Cheltenham - Day 4

Watch replays of Cheltenham races here (Ireland only)

by Barry McEneaney

Review

The Festival drew to a close with three horses justifying outright favouritism in 26 races, while one joint favourite also scored.

So-called 'bankers' Dunguib (third), Master Minded (fourth) and Kauto Star (fell) failed to deliver, although Big Buck's did oblige for a second consecutive year.

Hype has never counted for much here and favourites at the Festival have an inferior record to those at many other courses and many other major meetings.

Many horse were priced and punted on due to top form on winter ground, but the first genuine good ground of the year that prevailed at Prestbury Park (until this afternoon) was always likely to throw a spanner in the works.

Those that didn't think outside the box were hammered but those that did kept their heads above water, while a few thrived. The really short ones arrived at their odds by the forming of a common consensus and that's something that should almost always be opposed.

Ruby Walsh was the leading jockey for a fifth time and surpassed Pat Taaffe as the winning-most rider at Festival.

Three victories on Big Buck's, Quevega and Sanctuaire saw him finish level with Barry Geraghty in terms of wins, but two extra second places were crucial in securing the title.

Geraghty's gaffer Nicky Henderson landed the Thomas Pink Leading Trainer award for the first time since 2000.

Two families in particular were left with Festivals to remember.

The Twiston-Davies and Walsh clans had much to celebrate over the four days.

Ruby Walsh was odds-on to claim the jockey honours, but sister Katie's exploits will have come as a surprise to many. Her two winners marked her out as one to follow at future Festivals.

Imperial Commander was an impressive winner of chasing's blue riband, but it's highly unlikely that the winner of next year's Gold Cup ran here. If Denman and Kauto Star couldn't win as 10-year-olds, why could Imperial Commander?

Interesting times lie ahead.

The following were the advised selections, their finishing positions and SP's returned (in many cases bigger morning prices were available:

Tuesday - Day 1

1.30 Dunguib - 3rd of 18 @ 4-5F
2.05 Sports Line - 11/12 @ 17-2
2.40 Bensalem - Fell @ 6-1
3.20 Go Native - 10/12 @11-4F
4.00 Another Jewel - 4/16 @ 16-1
4.40 Quevega - 1/17 @ 6-4F

Wednesday - Day 2

1.30 Mobaasher - 5/18 @ 6-1F
2.05 Quel Esprit - Fell @ 5-1, Manyriverstocross 7/17 @11-1
2.40 Weapons Amnesty - 1/9 @ 10-1
3.20 Big Zeb - 1/9 @ 10-1, Kalahari King - 3/9 @ 9-2
4.00 Sir Harry Ormeshar - 7/28 @ 12-1
4.40 Diktalina - 23/24 @ 28-1
5.15 Drumbaloo - 23/24 @ 8-1

Thursday - Day 3

1.30 The Midnight Club - 3/20 @ 16-1, Rivaliste - 7/20 @6-1F
2.05 Alfie Sherrin - 12/24 @ 7-2F, Cross Kennon - 4/24 @16-1
2.40 Voy Por Ustedes - 5/13 @ 9-1
3.20 Tidal Bay - 7/14 @ 8-1, Karabak - 4/14 @ 15-2, Sentry Duty Pulled Up @ 12-1
4.00 Sunnyhillboy - 2/24 @ 6-1F
4.40 BallaBriggs - 1/24 @ 9-1

Friday - Day 4

1.30 Carlito Brigante - 4/17 @ 7-2F
2.05 Tawaagg - 24/28 @12-1
2.40 Restless Harry - Fell @ 8-1, Tell Massini Pulled Up @ 10-3F
3.20 Imperial Commander - 1/11 @ 7-1, Cooldine 5/11 @10-1
4.00 Turthen - 8/24 @ 10-1
4.40 Meath All Star - 11/24 @12-1, Radium 2/24 @ 14/1
5.15 Safari Journey - 6/19 @ 12-1

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5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, 2 miles 1/2 furlong

The Hobbs team have a decent contender in the last with Safari Journey, who has a similar profile to many past winners.

Oiseau De Nuit is a really good horse and should run well, but his weight will put a stop to him winning if recent history is anything to go by.

