The curtain comes down on another fantastic Cheltenham Racing Festival, it’s GOLD CUP DAY!

PP Traders’ friday ChELTENHAM tIPS

14:00 – Joyeuse (each way) (Frank Hickey)
15:20 – Moneygarrow (each way) (Niall O’Reilly)
16:00 – Gaelic Warrior (Ciarán Moroney)
16:40 – Cons Roc (Joe Logue)
17:20 – Karl Des Tourelles (Ryan McCue)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

14:00 – Joyeuse (each way) (Frank Hickey)

A wide margin winner of the Betfair Hurdle last year off a mark of 123, connections felt JOYEUSE was good enough to supplement for the Grade 1 mares hurdle but in my opinion, she failed to stay the trip in that race. Chasing hasn’t worked out for her this season but she would likely have won at Ascot last time but for a terrible blunder at the final hurdle. She finds herself only carrying 10st 7lbs and Nicky Henderson has plundered two handicaps this week already. He may well make it three here.

15:20 – Moneygarrow (each way) (Niall O’Reilly)

This tends to be a race we get a result in, and the reason is that it is notoriously difficult to figure out – with young, inexperienced horses trying a race of this type for the first time. I found it interesting that certain sires seem to have a good record in the race, and they are generally those who have a record of producing a high number of stayers – with Shantou one that stands out, who is the sire of Moneygarrow. He’s a horse that has been brought along quite slowly and has really come into his own since having a wind op and stepping up in trip, with his best performance coming over 3m last time at Windsor. He beat a good yardstick in They Call Me Hugo that day, and both the 3rd and 4th, who were beaten 12 and 24 lengths respectively, went on to win next time, with the former now rated 133. I feel there is plenty of basis for fancying MONEYGARROW here, he looks a great each-way bet.

The Mullins yard have maintained for a long time that GAELIC WARRIOR was a potential Gold Cup horse and this would appear to be the year to do it. Ground conditions will suit and the trip should be no bother. He’s had two cracking runs in defeat since his John Durkan win and with Townend back aboard, all the pieces look to have come together.

16:40 – Cons Roc (Joe Logue)

A race that’s full of exposed older PTP horses or ex track horses that have dropped down to this level CONS ROC catches the eye as one that is progressive and improving. He is a nine-year-old, however he has only raced 7 times.

I was massively impressed with his run last time at Down Royal when behind Its On The Line who reopposes. He travelled well the whole way before hanging and wandering when there was a few fences missed due to low sun.

Cheekpieces are fitted now to manage that issue and the way he stayed on from the back of the last to finish a close third was hugely encouraging. I think this test will suit him hugely and will appreciate any rain forecasted tonight

One of two runners for trainer Phillip Fenton and KARL DES TOURELLES looks to have a decent chance at a big price. He was 7th not beaten far in the Pertempts last season at the Festival but that was over 3m and the fact he was one of the last horses off the bridle before tiring late on, dropping back in trip looks a smart move. He has been campaigned over fences this season to date but drops back over hurdles here and off this handicap mark, should run well.

pp tRADERS’ friday Cheltenham Tips

14:00 – Joyeuse (each way) (Frank Hickey)
15:20 – Moneygarrow (each way) (Niall O’Reilly)
16:00 – Gaelic Warrior (Ciarán Moroney)
16:40 – Cons Roc (Joe Logue)
17:20 – Karl Des Tourelles (Ryan McCue)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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