Today's best bets in our daily racing blog, plus all the latest news on day four of the
Cheltenham Festival
Minute-by-minute guide to the Gold Cup by Tony Paley with Barry Glendenning and Greg Wood at
Cheltenham
2.57pm: The rain has been falling for over half an hour now and is going to
start getting into the ground. The previous race turned into quite a slog and could weather
conditions have a major say in the Gold Cup? If this keeps up it is going to be more of a test of
stamina than many thought when the day started.
3.00pm: "Both sides of the betting ring are bulging at the seams, as is Channel
4's John McCririck," reports Barry Glendenning from the course. "He's standing alongside his
glamourous assistant Tanya in a little cordoned off space beside the narrow gap on the rails.
He's a vision in crushed velvet and spends his time between updates toking on a cigar the size of
a rolled-up carpet, gladhanding the public and posing for photos. He's a very popular man, for
reasons that continue to mystify many."
3.02pm: "It's tipping down with rain now," says Glendenning, "which we could all
do without. There are hundreds of people wearing green and gold scarves milling round. They must
be Man United fans. The best way to get out of this Festival in profit would be to set up a stall
selling umbrellas."
3.05pm: "Denman is first into the paddock," says Greg Wood from paddock-side.
"He gets a cheer from the throng watching but looks very clam. Tricky Trickster is next in and
looks especially well. My Will and Carruthers, who was supported this morning, have joined them."
"Mon Mome has come in and has a little bit of moistureon his neck but there are no serious
negatives. Most have been trained with this race in mind and are in fine fettle."
3.10pm: Barry Glendenning reports: "The Gold Cup is still in the tent. It's
tiny, hardly worth running for, but worth about 18 grand if you wanted to nick it. Do you want me
to nick it?"
3.15pm:Greg Wood reports: "As Ruby Walsh got on Kauto and took a final turn
before leaving there was a cheer that went up which startled Mr Pointment and lots of people
paddock-side were calling out 'good luck Ruby'."
3.15pm:Tony Paley reports: They are out on the track now and at this rate they
are going to get to post very early. Will Hayler says the Best Mate stand is a sea of pink as
those in there have been given plastic macs to keep off the rain. Does it constitute support for
Tricky Trickster?
Every time Kauto Star gets a mention on the PA het gets a loud cheer.
They are betting on Betfair: 4-5 Kauto Star, 9-2 Denman, 17-2 Imperial Commander, 13-1 Cooldine,
18-1 Tricky Trickster, 40-1 Carruthers, 89-1 Mon Mome. Everything else 100-1 or more. If you
follow good-looking horses Imperial Comander won best turned out.
Barry Glendenning reports: "I just passed seven police officers who were receiving instruction on
how to cope with the hell that will break loose if kauto wins. Hit paddies first, ask questions
later, presumably."
3.20pm: There is a deathly hush . . . Now a great roar . . . They are off . . .
and it is still raining . . . Carruthers leads as expected, with Denman in second just behind . .
. Kauto Star is on the inside in fourth, nice and relaxed for Ruby Walsh, and he puts in a
terrific leap at the fourth . . . Then he makes a terrible mistake at the eighth and Walsh hangs
on for grim death . . . He drops back to fifth as the race goes on at a very steady pace . . .
Denman challenges Carruthers as they go out on the second circuit with Cooldine, Imperial
Commander and Kauto Star tracking them . . . Kauto Star is niggled to improve and he puts in
another great leap as Denman goes into the lead . . . Kauto Star falls . . . Denman and Imperial
Commander turn for home neck and neck . . . Imperial Commander takes the lead and goes clear . .
. The Guardian nap, courtesy of Will Hayler, triumphs at 7-1.
2.50pm Berties lands Dream win in Albert Bartlett
Tony Paley: Berties Dream won an attritional Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at
33-1. Najaf (25-1) appeared to be going best of all but was outstayed with Kennel Hill third at
66-1.
2.35pm O'Regan banned for putting on weight!
Tony Paley: Denis O'Regan, who finished second on Arcalis in the County Hurdle,
returned to weigh in 3lb heavier than he weighed out. The jockey was given a three-day ban.
2.20pm Geraghty plays it cool after win in Triumph
Greg Wood: Barry Geraghty was coolness personified after his winning ride on
Soldatino. "We took the third last and Davy Russell gave Andy Mc[Namara] a shout, that thing in
front's won five [lengths], but he went so quick that he had to come back.
