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Andy McGilvray

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Day four tips as the famous festival comes to a close

Bob Cross takes you through his selection for each of today's races, ahead of another action-packed line-up at the Cheltenham Festival...

It has flown in, has it not? Final day today and it is the big one - my favourite jump racing day of the year. Onto the racing!

We start off at 1.30 with the JCB Triumph Hurdle. This has all the makings of a classic affair - some incredibly fast hurdlers here and with at least two of them wanting to make the running, they might go off like scalded cats.

Lossiemouth should have won last time out, if not for an uncharacteristic positioning error by jockey Paul Townsend. I expect Townsend to be extra careful here and get her back on winning ways.

Each way selection is another Willie Mullins inmate. Zenta will relish the soft ground, and may be a surprise package.

With some bookmakers paying eight places, we will throw a couple of each way picks for the County Handicap Hurdle (2.10).

The class horse in this event is Sharjah. Despite his advancing years, if the 10-year-old can show some of the ability which had him finishing runner-up in two Champion Hurdles, he will be in the shake-up.

Bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Pied Piper is our other selection. The soft ground may not be to his liking, but he does have a great record here, and is as tough as teak.

Our tipster Bob Cross provides his runners and riders for the final day's races (Hamilton Advertiser)

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (2.50) will see Corbetts Cross run in the famous JP McManus colours for the first time, having been purchased in the last few weeks.

The gelding has shown stacks of ability in lower-grade races in Ireland, and now is his time to shine at the greatest theatre of them all.

Danny Mullins can ride Lossiemouth to victory in today's opening race (Getty Images)

Our each way pick is Monty's Star. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, the six-year-old is an improving type and the ground conditions will suit.

The main race of the year, the Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) is a fascinating renewal with two previous Gold Cup winners - the current Irish Gold Cup winner, last year's Grand National champion, this season's King George winner and this year's Cotswold Chase winner, all in the starting line up.

Despite this looking like a really competitive affair, the bookmakers have installed Galopin Des Champs at extremely short odds.

We are, therefore, going to seek each way value in this event.

Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell has already had a winner here this week, and she sends Ahoy Senor, with the hopes of a nation on his back. Her stable is in fine form and Ahoy Senor won here in January.

Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell hopes for a winner with Ahoy Senor (Perthshire Advertiser)

Royal Pagaille will be a huge price for a horse that was fifth in this race last year, despite making a dreadful mistake, four fences out.

He will be staying on dourly after the final fence, and may surprise a few people. Any further rain will enhance his chances.

I think the best horse in the Open Hunters' Chase (4.10) is Billaway, who will be ridden by Patrick Mullins.

Billaway won the corresponding event last year, having finished runner-up the two year previous, so he knows his way around here.

Bookmakers have installed Galopin Des Champs at extremely short odds to win the Gold Cup (Getty Images)

Famous Clermont will carry the burden of our each way shilling.

I was really impressed by the way Impervious won at Punchestown in January. A similar performance in the Mares' Chase (4.50) will surely be good enough to land the spoils.

Our each way selection is Jeremys Flame, who has ran a number of fine races this season.

The final event of the festival, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (5.30) could be a chance to see a future star jockey in the winners' enclosure for the third time this week.

Michael O'Sullivan has received admiration for his wins on Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty on Tuesday.

He teams up with champion trainer Willie Mullins to ride Spanish Harlem here, and a big run is expected.

Our each way selection is Irish Hill, who is improving with every race.

And that is it - all over for another year! Good luck, all.

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