Cheltenham Day 4 Tips, Trends & Previews – Friday 17th March
Day 4 of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival features the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the festival comes to a close.
It’s one of the most thrilling days in the horse racing calendar and here at That’s A Goal we’re always on hand to bring you the latest odds, tips and more…
Cheltenham Day 4 Tips 2023
- 1.30pm – LOSSIEMOUTH (13/8)
- 2.10pm – HUNTERS YARN (6/1)
- 2.50pm – SHANBALLY KID (22/1 or 20/1 6 places with Skybet)
- 3.30pm – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (13/8)
- 4.10pm – ROCKY’S HOWYA (12/1)
- 4.50pm – ALEGORIE DE VASSY (15/8 NAP)
- 5.30pm – FIRM FOOTINGS (16/1)
1.30 Triumph
Willie Mullins dominates the head of the market here with the first 4 in the betting trained in Closutton. Blood Destiny had usurped long time antepost favourite LOSSIEMOUTH (13/8) at the head of the market after strong Preview night support but Paul Townend has opted to ride the mare and she is now back as the rightful favourite in my eyes. She was massively impressive on Irish Debut in Fairyhouse when easy to back and even more so AT Christmas in Leopardstown. She lost nothing in defeat for me last time out and I can’t see past her here.
2.10 County Hurdle
7 of the last 8 winners of this race have been trained by Willie Mullins (4) and Dan Skelton (3). Novices also have a great record in the race with the last 4 renewals having being won by novices. So it is little wonder that there are 2 Skelton and Mullins trained novices to the head of the market.
Of the two, I would favour the Mullins Runner. While I would be fairly confident that he is no State Man, HUNTERS YARN (6/1) had Martin Pipe Favourite Imagine, American Mike and Inothewayurthinkin behind last time out in Navan.
The long time antepost favourite Filey Bay, for powerful connections JP McManus and Emmet Mullins, has been easy to back and the ground would certainly be a concern for him. At a big price, one firm are offering 8 places and at 80/1, Ganapathi had some good novice form for willie mullins, has been campaigned interestingly and Patrick Neville has shown he is no mug with the real whacker.
2.50 Albert Bartlett
The profile of this race has changed in recent years from favouring the hardened lower quality Stayers to a classier type and readers of my Staking a Claim antepost column will know that I like 2 in this race. I think that the ground will be against Hiddenvalley Lake, and so preference is for my week 18 selection SHANBALLY KID (22/1 or 20/1 6 places with Skybet). He looked beaten over 2 and a Half last time out before Paul Townend got him going and he relished the Navan hill, looking like the further he went the better. The form of that race was advertised by Montys Star winning at Clonmel. That race could well be a key piece of form with Henry De Bromheads string in fine form. Favourite Corbetts Cross is massively feared but is short enough and the Emmet Mullins/JP connections have had a couple of poor runs this week. Three Card Brag will like the ground but unlike others, I’m not convinced he needs 3m at this stage in his career.
3.30 Gold Cup
Last year Willie Mullins won the first 3 races of the day and if I am correct, he will go one better here with Short Priced Favourite GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (13/8). I outlined the case for him at the start of the year when putting him up in a double (with Allaho 😔) in Week 1 of Staking a Claim. Nothing I have seen since have changed my mind and I again made the case for him in my Gold Cup Preview.
Defending Champion A Plus Tard comes into the reckoning off the back of Henry De Bromheads form but I am not Turning my back on Galopin and I am hopeful that something special may be in the offing.
Bet £5 get a £20 Free Bet
4.10 Hunters Chase
Vaucelet has been at the head of the market for a long time and was the pick of 3 that David Christie could have sent to the race. However, he would certainly prefer a sounder surface and so I am happy to take a chance on 12/1 shot ROCKY’S HOWYA who will love the ground and beat Chatham Street Lad by 45 lengths in his last Point to Point outing.
4.50 Mares Chase
This race has looked like a 2 horse race for the last couple of months, with Impervious and ALEGORIE DE VASSY (15/8 NAP) locked at the head of the market for the majority of the calendar year. The Mullins charge has now pulled clear and again I Agree with the market. She was by far the superior hurdler of the two and was wildly impressive on chase debut at Limerick. She made a bad error at the first last time out but I think that she has a Rolls Royce of an engine. In fact, I think that she wouldn’t be out of place in the GOLD Cup and if that the case, she should be too good here.
5.30 Martin Pipe
The Final race of the festival see the Boys get their time in the limelight. I was a fan of market Favourite Cool Survivor for the Albert Bartlett so he must go close here, although at 5/1, he is a small bit short for me. King Mikey has to be respected on Willie Mullins first string Spanish Harlem but preference is for Caldwell Construction and Gordon Elliot. And while Imagine was the talk of the preview circuit, I think that this may be a bit of a smokescreen for FIRM FOOTINGS (16/1). He has nice form in Irish Maiden Hurdles, is bred to relish the step up in trip and will relish the ground. The final Piece of the puzzle is the jockey and he won’t be lacking from the skills of Shane Fitzgerald in the Saddle.
