Cheltenham Festival LIVE: 5:30 result, tips and latest odds after exciting Gold Cup race
Cheltenham schedule, racecard and all the action as the Festival concludes on Day 4, Gold Cup Day
Cheltenham Festival concludes on Day 4 after a thrilling opening day to ‘the greatest show on turf’ was followed by more Irish dominance on Day 2 before a British revival sparked by the Skelton brothers yesterday.
The opening two days saw plenty of success for Willie Mullins, who finally hit his historic milestone of a century of victories at the Cheltenham Festival but went winless on St. Patrick’s Thursday. However, he’s trained the favourite of the showpiece race with Galopin Des Champs looking to retain the Gold Cup this afternoon.
Harry Skelton and Paul Townend are vying for the leading jockey title with both sitting on four wins heading into the final day while Rachael Blackmore trails behind on two and could be in contention.
More than 60,000 spectators are expected to flock to Prestbury Park again for the Festival’s conclusion looking to beat the bookmakers, with today’s schedule including the Triumph Hurdle first up at 1.30pm, as well as the County Handicap Hurdle, the Albert Bartless Novices Hurdle, and of course, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Follow all of our coverage from the 2024 Cheltenham Festival below plus get the best each-way odds and tips for Day 4 here and a full analysis of the best bets in the Gold Cup here:
Cheltenham 1.30 - Triumph Hurdle
We’re underway on Gold Cup Day! They’re off in the Triumph Hurdle - plenty of Willie Mullins chances in this one.
Cheltenham 1.30 - Triumph Hurdle tip
Our tipster James Boyle has been eyeing the first race of the final day, the Triumph Hurdle.
13:30 Cheltenham – Bunting – 1pt e/w @ 11/1
The absence of Sir Gino definitely takes something from the Triumph Hurdle when it comes to being a spectacle but it helps to make it look like an open and interesting betting heat. Although it is dominated by Willie Mullins, who runs seven and that includes four of the top five in the market.
Majborough is the shortest priced runner at around the 3/1 mark and made an encouraging start for the yard when third in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. He couldn’t repel a couple of more patiently ridden sorts late on but would be entitled to improve for the experience.
Bunting didn’t get past Majborough, eventually keeping on into fourth place after hanging off to his left, but he could be the big improver to come out of that contest. It was only his third career outing, his second over hurdles, and he looked a bit rougher around the edges compared to the front three.
It’s entirely possible he’ll remain that way and won’t come into his own until next season at least, but what he did at Leopardstown was a nice step up on his Limerick maiden success and to finish on the tails of some very talented rivals whilst doing plenty wrong bodes well for the future.
Cheltenham betting tips: Four bets for Friday at the Cheltenham Festival
Our analyst James Boyle identifies four standout bets for day four at the Cheltenham festival
Rachael Blackmore ‘delighted’ with Highwind
Rachael Blackmore says she is ‘delighted’ to be riding Highwind in the Triumph Hurdle this afternoon despite the horse being a big outsider.
“I’m delighted to have picked up the ride on Highwind for Willie Mullins in the Triumph Hurdle,” Blackmore told Betfair.
“I rode him in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, and he has plenty of ground to make up on some of his rivals here from that, but he travelled well until the run to the second last flight, where he made a mistake.
“A winner on the flat in France, he won well at Punchestown on his first run in Ireland, he did well to keep on again after he made a mistake at the final flight, and I hope that he can go well here.”
Cheltenham 1.30 - Triumph Hurdle
Here are the lastest odds for the opening race of the day according to Bet365:
Storm Heart: 10/3
Kargese: 5/1
Majborough: 6/1
Bunting: 13/2
Nurburgring: 15/2
Salver: 8/1
Salvator Mundi: 11/1
Mighty Bandit: 16/1
Ethical Diamond: 28/1
Highwind: 33/1
Fratas: 40/1
Ithaca’s Arrow: 125/1
Watch: Harry Redknapp’s ecstatic response to winning horse at Cheltenham races
Harry Redknapp was delighted after he saw his first Cheltenham Festival winner with Shakem Up’Arry on Thursday, 14 March.
The former manager’s horse found the scoresheet on a football-orientated day three, as Redknapp’s former rival Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a double earlier on the card.
Speaking after his victory, Redknapp told ITV he was “so happy it’s unbelievable.”