The last ten winners of this have carried 10st 11lb or less. That means you should focus your attention on numbers 13-24 inclusive, that's You're The Top to Pigeon Island inclusive.

They're off.

Cheltenham 5.15
1 Pigeon Island (P J Brennan) 16-1
2 French Opera (D Bass) 10-1
3 Consigliere (T Scudamore) 16-1
4 Cornas (P Brennan) 16-1

Those high in the handicap filled the places, but their welter burdens cost each one of them victory. It's highly significant that the second traded at 2.02 in-running on Betfair, while Consigliere could do no better than third despite trading at 1.17.

Horses that looked like winning just couldn't due to one all-important variable.

The well-backed winner (40-1 into 16-1) was the final leg of a remarkable treble for Nigel Twiston-Davies, the highlight of which was Imperial Commander's Gold Cup win. The trainer has a reputation as a bit of a hell-raiser and there'll be carnage down his manor tonight.

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4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2 miles 41/2 furlongs

David Pipe threw the kitchen sink at this race last year in an effort to take the inaugural running of a race named in honour of his old man.

He fielded in the vicinity of 912 runners, but they couldn't oblige and Nicky Henderson won the race.

This year, Pipe the younger sends out a solitary runner in the form of Ashkazar and that looks a tip in itself. He's well handicapped but watching him run a sequence of poor races as his mark dropped hasn't made for pleasant viewing.

Pipe might want to win it but so do many others, just for very different reasons. Paul Nicholls and Martin Pipe were at loggerheads for years, before that latter retired. He'd love to get one over his old nemesis and his runner merits respect. Can you imagine the presentation ceremony?

Meath All Star and Radium are two others to note.

They're off.

Pause And Clause wins the penultimate race at the Festival. Radium was second and may have got up, but for blundering at the last.

Cheltenham 4.40
1 Pause And Clause (J W Farrelly) 14-1
2 Radium (Harry Skelton) 14-1
3 Clova Island (G Hawkins) 14-1
4 Peveril (D Bass) 5-1

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4.00 Christie's Foxhunter Chase, 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs

You got to like Turthen here.

Other outsiders to consider are Serinca, Chesnut Annie, Drybrook Bedouin, Bob Hall and Reach For The Top.

They're off.

Baby Run completes a remarkable day for the Twiston Daivies-family by winning the Foxhunter Chase.

Cheltenham 4.00
1 Baby Run (Mr S Twiston-Davies) 9-2 Jt Fav
2 Kilty Storm (Mr D Queally) 16-1
3 Reach For The Top (Mr B Tuckey) 66-1

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3.20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs

It's raining at the course and that has to be a concern to fans of Kauto Star and, to a lesser extent, Cooldine.

The mud was flying in the last, but the chase course hasn't been used yet. Has the rain got in?

They're off.

The King is dead, long live the King! Imperial Commander wins the Gold Cup with a devastating performance.

Cheltenham 3.20
1 Imperial Commander (P J Brennan) 7-1
2 Denman (A P McCoy) 4-1
3 Mon Mome (A Coleman) 50-1

Kauto Star fell, but was never jumping and didn't look like winning. He seems fine after his spill. This ground didn't suit him, but he is getting on in years. Bringing him back to regain the Gold Cup would be a big ask.

Denman ran a great race, but he may never get over the gargantuan effort that was required to win the race in 2008.

Mon Mome stayed on in third at 50-1, which isn't a massive surprise when you consider he's a National winner and the early pace was strong.

Cooldine ran well for a long way, but the ground went against him.

Imperial Commander likes soft ground and goes well fresh.

The old guard has to change some time and today was that day.

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2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 3 miles

Finding it tricky to determine the best of the Irish challenge, but the clear picks on British form are Restless Harry and Tell Massini.

In the short history of this race course form has been important and both Restless Harry and Tell Massini have won at the track. They could be a fair bit better than their compatriots and both should be backed. A forcast bet could also be the play. The Betchworth Kid is an interesting outsider. The Irish challenge is, as ever, respected. But I can't spot the strongest contender.

Interestingly, emailers Keith O'Brien and Seamus Geoghegan both fancy Shinrock Paddy.

