IRELAND’S astonishing record in the Gold Cup looks likely to continue on St Patrick’s Day.
28 renewals of this great race have been won by Irish-trained horses but incredibly six out of the last seven have gone our way and the last four in a row.
Willie Mullins waited many years to strike but captured two in 2019 and 2020 with Al Boum Photo and he’s a huge chance today with Galopin Des Champs - a horse who was desperately unlucky here 12 months ago when falling at the last in the Turners’ Chase.
It could be another big Festival afternoon for Mullins, as he closes in on a century of wins here, while Davy Russell will be hoping to bring the curtain down on his great career with a win in the Gold Cup on Conflated.
1.30 - Triumph Hurdle
Willie Mullins has this race by the scruff of the neck with seven juveniles declared and the first three in the betting all housed at his Closutton yard.
BLOOD DESTINY probably wouldn’t have been the stable’s number one choice for most of the winter but his 18 length success at Fairyhouse in January was hugely impressive and saw him move to pole position in the market.
That spot could now be taken by Lossiemouth after Paul Townend picked the filly in what must have been a tough choice.
The Cork rider suffered traffic problems on Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival - losing many lengths in a race won by stablemate Gala Marceau - and perhaps he sees this as an opportunity to right that wrong.
She should reverse the form with that filly here but whether he can match Blood Destiny is the big question with the suspicion the gelding might be better suited by the soft ground and stamina demands of the New Course.
In truth there seems to be any real alternative to Mullins’ fancied runners and he could comfortably saddle the first four or five home.
SELECTION: Blood Destiny
NEXT BEST: Lossiemouth
2.10 - County Handicap Hurdle
PEMBROKE is a handicap debutant with a huge shout for the Skelton brothers Harry and Dan, who have a good winning record in this race.
They swerved the Supreme and Ballymore with this promising young novice and it might prove a shrewd move. He ran a nice race when runner-up in a Grade 2 novice here in January but could not quite get to the winner and Albert Bartlett hope Rock My Way.
He stayed well that afternoon but is not short of pace and perhaps those stamina reserves might be needed if the ground is soft while the light weight on his back will also help. .
There are many horses with chances. Top weight Sharjah adds a touch of class but he’s always been a much better horse on better ground.
Mullins may have a better shout with Winter Fog, who bolted up in a handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas, while Hunters Yarn is another novice who fits the profile for this race won last year by State Man.
SELECTION: Pembroke
NEXT BEST: Hunters Yarn
2.40 - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
A gruelling race is in prospect in these conditions and one that might just suit THREE CARD BRAG and give the McNeill family a first ever Cheltenham Festival winner.
He looks a real galloper and although he’s yet to attempt this distance he looked every inch a stayer when winning at Fairyhouse in January.
That was his third win having also won a bumper and a maiden hurdle and he’s a horse that looks to be going the right direction for Gordon Elliott.
Rock My Way would have to have a squeak having won here in January. The English novice form has not worked out particularly well but he shaped like a decent horse.
Others with live chances are Corbett's Cross, now in the green and gold hoops of JP McManus, and the Willie Mullins’ trained Embassy Gardens.
SELECTION: Three Card Brag
NEXT BEST: Embassy Gardens
3.30 - Cheltenham Gold Cup
The big one of the week here and a race that looks at the mercy of Willie Mullins and GALOPIN DES CHAMPS.
The race doesn’t look the deepest this year — despite having the past two winners lining up — and although Galopin Des Champs has yet to tackle 3m2f he does look the likely winner.
He did nothing wrong at the DRF and showed he has the stomach for a battle when grinding it out from the last to beat Stattler and Fury Road.
Those pair of past winners, A Plus Tard and Minella Indo, are threats if arriving in peak form but the worry is that neither has looked the same since their Gold Cup wins and perhaps winning this great race leaves a huge mark.
Noble Yeats bids to become the first horse since L'Escargot to win a Gold Cup and a Grand National and should not be dismissed, while Bravmansgame was a brilliant winner of the King George at Christmas and is a player here too.
SELECTION: Galopin Des Champs
NEXT BEST: Noble Yeats
4.10 - Foxhunters’ Chase
A race over the course and distance of the Gold Cup with FAMOUS CLERMONT given the vote to score for top English amateur rider Will Biddick.
As usual there are plenty of no-hopers lining up here but this eight-year-old has won two races in this sphere this year at Wincanton and Haydock and may just have the legs on some of his older rivals like reigning champ Billaway.
This is a much tougher assignment but he looks on the upgrade and this race has been his target all season.
Billaway is an 11-year-old now and just about scraped home in this 12 months ago while Vaucelet is a classy hunter but might want the ground to dry out considerably.
SELECTION: Famous Clermont
NEXT BEST: Billaway
4.50 - Mares’ Chase
Keith Donoghue can bag a second Festival win this week here on the Gavin Cromwell-trained JEREMY’S FLAME. She’s an improving mare who has won three times this season, most recently in a valuable Listed contest at Huntington.
She’s plenty of experience and is a sound jumper and should stay the trip well.
It’s a good race and not surprisingly Willie Mullins has strong claims with the novice Allegorie De Vassy likely to be his best chance in a race he’s won for its two only runnings. Her jumping is a concern though.
Impervious would be a popular winner for Colm Murphy while Magic Daze can’t be overlooked considering the form for the De Bromhead horses this week.
SELECTION: Jeremy’s Flame
NEXT BESST: Allegorie De Vassy
5.30 - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
The lucky last and a race won by some very smart horses in recent times like Galopin Des Champs, Sir Des Champs and Don Poli.
All three were trained by Willie Mullins and this year it might be SPANISH HARLEM that continues his fine record in this race.
He’s still a maiden in Ireland having made the frame on his three starts but qualifies for this because he won a race in France before being bought for €360,000 by Mullins.
The booking of man of the moment Michael O’Sullivan is hugely eye-catching and a huge positive in the five-year-old gelding’s favour.
The Elliott-trained Imagine is another who has had this race as his target for some time and in Ben Harvey they also have an excellent young jockey on board.
SELECTION: Spanish Harlem (nap)
NEXT BEST: Imagine
