The Cheltenham festival comes to a climax tomorrow and its been a great festival so far. We've seen the great Big Bucks retired, David Pipe in red-hot form, some great performances by some Mullin's youngsters and generally some great racing. Lets take a look at the final day now - Cheltenham we will miss you!
1.30 Triumph Hurdle - Take a chance on Royal Irish Hussar on this better ground. Has smart form in the book on a decent surface including the beating of a big rival Guitar Pete round Cheltenham back in November. He can be forgiven his latest run, it was his 3rd run in fairly quick succession, and should go well here on the back of a nice break.
2.05 County Hurdle - Arctic Fire. Walsh and Mullins have had a decent festival so far and Arctic Fire looks to have been laid out for the County Hurdle on his handicap debut. He brings solid grade 1 form to the table for this handicap and could be on a decent mark. You'd have to think so anyway given Mullins has hidden him away since December and with Walsh on board you can be sure he will be given every chance in this.
2.40 Albert Bartlett - Briar Hill. Even though the price has long gone all the noises coming out of the Mullins camp are extremely bullish regarding this Novice's chance. Patrick Mullins said during preview nights that Briar Hill could have won any of the Novice hurdles and given the Mullins camp have won 2/2 so far that is pretty positive! Briar Hill only ever does just enough in his races so we don't know how good he could be but lets hope we see a great performance out of him tomorrow. He has course and festival experience winning the Champion Bumper last year and this unbeaten novice can carry all before him tomorrow. Urban Hymn could go well at a big price.
3.20 Gold Cup - Last Instalment. This doesn't look a vintage Gold Cup and I think we could see Bob's Worth dethroned here by the classy but injury prone Last Installment. Brian O'Connell has struck up a great partnership with this horse and he was really impressive last time routing the field in the Irish Hennessy from the front with a great display of jumping. He can be expected to improve for that run and his jumping will stand him in good stead here. The ground isn't an issue as long as he is allowed to take his chance on it, the only reason there is any doubt is because of his injury history, not because he doesn't act on it.
4.00 Foxhunters - I don't pretend to have much knowledge of this sort of race so as a token selection I'll put up Harbour Court.
4.40 Martin Pipe, the boys race - The Skyfarmer. He was looking a really impressive novice, boasting winning Cheltenham form, before a disappointing run last time out on ground that would have been too soft for his liking. Back on better ground with the useful James Best on board he can provide Philip Hobbs with another festival handicap winner to go with Fingal Bay on Thursday.
5.15 Grand Annual - Raya Star. This horse will absolutely love the frenetic pace of the Grand Annual and can end the festival on a good note for Alan King whose horses have been running pretty well with Midnight Prayer their only success so far. His 2nd to Dodging Bullets here back in November is decent form and he was rated as highly as 159 over hurdles so his mark of 149 here could be lenient.
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