Follow The Money at Cheltenham: Bobs Worth to land a second Gold Cup victory

Follow The Money
14 March 2014

Bobs Worth is favourite to successfully defend the Gold Cup this afternoon

Join

Twitter

Facebook

View the Betslip

Today's Follow the Money comes from the final day of the Cheltenham festival...

Recommended Bets

Back Royal Irish Hussar in the 13:30 at Cheltenham @ 8.415/2
Lay Briar Hill in the 14:10 at Cheltenham @ 2.6613/8
Back Bobs Worth in the 15:20 at Cheltenham @ 2.747/4

We start with the opening race, the Triumph Hurdle at 13:30 and the Nicky Henderson-trained runner Royal Irish Hussar has been backed from 11.010/1 in to 8.415/2. Rated 99 on the flat when trained by Aidan O'Brien he has recorded three wins from four starts since joining his current yard to go hurdling. His last effort at Doncaster was disappointing but before that he had looked impressive and did win a Grade Two event at this track in November. Today's going is also in his favour as ground is crucial to his chances and another positive is having jockey Barry Geraghty back on-board, who is two from two on him. The stable have won this five times and we are hopeful they can add to that record today.

Our next selection is in the Albert Bartlett at 14:40 where Briar Hill has drifted from 2.35/4 out to 2.6613/8. The Willie Mullins-trained runner powered clear at the festival last year when winning the bumper by seven lengths, and he has won his three hurdle starts so far this year. He only faced one rival when winning a Grade One at Navan and two runners on his last start at Naas. Both of those victories came over 2m4f although he has won a point over today's trip of three miles and should have no issues staying the trip. He is also related to Boston Bob who was sent off with a BSP of 2.56/4 and finished second in this race two years ago for the same connections and we fancy a similar outcome today in a race full of promising stayers and are happy to take him on at such short prices.

The final pick comes in the Gold Cup at 15:20 where last year's winner Bobs Worth has been supported to repeat last year's success and has been backed from 3.02/1 in to 2.747/4. A seven-length winner of this race last year, he did look in trouble coming down the hill and briefly got outpaced before staying on strongly to eventually win by seven lengths. His run in the Betfair Chase was really disappointing but he returned to form when winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, again he was a little slow over some of his fences and then quickened well at the last to win going away. With today's good ground also in his favour and his excellent record at the track, where he is unbeaten in five runs, we are hopeful he can extend that record with back-to-back successes.

Recommended Bets

Back Royal Irish Hussar in the 13:30 at Cheltenham @ 8.415/2
Lay Briar Hill in the 14:10 at Cheltenham @ 2.6613/8
Back Bobs Worth in the 15:20 at Cheltenham @ 2.747/4