Cheltenham Tips / Wayne Bailey / 13 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Wayne Bailey's rates the chances of the Irish horses as we reach the final day of the festival...

Running profit: £42.20 (all backs and lays recorded to £10 stake at Betfair SP)

With the withdrawal of War Of Attrition, there are no Irish trained horses in the Gold Cup which is a little bit of a disappointment this year. I'm not sure we could have made any difference as Paul Nicholls has it sewn up already it seems. But we've a few others that are in with a shout, so I'm hoping I can build on the profit accumulated thus far:

Sentimental punting is one of the quickest ways to beans on toast, but I'd love to see Oliver Brady's Ebadiyan find himself in the winners enclosure following the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1:30). Brady has lost two brothers to Cancer recently and is fighting that disease himself, but he's still keeping his spirits up and trying to make the best of life. He's even wrote a few poems and songs about this horse, and he said that the Gold Cup will have to be postponed until Saturday because of the celebrations should his horse win! Realistically, Walkon should take all the beating, but Ebadiyan is a very live outsider and should be able to manage a place.

I'm going to cheat a little again, and throw in a British trained horse (with an Irish jockey on board!). Ruby is having a cracking festival and is just one win away from beating the record. Bookmakers have already paid out on the top jockey market, and Pride Of Dulcote can continue his success in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He went off at [1.09] last time out against just one rival, but [4.40] today is about right and I've already put my hard-earned cash down in the 2:40.

Eugene O' Sullivan's Juveigneur may have gone off the radar somewhat, but he can come back with a bang in the Foxhunter Chase at 4:00. He's been keeping fit and winning a few point-to-point races in recent times, and his price of nearly [6.0] is a little too high. Paul Nicholls' Royal Auclair is the obvious danger and should be able to manage to earn some place money.

Summary
Back Ebadiyan to be placed (1:30)
Back Pride Of Dulcote to win (2:40)
Back Juveigneur to win (4:00)

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