Cheltenham Day 4 Sign-up Offers
Bet £5 get £20 in Free Bets Straight Away
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets
Bet £15 on a Horse > get a £15 Free Bet
50% Bonus on your First Deposit up to £50
Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets
✅Best odds Guaranteed
✅NRNB
✅Existing Customer Offers
Bet £10 get a £30 in Free Bets
Bet £5 get a £20 Free Bet
Double Odds for your first bet e.g. get 10/1 doubled to 20/1
50% Back as Free Bets Up to £60
ALREADY ADVISED: Cheltenham Day 4 Ante-post Tips
You won’t miss a moment when it comes to betting on Gold Cup day at Cheltenham with That’s A Goal, and everything you need to know about day 4 is available on this page. In the build up and during the day we’ll bring you tons of betting tips from our daily NAP to the best lucky 15 bets, as well as everything in between…
| Time | Race | Odds | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.30pm | Lossiemouth | 7/4 | Read |
| 2.10pm | TBC | TBC | Read |
| 2.50pm | Shanbally Kid (EW) | 25/1 | Read |
| 3.30pm | Galopin Des Champs & Bravemansgame | 5/4 & 8/1 | Read |
| 4.10pm | Chris's Dream | 9/1 | Read |
| 4.50pm | Allegorie De Vassy | 6/4 | Read |
| 5.30pm | Spanish Harlem | 7/1 | Read |
Cheltenham Day 4 Races
| START TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE | TYPE | TELEVISED |
| 13:30 | The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle | ITV |
| 14:10 | The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3) | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle | ITV |
| 14:50 | The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | abt 3m | Hurdle | ITV |
| 15:30 | The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 3m abt 2½ f | Chase | ITV |
| 16:10 | The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase | 3m abt 2½ f | Chase | ITV |
| 16:50 | The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) | 2m abt ½f | Chase | |
| 17:30 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145) | 2m abt 4½ f | Hurdle |
2023 Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Ante-Post Betting Tips
The ante-post markets are starting to hot up with bookies going NRNB on the racing and so our Friday betting tips for Cheltenham are taking shape.
We continually keep our eyes on the markets as well as making the most of any insider knowledge and news coming out of the stables. Our resident horse racing expert has been hard at it and you’ll find their top ante-post betting tips on Cheltenham Day 4 below…
Lossiemouth still set up for a Triumph Hurdle win
- Lossiemouth (Triumph Hurdle)
- Current Odds – 7/4 with bet365
Lossiemouth was disappointing at the Dublin Racing Festival and she looks to have had a hard race there so her price has been pushed out, but this tip was done before that race and we’re sticking with her to bounce back at Cheltenham in March.
The fact that stable jockey Paul Townend chose to ride the runner-up over the mare along with a drift in the market for the winner tells me that they probably weren’t expecting that performance from Lossiemouth at Closutton. I think that performance can be marked up and I expect the winner to improve further. I don’t think Paul Townend will be giving up the ride on her again.
She is now clear favourite in the triumph market and rightly so. I’m sure more horses will come out from now until March to add competition but she sets a clear standard and it will take a good one to beat her at Cheltenham.
Back Lossiemouth at 7/4 in the Triumph with bet365!
Three Card Brag to take the Albert Bartlett on Day 4
- Selection: Three Card Brag (Albert Bartlett)
- Current Odds: 14/1 with bet365
Having only run at 2m & 2m3f (with the weekend’s race being 2m4f) on soft/heavy ground tipping him for a 3m race could be a risk but I believe he will be a better horse for a step up in trip and that’s why I think he will end up in the Albert Bartlett in March.
A few shroods have this horse on their Martin Pipe shortlist but the owners (Max McNeil) like their jockey (Adrian Heskin) riding and they are in the game for Grade 1 winners so I believe he will only be going to the Ballymore or the Bartlett.
I think both races are wide open and we will know more after Sunday’s race but I think my selection will end up at the longer distance and I’m confident he can be competitive in this. Better ground (which he may get on the Friday of Cheltenham) is an unknown at the moment but I don’t think it will be an issue.
I’ll be watching Sunday’s race closely and hope he stays on strong at the end to show us all that he will relish a further step up in trip.
Fancy Three Card Brag for the Albert Bartlett? Back him at 14/1 with bet365!