"I pushed a bit down the hill, and I knew turning in that I had him all right. He was getting
tired [in front] and the writing was on the wall at the last. It's like two lanes on the motorway
and there's a lorry that you don't want to stuck behind, and you just time it past it, it's a
feeling like that. I never panicked, I was sure he'd come back."
2.10pm Stars lights up Katie Walsh's Festival again
Tony Paley: Katie Walsh has her second winner of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival
when steering Thousand Stars to success in the County Hurdle. She is definitely not the most
stylish, and may have another whip ban coming her way, but it seems to be effective and she
brought her mount with a withering run to take up the running at the last.
The fancied horses never got into this after Marodima went off in an attempt to replicate the run
of Barizan in the opener. Old-timer Arclais, who was ready to be pensioned off, was second at
33-1 with colleague Will Hayler's tip Dee Ee Williams (20-1) third and Zaynar (50-1), who
travelled superbly well, fourth. Your correspondent's tip Noble Prince (11-1) scraped into fifth
for those who went with the bookmakers going a quarter the first quintet home.
The leader slowed it down on the far side, though, and the pace probably wasn't as strong as some
would have wanted it. Izita Star suffered a dreadful fall which looked fatal.
1.35pm Soldatino triumphs over brave Barizan
Tony Paley: The well-fancied Soldatino (6-1) won the Triumph Hurdle but it was a
heartbreaking result for Barizan backers as the 14-1 shot had opened up a long lead and was so
far clear two out he was odds-on on Betfair to win.
A bad mistake at the last may have made the difference between winning and losing for the
long-time leader, who still fought back after being headed on the run-in. The jockeys on those
trailing the runaway Barizan were probably guilty of giving him too much rope but it's also clear
that the ground has quickened up again as they went a ferocious pace.
The win puts victorious jockey Barry Geraghty on three winners for the week along with Ruby
Walsh. Soldatino, who had had only the one run previously for his current stable having come from
France, is opent to plenty of progress. Barizan is going to Aintree next where he will take some
pegging back round those sharp bends if this incredible run has not taken too much out of him.
Alaivan, the 9-2 second favourite, was back in third with 7-2 market leader Carlito Brigante
coming home fourth. In reality, there were only ever two horses in it.
Hoofnote: The winner was flagged up at 20-1 ante-post in the Observer after winning on his British debut at Kempton.
1.25pm Don't miss our minute-by-minute report of the Gold Cup
Racing is about to start on the final day at Cheltenham and you won't want to miss our reports
and analysis, plus our minute-by-minute account of the Gold Cup with the build-up and the action
as it happens in the most anticipated jumps race for many years.
1.03pm Greg Wood confirms no juice in the ground
After a circuit of the New course, the uncontroversial verdict is that, in line with the official
description, the going is definitely good all round. There were a few good to soft patches out
there on Tuesday, but none at all today.
It took almost as long to walk back from the end of the chute to the press room as it did to go
around the track, as a huge crowd is now pouring through all entrances and striding with purpose
towards the paddock and the Guinness Village. A scarf count suggests that there is just as much
support for Denman as Kauto Star, though just how many of the fans in Denman neckwear really
expect him to win is another matter.
The ground will be seen as another negative, given that there was a real expectation of some rain
on Thursday and Friday and almost none has arrived. A personal feeling, though, is that tactics
will be much more important than the ground.
Carruthers should ensure a much better pace than last year, when John Hales, the owner of Neptune
Collonges, a stablemate of Kauto Star and Denman, was less than impressed by the sedate gallop
his horse set in front. Tony McCoy may not be as aggressive on Denman as Sam Thomas two years
ago, when the horse was sent to the fore passing the stands with a circuit to run, but he will
still want to be in front at the top of the hill and try to force Kauto Star to make some ground
on the way down, to put his jumping under pressure at maximum speed.
Whether Denman is capable of a performance like that is another matter, but the process of
finding out should be enthralling.
12.55pm Greenalls juggled
Chris Cook: Anyone mad enough to contemplate a bet on the Foxhunter's at 4pm
might care to note a significant jockey change. The Greenall brothers have been juggled around,
presumably as a result of the fall suffered by Tom in the Kim Muir yesterday. He was due to ride
the 8-1 shot Trust Fund but has now been replaced by Oliver, who had been due to partner the 2008
winner, Amicelli, a 30-1 shot. Amicelli will now be ridden by Jake Greenall, who is the least
experienced of the three by a long way and has not yet ridden a winner over fences, according to
the Racing Post.
Both horses are owned by Lord Daresbury, otherwise known as Peter Greenall, father of the three
and chairman of Aintree racecourse.
