The Irish horse racing broadcaster offers his tips for every race on the final day of the Festival, including one in the Gold Cup.
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13:20 Triumph Hurdle
A bit like The Yellow Clay earlier in the week, I feel that HELLO NEIGHBOUR 6/1 has been underestimated in relation to the top two in the market here and suggest backing him each way. Gavin Cromwell’s gelding has come a long way in a short space of time, reaching a rating of 97 after winning his first two starts on the flat and preserving his unblemished record with back-to-back Graded victories on his two outings over jumps. He looked value for significantly more than the winning margin of 3/4 length at Leopardstown last month and should at the very least confirm his superiority over Lady Vega Allen.
14:00 County Hurdle
KARGESE 11/4 stands out here, and though the price has tumbled since Paul Townend was confirmed for the mount the 3/1 at the time of writing still looks fair enough. A top-class juvenile last season, runner-up to Majborough and Sir Gino at Cheltenham and Aintree respectively, she gained a deserved top level success at Punchestown subsequently and is easily forgiven her defeat on seasonal debut over a distance that stretches her.
14:40 Mares’ Chase
DINOBLUE 11/10 should make amends for her costly defeat here twelve months ago. This classy performer was left with a bit too much to do on that occasion but with her stamina now proven and a recent win at Naas under her belt there is no reason to oppose her this time.
15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
THE BIG WESTERNER 5/1 has been my fancy for this ever since her Grade 2 success at Limerick over Christmas and I see no reason to desert her now. 2024 Festival bumper hero Jasmin De Vaux will be a major threat if his jumping improves, while Flicker Of Hope appeals as a live outsider after progressing spectacularly up the ladder in handicap company.
16:00 Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs will rightly bring the house down should he complete the hat-trick but the kingpin of staying chasing is hardly betting material and I’d rather side with INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN 11/2 each-way. Last year’s Kim Muir winner has had a quiet campaign to date but his eye-catching fourth to the champ last time suggested he may now be ready to produce a career best.
16:40 Hunters Chase
Not a race to get too heavily involved in as far as I’m concerned with Angels Dawn and Shearer perhaps the two to take against the field.
17:20 Martin Pipe Hurdle
Talking horse Kopeck De Mee clouds the picture here as he may well be thrown in on his French form, but in the same colours PARK OF KINGS 14/1 could be a nice alternative at a double-figure price. He shaped like the best horse in the race at Leopardstown last time, has one of the best conditionals around in the plate and crucially the British handicapper hasn’t been too hard on him.