Cheltenham Day 4 (Friday)

The concluding day of the Cheltenham Festival evokes a blend of melancholy and excitement. The former arises from the realisation that it marks the culmination of the four-day spectacle, while the latter stems from the anticipation of the thrilling events yet to unfold. Kicking off with the Triumph Hurdle and culminating in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, the day promises to extend the festival’s vibrant energy.

Notable moments are abundant, especially in the opener, with poignant memories lingering, such as Goshen’s dramatic mishap in 2020, which left Jamie Moore and his supporters heartbroken. The prestigious Gold Cup commands the spotlight for the day 4 Cheltenham tips, its rich history punctuated by legendary triumphs from icons like Kauto Star, Denman, Best Mate, and Native River. It is this tapestry of unforgettable moments that draws us back, year after year, eagerly awaiting the exhilarating start of the final day’s races.

At the time of publication, the 48-hour declarations for the fourth day’s 2025 Cheltenham Festival event schedule have yet to be confirmed. For now, we have picked the horses that we believe warrant your attention for each race on this highly-anticipated final day of action. Don’t forget to visit Punters Lounge every day during the festival to find our free Cheltenham tips and expert analysis on horse racing.

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Cheltenham Day 4 Tips

13:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle

The festivities of Gold Cup Day commence with the prestigious four-year-old hurdling championship, known as the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Once characterised by frenetic action and the necessity of ample luck, the race has evolved into a showcase of superior quality.

The Spring Juvenile Hurdle, held during the Dublin Racing Festival in February, has consistently served as a reliable indicator of performance in recent times and provides great guidance for our Cheltenham day 4 predictions.

Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson has an excellent record in this race and saddles his exciting Luamba who was well-backed for this race before making his British debut for Henderson, having already won in France, when impressing everyone with his slick jumping and ability to quicken after the last at Ascot Racecourse in January. That form has already been boosted and he looks like a very exciting four-year-old hurdler who may well be on the way to the top.

James Owen trains at Newmarket and the dual-purpose trainer will saddle the biggest threat to Luamba in his East India Dock who was a fair sort on the flat for James Fanshawe and has looked smart over hurdles in winning all three of his starts at Wincanton Races and twice over course and distance. Visually very impressive last time out in the Triumph Hurdle trial on trials day in January in a very good time he looks like a major player.

The best of the Irish may well be Gavin Cromwell’s Hello Neighbour who is unbeaten in two starts on the flat and two starts over timber. His latest victory came in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February when scraping home by 3/4L when sporting a first-time hood. He’ll most likely need to step up from that effort to beat the two at the front of the market though.

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14:00 – County Handicap Hurdle

In the past, the County Hurdle marked the conclusion of a three-day festival, but it is now positioned as the second race on the Gold Cup card. This race, the shortest among the handicap hurdles featured throughout the week, is consistently characterised by competitiveness and a brisk pace.

Patience in tactics, particularly crucial on the new course, tends to be rewarded. Notably, both novice and second-season hurdlers have performed well in this event recently. Willie Mullins has dominated the last 14 renewals, securing victory on six occasions. His recent winners, State Man and Saint Roi, both met the minimum required number of runs at the time of their victories.

Despite current regulations stipulating that novices must have four runs to qualify for such handicaps, both triumphed after just three hurdles outings. Certainly a factor to consider when thinking about Cheltenham day 4 tips in 2025.

Joesph O’Brien’s Lark In The Mornin already has winning Cheltenham Festival form having won the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last year and it seems has been trained for this race. He picked up an injury in the Swinton Handicap Hurdle in May but showed plenty of promise on his comeback run over Christmas at Leopardstown so will be primed for this no doubt.

Paul Nicholls is aiming his lightly raced five-year-old Kabral Du Mathan at the race and he would be a leading player having run well in similar fastly run races at Ascot and Windsor this season. There is likely more improvement to come from this ex-French gelding.

Dan Skelton has a good record in the race and his Valgrand is an interesting runner. This race was mooted by his brother Harry last year and were the ground to dry up and ride good would be a serious player for the Cheltenham Festival day 4 tips.

Willie Mullins will no doubt saddle a few with perhaps Storm Heart his best chance. This lightly raced five-year-old placed fifth in last year’s Triumph Hurdle and ran well to finish second to McLaurey in a big field listed handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. He looks the ideal type for this type of race.

The winner of that Leopardstown race McLaurey is another with a big chance if taking this option. Trained by Emmet Mullins he was well backed that day and owned by J P McManus is a progressive sort.

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14:40 – Mares’ Steeple Chase

Only three renewals of the Mares’ Chase have taken place thus far, mirroring the pattern of the two mares-only hurdle races at the event, where Willie Mullins asserted his dominance by training the first two victors. All three winners hailed from Ireland, with two of them being novices. It’s crucial to regard their performance in Graded races, particularly when competing against male horses.

