The Irish have this race at their mercy, with the first four in the betting, all trained by Willie Mullins. LOSSIEMOUTH hit the ground running on stable debut, blitzing her rivals by four lengths at Fairyhouse in December. The grey bolstered her lofty reputation when sauntering clear of stablemate Gala Marceau next time, prior to the latter reversing form at the Dublin Racing Festival. Lossiemouth had an excuse that day, after being shuffled back at a crucial time, and it was to her immense credit that she got as close as she did to the winner. She can bounce right back to form, granted a clear passage at this race at the Cheltenham Festival

The standout juvenile all season has been the well regarded LOSSIEMOUTH. She was very impressive on Irish debut at Fairyhouse beating Zarak the Brave and backed it up at Leopardstown at Christmas before being narrowly beaten by Gala Marceau at the DRF. Lossiemouth was severely hampered at one stage and looked well beaten before staying on strongly to finish only 2.5 Lengths behind the winner. I expect her to reverse the form here with a clear run.  

ZENTA is an interesting runner here for the same stable and JP McManus’ retained rider Mark Walsh takes the ride. She jumped very well in France and was picked up for powerful connections. She only made she Irish debut about 3 weeks ago and ploughed through every hurdle but hit the line strong. The overall performance was impressive considering how much she did wrong, and I expect her to massively improve for it. I think she is one that could go well at about 12/1. 

The County Hurdle is often won by a Graded performer, most notably last season’s subsequent multiple Grade 1 winner State Man. His trainer, Willie Mullins, has landed this prize twice in the previous three runnings and boasts huge claims again this year. HUNTERS YARN is the clear pick for the handler, arriving for this handicap debut after an effortless Listed Hurdle success at Navan last month. The Fame And Glory gelding has a smart turn of foot and could be leniently treated from an opening handicap mark of 147. 

Stablemate Winter Fog has been hit hard by the handicapper after an easy win on stable debut last time but is not without place appeal as a lightly raced type, despite being a nine-year-old. He ran fourth in last season’s Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle so is likely to be finishing strongly at this easier distance. 

Hunters Yarn is a horse that jumps off the page in this race. The stable have won this twice in the last 3 years and tend to have a good horse in it. State Man last year and this year’s Arkle 3rd Saint Roi 2 years ago. Hunters Yarn wouldn’t be out of place in the Grade 1 novice hurdles this year and is a multiple bumper winner and won his maiden hurdle at Naas by 13 lengths.  

He backed that up with a win in a listed novice hurdle at Navan with Imagine and Inothewayurthinkin in behind him who are above average horses. Even off a mark of 147 this 6 year has huge potential to improve, and I think this is the cliché Graded horse in a handicap and it’s hard to look past him. At 5/1- 6/1 he is a Safe Each Way play and think he can bolt up here if he’s the horse I think he is. 

A wide-open renewal of this stamina-sapping Grade 1 hurdle prize, where SEABANK BISTRO is taken to cause an upset at attractive odds. This race is often won at big odds, with favourites having an awful record in the event (the last favourite to win was At Fishers Cross in 2013). The selection is a typical Willie Mullins unexposed type, who scored a maiden hurdle at Naas in January.  

The winner of that contest in 2022 went on to follow up in the Albert Bartlett, as The Nice Guy improved hugely for the rise in distance at Cheltenham. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Seabank Bistro repeats the feat this time around and is worth a small each-way wager. 

HIDDENVALLEY LAKE  is one I have had my eye on for this race for quite a while. He will appreciate a stamina test; a good pace and soft ground and I think he will get it here. He was a good winner of a Naas maiden hurdle before backing that up with winning a Grade 3 hurdle at Cork on only his second start. I thought he was very impressive that day at Cork and with this race being in similar conditions I’m expecting a similar performance. It was disappointing to see him beaten at odds-on last time out at Clonmel but it looked a tactical small field race off a steady pace which wouldn’t have suited him, and I think he was done for a bit of toe up the straight.  

This is a deep race and there’s plenty with chances including the likes of Corbett Cross and Three Card Brag. It is hard to put anyone off backing either of those too but with such a competitive renewal of this race I don’t want to get stuck into something at a shortish price. I think an Each Way bet on Hiddenvalley Lake at 8/1 – 9/1 is the way to go here. 

Although GALOPIN DES CHAMPS has to prove himself over an extra two and a half furlongs, he has a touch of brilliance about him suggesting he can prevail in a Gold Cup. His comeback romp in the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase over high-class Fakir D’Oudairies in December did not convince everyone, but he looked all about stamina when upped to three miles for the first time as a chaser in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month. Bar an agonising fall at the final fence when well clear in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase, he would be heading to Cheltenham looking for a third festival success, and he relishes spring ground. Still only seven years of age, he is also versatile regarding tactics and there is an awful lot to like about his credentials. 

