2020 Cheltenham Day 4 and Tips by Dave Stevos
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Preview and Tips by Dave Stevos
It has been a tough grind for us this week but at least Concertista won for us yesterday at 11/2. Faugheen ran a cracker and only for a couple of mistakes he might have won. A Great View was never sighted and JP won it with another one of his. Aso stopped like he was shot and Penhill went wrong and was pulled up very early. Highway One O One spat the dummy out when he got crowded and Not Another Muddle was hampered by a faller. The Kings Writ travelled well but he got squeezed for room and never recovered. Dave Stevos has previewed all of the final day’s races. Check out his 2020 Cheltenham Day 4 tips below …
1.30: Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
A very tricky contest gets things underway on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. A field of thirteen 4yos will go to post and Goshen looks like going off as the favourite. Gary Moore’s pride and joy comes into the race on a 6 timer. He has won 3/3 over timber and before going hurdling won 3 straight on the level. Easy ground is fine and while he has a tendency to jump right, he does possess a serious engine.
The bookies prefer the strength of the UK horses’ form here with Paul Nicholls’ Solo and Harry Skelton’s Allmankind next best in the market. They are both unbeaten over timber in the UK so whatever happens in this race, someone’s 0 has got to go. At a price, A Wave Of The Sea could go well for in form Barry Geraghty and Joseph O’Brien.
He benefitted from the fall of Aspire Tower last time out when scoring in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. Clemencia gave that form a big boost when running very well to be 5th in the Fred Winter. He was 25L behind Wave Of The Sea that day and ran off 134 here on Wednesday. At Leopardstown it looked like a stiff 2 miles and strong pace would suit this horse and at odds of 11/1 he has each way claims.
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Wave Of The Sea e/w @ 11/1 (5 Places)
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 – 2.10: County Hurdle (Grade 3)
Richard Johnson got us some each way money with Honest Vic on Wednesday and hopefully he can do the same on Oakley here. This 7yo son of Oscar has some solid form in similar races this season. He ran a cracker when runner up over C&D behind Repetito off 134 in December. After a short break he reappeared in a hot handicap hurdle at Newbury and ran very well to be 6th off a mark of 139.
The handicapper generously dropped him 1lb for that run and he turns up here off 138. Okay, that is still 12lb above his highest winning mark but his run here when 2nd came off just 4lb lower than today’s rating. He has placed on both previous visits to this track, he enjoys easy ground and at massive odds he could run a big race for each way backers.
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Oakley e/w @ 33/1 (5 Places)
2.50: Albert Bartlett Hurdle (Grade 1)
Affectionately known as The Potato Race, 19 will line up at the start for this 3 mile contest. Only 2 favourites have won since 2008 and there has not been a single figure priced winner since At Fishers Cross since 2013. So far this week the shorter priced horses have dominated and Latest Exhibition looks the most likely winner. He was very impressive at Leopardstown in February over 22f and this step up to 3 miles looks certain to bring about more improvement. I think he has an outstanding chance though the bookies haven’t missed him.
One that could go well at bigger odds is Redford Road. We backed him earlier this season when he won a Grade 2 here over 24f on soft. He predictably struggled when dropped back to 20f next time at the New Year’s meeting. He was put away after that and he arrives here a very fresh and somewhat forgotten horse. Redford Road beat Mossy Fen by 7L in his Grade 2 win here and that horse was a respectable 5th in the Ballymore. At odds of 33/1 with 4 places available he is worth backing each way.
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Latest Exhibition Win @ 9/2; Redford Road e/w @ 33/1 4 Places
3.30: Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Only a dozen horses will go to post for the feature race of the week, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It is wide open and Al Boum Photo, last year’s hero, and Santini head the market. The former has had just two runs since winning this race in 2019 and he won nicely in a 4 runner race at Tramore in January on his final prep run. Santini has had a similar preparation, winning both of his starts. However, he just seems to be an out and out stayer and in my view he lacks the gears to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup. Of those two, Al Boum Photo makes most appeal.
Delta Work is fancied by many to go very close here and he is around 11/2. Trained by in form Gordon Elliott, this 7yo beat a few of these on his last two starts at Leopardstown. He was a bit unlucky when 3rd behind Topofthegame and Santini in the RSA last year and he is capable of beating the Henderson horse granted a clearer passage. Very soft ground would be a slight worry but overall Delta Work has a very solid profile and he should be thereabouts.
Can Lostintranslation Bounce Back
Lostintranslation looked the real deal when winning at Haydock (25f gd/sft). He flopped badly in the King George though. He has had a wind op and a tongue tie is applied and if they help he could run a massive race. Clan Des Obeaux dotted up in the King George but he has yet to win at this course. Monalee is a likeable and honest horse but 3m 2f around here could be too far for him. He pushed Delta Work all the way after setting a strong pace at Leopardstown but he has yet to win over fences beyond 24f.
Bristol De Mai ran a blinder to finish a gallant third in this last year but he would love to see some rain. Chris’s Dream is another one that would welcome any precipitation but the form of his Grade 2 win last time was let down by Shattered Love on Thursday. Presenting Percy flopped in this last year but he had an awful preparation. He has ground to suit today and this time his trainer has had a clear run with him. I thought he shaped well last time and he will enjoy the ground and track. His odds of 12/1 look pretty generous and he is the each way pick.
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Presenting Percy e/w @ 12/1 (5 Places Skybet)
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 – 4.10: Foxhunter Chase (Class 2)
This is another race I wouldn’t be sad to see the back of. Minella Rocco has come back to form in this discipline and looks a worthy favourite. Shantou Flyer was runner up in this last season and he is another with claims. However, this is not a betting race for me and I’ll just be watching. No bet.
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: No Bet
4.50: Grand Annual Chase (Grade 3)
The penultimate race of the week at Cheltenham used to be the closer. The Grand Annual produced a big priced winner last year in Croco Bay at 66/1. The old boy shaped very well in his final prep run at Doncaster last time, beat just a length off 141. He is now rated 144, just 5lb higher than when he scored last year. The bookies are discounting him again and he can be backed at 33/1. He has finished in the frame every time he has run in this race and while he may be vulnerable to something with younger legs, he is sure to give each way backers a decent run for their money.
Another one that is interesting at a big price is Ballywood. This young chaser was last sighted finishing a fine 3rd to Northern Beau off 147 here in December. He is now 1lb lower and it looks like his trainer has waited for this race. His winning UK form has come on good ground but he won twice on very soft in France and his career form figures on soft read 11233. With very little rain forecast the ground could dry out and that won’t harm his chances. At odds of 33/1 with 5 places available, he is worth a small e/w investment.
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Croco Bay e/w @ 33/1; Ballywood e/w @ 33/1 (both 5 Places)
2020 Cheltenham Day 4 – 5.30: Martin Pipe Hurdle (Grade 3)
Martin Pipe was a trainer who loved to formulate a plot for the Cheltenham Festival. His son David would love to win this race and Umbrigado looks like this has been his target for quite a long time. He has had just a couple of runs this season and was last seen finishing in midfield behind Not So Sleepy at Ascot (15.5f hvy). Pipe put him away after that run and he comes here a very fresh horse.
He won three on the bounce last season on ground ranging from good to soft. He came up short in a Grade 1 at Aintree on his final start of last season and he arrives with a mark of 142. Umbrigado beat Ask Dillon in a Novice by 2L (very easily) and that horse was beat off 139 in a top Sandown handicap recently. Pipe has booked crack conditional Jack Tudor for the ride and everything points towards this horse running a big race. At odds of 20/1 he is the e/w NAP of the day.
