It's been a thrilling three days of racing at The Festival and we head into Gold Cup Friday wondering if Nicky Henderson can complete a famous treble. Having won the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase already this week with Buveur D'air and Altior, he bids to make history today and become the first trainer to claim all three of these prestigious prizes at the same Festival.
I'm going out on a limb with my selections today and I've got two horses that I think should go well.
14:10 County Hurdle - Moon Racer - 22/1 0.5pt Each Way
The first comes in the County Hurdle where, at first glance, the form of MOON RACER is nothing to write home about. But I'm hoping a return to Cheltenham combined with a generous handicap mark could lead to a big run from David Pipe's inmate.
Now aged 9, Moon Racer was a winner here at the Festival back in 2015 when claiming the Champion Bumper after being sent off a 9/2 fav. The following year he was a winner of the Grade 2 Supreme Novices Trial in a comfortable manner. On the back of those performances, he was sent to the Champion Hurdle in 2017 as connections held him in such high regard. He found the race tough that day and looked a little out of his depth and was pulled up. Yhe very fact he was entered in that race though speaks volumes about the horse.
On the back of that, he received a wind operation and was not seen on the track for 309 days until a month ago when he was beaten in the Betfair Hurdle behind Kalashnikov. He clearly needed the run that day and he should come on leaps and bounds for that. His course form here at Cheltenham reads: 4 runs, 3 wins. When running on soft ground he is 2 wins from 3. With all this in mind I'm willing to have a bet on Moon Racer as he makes an appeal at around the 22/1 mark. Several bookmakers are paying six places on the County Hurdle and I would highly recommend making full use of that offer.
14:50 Albert Bartlett - Santini - 10/3 1pt Win
My second selection comes in the Albert Bartlett where Nicky Henderson's SANTINI is currently the market favourite and has been well supported for this year's renewal. This son of Milan is currently 2 from 2 under rules with his first victory coming at Newbury he cruised to success in the Ladbrokes Novices' Hurdle, beating Chef Des Obeaux by an impressive 4-and-a-half lengths back in December.
On the back of that he was sent to Cheltenham on Trials Day in January where he travelled well before being ridden heading towards the last staying on well to beat Black Op by 3/4 of a length. I was down at Prestbury Park that day and the way he relished the Cheltenham hill left no doubt in my mind that he could win an Albert Bartlett. The pair that day were 29 lengths clear of the rest of the field and this bit of form has been boosted even more after Black Op ran a stormer on Wednesday finishing 2nd behind Jesus Christ himself, Samcro.
A few weeks ago, Santini was available to back at a double-figure price and has price has been gradually backed in and he looks almost certain to go off the favourite this afternoon. He is slightly shorter than what I would have liked but his form is by far the strongest in the field and he should be able to give the Seven Barrows team yet another winner down here in Gloucestershire.
