Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips: Three selections for Friday

The fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival takes place on Friday and the feature race is the Gold Cup in which Galopin Des Champs is aiming for a hat-tricks of wins.

Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders has provided his best bets for the action on Day Four at Cheltenham, including his tip for the Gold Cup.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Betting Tips and Odds

15:20 Cheltenham - Intense Approach @ 14/1
16:00 Cheltenham - Banbridge @ 9/2
17:20 Cheltenham - Doyen Quest @ 33/1

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tip

15:20 Cheltenham - Intense Approach @ 14/1

Experience is crucial in a race like the Albert Bartlett where backward novices are prone to getting lost.

That fact is not lost on John McConnell, who has previous in this race and saddles an interesting runner in Intense Approach.

McConnell, who saddled the runner-up in the Champion Bumper on Wednesday, had two similar types finish third in the 2021 and 2022 runnings, and Intense Approach’s campaigning has been similar to those horses.

He was kept busy over the summer and early autumn before being given much of the winter off before looking better than ever over three miles at Musselburgh.

The selection loves good ground and is a battle-hardened stayer, so appeals as a worthwhile each-way wager with enhanced place terms on offer.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Tip

16:00 Cheltenham - Banbridge @ 9/2

The likely surface at Cheltenham on Friday brings a couple of runners closer to the brilliant Galopin Des Champs, who is gunning for a Gold Cup hat-trick.

The main horse that applies to is Banbridge, for whom a sound surface is a must. 

Banbridge brings a similar level of class to the table as Galopin Des Champs and was superb when winning in the King George last time.

A top-class two-miler, Banbridge’s stamina came into question at Kempton, but he passed the test with flying colours and was the only runner to properly close the gap on gallant front-runner Il Est Francais.

I wouldn’t hold any reservations about Banbridge getting up the hill on that evidence and he won’t be far away providing the rain stays away.

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle Tip

17:20 Cheltenham - Doyen Quest @ 33/1

Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins are the main men in handicap hurdles at the Festival and the Skelton-trained Doyen Quest appears to have been overlooked each-way in the Martin Pipe.

Doyen Quest was a superb winner on similar terrain over three miles at the November meeting, showing a smart turn of foot to repel an excellent yardstick in the staying hurdle division in Gowel Road.

However, he didn’t seem to appreciate a greater test of stamina when turned over at short odds at the December meeting next time. 

I wonder if Skelton has been working back from this race ever since as a strongly run extended 2m4f could be exactly what Doyen Quest requires.

The ability to stay up the hill is crucial in this race and first-time cheekpieces can help Doyen Quest in the finish. 

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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