Gold Cup Favourite Looks Hard to Beat
- Galopin Des Champs (Cheltenham Gold Cup)
- Current Odds: 6/4 with William Hill
If Allaho was the horse of last year, Galopin Des Champs could be this year’s superstar. The Martin Pipe tends to favour Stayers (Don Poli, Champagne Classic, Sir Des Champs) so, unlike some, I don’t believe Stamina will be an issue. His jumping in his Beginners Chase was breathtaking, earning him the highest-ever RPR for a beginner chase. After Cheltenham, Timeform gave him the second highest ever+ rating for a Novice Chaser, only behind Douvan and level with Altior and Sprinter Sacre. And being mentioned in this company doesn’t flatter him in my opinion. I think that while A Plus Tard is a good horse, last year’s race wasn’t a vintage renewal and this will be his third go at a gruelling race which has begun to favour younger horses.
Take a punt on favourite Galopin Des Champs at 6/4 with William Hill!
Hunters Chase can go to Chris’s Dream
- Selection: Chris’s Dream (Hunters Chase)
- Current Odds: 10/1 with Coral
The Hunters Chase (previously known as The Foxhunters), is a race that I have been quite successful in over the years (ever since Baby Run won in 2010) and although it’s a tricky race to get a hold of with qualification rules and different kinds of form lines (from point to points or hunter chases), I think now is the time to put my selection up.
Chris’s Dream (10/1) of the Henry De Bromhead yard is the one that has caught my eye for this race and im pretty sure this is the plan for him now that he qualified by winning a 3m PTP at Carrigarostig at the weekend.
Rated in the 160s for the last few years, Chris’s Dream has mainly been seen competing in Grade 1 races or lugging top weight around in competitive handicaps (including the Grand National). At 11 Years Old and in the twilight of his career, the aim for this season has been based around PTP and Hunter chases. He has won both of his starts this season (3m PTP’s) and although they have been small fields, its good to see your horse winning and still enjoying the game.
He has been to Cheltenham three times in his career and although he has disappointed on all three occasions, they have been in far superior races to what he will line up against on St Patricks Day. The drop in class is needed for him now and if he was to turn up then he should have a great chance based on his rating throughout his career.
Maxine O’Sullivan rides the horse and you would have thought she would keep the ride as she gets on with the horse so well. She is no stranger to the race and won the 2020 renewal on It Came to Pass. There wouldn’t be many better jockeys in the race than her and that’s a huge plus in amateur rider races.
The race has been won by 10/11 Year olds in the last eight years and I believe the race will be going to another 11-year-old in 2023 in Chris’s Dream.
Back Chris’s Dream with Coral at 10/1!
Where Can I Bet On Cheltenham Festival Day 4?
It’s the big one and the bookies are always out in full force on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. For many, it’s all about the Gold Cup, but you’ll find great odds on all seven races across the day.
The likes of SBK, Coral, Betfred and LiveScoreBet all will have great value odds and a host of specials to enjoy, while the same can be said for the likes of Paddy Power too, who always manage to pull something interesting out of their hat on Gold Cup day.
We’ll always bring you the bookie with the best odds for all of our tips, while you can play with some of our very favourites by browsing the most tried and trusted below…
Bet £5 get £20 in Free Bets Straight Away
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets
Bet £15 on a Horse > get a £15 Free Bet
50% Bonus on your First Deposit up to £50
Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets
✅Best odds Guaranteed
✅NRNB
✅Existing Customer Offers
Triumph Hurdle Trends & Stats 2023
- Age – Race is for 4yo’s only
- Price – 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 7/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 8/12 winners won on their last run before the Triumph Hurdle, 12/12 winners had their last run within the last 48 days
- 7/12 winners ran in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Leopardstown) on their last run, 3 of the 7 won, 3 placed
- 2/12 winners ran in the Finesse Juvenile Hurdle (Cheltenham) on their last run, 2 of the 2 won
- Previous Course Form – 2/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 2/12 had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 9/12 winners had at least 2 runs over 15-17 Furlongs, 11/12 winners had at least 1 win over 15-17 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 9/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs over hurdles, 11/12 winners had at least 1 win over hurdles
- Rating – 8/12 winners were rated 140 or higher (4/12 didn’t have a rating yet)
- Graded Wins – 7/12 winners had at least 1 win in a grade 1-3 race
- Season Form – 9/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs that season, 11/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
County Hurdle Trends & Stats 2023
- Age – 9 of the last 12 winners have been aged 5 or 6
- Price – 2 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 4/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting, 8/12 winners were priced 10/1 or bigger
- Weight – 9/12 winners carried 11st 1lb or less
- Last Run – 4/12 winners won on their last run before the County Hurdle, 8/12 winners ran within the last 72 days
- Previous Course Form – 6/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 1/12 winners had a previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 12/12 winners had at least 1 win over 15-17 furlongs, 7/12 winners had at least 2 wins over 15-17 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 11/12 winners had at least 4 previous runs over hurdles, 12/12 winners had at least 1
- Previous win over hurdles, 9/12 winners had at least 2 previous wins over hurdles
- Rating – 11/12 winners were rated 134 or higher
- Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 8/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Trends & Stats 2023
- Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged 6 or 7