J P McManus has won three of the four running’s of this race so his representatives here must take scrutiny. Dinoblue, trained by Willie Mullins, currently heads the market following victory in a three-runner listed mares chase at Naas Racecourse in February from stable mate Allegorie De Vassy who is a possible to renew a rivalry.

Dinoblue gave Allegorie De Vassy 6lb that day so you would fancy her to confirm the form off-level weights here. She was runner-up in this last year to Limerick Lace and is a consistent mare who looks sure to run her race. Dinoblue is owned by McManus as is last year’s winner Limerick Lace who has failed to shine in two attempts this season and Gavin Cromwell’s mare has questions to answer now although it would be no shock were she to feature once again.

The third of the J P McManus runners is also trained by Gavin Cromwell in Bioluminescence. A winner on her fencing debut in Grade 2 company over Christmas at Limerick Races she was not disgraced when runner-up to the smart Dancing City at Naas in February.

A lightly raced mare who has plenty going for her so should run a big race although her trainer has stated she is very much ground-dependent as she loves the mud. If she does get her ideal conditions, she’s the one to beat and will be one you want to think about for your Cheltenham accumulator tips on day 4.

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15:20 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Achieving Grade 1 status after just three renewals, the Albert Bartlett, the longest of the novice hurdles during the week, is now celebrating its 20th year. Notably, it has been won by subsequent Gold Cup winners such as Bobs Worth and Minella Indo. Penhill and Monkfish, who also clinched victory in this race, returned to the festival a year later to claim further successes in the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Brown Advisory, respectively.

Impressively, trainer Willie Mullins has secured victory in the race three times in the past seven years. It’s worth noting that the past two winners of this race were lightly raced, diverging from the trend of more experienced novices who typically excel in this challenging examination of young horses.

Henry De Bromhead’s The Big Westerner is unbeaten in three runs – a point-to-point, maiden hurdle at Punchestown and Grade 2 event at Limerick with the latter coming over just short of three miles. She looks a highly promising sort who stays very well and is certainly one to watch.

Jasmin De Veux is one of several Willie Mullins possibles and looks the type to improve for stepping up in trip having shown decent form in placing fourth in two grade ones already this season over shorter. He races in the double green silks of Issac Souede and Simon Munir.

Another horse who should appreciate stepping up in trip is the Gordon Elliott-trained Wingmen who may have bumped into one in finishing runner-up to the exciting Final Demand at the Dublin Racing Festival over 2M 6F.

Trained in France by D Cottin, Jet Blue won a trial for this race over course and distance back in December, that was his first try at three miles and if coming over could make his mark in what looks at this stage an open enough contest.

The best of the home team for our Cheltenham tips on the Friday may well be Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo who will be stepping up in trip to three miles for the first time here. His best effort came when runner-up to The New Lion in the grade 1 Challow Hurdle over 2M 4 1/2F at Newbury Racecourse over Christmas.

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16:00 – Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Gold Cup is not only the premier event of the week but also stands as the pinnacle contest of the entire National Hunt season. This race, featuring an extended 3m2f distance, serves as one of the most rigorous tests for Grade 1 chasers.

Many recent winners have tackled this distance for the first time, with second-season chasers boasting a particularly strong recent record. Over the past decade, Irish-trained horses have shown dominance, and a sparing racing schedule appears to be advantageous, often leading to a horse being meticulously prepared for a career-defining performance.

The very warm favourite for the blue riband of chasing is the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs who is attempting to win the prestigious contest for the third year on the bounce elevating him up to Best Mate status who won the race three times at the beginning of the century.

He’s done little wrong this season looking as good as ever in winning the grade one’s Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in superb style. He travels so well and seemingly can make it or take a lead. His usual rider Paul Townend will take the ride and will be very hard to beat.

The race could fall apart with Fact To File possibly going for the Ryanair Chase and King George VI Chase winner Banbridge only likely to show up if the ground is on the good side so it remains to be seen if they’ll be the one we back for our Cheltenham Friday tips.

Venetia William’s stouty stayer L’Homme Presse could run a place if over a rare poor effort at Ascot in February. He was however put in his place by the favourite in this race last year and is surely just looking for a place.

Last year’s easy NH Chase winner Corbetts Cross, trained by Emmet Mullins is another looking at hitting the frame with softer the ground the better for this doughty stayer having found the trip and ground all against him at Ascot last time. In a race that could quite easily cut up it will be quite a shock if the champ Galopin Des Champs doesn’t win again to put himself up there with the chasing greats of all time.

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16:40 – St James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase

The race previously known as the ‘Foxhunters’ is now staged over the same distance as the Gold Cup and holds the highest prestige in the Hunters’ Chase division. Given that it is an amateur riders’ race, having a recognisable name in the saddle is usually advantageous.

