Cheltenham Gold Cup Day tips with Willie Mullins expected to have big day

1.30pm - Triumph Hurdle - This is a real puzzle to work out now with Sir Gino a non-runner for Nicky Henderson. You could throw a blanket over the Willie Mullins runners but he seems to favour the JP McManus runner, MAJBOROUGH (4/1). I was with Storm Heart all week but I've been swayed by comments made by Willie ahead of this race. Majborough has been impressing him at home, he was third on his debut for the yard behind Kargese at Leopardstown last month. He will no doubt come on for that run and I'll take a chance he'll improve more than the others in the same field that day who re-oppose in this. 

2.10pm - County Hurdle - I'd probably keep it simple here and back the Dan Skelton trained horses. He has been the big winner of the handicap races this week and could have two live chances again. FAVOIR (12/1) and L'EAU DU SUD (4/1) are both worth a bet. The latter is surely ahead of the handicapper and Favoir won the race last year and comes in on a mark of 136, just two pound above his mark last year. The jockey can claim three pound off so he's effectively in here a pound lower than last year. I'll have a bet on both of these and hope one wins and the other places. Magical Zoe and King of Kingsfield look the best of the Irish to me.

2.50pm - Albert Bartlett - I'm all over READIN TOMMY WRONG (9/4) in this for the in-form Willie Mullins yard. He's unbeaten and has winning form against the likes of Ile Atlantique (third in the Gallagher's behind Ballyburn this week) and Firefox (third in the supreme this week). I think Gidleigh Park is a danger for the home team today but Readin Tommy Wrong will improve again for the step up in trip and will handle the ground. He's getting short in the market and some of his stablemates (Dancing City and High Class Hero) are very interesting but I can't pick faults in him for the sake of it. I think he'll win.

3.30pm - Gold Cup - I've been a big Galopin Des Champs (10/11) fan for a while and backed him when he won the Martin Pipe back in 2021. I backed him when he fell against Bob Olinger the year after and again last year when he won the Gold Cup. I can't be against him here as the ground will be no problem to him. He has a great cruising speed and will find plenty up the hill. His win in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December, beating Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths, was one of the finest performances seen at that track and I can't see him beaten if he stays on his feet. I also can't tip a horse that's odds-on so I've been looking for eachway value. I think JUNGLE BOOGIE (28/1) is a live eachway chance for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He'll enjoy the very soft ground and is lightly raced at this trip. The trainer has won this race twice in the last three years so this lad has to be worth a punt. GENTLEMANSGAME (28/1) is another at a big price who will stay all day and his win over Bravemansgame at Wetherby last November would put him bang there with a chance for place money. 

4.10pm - The Foxhunter's Chase - This is a very simple one for me. ITSONTHELINE (11/8) looks very strong for connections that have won multiple times this week in similar contests. Derek O'Connor is one of the best amateur jockeys around and proved that on Thursday with a patient ride to win on Inothewayurthinkin. Similar tactics here will see this stout stayer power home and win. It looks a good thing barring disaster. It's worth watching how Samcro gets on in a race like this. Once thought of as an absolute star, he's certainly class enough but I doubt he'll stay as well as some of these.

4.50pm - Mare's Chase - I'd been with Dinoblue for this race for a long time given her form with El Fabiolo but the ground and the trip are now starting to concern me. This will be a testing 2m 4F trip and on drier ground, I'd be nailed to Dinoblue's colours. However, I think for the purposes of a bet here you have to side with ALLEGORIE DE VASSY (5/1) who was an expensive loser of this race last year but was only denied by a horse in Impervious who remains unbeaten over fences. She'll definitely stay and will act in the ground. She also warmed up for this with an impressive victory over Riviere D'Etel at Naas last month. Dinoblue could absolutely be the class in this but with the question marks and given she's now 6/4, she's not a comfortable bet for me.

5.30pm - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle - Always a puzzle to work out but the lucky last has thrown up some good winners in the past, including Galopin Des Champs in 2021. I think WHAT'S UP DARLING (8/1) has a good chance in this. Her second behind Lantry Lady recently looks decent after that one finished 11 lengths third to Lossiemouth on Tuesday. She also has form behind Answer To Kayf who's in today's field and I reckon she's well handicapped given she'll improve further for the extra distance. I'd be happy on her eachway. Jay Jay Reilly (25/1) and Yeats Star (16/1) are others I'd have a small bit eachway on.