Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Cheltenham Festival Day Four tips

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Cheltenham Gold Cup day from the Cheltenham Festival, where Galopin Des Champs bids to make racing history.

Friday, Cheltenham

Let’s kick Cheltenham Gold Cup Day off with the big race of the week – the Cheltenham Gold Cup (4pm), of course. I expect this to be Galopin Des Champs’ coronation into racing royalty and for him to be the fourth horse to ever win a third Gold Cup. He seems to be in the form of his life and this looks like his time to shine. In terms of dangers, I think Inothewayurthinkin will be suited by the extra two furlongs, something that I can’t say for Banbridge. Gavin Cromwell’s runner was supplemented for a fee of £25,000 and I think they’ll get their money back – and some. Galopin Des Champs to beat Inothewayurthinkin in the showpiece event, for me.

The Albert Bartlett (3.20pm) has attracted a big field and it’s usually won by a proven stayer with plenty of experience. I think Ballybow fits that bracket this year. I was impressed with what he did in his last two runs at Naas and Clonmel and he’s a horse that will stay very well. There’s a chance that he comes off the bridle a little early, but he will find plenty for pressure. He might not be the flashiest, but he’ll dig in when the going gets tough. He’s the one for me in the Albert Bartlett.

It’s quite amazing that Willie Mullins accounts for eleven of the eighteen declared runners for the Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm). With that, you might expect to him to win it, but that’s not how I see it. For me, it’s East India Dock, who’s three-from-three over hurdles. He’s rated 89 on the Flat and he’s got course and distance experience at Cheltenham. His brother, Burdett Road, was second in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday and I expect this one to go one place better in the Triumph.

The William Hill County Hurdle (2pm) looks a very competitive race. It was won last year by Absurde, but he’s now off an eight-pound higher mark, and that sees Paul Townend jump ship. He’s chosen to go with Kargese and I can see why. She hasn’t been out of the first two since joining Willie Mullins and she was second in the Cheltenham and Aintree Juvenile Grade One events last year behind Majborough and Sir Gino. What impressed me most is that she was still able to come back at Punchestown after a tough season last year and still won there. If she settles, she wins this dropping into handicap company. She is the class act, she just needs to give herself a chance.

The Mares’ Chase is in its fifth year and so far, all four renewals have gone to Ireland. JP McManus – courtesy of Elimay, Impervious and Limerick Lace – has won three of the four renewals, and I think Dinoblue is going to make it four from five. She came up short last year behind Limerick Lace in the same colours, but she seems in different form this year – she seems to be in a better place. She’s giving her rival two pounds, but she’s rated six pounds superior. I think Mark Walsh has chosen correctly, and Dinoblue can have her time to shine in the Mares’ Chase.

One of my favourite races of the week is the Hunters’ Chase. This is where it all began for Jumps racing and it’s important to remember our roots. The Irish tend to have quite a good record in this race but we haven’t won it for the last two years. This year the only mare in the lineup takes my fancy and that’s Angels Dawn. She was the 2023 Kim Muir winner and she was still in contention with Inothewayurthinkin when she fell in that same race last year. She won at Dromahane beating the re-opposing Ryehill and I think she’s been laid out for this race. It’s Angels Dawn for me, getting weight off horses she really should be conceding weight to.

The last race of the week is the Martin Pipe, won by the likes of Sir Des Champs, Don Poli, Banbridge and Galopin Des Champs. Can anyone quantify how good Kopeck De Mee really is? He’s been one of the talking horses of the week on his first run for Willie Mullins, having won at Auteuil last year to make it four wins in seven starts and he has plenty of experience coming from France. Aidan Kelly won it with Iroko in 2023, he could well win a second one, courtesy of Kopeck De Mee.