Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you’ll my Cheltenham Festival Day 4 preview.
It’s Day 4 and the final day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Galopin Des Champs bids to become the first horse since Best Mate in 2004 to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4:00) for a third consecutive year.
The Day 4 action kicks off with a cracking renewal of the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1:20), where East India Dock and Lulamba are set for a highly anticipated clash.
The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3:20) is known for producing big-priced winners. The Day 4 Cup undercard also features two big-field handicaps—the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (2:00) and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5:20). The latter sees Kopek De Mee make his debut for Willie Mullins as a well-fancied favourite.
Cheltenham Festival – Day 4 Preview
1:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 1f
East India Dock has progressed well from the Flat and is 3-3 over hurdles, including two impressive Grade 2 wins here. The yard is among the winners, and he sets the form standard.
Lulamba made a strong hurdles debut at Ascot, impressing with his jumping. He handles good ground and has serious potential. While East India Dock has the form in the book, Lulamba could prove high class. His yard has won this race twice in the last 10 years.
Hello Neighbour had more in hand than the ¾-length winning margin in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown suggests last time. He looks open to further progress.
Willie Mullins fields a remarkable 11 of the 18 runners, including Poniros and Too Bossy For Us, useful Flat handicappers making their hurdling debuts. Mullins has won the last three renewals of this race.
Lady Vega Allen finished third to Hello Neighbour at Leopardstown, beaten 1½ lengths. This stiffer track should suit, and she’s the pick of Paul Townend.
Willy De Houelle was 4½ lengths behind Hello Neighbour last time. He’s progressing slowly but could improve again.
Blue Lemons, another useful Flat performer, made a winning stable/hurdle debut at Gowran Park last month. He has more to offer, but making the frame would be a big achievement.
2:40 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 4½f
Dinoblue, a Grade 1 winner over shorter, must give weight to her eight rivals. She was set too much to do when finishing a close second in this race last year. If ridden closer to the pace, she can go one better.
Allegorie De Vassy receives 5lb from Dinoblue and has the talent to win. She was runner-up here two years ago but isn’t the most consistent. Hard to trust and tends to find a reason not to go past.
Fontaine Collonges is a useful handicapper over 3m+, but the drop in trip is a concern. She’d also prefer softer ground, though first-time blinkers could help. Trainer Venetia Williams saddled a 33/1 runner-up in 2022.
3:20 – Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m
The Albert Bartlett has a history of producing big-priced winners.
Since 2014, horses 12/1 or shorter have a poor record—just 2 winners from 66 runners (-48 level stakes), with 14 placing.
The expected wins (Exp/Wins) suggest there should have been 9 winners, highlighting the underperformance of fancied runners.
Meanwhile, those returned between 14/1 and 50/1 have thrived—9 winners from 88 runners (+150 level stakes), with 18 placing and an A/E of 2.59.
It’s a strange trend for a Grade 1, but one worth noting. A short-priced winner is certainly possible, but if you're backing one, keep these stats in mind.
The Big Westerner is 2-2 over hurdles and impressed when winning a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas. The runner-up that day finished third to Final Demand in a Grade 1 next time. He’s been kept fresh, looks the right favourite, and has obvious claims.
Jasmin De Vaux won last year’s Champion Bumper but hasn’t built on his hurdle debut win in two subsequent Grade 1 starts. The step up to 3m could suit, but I prefer others.
Jet Blue, the French challenger, relished the step up to 3m when landing a Grade 2 over C&D in December. His French form is solid, and while I wasn’t impressed at the time, I’ve warmed to him. With few top staying novices emerging, he can go well.
Wingman has improved on all four hurdle starts, posting a career-best when runner-up to Final Demand (12 lengths) in a Grade 1 over 2m 6f at Leopardstown. The extra distance should help, and if he stays 3m, he’ll go close. Yard won this last year.
Wendigo made it 2-4 over hurdles when dropping in class at Wetherby last time. Before that, he was runner-up to The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle, and that form was given a major boost on Wednesday. The step up to 3m can bring further improvement, and he looks a big player.
Flicker Of Hope is a progressive staying handicap hurdler, winning big-field handicaps at Galway and Navan before finishing a 2 lengths 3rd of 25 to Perceval Legallois in a hot Leopardstown handicap last month. He has an experience edge, which is no negative, and has solid each-way claims.
4:00 – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) – 3m 2½f
Galopin Des Champs is a ten-time Grade 1 winner bidding for a historic hat-trick in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. His jumping was flawless when landing the Irish Gold Cup last time, and if the ground is good to soft, it’s hard to see him beaten—barring a mishap, which we’ve seen plenty of this week.
Banbridge won the Martin Pipe on this day three years ago and secured a third Grade 1 when storming home in the King George. He stayed the 3m strongly at Kempton, but the extra two furlongs around Cheltenham is a big unknown. That said, he’ll love the drying ground, and if he stays, he’s a serious contender.
Inothewayurthinkin won the Kim Muir over C&D last year before following up in a Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree. He’s been given quiet rides behind Galopin Des Champs on his last two starts, getting closer last time in the Irish Gold Cup than he did at Christmas. He’s been supplemented for the race, which I was hoping for, as he should improve for the return to 3m 2f. He’ll be ridden to pick up the pieces late, and I think he’ll give the favourite most to do.
That’s Friday’s Day 4 preview—good luck with your bets!
In Saturday’s column I’ll be looking at the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter which concludes five days of great racing.
John