Cheltenham Day 4 Tips: Back Mullins again – but not in the Gold Cup…

It really does fly by, doesn't it? There's just one day left of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival - but what a day it promises to be, with the Gold Cup at 15:30 undoubtedly the highlight.

I'm going against Willie Mullins in the feature, but it's fair to say the rest of my Cheltenham Day 4 tips is Closutton-heavy.

13:30 Triumph Hurdle - Kargese @ 11/2

With Sir Gino ruled out, Willie Mullins looks to have the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy.

The key formline here is the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at last month's Dublin Racing Festival - and I'm backing KARGESE to confirm the form.

I respect the shouts for Majborough and Storm Heart, especially the former who should improve plenty for what was his first run of the season, but I thought Danny Mullins' mount triumphed snugly the last day and there should still be a good bit more to come form her.

There's no way she should be over twice the price of the aforementioned Majborough, who won't want the ground to dry up much more.

14:10 County Handicap Hurdle - Bialystok e/w @ 14/1

I tipped up BIALYSTOK for the County Hurdle in my season-long antepost column and I'm keeping the faith on Friday.

Mullins' six-year-old was brought down at the second-last, when travelling sweetly, in a lucrative handicap hurdle at the DRF last month and I believe there's every chance he'd have gone on to win, so I fancy he's well-handicapped off just a pound higher.

He has form in all conditions so whatever the weather does will be of no hinderance to him, and the experience he gained when winning a big-field handicap at last year's Punchestown Festival is a big positive to his chances.

His form ties in very closely with the significantly shorter-priced King Of Kingsfield, so I think Bialystok rates excellent each-way value here.

14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Readin Tommy Wrong @ 2/1

If you're fed up of Mullins' domination of this year's Cheltenham Festival, look away now...

The Closutton maestro has three excellent chances here, including the unbeaten High Class Hero who I advised at 16/1 antepost way back in October. He has his chance, but the confidence behind READIN TOMMY WRONG and respective jockey bookings has dampened my enthusiasm.

Paul Townend's mount, for the incredibly-shrewd outfit of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, is also unbeaten having easily won two bumpers over the summer, a maiden hurdle at Cork and the G1 Lawlor's Of Naas at the start of the year.

For me, that Naas victory is clearly the strongest form on offer in this field of 14 and there should be plenty more to come from the six-year-old son of Authorized, specially for this step up in trip.

15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup - Fastorslow @ 5/1

It's time for the big one - the most prestigious event on the National Hunt calendar.

Can Galopin Des Champs defend his crown? If the horse who won the Savills Chase by 23 lengths over Christmas turns up, he'll be very hard to beat. However, Mullins' stable star has been beaten in two of his last four starts and didn't quite have that aura of invincibility the last day - and we know how tough it is to win back-to-back Gold Cups. So, I'm taking him on.

FASTORSLOW has been an excellent adversary to the champ lately. The score is currently 2-2, and I'm backing him to regain the lead.

Martin Brassil is a masterful trainer and I thought his eight-year-old son of Saint Des Saints, who was second in last year's Ultima, ran well behind his great rival in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival. He was beaten just over four lengths, but Galopin dictated from the front on favoured soft ground - and note the selection was having his first run in 69 days, so was likely to have needed it somewhat.

Stripping fitter and with the ground drying out by the hour, I'm expecting Fastorslow to put up an improved effort this time, which will hopefully be enough to hit gold.

16:10 Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - Premier Magic @ 6/1

This is probably my least favourite race of the week, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

Its On The Line and Ferns Lock are the younger, less exposed runners and are sure to be extremely popular, but last year's winner PREMIER MAGIC, who beat Its On The Line, has enjoyed a flawless preparation courtesy of a couple of facile PTP wins. He's the value for me.

16:50 Mares' Chase - Dinoblue @ 11/10

For about 90% of the season I've thought DINOBLUE was a banker for this race, but then stablemate Allegorie De Vassy bounced right back to form at Naas last month and the doubts started to creep in.

The former is still my idea of the winner, but I do fear the latter who wasn't beaten far by the extremely-talented Impervious in this last year and has apparently had her routine at home completely changed.

However, the drying ground will suit Dinoblue a lot more than Allegorie De Vassy and her form is very strong - especially after Gentleman De Mee, who was over seven lengths behind the selection in a Grade 1 over Christmas, was a good second in the Champion Chase on Wednesday.

17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - Quai De Bourbon @ 10/3

I'm going to keep it simple for the finale and back the one that could be a Graded horse in a handicap - QUAI DE BOURBON.

He joined Mullins' yard only five months ago and was quickly tried in a maiden hurdle at Naas won last year by then-Ballymore hero Impaire Et Passe. He triumphed in good style before getting the job done bravely over an inadequate trip in the Munster Hurdle at Clonmel - won last year by Gaelic Warrior. Seeing a theme?

A mark of 140 looks fair enough, he has the best jockey in the race in Michael O'Sullivan on board and the yard have been particularly bullish about his chances over the last couple of weeks. What's not to like?