Cheltenham Festival - Friday

GOING: GOOD TO SOFT (Soft in places; GoingStick 6.1) (The Chase and Hurdle courses have been covered)

NON RUNNERS 3:20 Bog Warrior (2)

Updates in green.

1.30 JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo)
Our Conor and Rolling Star are currently joint favourites for this race. Our Conor is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown latest. Rolling Star goes for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty and has looked very impressive in two runs over hurdles. He won the Truimph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham, over course and distance, on his debut for his current stable in January. Ruby Walsh rides Far West for Paul Nicholls. This horse has won all four starts for this yard since coming over from France including two victories over course and distance. SWNYMOR was very impressive on his hurdling debut for Tim Vaughan, fell next time out, had excuses last time and could still confirm early promise at 20/1. Diakali and Stockton Wings both have claims but are both well held on form with Our Conor.

Ratings Pick:- Our Conor

2.05 VINCENT O´BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE GRADE 3 (CLASS 1) (5yo+)
Cotton Mill is favourite for this race and ran well on his return last time out at Newbury but form lines with My Tent Or Yours haven't worked out well this week and that has to be a negative here. IFNOTBUTWHYNOT has won at Cheltenham this season and is sure to run well. Tennis Cap has been improving all season for Willie Mullins but Ruby Walsh has decided to ride the Paul Nicholls traineed Ranjaan who has some nice juvenile form. Tanerko Emery could be interesting after a good second in the Imperial Hurdle at Sandown last weekend and his previous run behind Festival winner Medinas. He has 6lb well in in the handicap but is worse of with Ifnotbutwhynot for there Cheltenham run in November.

Ratings Pick:- Tanerko Emery

Princeton Plains has ben a market mover this morning.

2.40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES´ HURDLE (REGISTERED AS THE SPA NOVICES´ HURDLE RACE) GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo+)
This is a race for staying novice hurdlers and AT FISHERS CROSS leads the betting. AP McCoy's mount is unbeaten this season and keeps improving. He has won at Cheltenham twice this season including a win over course and distance and in defeating The New One, a Festival winner on Wednesday, last time out. Ballycasey goes for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, has won two easy races in Ireland and is bred to stay. African Gold has been consistent all season. Utopie Des Bordes, trained by Nicky Henderson has won both starts in Britain and had some good form with Paul Nicholls' promising novice chaser Fago in France. Our Vinnie is another who could go well having beat Rule The World in November.

Ratings Pick:- African Gold

3.20 BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHASE GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (5yo+)
The highlight of the week has a handful of top class contenders led by current favourite Bobs Worth. He has won four times at Cheltenham the RSA Chase at last year's Festival and the Albert Barlett Novices Hurdle in 2011. He won his only start in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury back in November and is unbeaten going left handed. The only concern would be his fitness. Sir Des Champs also has a fine record at the Festival winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle in 2011 and the Jewson Novices Chase last year. He tasted defeat for the first time this season losing to Flemenstar and Tidal Bay but did win a three mile Grade 1 latest. He will be missing his regular jockey for this race though with AP McCoy or Bradley Cooper rumoured to get the ride.

SILVINIACO CONTI is unbeaten this season for Paul Nicholls winning two Grade 2 events sandwiched between his Grade 1 victory over Long Run in the Betfair Chase. He is a fine jumper but the course could be a big negative. The other leading contender is the 2011 winner Long Run who is looking to emulate Kauto Star in retaining his title. On his day Long Run is a great horse but you can never quite tell which Long Run will be showing up. He has won the King George VI Chase twice, the latest being back in December, but his Cheltenham record is 1-4. Of the rest Captain Chris holds most appeal on his second to Long Run in the King George.

Ratings Pick:- Bobs Worth

AP McCoy rides Sir Des Champs in the absence of Davy Russell after Sunnyhillboy was taken out of the race.

4.00 CGA FOXHUNTER CHASE CHALLENGE CUP (CLASS 2) (5yo+)
Salsify won this last year and has been going well all season. Backstage is unbeaten in seven races and has a decent jockey aboard. Paul Nicholls runs TRICKY TRICKSTER who has some good form.

Ratings Pick:- Backstage

4.40 MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS´ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 2) (4yo+ 0-145)
David Pipe has the favourite for this race named after his father. Gevrey Chambertin is unbeaten in three races this season and is a full brother to Grands Crus. VILLAGE VIC has had some promising runs this season the best being a second behind The New One back in October and he will appreciate this distance. Paint The Clouds completed a five timer at Cheltenham last time he ran but he hasn't been seen out since October 2011. If he maintains that form he could have a good chance at 25/1. Bathwick Brave is another outsider with decent form who could go well.

Ratings Pick:- Paint The Clouds

Edeymi and Village Vichave been well backed this morning.