They're off.

Tell Massini was the one for Kieran Reddan.

Berties Dream is a 33-1 winner. Najaf is second at 25-1, with
Kennel Hill third at 66-1. Outsider Avrika Ligeonniere was the best of the Willie Mullins team in fourth. A number of firms will pay out each-way bets on that one.

Cheltenham 2.40
1 Berties Dream (A E Lynch) 33-1
2 Najaf (T J Murphy) 25-1
3 Kennel Hill (J M Maguire) 66-1

It's an Irish winner trained by Paul Gilligan and ridden by Andrew Lynch (his second winner of the week).

The small Galway handler trains for the Half A Keg syndicate, which seems to compromise of mainly Dubs.

Restless Harry fell at the least when sandwiched by the first and the second and the screens went up. Thankfully, he too got up.

He had the form in the book when you look at his last run behind War Of Attrition, but look one start further back and you'll see that third behind Tell Massini. Yes, he was conceding weight, but he was beaten fair an square by a really lightly raced horse who should have been open to further improvement.

Tell Massini should have been involved at the business end if you place any faith in the form book. His run was too bad to be true, so it probably was. Don't give up on that won.

Course form has proven so important in this race. All six winners had ran here, with four of them winning.

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2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle, 2 miles 1 furlong

Just 28 runners to analyse now and it's little wonder they bet 8-1 the field. The one I like here is Tawaagg, who ran a good race to finish second in the MCR last time out. He didn't have the best luck that day and looks open to improvement.

Oldrik would have been the pick as he looks well-handicapped, but his poor curse form tempers enthusiasm. Bellvano will also win a big one soon, as could Eradicate.

They're off.

Thousand Stars wins. Arcalis was second, with Dee Ee Williams third and Zanir fourth.

Cheltenham 2.05
1 Thousand Stars (Ms K Walsh) 20-1
2 Arcalis (Denis O'Regan) 33-1
3 Dee Ee Williams (L Treadwell) 20-1
4 Zanir (P J Brennan) 50-1

That's a second win of the week for the lesser-known (Katie) Walsh.

Noble Prince was fifth at 11-1 and most firms paid five places.

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1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle, 2 miles 1 furlong

The going is good this afternoon. Carlito Brigante looks the winner here. Soldatino looks the big danger, but he is very lightly raced.

I'd be happy to oppose Alaivan. He might be the best horse in the field, but this track might not suit him. Not sure how he'll handle the preliminaries either.

They're off.

Soldatino wins. Barizan claims second, Alaivan finishes third, with Carlito Brigante fourth.

Cheltenham 1.30
1 Soldatino (B J Geraghty) 6-1
2 Barizan (T J O'Brien) 14-1
3 Alaivan (A J McNamara) 9-2

This has been won by fancied runners in the last few years and this year was no exception with the first three in the betting filling three of the first four places (many bookmakers were paying four places.

Evan Williams' Barizan almost landed an almighty punt after being bashed from 33-1 into 14-1. The blinkered front-runner forged a massive advantage of about 20l, but was always likely to tire. The fact he held on for second was remarkable. A tough horse, he's landed a nice bit of each-way wedge for connections.

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Noon Hello and welcome to our live text commentary on the final day of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

It's Gold Cup day, with the big race taking place at 3.20pm. The full card for the day looks like this:

1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle, 2 miles 1 furlong
2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle, 2 miles 1 furlong
2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 3 miles
3.20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs
4.00 Christie's Foxhunter Chase, 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs
4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2 miles 41/2 furlongs
5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, 2 miles 1/2 furlong

Remember, you can watch some of the races from the full festival here.

If you're so inclined, feel free to email us at sportonline@rte.ie with any news, views, tips, compliments, criticism, etc, etc...

Selections

1.30 Carlito Brigante
2.05 Tawaagg
2.40 Restless Harry, Tell Massini
3.20 Imperial Commander (E/W) Cooldine (E/W)
4.00 Turthen
4.40 Meath All Star, Radium
5.15 Safari Journey

A preview of today's Grade 1 action is available here.

Click here for Day 1 as it happened

Click here for Day 2 as it happened

Click here for Day 3 as it happened