The curtain comes down on the 2021 Cheltenham Festival today but before we put away our form books for another year
there is the small matter of the Gold Cup and an excellent supporting card.
We start proceedings with the Triumph Hurdle at 1.20. Irish trained horses have certainly dominated this years meeting
but I am hoping a British horse can land this prize. Last summer Tritonic was finishing runner up in the Glasgow Stakes
at Hamilton Park and now he lines up against the cream of this seasons young hurdlers. Our each way selection is Haut
En Couleurs. This French import won a big hurdle race in Auteuil before being purchased by Joe Donnelly and moved
to Willie Mullins yard. Quite simply , this horse could be anything.
A field of twenty six horses will line up for the County Hurdle (1.55). Many of the horses on display have competed at a
higher level and this promises to be a great spectacle. With many bookies paying six places we will put up two selections
that represent good value. The aforementioned team of Joe Donnelly and Willie Mullins have the talented novice
Ganapathi in this event. He is improving and the handicap mark here looks a bit generous. Third Time Lucki's
jumping let him down at Musselburgh last month. If he has sorted this out he will be a major player here.
The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is off at 2.30. We are siding with Streets of Doyen. You can ignore his run last time
out , which was over too short a distance for him and he got squeezed out of his race. His 3m hurdle form reads 1-1-1-
1 .. One of those wins here at Cheltenham and another where he beat yesterday's Stayers Hurdle hero – Flooring Porter.
Each way selection is Adrimel. There is no doubting this geldings class – the concern is whether he will stay the three
miles.
And then we are on to the main event – The Gold Cup (3.05)
That team again ! Donnelly and Mullins send Al Boum Photo looking for his third Cheltenham Gold Cup in row. The
last horse to carry out this feat was Best Mate. Just like Best Mate – Al Boum Photo seems to train only with this race
in mind. He only ran twice between winning his first and second Gold Cup and has only had one run since last years
success. Despite his Gold Cup wins , Al Boum Photo has never quite achieved the fame he deserves – this may change if
he matches Arkle's three blue riband victories and we're taking him to do so. Our each way selection is Minella Indo
who has a great record here.
The Open Hunters Chase is off at 3.40 and without the amateurs here , the professionals will be taking their place. Paul
Nicholls has not had the best festival but I expect him to land this prize with the superbly named Bob and Co who
missed Cheltenham last year and has recently had wind surgery. Our each way selection is Chameron who is part owned
by Paul Nicholls and was trained by Rose Loxton, a brilliant horsewoman , who sadly died last August after a long
illness. Her husband , Sam , now holds the licence and there won't be a dry eye in the house if Chameron was to prevail.
The penultimate race of the meeting is the first running of the Mares Chase (4.15) and Willie Mullins is the man to look
for when it comes to these majestic animals. Elimay (nap) has been impressive this season and will take all the beating
here, Each way selection is Zambella. At around 25/1 she represents good value for money.
The Festival comes to a close with The Grand Annual (4.50). My two each way selections in this event are Langer Dan
(who is in line for a substantial bonus if he wins this after winning the Imperial Cup last week) and Folcano, with
several bookies paying out on five places we hope we will get a run for our money in the last race.
And that is it all over for another year. Four of the best days racing anywhere in the world complete.
Roll on next year !