12.45pm Barry Glendenning is among those lucky enough to be there
The "House Full" signs are up for the first time this week and the touts are doing a brisk trade
outside the entrance to the racecourse. Greg Wood and I left our teddy-bear themed hotel (don't
ask) in Evesham after a hearty breakfast and got a taxi to the course. The traffic was brutal,
even at 10.30am.
The betting ring is quiet at the moment, but the concourse and Guinness Village are anything but
- there are gangs of lads getting stuck into the pints already and the chances of them being even
remotely sober when the tapes go up for the Gold Cup are slim, to say the least.
We spotted Irish jockey Barry Geraghty on our way in, suited and booted with an attractive female
companion in tow. He also arrived by taxi, prompting hopeless romantic Greg Wood to start
reminiscing fondly about the golden age when he were a lad and superstar footballers used to
arrive for matches on the same buses as the fans. I'm not sure how much more of his waffle I can
take, to be honest. If he was giving me a few winners it wouldn't be so bad, but the man couldn't
tip shit off a shovel.
Actually that's unfair. He's furnished me with two winners this week ... both at Kempton.
Geraghty rides many people's idea of the meeting's each-way banker, Tricky Trickster, in the big
race. I'm on at 25-1 and could really do with him hosing home ahead of Kauto Star and Denman.
I saw Tony McCoy, Denman's jockey, leaving the weighing room with Ruby Walsh last night and he
looked fine, despite two falls that afternoon. He had a giant band aid on his chin, but was
sauntering along with no sign of a limp. He's a hardy fella.
12.37pm Grand Annual preview
Tony Paley: Another race that has the look of a bookies' benefit and as
difficult a heat as Cheltenham has served up this week. On the basis that Nicky Henderson will be
looking to pull off a win in an event named after his father, the choice is You're The
Top (5.15), who looks the pick of the Seven Barrows yard. His defeat of Tazbar earlier
this season reads very well and, as a far-from-exposed runner who will appreciate the drying
ground, he gets the vote in a tricky contest.
12.35pm County Hurdle preview
Tony Paley: Now this is a proper puzzle. You could name seven or eight and stil
not find the winner. Bellvano has been teed up for this and is probably still on the upgrade. He
is among those on a very "long" short-list, along with fellow novice Tito Bustillo and Eradicate,
who won well alst time after a breathing operation.
The choice is Noble Prince (2.05), who has excellent Flat form to his name, is
fairly treated on his handicap debut and will be okay on the prevailing ground.
12.20pm Martin Pipe Hurdle preview
Tony Paley: Sometimes it can be difficult to spot the plots until the day of the
race and the money starts arriving for a particular horse but no one can have failed to notice
that Ashkazar has been readied for this one day. David Pipe, whose father this race is named
after, will be desperate to win this particular event.
Ashkazar has classy form to his name, having been second in the 2008 Fred Winter and won last
season's Kingwell Hurdle. If he is back at that level, he is thrown in and there have certainly
been signs of life of late. The price is hardly attractive now, though, so the suggestion is
Peveril (4.40), a very promising novice who got the better of a useful prospect
last time out.
12.15pm Foxhunter preview
Tony Paley: The youngster Roulez Cool could well outclass the opposition here
and has not looked back since coming over to England after a Listed chase success as a
four-year-old in France. His form in handicaps last term marks him out as the one to beat, but
his jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen, has been having a wretched week and he only just got home in a
point-to-point last time.
He doesn't appeal at the odds and Baby Run (4.00), who seems sure to run a big
race, is the obvious alternative to the favourite. Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is very
confident, his charge has shown improved form since finishing third in this last year and the
ground will not be a problem.
12.10pm Albert Bartlett preview
Tony Paley: On a day when some of the races outside the Gold Cup look fiendishly
difficult this does offer a solid favourite in Tell Massini (2.40). The Tom
George-trained runner has winning form at the track, proven stamina at three miles and has the
best form in the field.
This being a Cheltenham novice hurdle, though, there are plenty of unexposed types to consider.
Quel Esprit was well fancied for the Neptune Novice Hurdle on Wednesday but exited early. If none
the worse, he seems sure to put up a good account.
Shinrock Paddy and Enterprise Park have shown decent form and both are going to improve for the
longer trip today. Cappa Bleu is an intriguing outsider for those wanting one at juicy odds. His
form over fences (including a victory in the Foxhunter last year at this meeting) puts him in the
mix and there is probably more improvement to come from him over timber.
12.05pm Where the money's going
Chris Cook: Olofi, Tony's tip for the Triumph, is the best-backed horse in the
race, according to George Primarolo of Totesport, who has provided us with today's market movers.
