Cheltenham Festival 2022: Day Four

Rachael Blackmore rides the favourite A Plus Tard in the Gold Cup. Follow the action live with Eamon Donoghue

  • 3/18/2022 1:08:31 PM

    CHELTENHAM DAY FOUR

    1.30pm
    JCB Triumph Hurdle
    2m 179y (Grade 1)
    RESULT - 1. Vauban 6-4f 2. Fil Dor 11-2 3. Pied Piper 7-2

    2.10pm
    Handicap Hurdle
    2m 179y (Grade 3)
    RESULT - 1. State Man 11-4f 2. First Street 16-1 3. Colonel Mustard 13-2 4. West Cork 13-2

    2.50pm
    Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
    2m 7f 213y (Grade 1)
    RESULT - 1. The Nice Guy 18-1 2. Minella Cocooner 9-2 3. Bardenstown Lad 20-1 4. Ballygrifincottage 28-1

    3.30pm
    Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
    3m 2f 70y (Grade 1)
    RESULT - 1. A Plus Tard 3-1f 2. Minella Indo 7-1 3. Protektorat 10-1

    4.10pm
    Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
    3m 2f 70y
    RESULT - 1. Billaway 13-8f 2. Winged Leader 9-2 3. Mighty Stowaway 33-1

    4.50pm
    Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase
    2m 4f 127y (Grade 2)
    RESULT - 1. Elimay 9-4f 2. Pink Legend 33-1 3. Scarlet And Dove 28-1

    5.30pm
    Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
    2m 4f 56y
    RESULT - 1. Banbridge 12-1 2. Cobbler's Dream 12-1 3. Hollow Games 9-2 4. Freedom To Dream 20-1

  • 3/18/2022 12:54:31 PM
    Hello and welcome . . . This is it, it's the fourth and final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival - it's Gold Cup day! A year after Minella Indo led home his stable companion A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo in jump racing’s most coveted prize, the trio are back in pursuit of ‘Blue Riband’ glory. The Triumph Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle are the pick of the rest of the action.
    We'll keep you up to date throughout the afternoon. Keep in touch via the comments section or on Twitter (@DonoghueEamon) but for now, let's get started!!
  • 3/18/2022 12:58:37 PM
    Today's UK Met Office weather forecast - A bright start on Friday away from any mist and fog, some decent prolonged sunny spells developing during the morning, with mostly clear skies by mid-afternoon. Feeling warm particularly in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 16 °C.
  • 3/18/2022 12:59:36 PM
  • 3/18/2022 1:00:38 PM

    Brian O’Connor’s Friday Tips

    1.30 - Fil Dor

    2.10 - West Cork

    2.50 - Eric Bloodaxe

    3.30 - Al Boum Photo

    4.10 - Billaway

    4.50 - Mount Ida

    5.30 - Hollow Games (Nap)

    Nap and Double - Hollow Games & Fil Dor

  • 3/18/2022 1:01:04 PM

    Deja vu as Minello Indo faces off familiar foes for Gold Cup glory

    Rachael Blackmore has Gold Cup score to settle as she rides De Bromhead’s A Plus Tard
  • 3/18/2022 1:08:38 PM
  • 3/18/2022 1:11:56 PM

    Leading jockey award

    Paul Townend 3 1 3

    Nico de Boinville 2 1 1

    Mr Patrick Mullins 2 - 2

    Rachael Blackmore 2 - 1

    Mark Walsh 1 2 -

    Adam Wedge 1 - -

    Charlie Deutsch 1 1 1

    Jack Kennedy 1 1 1

    Tom O’Brien 1 1 ` -

    Derek Fox 1 1 -

    Danny Mullins 1 - 1

    Leading trainer award

    Willie Mullins 5 2 7

    Gordon Elliott 2 6 1

    Nicky Henderson 2 4 1

    Venetia Williams 2 1 2

    Henry de Bromhead 2 - 2

    Gavin Cromwell 1 1 1

    Lucinda Russell 1 1 -

  • 3/18/2022 1:13:45 PM

    The Irish contenders

    1.30pm - JCB Triumph Hurdle

    It Etait Temps (W Mullins)

    Fil Dor (G Elliott)

    Vauban (W Mullins) (favourite)

    Pied Piper (G Elliott)

    Icare Allen (W Mullins)

    A maiden hurdle at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve could be key. Pied Piper beat Vauban by half a length and left the Mullins team stunned. Vauban has since won a grade one at the Dublin Racing Festival. Pied Piper subsequently hosed up at Cheltenham. Vauban was very good on the flat and holds a class edge. Up the punishing final hill, however, Pied Piperâ’s stable companion Fil Dor could come into his own.