- Price – 2 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 4/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 7/12 winners won on their previous run before the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, 9/12 winners had their last run within 54 days
- Previous Course Form – 4/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 4/12 winners had a previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 10/12 winners had at least 1 run over 23-25 furlongs, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win over 23-25 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 runs over hurdles, 7/12 winners had at least 4 runs over hurdles, 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over hurdles, 8/12 winners had at least 2 previous wins over hurdles
- Rating – 9/12 winners were rated 140 or higher
- Graded Wins – 7/12 winners had at least 1 win in a grade 1-3 race
- Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 runs that season, 11/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends & Stats 2023
- Age – 11 of last 12 winners were aged between 7-9
- Price – 5 of last 12 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 7/12 winners were top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 9 of last 12 winners won on their previous run before the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 11/12 winners had their last run within the last 80 days, 12/12 winners had their last run 33 days or longer ago
- 3/12 winners ran in the Irish Gold Cup (Leopardstown) on their last run, 1 of the 3 won, 0 placed
- 2/12 winners ran in the Denman Chase (Newbury) on their last run, 2 of the 2 won
- 2/12 winners ran in the Savills Chase (Leopardstown) on their last run, 1 of the 2 won, 1 placed
- Previous Course Form – 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous Cheltenham run, 6/12 had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 runs over 24 furlongs or further, 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over 24 furlongs or further, 8/12 winners had at least 2 wins over 24 furlongs or further
- Previous Hurdle Form – 12/12 winners had at least 4 runs over hurdles, 10/12 had at least 2 wins over hurdles
- Previous Chase Form – 10/12 winners had at least 7 previous chase runs, 12/12 had at least 2 previous chase wins, 11/12 had at least 3 previous chase wins
- Rating – 11/12 winners were rated 164 or higher, 5/12 were rated 170 or higher
- Grade 1 Wins – 12/12 winners had won at least 1 Grade 1 race, 7/12 had won at least 2
- Grade 2 Wins – 9/12 winners had won at least 1 Grade 2 race, 5/12 had won at least 2
- Grade 3 Wins – 8/12 winners had won at least 1 Grade 3 race
- Season Form – 9/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 11/12 had at least 1 win that season
Hunter Chase Trends & Stats 2023
- Age – 11 of the last 12 winners were aged 8 or older
- Price – 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 6/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 6/12 winners won on their last run before the Hunters Chase, 9/12 winners won or placed on their last run before Cheltenham, 10/12 winners had their last run within the last 43 days
- Previous Course Form – 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 3/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 7/12 winners had at least 1 previous run over 26/27 furlongs, 3 of the 7 had at least 1 win over 26/27 furlongs
- Previous Chase Form – 11/12 winners had at least 6 previous chase runs, 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous chase win
- Rating – 10/12 winners had a rating of 134 or higher
- Season Form – 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous run that season, 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous win that season
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Trends & Stats 2023
- Age – 10 of the last 12 winners have been aged 5 or 6
- Price – 1 of the last 12 winners were favourite, 3/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting, 8/12 winners were priced 11/1 or bigger
- Last Run – 7 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, 11/12 winners ran within the last 55 days
- Previous Course Form – 5/11 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 1/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 10/12 winners had at least 1 previous run over 19-21 furlongs, 5/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over 19-21 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs over hurdles, 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over hurdles, 7/12 had at least 2 previous wins over hurdles
- Rating – 12/12 winners had a rating of 134 or higher
- Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs that season, 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous win that season
What Are Other Pundits Predicting For Cheltenham Festival Day 4?
Every man and their dog will have their thoughts on the Gold Cup, but we’re only interested in what our trusted tipsters and the best pundits in the game have to say. Throughout ITV Racing’s coverage there will be plenty of ex-jockeys and pundits having their say, including the likes of Ruby Walsh, AP McCoy and popular names like Matt Chapman.
We make sure you don’t miss anything they have to say, and as well as on this page, you’ll find a dedicated pundits tips page where you’ll find all their tips and how to bet on them right across the festival.
2023 Cheltenham Festival Free Bets for Day 4
Why not finish off your festival of betting in style with one of the dozens of free bets available to bet on the Gold Cup and every other race across Day 4. All your favourite bookmakers will be offering top promotions, from Betfred to SBK, and we’ll bring then directly to you.
You’ll find many available below, while you can also head to our free bet page where we have a host of others as well as the information you need to sign up and start playing.
Bet £15 on a Horse > get a £15 Free Bet
50% Bonus on your First Deposit up to £50
Bet £10 get a £30 in Free Bets
Double Odds for your first bet e.g. get 10/1 doubled to 20/1
50% Back as Free Bets Up to £60
£10 Free Bet if your First Bet Loses
Bet £5 get a £5 Free Bet
