to suggest that this horse is graded level, and despite suffering a bad overreach at Ascot last time when he was still travelling well into the race, his mark is still a good one, and he's been saved for this race, which suggests he's going to run a big one at 17/2.
State Man fell on his first start over hurdles before making amends last time in convincing fashion.
His mark of 141 could well be giving him something to work off and improve so he has rightly been installed as favourite here.
I back the Skeltons here though to at least get West Cork placed so I'll go each way with him. My Mate Mozzie for Gavin Cromwell has also been running really well this season, and the six-year-old could also run a good race for you at 18/1.
Race three - 14:50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Grade 1 2m 7f (19 runners)
Ginto has dominated all three of his races over hurdles this season for Gordon Elliott.
He stays, he jumps and he cruised in to win a Grade 1 last time, and I can see him being really tough to beat, because he also looks like he could have a bit more in his locker.
Credit goes to Henry Daly here for running the likeable Hillcrest, who galloped his rivals into submission at Haydock in the Grade 2.
He will run his heart out again and is one for the forecast, but I like Minella Cocooner who has improved with each run so far and could well be up for taking this contest as well at 17/2 so, he's my selection.
Stag Horn also hasn't put a foot wrong for Archie Watson over hurdles this campaign, and his front running tactics could see him give his running at 14/1.
Race four - 15:30pm Gold Cup Chase Grade 1 3m 2f (11 runners)
I previewed this race a long time ago, and I'm sticking what I said in all of that so, I've just updated the prices and popped it here for you to read with some extra pieces of information amongst it.
It’s no surprise I guess with Irish trained horses simply being too good at recent festivals, and on paper most of them also look very solid, the exception being Henry De Bromhead’s Minella Indo of course who ran poorly in the King George.
There’s just one issue with writing him off entirely though, he won the race last year, and his preparation then wasn’t exactly the best when he fell at Leopardstown in December.
His most recent run in the Irish Gold Cup was miles better, and even though I'm not sure whether that form stands up, it still gives him a good chance here.
At a price of 11/2, (he won at 9s last year), there’s plenty of value in that, and if you take that recent run out of it he did make a good re-appearance when going down five lengths to Frodon in the Irish Champion Chase at Down Royal in October.
Frodon ran credibly in the King George but the horse who caught the eye in that race at Down Royal was the 2nd placed Galvin for Gordon Elliott, who was unlucky not to win, but made amends next time out back under regular jockey Davy Russell when beating another Gold Cup contender in A Plus Tard by a short head.
If he battled like that against Frodon I have no doubt he probably would have won, and out of all the challengers from across the sea in this race I think he’s definitely the strongest, and he’s available at 10/3.
To say A Plus Tard won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November is an understatement, he thrashed his nearest rival that day by 22 lengths and rightly sits second in the market currently at 4/1.
His stablemate Minella Indo just about pipped him last year and Galvin did the same to him last time out, but he’s a very consistent horse and there’s no reason what so ever he won’t show up in March and run into the placings at least.
Al Boum Photo knows a thing or two about winning this race as well, the 10-year-old goes looking for his third win in the race and his preparation has never changed in the build-up for this.
He has four Savills Chase wins to his name now, and still showed signs he’s loving the game which is the most important more than anything.
It’ll be a tough mountain to climb again to beat some of these younger contenders, but he very rarely runs a bad race and is a credit to connections who could also saddle interesting runner Asterion Forlonge, who at the very least would’ve finished 2nd in the King George if he didn’t fall at the last.
Tornado Flyer went on to benefit from that fall and win, and Willie Mullins has a real strong set of horses looking as though they are going to line up for this season’s renewal.
I wish I could sit here and say that this side of the Irish Sea has loads of ammunition to hit back, but our hopes all seem to be pinned on Dan Skelton’s Protektorat this time around.
He took to fences well last season with wins at Carlisle and Cheltenham, before losing his way with runs at Wincanton and Kelso before being freshened up and landing a Grade 1 at Aintree at their Grand National meeting.
A close 2nd at this track in the middle of November where he was seeing out the 2m 4f trip very well prompted his trainer to step him up to 3m for the first time in his career around Aintree, where he ran out a 25 length winner over old boy Native River.
At 8/1 and still only being seven, it’s no doubt he could well be a star in the making, and if he’s up for the challenge then there’s no reason I can find which could stop him from winning this, the softer the ground the better he might fare as well.
To sum it all up then, I think Galvin is the top horse in this race and looks like on recent runs he’s a danger to some of the horses who have contested this race the past few seasons.
Minella Indo, A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo are all consistent horses who always set the standard, and Galvin would have to be at his very best to beat them of course, because all three of them won’t misfire on the big day.
So far this season I think A Plus Tard could be the best out of the three, mainly because Minella Indo has to put that bad run behind him, and Al Boum Photo is trying to win this race as a 10-year-old which looks like it could be hard going to do so.
Protektorat is England’s best chance of winning this race, and despite not having ran against horses of such calibre before, it’s still only early days, and the Skeltons will lose nothing by running him in this race, because win or lose he is still a horse for the future.
So selection: Galvin, Each way: Protektorat.
Race five - 16:10pm Open Hunters' Chase Class 2 3m 2f (20 runners)
For me the last three races are straight forward for my selections.
Billaway has done everything right in the past 2 runnings of this race, everything apart from getting his head in front.
I can see him doing everything right again and I hope this is the year he finally wins.
Bob and Co has been consistent for David Maxwell over the years and was still looking dangerous in the race last year when unseating his jockey.
He'll run well, and so will Cousin Pascal and Dubai Guest who are both available at each way prices , but Billaway is hopefully going to do it this time around.
Race six - 16:50pm Mares' Chase Grade 2 2m 4f (8 runners)
Concertista is going to make this a quick fire double for Willie Mullins here.
She has been good over fences and has looked a natural whilst doing this and while Mount Ida will finish in front of Elimay again and go close, I just think Concertista was almost a banker for some people last year when she got beat in the mares' hurdle.
It's between the three at the top of the market though I believe, so my selection wouldn't be coming from elsewhere that's for sure.
Race seven - 17:30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle Class 2 2m 4f (26 runners)
Simple again here, he was unlucky last year when bumping into an even better handicapped rival, Galopin Des Champs, and Langer Dan can make it a 1st placed finish this time around.
The handicapper dropped him 3lbs for his opening effort at Taunton, which was clearly just used to get him going again, and I can't see him not getting placed at the minimum, unless something goes wrong.
An each way fancy of mine is Chemical Energy, who looked like a return to this trip last time was clearly a benefit, and at 10/1 I think he should get placed.
The final day is all done and previewed for you, including the big one.
I'm off for a well earned lie down ahead of all the action, and I'll be back at some point next week to give you all an update on how I fared over the four days.
Enjoy as always, and feel free to drop your selections for the Gold Cup in the comments, be nice to see what people think.
See you in the next blog!
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