Cheltenham Festival Antepost Tips: Sam Turner has a 6/1 ante-post pick for the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Go into battle with Warrior again
Utilise NRNB concession and back Mullins hopeful
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Thank you for returning to check out the latest edition of my Cheltenham Festival Focus and, with just three weeks to go until the main event, there's little doubt the build up is intensifying.

With the possibe exception of Kempton's Saturday meeting and the Imperial Cup fixture on the weekend prior to Cheltenham, the great majority of UK-based festival contenders have completed their racecourse preparations and will be kept ticking over away from the gaze of punters and racegoers.

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Grab some Gaelic glee at 6/17.00

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday March 13, 16:00

To date, I have put up 11 ante-post selections for the festival and, as with all ante-post punting, some of the picks are in fair shape and one or two have fallen by the wayside.

One of the earlier opinions revolved around supporting Gaelic Warrior for the Gold Cup and I see no reason to desert that view, even though there is now a fair amount of noise about him tackling the Ryanair Chase instead.

I can certainly see the case for heading to Thursday's Grade 1 instead of the day four feature, especially as connections have plenty of previous in this regard given they switched Vautour at the 11th hour, a move which ultimately paid off handsomely.

As we should all be now thoroughly aware of, Willie Mullins' only Cheltenham objective is to win races, never mind the level of prestige, so it seems unlikely he will allow Irish Gold Cup one-two Fact To File (yet to be supplemented) and the exuberant Gaelic Warrior to both tackle racing's blue riband, especially with dual winner Galopin Des Champs in situe and the likes of I Am Maximus among the outliers.

With that in mind, the non runner, no bet concessions now on offer become even more invaluable as playing Mullins bingo without them can be a perilous and expensive exercise.

I might be accused of a little bias, but as impressive as Fact To File was at Leopardstown, I felt Gaelic Warrior also performed with enormous credit, especially as that venue is far from his most favoured track.

Five starts at the Dublin venue have yielded just one handicap hurdle victory when he was thrown in and the eight-year-old's effort at the DRF was his premier performance around that track which suggests he is now in his prime this season.

Indeed, the selection's top four career displays have all come within the last year according to the ratings gurus and that is despite him not racing at Prestbury Park where he was hugely impressive in the 2024 Arkle Chase.

The Sportsbook have priced Gaelic Warrior at 6/17.00 NRNB and that appeals with Patrick Mullins sure to be in the ear of owner Rich Ricci imploring him to run in the main event!

Unlike some, I don't have an reservations about the trip, especially with the New Course offering the selection a better chance to drop his head courtesy of the inside running rail which historically makes the field race in a tighter pack on the fresh ground which is saved for Gold Cup day.

Gaelic Warrior has produced finishing speed percentages which have either ranked first or second on his last nine starts which suggests, despite his natural keenness, that he has no problem hitting the line hard over whatever trip he tackles.

Mullins is clearly not in the same league as Paul Townend in the saddle, but his form figures on the son of Maxois read 21212 and he did precious little wrong when the duo saw off Grey Dawning in style in Grade 1 company at Liverpool last spring.

Therefore, if he does get the ride then he has a strong chance of following in the footsteps of fellow amateur Sam Waley-Cohen and completing the notable Gold Cup/National double.

Recommended Bet

Back Gaelic Warrior NRNB in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

SBK 6/1