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Cheltenham News: Envoi is back, and our tipster lands 100/1 winner - so get Carter's tips

Alan Dudman
16 March 2023
4:00 min read

A Plus Tard defends his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown on Friday

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Alan Dudman recaps Day 3, and looks ahead to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day with all of the latest news...

Our top tipster found a 100/1 winner on Thursday
Gold Cup tips from our trio
Alan Dudman rounds up Day 3 and has the latest prices for Friday

Shorties floored and DC floors 'em all with Berlais

Day 3 plaudits went to an old Cheltenham warhorse and a younger Cheltenham tipping star, as Sire Du Berlais rolled back the years with a victory in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, and 'old Sire' was a magnificent winning tip for Daryl Carter - who put the 11yo up as a selection each-way at a staggering 100/1 in his Cheltenham Festival Focus column. A must read for tomorrow's picks.

The rain coloured eyes were hopefully smiling, nay beaming, for those that got on and followed DC. Just what the game needs - a young and enthusiastic punter who puts the hard yards in. Sire Du Berlais seems to love the hard yards too up that famous old Cheltenham climb - but he knows it well; having made his first appearance at Prestbury in 2018.

Sire Du Berlais hit 250.0249/1 in-running, while the eventual demoted second Dashel Drasher was matched at 1.162/13. Connections also lost out on the second-placed prize cash.

The big gamble on the day on Gold Tweet went astray in the race, and the French raider was heavily supported all day from 11/1 into 4/1. It wasn't the jockey's finest hour either.

Paul Townend and Day Russell are in that club too.

Stage Star got Paul Nicholls off the mark for the week in the Turners' Novices' Chase but Mighty Potter's flat performance in that as the 4/6F was one of two short ones well beaten on the day as Luccia couldn't win the Jack De Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle at 6/4. Shishkin failed too at Evens.

Stage Star got a beaut' of a ride from Harry Cobden - providing Nicholls with his 47th Festival winner. He is now 16/1 from 33/1 for next year's Ryanair Chase on the Sportsbook.

The return of the Envoi enigma

And talking of Ryanair Chases, Envoi Allen was almost smooth as silk in the 2023 version under Rachael Blackmore. An error and some over-racing still couldn't stop him with another Festival win in the bag. Shishkin seemed all at sea and was never happy jumping - one guessy jump too many put paid to his chances - but it says a lot about the horse to still finish second.

Envoi was class today. He's a 10/1 price for 2024 on the Sportsbook to do it all again on his favourite stage.

McKenna's moment of magic a hypnotic piece of riding

Liam McKenna got Good Time Jonny home over the far side in the Pertemps Final, a real brave ride up the inside, all the more remarkable considering he was virtually left at the start. He was matched at a high of 220.0219/1 on the Exchange for one of the big in-running prices of the afternoon.

A Magners Plate win for Seddon and Angels Dawn for Sam Curling in the Kim Muir landed a further two handicap prizes to take back home to Ireland.

And well done to one lucky Betfair punter who landed £3,597 for a £3 patent with Stage Star, Good Time Jonny and Envoi Allen.

Gold Cup Day promises the earth - can it deliver?

Racing's jewel in the crown headlines Friday on Gold Cup Day, and will Galopin Des Champs at 11/8 gallop all over rivals to capture the 15:30 - Boodles Gold Cup?

Times from yesterday were leaning towards good to soft, albeit on the fresher ground and rain is forecast again for Friday. I am working on good to soft, soft in places.

A Plus Tard was backed from 5/1 into 4/1 last night for 'Our Enry' and 'Our Rachael' and as lacklustre as he was in this term's Betfair Chase (his only run of the season), it's hard to wipe away the slate with his 15L victory in 2022. Galopin certainly was more relaxed at the DRF, but I'll keep the faith with A Plus Tard.

No. 2

A Plus Tard (Fr)

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
Age: 9
Weight: 11st 10lbs
OR: -

The Cheltenham Boodles Gold Cup market post-Day 3 was thus:

Minella Indo: 11/1 into 9/1.
Stattler: 9/1 out to 11/1.
Noble Yeats: 8/1 out to 11/1.
Hewick: 20/1 out to 40/1.
Ahoy Senor: 14/1 out to 18/1.

They were all on the move on Thursday!

Click here for Paul Nicholls' assessment of Bravemansgame, and he says he's got him in great shape.

You can also read Blackmore's blog regarding A Plus Tard's chances.

Mullins a strong hand for another triumphant opener

Willie Mullins thumbs up 1280 .JPG

We kick off with the 13:30 - JCB Triumph Hurdle for race one on Friday and Irish youngsters have won four of the last five. Quelle surprise!

Lossiemouth at 6/4 for Willie Mullins was from 7/4 on Thursday night, and the other Mullins' runner Gala Marceau was a 9/2 shot into 10/3. Zenta, also for WPM was 12s.

Back Lossiemouth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle

6/4

Four Extra Place Specials on Friday for each-way backers

The 14:10 - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle kicks off the Extra Place Specials on the Sportsbook and a chance for Sharjah in handicap company off top weight and a mark of 155 to strut his stuff.

The market moves for the County and 26 runners last night were:

First Street 20/1 into 16/1.
Magnor Glory 16/1 into 11/1.

The stayers take the stage for the 14:50 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and a whopping 20 runners for the Grade 1.

I have always liked Hiddenvalley Lake for this, and he was strong from 9s into 7s on Thursday evening. Gordon Elliott's Favori De Champdou was my idea of a Martin Pipe Handicap runner, but he's in this and a 10/1 chance. He looks a strong stayer.

Back Hiddenvalley Lake in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle

7/1

Montys Star was a drifter from 11s out to 16/1.

St James's Place Hunters' Chase time at 16:10, and I cannot say I follow the Point-to-Point form, but I know a man who does. Give my pal Darran Pearce a follow on Twitter.

The 17:30 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle brings the curtain down on a fabulous few days.

Twenty-six are declared and a couple of the big moves from Thursday evening worth highlighting were:

No Ordinary Joe 28/1 into 18/1.
Saylavee 50/1 into 28/1.
Impulsive One 50/1 into 33/1.

Check out our top tipsters and can Daryl do it again?

Daryl Carter's Cheltenham Festival Focus column is well ahead in the profit stakes after Sire Du Berlais' win, and all of his Day 4 tips can found here.

Tony Calvin has gone for a 50/1 shot on Gold Cup day, so check out TC's latest column.

And Kevin Blake has a 16/1 each-way play too.

The Run For Oscar Awards For The Week:

A raft of fine performances and rides, and some less so over the past few days, but here's my three-day awards.

Best Feature Performance: Constitution Hill (easy).
Best Director: Tony Martin (he walked the course and told McKenna the best direction to go in the Pertemps).
Best Short Film: Western Diego in the Champion Bumper (I backed him, it was good for a while hitting 3/1 in-running but the credits were rolling before the straight).
Best Original Song: Anything by DJ Cuddles or You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart.
Best Costume Design: Cheveley Park (the best racing silks and easy to spot in-running).
Best Overseas Actor: No votes
Worst Overseas Actor: Plenty of votes - Johnny Charron.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Jeremy Scott - he lost out on second with the brave Dashel Drasher, but I wish I had his full head of hair and I'm 25 years younger.
Best Soundtrack: Ruby and AP singing on ITV.
Best Actress: Honeysuckle
Best Actor: Constitution Hill.
Bosh Award: Thomas Skinner - no offers.