Tips, races, odds and weather for Gold Cup day

Whether you are a fan of any of the many football teams he managed or, even, the reality TV show I’m a Celebrity… these days in his south-coast retirement Harry Redknapp is a national treasure. Even impartial observers will be watching to see if his horse, The Jukebox Man, can win the blue riband of jump racing, the Boodles Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

But, to borrow from footballing parlance, it is no tap-in for the Ben Pauling-trained eight-year-old who comes in unbeaten in all four starts over fences culminating in the-King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, his last start.

That day the first four all finished within half a length of each suggesting there is not much between The Jukebox Man, who admirably fought back after losing a length at the last, Gaelic Warrior, who was third that day, and the eye-catching finisher Jango Baie in fourth.

The Jukebox Man will be attempting to do it for Harry, England and St George and Pauling settled his nerves after a difficult week when Meetmebythesea won yesterday.

However, the Willie Mullins stable form – five winners this week so far – means Gaelic Warrior, the trainer’s only representative, will be sent off favourite to give him a fifth win in the race and colourful owner Rich Ricci, who won Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth, a first. Patrick Mullins has been saying for a year this is a Gold Cup winner.

Cheltenham Festival day 4 tips and results

1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle

• Marlborough’s tip: SELMA DE VARY
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: MINELLA STUDY
  Unbeaten in three starts, one of them at Cheltenham, for small northern yard
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: PROACTIF
  Hard to see why Willie Mullins’ favourite should be beaten by any of his other runners – had plenty in hand last time

2.00: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle

• Marlborough’s tip: JUBILEE ALPHA
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: ABSURDE
  Mixes it on the flat and over jumps, winner of this two years ago, third last year, should be there or thereabouts again
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: BOWENSONFIRE
  Tough as anything and very consistent

2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase

• Marlborough’s tip: PANIC ATTACK
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: PANIC ATTACK
  Has already had a sensational season winning some key races, she can win this on the way to the Grand National
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: DINOBLUE
  She has a fair bit in hand on official ratings

3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

• Marlborough’s tip: THEDEVILUNO (Nap)
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: MONDOUI’BOY
  Improving Ascot winner who looks like he will find more improvement for extra half-mile
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: MONDOUI’BOY
  Irish will be hard to beat here, but he was good at Ascot

4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

• Marlborough’s tip: THE JUKEBOX MAN
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: JANGO BAIE
  As long as he stays, appears to have a touch of class
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: THE JUKEBOX MAN (Nap)
  Did well to win the King George at Kempton, this stiffer track will suit him

4.40: Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase

• Marlborough’s tip: STATTLER
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: WRAPPEDUPINMAY
  If it has rained all night the ground may have come for him
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: PANDA BOY
  Shrewd trainer, won going away last time

5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

• Marlborough’s tip: EAST INDIA EXPRESS
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: AIR OF ENTITLEMENT
  Winner at the meeting last year for Henry de Bromhead, dropping back to handicap gives her a big chance
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: ROC DINO
  Very consistent in an open race

Gold Cup runner-by-runner

Envoi Allen
Eighth consecutive appearance at the Cheltenham Festival for this 12-year-old. First try over this Gold Cup trip and he’d need a career best to outstay some of his younger rivals at this stage.

Firefox
Has had stamina doubts from an early age and whilst he ran respectably in the Irish Gold Cup on his last start, it would take a big effort to improve on that upped even further in trip.

Gaelic Warrior
Has become more consistent with experience. Hugely talented and capable of beating this field, but he will need to settle and jump well to be the strongest finisher over this stiff, three-mile-plus trip.

Gold Tweet
French raider who was fancied to run well at the Festival three years ago. Not become a top-class performer since then and has a lot to find on the Official Ratings here.

Grey Dawning
Comes into this a fresh horse which has always been the plan. Yet to prove he can beat a few of these but expect an improved performance from last time. Will need to be foot perfect over his jumps, which has sometimes let him down late in races.

Haiti Couleurs
Seems to enjoy running from close to the front so will need the race to suit on the stiffer New Course. Acts on any ground but may want rain to come to suit his run style and slow some of his opponents.

Inothewayurthinkin
Had a poor season up to now but recent reports suggest he’s coming back to himself. Trainer capable of readying one off such a campaign. However, this edition of the Gold Cup is stronger than last year and will need to be at his peak to win again.

Jango Baie
Confirmed he stayed three miles on his last start in the King George. Beaten by two of these that day and does need the even longer trip and stiffer track to bring about more improvement to reverse the form – general consensus is he will but he’s a strong traveller and it’s not a foregone conclusion.

L’Homme Presse
Ran with credit behind a couple of Friday’s opponents this year. A regular in this event and best chances to win perhaps come and gone. If the rain doesn’t arrive he’s likely to be tapped for speed at the business end of the race.

Spillane’s Tower
Bounced back at Cheltenham last start which put concerns about the track to rest. Enjoyed the soft ground that day and won’t have enjoyed the recent, settled forecast. A chance if they see rain.

The Jukebox Man
Lightly raced stayer who should be primed for this race. He has a good blend of speed and stamina, seems ground versatile and confirmed his ability when winning the King George last time. He’s a bold jumper from near the front, so his jockey, Ben Jones, won’t want to commit his mount too early, but the horse a typical type for this race.

Big-race trends

Triumph Hurdle
Nine of the last 12 winners were trained in Ireland, and eight of them ran in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown – four of those won that race, the other four placed. Being a juvenile race, experience is something to consider here, with 10 of the last 12 winners having at least one win over hurdles. However, last year’s 100/1 winner Poniros went against all trends; he had never run over hurdles before.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Stay away from the top of the market in this one. None of the last 12 winners returned as favourite, with just two winning after being sent off in the top three in the betting. Indeed, 10 out of the last 12 winners were priced 11/1 or higher. This is another race, much like the Stayers’ Hurdle, in which being tried and tested at the trip is paramount. All but one of the last 12 winners have won at least once over three miles.

Cheltenham Gold Cup
The big one and a race in which it has paid to back favourites on the whole. Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead have trained six of the past seven winners of this race. The starting-price favourite has won four of the previous six Gold Cups, while the favourite has only finished outside the top four once in the last 10 renewals. Each of the last 12 winners has been aged between seven and nine.

Cheltenham Festival day 4 ground and weather

Going Good, good to soft in places.

Weather Light rain showers and a moderate breeze, 9C.

Betting on Cheltenham?

There’s a lot of competition between bookmakers for customers during the festival and they will often run their best promotions of the year, especially earlier in the week. Take a look at these Cheltenham betting offers to find free bets to use throughout the week.

How to watch Cheltenham Festival day 4

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the first five races of the day on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 12.45pm GMT every day until 5pm GMT. The races can also be streamed via ITVX. There is a preview show each morning from 9am GMT to 10am GMT which is shown on ITV4 and ITVX.

The final race of each day will not be shown on ITV but will be live on Racing TV. Subscriptions for the channel, which shows every race from the Festival, are available through Sky and Virgin Media and online through its website and app.