5.15 JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHASE CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP) GRADE 3 (CLASS 1) (5yo+)
JP McManus has the two horses at the top of the betting for the final race of the Festival in Alderluck and Kid Cassidy. Alderluck has been progressive over fences this season and is a course and distance winner. He will surely run a big race for AP McCoy. Kid Cassidy is another JP McManus owned horse who should go well. Ulck Du Lin has gone well for Paul Nicholls this season and has more to offer. RODY is a very nice prospect and is 3-4 over fences and has some good form. Tetlami has won two chases this season with his only defeat coming against Overturn. Drumshaboo is another good prospect and has won all four of his two mile chase runs for Venetia Williams.

Ratings Pick:- Drumshaboo

If the online odds are SP how likely will it be to be actual odds in the shop?

1.30 Not everybodys idea of a betting medium,mine included.As usual with the juveniles theres a load of interlocking form to sift through and like most of the races throughout the week all the form has been on soft ground or worse.Whilst conditions will be quicker than most have encountered we can still be assured that they will go quick and you need a staying type to get up the final climb.STOCKTONS WING fits the bill.Has solid form with the market leader yet is 10 times the price,from a pure VFm perspective he has to worth a small ew investment.
2.05 One of my favourite races of the week.DAN BREEN is to my mind at least one of the best handicapped horses in training.A 138mark doesnt do his ability justice,three solid runs this term and with conditions to suit,he like the track,he races prominently i think hes way overpriced at 28s.Solid ew claim.
2.40 Form would suggest this is a one horse race and it is very hard to stay away from AT FISHERS CROSS.His form has been nothing but franked all season and his last looks bomb proof.He will be a short price but the others need to find more to reach his level.Solid bet.
3.20 A really open Gold Cup? Not really,it all revolves around one horse,LONG RUN.If the real one turns up then this race is over.Bundles of absolute top flight form,he has ran to ratings that the rest can only dream about.Yes theres three second season chasers ahead of him in the market but that just isnt based on anything weve seen on the course,its based on what might bes and reputation.Bobs Worth has to find improvement again,although his Festival record is exemplary,Sir Des Champs just isnt good enough,period and Silviniaco Conti,for all hes beaten Long Run just doesnt come across as a horse that will relish 3m2 twice up the Hill.Any 5s or slightly bigger should be hoovered up,hes the ew value of all time.Max bet.
4.00 Class normally outs in this race and i take last years form as being gospel.Cant really Split SALSIFY and CHAPOTURGEON.Just on the basis of possible rain the preference is for the former.
4.40 Another monster handicap but one has definitely slipped in under the radar in the shape of VILLAGE VIC.He has solid form with The New One and ran a solid race behind My Tent or Yours in the Betfair,when given a less than auspicious ride by Dickie Johnson.This longer trip,stiffer track will bring out his best and at 10s or bigger he rates a solid ew bet.
5.15The Nicholls yard can finaaly break there duck in the last in the shape of ULCK DU LIN.Progressed all season long and i take a chance on the handicapper not having caught up with him yet.Minimum ew bet.

What a fantastically game effort. I'd torn up my online betting slip two out but Bobs Worth hadn't given up even if I had.

Heart of a lion.

Bobs Worth looks a very good winner ahead of Sir Des Champs and Long Run. He seems to love Cheltenham. He will be hard to beat next year too.

What a race and I'm having a great day following two terrible ones.

Have got the winners in the last 3 races

Captain Chris I do love you but its left handed!

Bobs Worth has got to be winning this next year. Had all the power in his legs, possibly on ground he wouldnt like and made a little mistake but still had it.

At last a decent winner, although not as good as you Big Fella...

I thought he was really struggling and looked to be dropping away but what a great ride from Geraghty to keep him calm and make it look a bit easier than it probably was

I had e/w bets on 5 horses today. Bob's Worth, Sir Des Champs, African Gold and Far West all won just under doubled my money. Would have gone £15 over double if Tanerko Emery finished one place higher. I lost £30 yesterday but am £50 up overall.

A real blood and guts,no holds barred Gold Cup renewal.Looked to be solid pace and apart form Silvios fall it seemed to be fairly clean.Not convinced that McCoy didnt compromise his own and Long Runs chance by racing upsides the front runner from so far out,thought that both got a tad lit up as a consequence and if truth be told they paddled home in the last 100yds,whereas the winner was doing all of his best work at the death.The winning distances of 7l and 2l flatter the victor without question but he came out best on the day and proved himself a real Festival performer.The front three all come out with credit and hopefully they all return next year.

Well thats it all done an dusted for another year,four days of compelling viewing,arguably the best theatre in sport played out in an oasis of green in front of the most knowledgable of audiences.No other sporting festival outside of the Olympics seems to grab the attention,its on every back page,on every TV,on every PC,on every ones lips,for a few short days it puts racing back to the forefront of the sporting universe.Men and horses,great and good give their all in the quest for glory, in the search of their own piece of Festival folklore,yet its only two dozen and three every year who have their nom de plumes etched into the sacred roll of honour.Already there are plans for next seasons jamboree,hopes and dreams bottled up until the second Tuesday in March when the tops can come off and the contents can come cascading out like finest champagne and it all begins a new.When we are all dead and gone the mention of the word Cheltenham will stir the blood.