His firm sponsors the Gold Cup, in which they report steady but unspectacular business. Denman is
weak with the Tote, as he is elsewhere. They were joint top price about him this morning and have
not been knocked over by demand. Interestingly, they have seen each-way money for a couple of
huge outsiders, Mon Mome and Calgary Bay.
Tito Bustillo and Secret Dancer have attracted support in the County, while Ashkazar is 5-1 from
6-1 for the Martin Pipe. He is, of course, trained by Pipe's son.
Primarolo says that this week's results "couldn't have been any better" from the firm's point of
view. Punters have one final day to get the money back.
12pm Triumph Hurdle preview
Tony Paley: It would be no surprise at all if there was a shock here. All
Alaiavan's form over jumps and on the Flat has come on soft ground and Advisor has yet to prove
himself, with his price much more a reflection of the fact that he is trained by Paul Nicholls
than what he has achieved on the track.
Carlito Brigante, who will be suited by the ground, is the solid one among the market leaders but
there are unexposed and interesting types among those at fancier prices.
The fast-jumping, progressive Gilded Age could go well at very big odds but Olofi
(1.30) each-way is the suggestion, especially if you bet with Bet365, Hills, Paddy
Power, Ladbrokes and the Tote, who are going a quarter the odds the first four. Trainer Tom
George rates this improving sort highly and, crucially, the ground will be very much in his
favour. He's 12-1.
11.56am Brian O'Connell's shot at redemption
Chris Cook: The young Irish jockey Brian O'Connell is known to most punters as
the guy who went all round the houses on Dunguib and got the odds-on favourite beaten in the
Festival's opening race. I feel a lot of sympathy for him - he's just getting going in his chosen
profession. Plus it must be remembered that he was presumably riding to instructions when he
steered Dunguib around the outside of the field.
O'Connell went to Down Royal for two rides on the day after his Festival debut, winning on both.
One was a 20-1 shot.
Anyway, he's got the leg-up on an interesting outsider in the Martin Pipe at 4.40 today. Trained
by Alan Fleming in Surrey, On Borrowed Wings makes its handicap debut and could easily be well
treated. It'll be interesting to see if O'Connell can ride a more aggressive race this time.
[Correction - johne5knuckle, below, is of course quite correct and O'Connell has had a total of
four rides in Britain before this week, including when he won last year's Champion Bumper on
Dunguib.]
11.40am Gold Cup preview
Tony Paley: It is difficult to find the flaws in the armoury of Kauto
Star (3.20) these days. He used to clobber the last fence but that seems to be thing of
the past and his performance last time at Kemptonn in the King George was magisterial, the best
by any chaser for umpteen years.
His stamina, which was severely tested at Haydock in testing ground when only just holding off
Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase in November, is not going to be tested today on good
ground. Or rather, his speed, which is his chief asset, is not going to be blunted.
This is a horse who has proved himself as top class at two miles, too, and he can obviously
handle the Cheltenham undulations.
Denman blotted his copybook badly last time and I am far from convinced he would have won, even
if he had stood up that day. Imperial Commader has each-way claims for those wanting a bet
outside the odds-on favourite but it is hard to see him winning in today's conditions.
11.01am Secant Star out of Triumph
Willie Mullins' runner is lame. He had been 8-1 fifth-favourite for today's opener.
11am Twitter discovers the Gold Cup
Half of the topics which are currently trending on Twitter's UK site are related to today's big
race. Tricky Trickster, Imperial Commander and Denman are all trending. Kauto Star is not. What
does Twitter know that we don't?
10.45am Claims Five
Our regular Friday feature Claims Five is on hold during the Festival and will return next week.
10.42am Denman cleared to run!
Will Hayler: Denman was among the horses required to pass a vet's inspection
before being allowed to run this afternoon. I am delighted to report that he has been passed,
which is hardly a surprise but is a relief nonetheless.
10.32am Denman on the slide
Punters appear to have lost any faith in Denman since his Newbury disaster. Having opened at 9-2
on Betfair for the Gold Cup, he has drifted out to 11-2 and the slide may not stop there.
Kauto Star is 8-11, Imperial Commander 17-2, Cooldine 11-1, Tricky Trickster 21-1 and the rest
are 79-1 and up.