While casual bettors might approach the race with apprehension, it is advisable to simplify matters by focusing on contenders with higher BHA Ratings and a history of performing well in analogous events at previous spring festivals such as Aintree and Punchestown, along with past editions of this race.

Emmet Mullins’s It’s On The Line will be back to try and avenge his defeat last year when he led over the last only to be caught on the run in by Sine Nomine. He went on to win the big hunter chases at Aintree and Punchestown but has been beaten in both his races this year including at 4/7 last time when racing lazily.

Sam Curling’s Angel’s Dawn won the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the meeting two years ago and now at ten years old is a perfect two from two in point-to-points in Ireland (although the first of them was a match when he was 1-20!). She’s got a touch of class about her and can be competitive.

Another Irish horse to consider is Willitgoahead, an improving seven-year-old trained by Sean Thomas Doyle. He stepped forward from his rules debut when runner-up to Con Roc to win a Thurles hunter chase in impressive style. Only young he may have further improvement to come.

An interesting British runner is the James Owen-trained Allmankind who was a useful hurdler/chaser and has already won a point-to-point and according to his shrewd trainer is being aimed at this race. Stamina is the issue with him as he was best at 2M 4F when previously seen. If he does stay, he represents each-way value for his professional trainer.

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17:20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Introduced in 2009 as a 0-140 handicap hurdle and maintained as such for only three years, the Martin Pipe race saw its upper limit raised to 145 in 2012. Reserved for conditional jockeys, it has become a favourable event for novices, especially those trained in Ireland, in recent times. Notable winners include esteemed chasers such as Sir des Champs, Don Poli, and last year’s Gold Cup champion, Galopin Des Champs.

The form of Gordon Elliot’s Wodhooh’s win here back in December has worked out extremely well with the runner-up Joyeuse winning the big Newbury handicap Hurdle in February, the third Take No Chances winning a Grade 2 at Ascot and the fourth Royal Margaux winning a listed hurdle at Warwick. It’s no surprise that he’s been well-supported in recent weeks and this unbeaten mare looks a worthy favourite at this stage.

Emmet Mullins’s McLaurey was well backed when making a winning handicap debut at Leopardstown in a listed hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February and if taking this option would be a danger to all.

Nicky Henderson’s No Ordinary Joe did best of the home challengers when seventh last year and showed at Warwick Racecourse last time when fourth that he may be coming back to his best. Whether that will be good enough for us to pick them for our Friday Cheltenham tips, only time will tell.

A better chance from the Henderson yard may lie with Impose Toi who won at Newbury back in November and carries the green and yellow silks, like his stable mate No Ordinary Joe, of J P McManus.

Tony Martin is a shrewd operator and his Hamsiyaan has track experience having won here in December and may not have stayed 3M on his only subsequent start-up at Musselburgh Races.

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Friday’s Racecards at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival Trends Day 4

• Unbeaten horses have a good record in the Triumph Hurdle winning 9 of the last 16 renewals.19 of the last 27 winners have won last time out so good recent form is essential.
• French-bred horses do particularly well in the Triumph Hurdle winning 7 of the past 10 runnings with 8 of the 10 having started their careers in France.
• Novices or second-season hurdlers have won 19 of the last 24 County Handicap Hurdle renewals including last year’s winner Absurde.
• Nicky Henderson has a poor record in the County Handicap Hurdle which reads 0-35 this century whilst Gordon Elliott is 0-24 in the last 13 years.
• Ireland has won all three runnings of the Mares’ Steeple Chase.
• 18 of the last 20 winners in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle had won or placed in a graded novice hurdle whilst 7 of the 20 winners had won one of the three trial races run at the track earlier in the season, the Hyde Novices’ Hurdle, Bristol Novices’ Hurdle and Classic Novices’ Hurdle.
• A big price is relatively common in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with no winning favourite since At Fishers Cross in 2013 with 33/1 (three times) and 50/1 amongst the winners since.
• 17 of the 24 winners in the Cheltenham Gold Cup this century returned at shorter than 7-1 with four favourites winning the last five renewals.
• Willie Mullins is the trainer to follow in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, having waited an age for his first win in the race he has now won 4 of the last 6 including last year’s winner Galopin Des Champs.
• 29 of the past 36 winners in the St James’s Place Hunters Chase started their careers in either point-to-points or hunter chases.
• Paul Nicholls has won the St James’s Place Hunters Chase four times making him the most successful trainer this century with Irish handler Enda Bolger taking three renewals all owned by J P McManus.
• No horse or jockey has won the Martin Pipe Conditional Handicap Hurdle more than once.
• The leading trainer in the Martin Pipe Conditional Handicap Hurdle with four victories since 2009 is Irish trainer Willie Mullins with Sir Des Champs (2011), Don Poli (2014), Killutagh Vic (2015) and Galopin Des Champs (2021).

Cheltenham Day 4 Offers

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