 The other Mullins runner is certainly an able deputy. STATTLER is yet to get his head in front this term, but last year’s National Hunt Chase winner has still improved in his second campaign over fences and there is reason to believe we will see a peak effort when faced with the gruelling test of a Gold Cup. He narrowly failed to concede 8lb to Minella Indo in a messy race on his comeback at Tramore on New Year’s Day – still a career-best display – and, although subsequently just off that form in the Irish Gold Cup, he did hit the line with some purpose behind stablemate Galopin Des Champs. While he has obviously got his work cut out reversing that form, it is easy to envisage him staying on when others have cried enough, into the minor places. 

I’m siding with STATTLER and MINELLA INDO for the feature of the week. Last year’s Gold Cup was run at a slow pace and allowed for a speed horse in A Plus Tard to power on up the hill using his gears. I don’t think we will get the same kind of race here and would be keen to take on the favourite, Gallopin Des Champs. I think he is a ridiculous price at around about 7/4-2/1 and he would be about a 11/4-5/2 shot in my book. I would question his ability to stay the trip but wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up being wrong.  

I fancy the strong stayers in this and think there will be a focus on stamina in this. Minella Indo EW at 20/1 and Stattler EW at 9-1-11/1 tick those boxes. Stattler has won at Cheltenham previously and was second to Minella Indo at Tramore on New Years Day. Minella Indo is a previous Gold Cup winner and despite having a quiet time in recent months I fancy the De Bromhead team to have him in peak condition to challenge for this again. 

A race which is likely to run at a furious gallop, with number contenders for this valuable prize for the Hunter Chasers and amateur jockeys. It is run over the exact same Gold Cup distance, which offers an interesting angle for viewers. FAMOUS CLERMONT is a tentative selection in a wide-open affair, following an effortless 18-length romp at Haydock. 

He had previously not stayed this testing trip when pulled-up in this contest but arrives here as a more mature individual. He’s a powerful type who has the ability to be involved when it matters most. The main danger is last term’s scorer Billaway, who relishes this stamina test. He looks sure to be finishing best of all and will be many punters’ place option.  

A complete revelation since turning to point to points, ROCKY’S HOWYA beat Chatham Street Lad by 45 lengths last time out. He has won by a combined 122 lengths in his 5 point to point starts and if the form holds up here, he will be very hard to beat and it’s hard to see him out of the frame. I think he is a cracking EW bet at 10/1+. 

IMPERVIOUS holds strong credentials to land the Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at 4.50. Recently purchased by top owner J P McManus, she can extend her winning sequence. The daughter of Shantou displayed her immense ability with a smart success at Punchestown in January, giving a pair of well-touted geldings weight and scoring with plenty in hand. Her market danger, Allegorie De Vassy, has a propensity to jump right at the fences, which is a cause for concern at this left-handed circuit. 

The Mare’s Chase is being billed as a match this year and while I do think both Allegoire De Vassy and Imprevious are brilliant mares, I think the market has overlooked MAGIC DAZE. She only has a few lbs to find on ratings. She was second in the Mare’s Novice Hurdle in 2021 and was a well beaten in last year’s Arkle but that was a much better race than this. She’s had four runs since that Arkle, winning twice and second twice. She’s genuine and always runs her race and still only a 7-year-old there is plenty of improvement to come from her I feel. She beat Dinoblue last time out in a listed Mares chase giving her weight and Dinoblue looked the winner of Wednesdays Grand Annual before hitting the last 2 fences and ruining her chance, staying on strongly to finish a good second.  

I wouldn’t necessarily be taking the 2 at the front of the market here but it is hard to split them and theyre both fairly short. Therefore, an EW play on Magic Daze is the way to go here in my opinion. 

AU FLEURON holds an each-way squeak in what is a typically tough handicap hurdle to conclude the Cheltenham Festival. He ran a solid seventh in this contest last term, challenging down the inner from an unpromising position; keeping-on well enough behind some talented individuals. Dropped 2lb in the weights this time around, there could be some each-way mileage in his big price, returning to this circuit.  

Gordon Elliott has won this twice in the previous six seasons and has a host of strong chances. His main challenger looks like being Cool Survivor, who certainly has strong appeal from a mark of 140 on handicap debut, having finished a good fourth at Grade 1 level last time out. 

IMAGINE has good form behind Inothewayurthinkin and Hunter’s Yarn (who has been put up for the county hurdle). He was a non runner for a Grade 1 at Naas over 2m5F which suggests this trip will suit. I think he’s been put away for this and expect him to take a massive step forward. I think his mark is very fair and is a solid EW bet to hopefully end the festival on a high.