Rain Could Change Complexion Of Many Races But Punters Needn’t Worry
The weather could play a huge part on Friday with heavy rain forecast overnight until the first race.
Horses are certainly going to have to get home on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
No Peace For The Bookies With Triumph Likely To Go Punters’ Way
We all want to see a future star win the Triumph Hurdle and 5/2 favourite Peace And Co could well be that.
He’ll enjoy the strong pace in this race, is well proven on soft ground and has also won over this course and distance.
His form stacks up too meaning it could be yet another bad start to the day for the bookies with a favourite winning.
Nicky Henderson has an extremely strong hand here, not only does he saddle Peace And Co but he also has 6/1 chance Hargam.
Any rain would be a big negative though for this son of Sinndar so if looking to nail a forecast in this race there are better alternatives elsewhere.
Beltor 13/2 should go on the ground but whether he wants this kind of test is open to debate, several of his flat runs were over sprint distances so a slog round here is unlikely to suit.
Willie Mullin’s Petite Parisienne is next in the betting at 9/1 but she’s no sure thing to confirm the form of her last run against stablemate Kalkir 16/1
The latter should appreciate this stiffer track and the forecast rain so may just follow home the favourite.
Albert Bartlett Set To Play To Hercules’ Strengths
The Albert Bartlett looks super competitive this year and two horses dominate the betting.
At the time of writing Black Hercules 4/1 is just about holding off No More Heroes 9/2 for favouritism.
Black Hercules proved himself at 3 miles on heavy ground last time out, stepping up markedly in trip from his previous race at 2 miles.
He also has Cheltenham form having run well in the Bumper last year.
No More Heroes needs the rain to come but hasn’t really proven himself a quality jumper yet plus he ran poorly last time out so Black Hercules looks the more solid option.
You can pick holes in the form of most other runners, Value At Risk 8/1 should be better over this trip but he needs to be having been beaten last time out whilst Outlander didn’t really advertise the form of Martello Tower 10/1 on Wednesday.
Hat Trick Awaits Salsify If Rain Scuppers Favourite’s Chance
Paint The Clouds would be a very good thing at 4/1 should the rain stay away but presuming it has arrived things are likely to be very testing come 4pm.
That won’t suit the favourite at all who has been laid out for this and that really opens up this race.
On The Fringe is a solid choice at 8/1 having finished 4th and 3rd in this race in the past but he doesn’t seem quite as good at Cheltenham as in Ireland so he may be playing for place honours only once again.
Current Event 8/1 is another who doesn’t want the rain so take Salsify, also at 8/1, to win his 3rd Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham. He’s won this race on soft in 2013 and will come on for his first run in 14 months last time out.
