It’s surprising that champion jumps jockey Sean Bowen is still looking for his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival and so it would be fitting if he rode it for his former babysitter, trainer Rebecca Curtis, in today’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4 p.m.)
The Grade 1 race over more than three miles and two furlongs is the highlight of the whole week, four days of superb racing which, however, continue to be blighted by problems at the start that have frustrated jockeys and many others besides.
Hopefully, Bowen’s mount in the Gold Cup, Haiti Couleurs, put up each way at 14-1 two months ago, will get away at the front of the field and stay there. This nine-year-old gelding is a game front runner and a superb jumper so he is always going to be a difficult horse to pass. The overnight rain will play to his abundant stamina.
It could be quite a week for the Bowen family from south Wales. James Bowen, Sean’s younger brother, also went into this meeting without a festival winner but he now has two, courtesy of victories on both the first and second days for his Nicky Henderson yard.
In the first race today, the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20 p.m.), I hope MINELLA STUDY will retain his unbeaten record over hurdles for his Northumberland trainer Adam Nicol and his Scottish Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania.
There was certainly plenty to like about the style of his victory at this course and distance in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle in December and Minella Study can see off a strong challenge from both sides of the Irish Sea.
The runner-up in December, Winston Junior, franked the form when second in Tuesday’s 22-runner McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Back Minella Study one point each way at 6-1 Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) with bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying three places.
In the William Hill County Hurdle (2 p.m.), I will take a chance on a trainer I have long-admired and a horse I have long liked, who is on the comeback trail from injury. Step forward Hughie Morrison and his striking chestnut, SECRET SQUIRREL.
This horse also won’t mind the overnight rain and he looks well handicapped off a mark of 133 given he ran some big races around a couple of heavy falls during the past two seasons. Back him one point each way at 11-1 BOG with bet365, paying six places.
In the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (2.40 p.m.), Dinoblue will be a strong fancy for many to win this race for the second year running for the Willie Mullins/J.P. McManus/Mark Walsh trainer/owner/jockey combination.
However, I will take a chance on Lucy Wadham’s TELEPATHIQUE who was well fancied for this race more than a year ago before picking up an injury. She ran well enough when second to Spindleberry at Doncaster in December and is better off at the weights today.
Wadham will have this eight-year-old mare primed for today’s race and the horse goes well fresh. She is officially rated on the same mark as Panic Attack and yet one horse is 11-4 and the other is 50-1. Back Telepathique 1 point each way at 50-1 BOG with bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying three places.
Last but not least on the betting front, I am backing Henry de Bromhead’s KING’S BUCKS in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3.20 p.m.) He has not run since late December and he is a maiden but he looks likely to improve for the step up to three miles.
Incidentally, de Bromhead won this race in 2019 with another maiden, Minella Indo, at 50-1 and that horse went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later. Back King’s Bucks 1 point each way BOG at 28-1 with William Hill, Betfred, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying four places.
It’s been a bruising week on the betting front so far and I will not be having a financial interest in either of the last two races on today’s card: the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase (4.40 p.m) or the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (5.20 p.m.). However, I will be back, refreshed and ready to do battle again, a week today.
Pending:
1 point each way Minella Study at 6-1 BOG for the Triumph Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Secret Squirrel at 11-1 BOG or the County Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Telepathique at 50-1 BOG for the Mares’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way King’s Bucks at 28-1 BOG or the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Haiti Couleurs at 14-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Helnwein at 33-1 NRNB for the County Hurdle, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Non Runner (balloted out). Stake returned.
1 point each way Resplendent Grey at 50-1 for the Grand National, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Yesterday: – 8 points
1 point each way La Conquiere at 16-1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Sixmilebridge at 4-1 BOG in the Jack Richards Chase. Non runner. Stake returned. No runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Ma Shantou at 11-2 BOG in the Stayers’ Hurdle, playing 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way JPR One at 40-1 BOG in the Stayers’ Hurdle, playing 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way King’s Threshold at 20-1 BOG in the Kim Muir, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2025-26 jumps season: running total – 19.985 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for six full seasons of tipping: + 126 points
Comments