10.25am Past Festival winners falling short
Chris Cook: Course form matters so much at Cheltenham, as any fule kno, but I've
been struck by the number of horses who, having won at the Festival over the past couple of
years, have been beaten this time. So far, the rollcall reads:
Dunguib (won 2009 Bumper)
Captain Cee Bee (2008 Supreme)
Character Building (2009 Kim Muir)
Zaynar (2009 Triumph)
Punjabi (2009 Champion Hurdle)
Go Native (2009 Supreme)
Garde Champetre (2008, 2009 Cross-country Chase)
Forpadydeplasterer (2009 Arkle)
Master Minded (2008, 2009 Champion Chase)
Oh Crick (2009 Grand Annual)
Naiad Du Misselot (2008 Coral Cup)
Andytown (2009 Martin Pipe)
Silk Affair (2009 Fred Winter)
Kayf Aramis (2009 Pertemps)
Ballyfitz (2008 Pertemps)
Tidal Bay (2008 Arkle)
Mister McGoldrick (2008 Plate)
Chapoturgeon (2009 Jewson)
Our Vic (2008 Ryanair)
Finger Onthe Pulse (2008 Jewson)
Anyone following past Festival heroes has gone skint by now, along with a large number of other
punters. You could even throw in Well Chief, Voy Por Ustedes, Katchit, War Of Attrition and
Nicanor, though they have obviously had their problems in the years since their Festival
successes.
Clearly, there is a great variety of factors behind all these defeats and disappointments, but a
significant one, for me, would be the fact that the going has been significantly faster this year
than in recent Festivals.
There have been four successes for horses that had won at past Festivals - Quevega, Weapon's
Amnesty, Albertas Run and Big Buck's. Which side of the divide will Kauto Star and Denman fall
today?
9.30am Tony McCoy fit and ready for action on Denman in Gold Cup
Tony Paley: Tony McCoy, who had bone-crunching falls aboard Jered and Song of
Songs yesterday at Cheltenham, declared himself ready this morning to ride second-favourite
Denman in the Gold Cup.
Channel 4 pundit John Francome told Morning Line viewers on the station that he had spoken to the
multiple champion jockey who reported himself fit and well despite the two tumbles he had
suffered. Francome told viewers: "AP said 'I'm absolutley fine - not a bother'. You wouldn't even
had known he had had a fall."
There has been some speculation about what tactics McCoy will employ on Denman, on whom the
jockey came off when riding the odds-on shot on his first ride on the horse at Newbury last
month. The jockey has revealed his game plan in his Daily Telegraph column today: "I've no chance if it becomes a speed contest, so it will be up to me
to ensure stamina comes into play. I expect Carruthers to bowl along in front and I will sit just
off him, keeping the pressure on and making sure the pace never slackens. Then it will be a case
of the best man wins," said McCoy.
9.20am Cheltenham call ground good after negligible rain overnight
Tony Paley: Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse has described the going
as good at the track this morning after little rain fell at the track overnight. Claisse said:
"I've given the ground as good. There was under 1mm of rain last night, hardly a splash. It has
just kept the ground fresh for today. I think it will ride perfect jumping ground."
9.15am Welcome to the best live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival
Good morning! It's day four and the highlight of the Cheltenham Festival with the running of the
Gold Cup at 3.20pm. Talking Horses will be the place to be for everyone who wants to follow the
greatest race meeting of the year. We will have constantly updating news and views all day and
those who enter our tipping competition (see below) have a chance to win a £50 free bet.
Greg Wood and Will Hayler are at the course and will be keeping us up to date with the latest
news and information from Prestbury Park. Will has already posted his selections for today and
you can find his preview of all the day's action here.
We'll be here for the rest of the Festival with the latest ground conditions, non-runners, market
movers and the views of our other experts. Throughout the meeting, we will be offering our
post-race analysis, along with the news and reaction for all the key races.
Win a £50 free bet from Totesport
Totesport have very kindly offered a £50 free bet to our champion tipster today. All you
have to do is give us your selections for all of today's races at Cheltenham. As ever, our
champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at
starting price. Non-runners count as losers.
Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first
race at 1.30pm. There are six races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for
each race.
Our usual terms and conditions, which you can read here, will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie
after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out
of those with the highest score.
Click here for all
the day's racecards, form, stats and results.
Click here for today's latest
odds.
And post your tips and racing-related comments below.
Tony PaleyChris CookWill HaylerGreg Woodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use
of this content is subject to our
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Ab und zu erscheinen Spiele, die so gut sind,
dass sie beinahe alleine den Kauf einer Konsole rechtfertigen. Uncharted 2 war für die
PlayStation 3 so ein Spiel und auch God of War III glänzt im ersten Test mit ähnlichen
Qualitäten.
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and reject those that you are not interested in
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