  • 3/18/2022 1:21:37 PM
    Speed is a Vauban asset given he was a Listed winner on the flat in France. Pied Piper was a 90-rated flat horse at one point for the Queen. But the Triumph often turns into a test of grit which is something the more National Hunt bred Fil Dor looks like possessing in spades.
  • 3/18/2022 1:21:41 PM
  • 3/18/2022 1:23:08 PM
  • 3/18/2022 1:32:46 PM

    Betting

    Vauban 6-4, Pied Piper 10-3, Fil Dor 6-1, Icare Allen 10-1

  • 3/18/2022 1:33:15 PM
    And they're off in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, the first race of the day!
  • 3/18/2022 1:34:34 PM
    With five hurdles to go, Porticello and Fil Dor are out in front . . .
  • 3/18/2022 1:36:13 PM
    Two hurdles to go and Porticello leads Fil Dor, third place Icare Allen . . .
  • 3/18/2022 1:38:07 PM
    Vauban makes his move approaching the last hurdle and wins the race to the line in impressive fashion!
  • 3/18/2022 1:38:19 PM
  • 3/18/2022 1:39:56 PM
    Winning jockey Paul Townend said he didn't plan to leave it so late: "He's improved everyday, and he can improve again . . . I hadn't planned on being in front going to the last if the truth be told. It's just the way it worked out."
  • 3/18/2022 1:41:38 PM
    RESULT -
    Triumph Hurdle
    1. Vauban 6-4f
    2. Fil Dor 11-2
    3. Pied Piper 7-2
    4. Icare Allen 10-1
    Irish domination in the opening race of the day!
  • 3/18/2022 1:44:41 PM
  • 3/18/2022 1:48:18 PM

    The Irish contenders

    2.10pm - Handicap Hurdle

    Echoes In Rain (W Mullins)

    Top Bandit (G Elliott)

    Slip Of The Tongue (P Roche)

    Adamantly Chosen (W Mullins)

    My Mate Mozzie (G Cromwell)

    Call Me Lyreen (G Elliott)

    Grand Jury (H De Bromhead)

    A good race for Willie Mullins over the years with five wins. The all but guaranteed fast run two miles will suit Echoes In Rain. The trainer to beat over the last six years, however, is Nick Skelton with three victories. His big hope West Cork has been targeted at this ultra-competitive handicap and could prove the one to beat. My Mate Mozzie has touch of class but concedes experience.

  • 3/18/2022 1:59:04 PM

    Surprise Package attempts a famous double in the McCoy County Hurdle having dotted up in last Saturday’s Imperial Cup at Sandown. Peter Fahey’s charge has a 5lb penalty for what is always an ultra-competitive handicap although one that trainer Dan Skelton has had huge success in recently with three of the last six winners. The Englishman has three chances to add to that fine record although West Cork looks the clear number one hope.

    Check out Brian O'Connor's preview piece in full here . . .

    Brian’s Friday Tips

    2.10 - West Cork

  • 3/18/2022 2:05:55 PM
  • 3/18/2022 2:10:50 PM
    Betting

    State Man 11-4, Colonel Mustard 7-1, West Cork 8-1, I Like To Move It 8-1, Suprise Package 9-1, Top Bandit 10-1

  • 3/18/2022 2:13:38 PM
    They're at the start for the second race of the day . . .
  • 3/18/2022 2:14:54 PM
    And they're off at last in the Handicap Hurdle . . .
  • 3/18/2022 2:15:45 PM
    Six hurdles to go and Stepney Causeway has the early lead . . .
  • 3/18/2022 2:18:05 PM
    Two hurdles to go and Stepney Causeway leads from Eclair De Beaufeu. Favourite State Man is in mid-field . . .
  • 3/18/2022 2:19:46 PM
    State Man shows his class with a comfortable finish . . . First Street takes the runner-up spot!
  • 3/18/2022 2:25:24 PM
  • 3/18/2022 2:26:44 PM
    RESULT -
    Handicap hurdle

    1. State Man 11-4f
    2. First Street 16-1
    3. Colonel Mustard 13-2
    4. West Cork 13-2
  • 3/18/2022 2:31:03 PM

    The Irish contenders

    2.50pm - Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

    Bardenstown Lad (J McConnell)

    Eric Bloodaxe (J O’Brien)

    Shantreusse (H De Bromhead)

    The Nice Guy (W Mullins)

    Hollow Games (G Elliott)

    The marathon novice contest has seen four Irish winners in the last five years, including Minella Indo in 2020. His 50-1 starting price shows how big priced winners aren’t unusual. There have also been a pair of 33-1 winners in recent years. Shantreusse won a grade three at Clonmel that’s been a pointer to here in the past.

  • 3/18/2022 2:36:02 PM
  • 3/18/2022 2:40:40 PM

    The most informative trial for this race in recent years has been Limerick’s Christmas Grade Two prize. Last season’s Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier was runner-up in the Limerick contest. The 2017 winner Penhill won both. So did the 2015 victor, Martello Tower. Eric Bloodaxe briefly looked in trouble in the Limerick contest last Christmas but ultimately won with authority from Freedom To Dream.

    Check out Brian's full preview piece here . . . 

    Brian O’Connor’s Friday Tips

    2.50 - Eric Bloodaxe

  • 3/18/2022 2:45:15 PM
  • 3/18/2022 2:49:41 PM
    Betting

    Hillcrest 2-1, Ginto 5-2, Minella Cocooner 11-2, Shantreusse 12-1, Good Time Jonny 14-1

  • 3/18/2022 2:53:30 PM
    And they're off in the Albert Bartlett following a false start!
  • 3/18/2022 2:56:10 PM
    Six hurdles remain as they go hard early on, Classic Getaway leads followed by Minella Cocooner . . .
  • 3/18/2022 2:57:33 PM
    Hillcrest has been pulled up as Minella Cocooner leads with three hurdles to go . . .
  • 3/18/2022 2:58:33 PM
    Minella Cocooner still leads with The Nice Guy coming to challenge approaching the final hurdle . . .
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