Moment Alex Ferguson cheers and jumps for joy watching his Cheltenham horse win
Sir Alex Ferguson jumped for joy as he enjoyed a double win on day three of the races at Cheltenham Festival on Thursday, 14 March.
The former Manchester United boss had a spot in the winner’s enclosure as Paul Nicholls got off the mark for the week when Monmiral hunted down Kyntara in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, followed by Ryanair Chase victor Protektorat.
The Jockey Club celebrates unsung heroes
The Jockey Club, the largest racecourse group in Britain, is celebrating 100 years of the world-famous Cheltenham Gold Cup with a collection of compelling portraits that capture some of the unsung heroes connected to the iconic race.
On the 1-100 campaign The Jockey Club is showcasing the unsung heroes of the past 100 years and celebrating those who will define the next century, with stunning portraits of these inspirational people, including seasoned racing veterans, super fans and future jockeys.
Some of these portraits include:
- Kanane Francis, a student of the Urban Equestrian Academy, bidding to be the first black jockey to win the Gold Cup.
- Gemma Collins, whose father owned horses and took her as a child to Gold Cup Day. Gemma is now taking her three year old daughter Koa to her first Gold Cup to carry on the family legacy.
- Sarah and Poppy Van Hargen, who are 19 year old twins aiming to raise an incredible £100,000 for charity through their ‘Zero to One Hundred’ initiative, in partnership with Cheltenham Racecourse.
Each guest has an inspiring connection to festival from the past ten decades or a desire to be part of its future, creating a living timeline of its evolution
Over the next decade, The Jockey Club has pledged to provide 100,000 opportunities for young people to experience racing and power the future of the sport.
For more informationon the campaign please contact jockeyclub@wearetheromans.com.
Expert tips for Gold Cup day
Racing ambassadors Alex Hammond, Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin spoke to Sky Bet about their Day 3 picks, legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh shared his tips with Paddy Power and racing expert Tony Calvin makes his final day tips with Betfair.
17:30 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle
Alex Hammond: “The final race of the whole festival is the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and Sky Bet are paying six places rather than four. I’m going to have a go with Ocastle des Mottes, who has his second start for Willie Mullins here. His first start for the stable came in the Betfair hurdle at Newbury, which is an ultra-competitive race just like this one, but it’s over a shorter trip. I think the step-up in trip will suit this horse, he got a little bit jazzed up before Newbury because he had to be reshod, but I’m hoping that everything goes smoothly, and we can get a good run from Ocastle des Mottes.”
Walsh likes Ocastle des Mottes, but has another fancy too: “Willie Mullins has Quai De Bourbon at the top of the market and he could be ahead of the handicapper. Ocastle Des Mottes makes appeal to me as he will show improvement from stepping up in trip.
Expert tips for Gold Cup day
Racing ambassadors Alex Hammond, Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin spoke to Sky Bet about their Day 3 picks, legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh shared his tips with Paddy Power and racing expert Tony Calvin makes his final day tips with Betfair.
16:50 - Mares’ Steeple Chase
Oli Bell: “In the Mares’ Chase I’m all aboard the J.P. McManus hotpot, Dinoblue. She’s a short price but I think she’s going to take a world of beating and send me off from Cheltenham this year with a winner to my name. It’s been a tough with for the Brits and I think it’s going to get even harder in the Mares’ Chase because Dinoblue is a rock-solid favourite and will be hard to beat.”
Walsh is also keen on Dinoblue: “Allegorie De Vassy has improved considerably but Dinoblue is the standout. She’s got rock solid form and she’ll be hard to beat.”
Expert tips for Gold Cup day
Racing ambassadors Alex Hammond, Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin spoke to Sky Bet about their Day 3 picks, legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh shared his tips with Paddy Power and racing expert Tony Calvin makes his final day tips with Betfair.
16:10 - Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase
Ed Chamberlin: “We’re hoping to create some magic on Gold Cup day in the Hunters’ Chase. Sky Bet are paying four places on the Hunters’ Chase, and I see no reason why Premier Magic can’t produce some Hunters’ Chase magic again!”
Walsh adds: “I’d be lying if I said I had a really strong fancy in this but I’ll side with Its On The Line for Emmet Mullins. He’s won his last three and he’ll relish the stamina test.”
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