One thing that will be needed in today's Gold Cup (3.30) now that the rain has set into the Cheltenham ground is stamina.
And one who has that in abundance is Gordon Elliott's Galvin.
Already a Festival winner, Gavin won Leopardstown's Savills Chase when rattling home from off the pace to deny A Plus Tard who is likely to start favourite here in his bid to go one better than when second to Minella Indo 12 months ago.
Indo goes again, so what is wrong with him? Short answer nothing, but he has not fired to the same level this season and was comprehensively outgunned by another Elliott charge, Conflated, in the Irish Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
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At around 7/2, Galvin represents solid value, especially each-way if available at 4/1.
The Triumph Hurdle (1.30) is never easy to sort out but Willie Mullins can continue his fine Festival by adding another success via Vauban, although Elliott has a strong challenge in his pair Pied Piper and Fil D'or.
However Fil D'Or was easily beaten by Vauban in a recent Juvenile contest and there is little reason to think that form will be reversed.
Pied Piper got the better of Vauban when they clashed in a Maiden Hurdle but that was the latter's first outing and he made a crucial mistake at the last flight. The Mullins horse was a 4/9 chance that day and then showed his real ability in defeating Fil D'Or comfortably. He's likely to improve again.
Elliott has the favourite in Ginto in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) and unquestionably, the Navan Grade One winner deserves his ranking.
Henry Daley's Hillcrest is best of the English contenders - there are only five among the 19 runners - so no surprise to see the Irish fill the first three places.
Mullins relies on the useful Minella Cocooner but neither he nor the others are in Ginto's class. He has not been challenged in three outing this season and the trip and soft-heavy ground is ideal. He can deliver the first leg of a great double for Elliott in tandem with Galvin.
Fermanagh's David Christie goes to the Open Hunters' Chase (4.10) brimming with confidence with his Winged Leader.
Mullins has the false favourite in Billaway who was brushed aside by Leader at Thurles. The distance was 12 lengths, albeit the race being Billaway first run in 268 days but the Northern Ireland-trained hunter has not been beaten in his last five outings.
Available at 5/1, he should be in the frame at least and for the more cautious, an each-way bet will save any losing stake.
Concertista lost out by a head in the Mares' Hurdle last year and returns for a crack at the Mares' Chase (4.50). She has shown she can handle fences and is taken to oblige at the expense of Mount Ida and her Mullins stable-mate Elimay.
The Festival finale - the Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30) - is a lottery and no one should be looking to this for a 'get out.'
However, Elliott's Hollow Games has finished third behind Ginto and Minella Cocooner and he meets nothing of that calibre here. The race was won last year by Galopin Des Champs and look where he is today. Hollow is taken to hit another Irish high note.
Selections
- 1.30 Vauban
- 2.10: Top Bandit
- 2.50: Ginto
- 3.30: Galvin
- 4.10: Winged Leader
- 4.50: Concertista
- 5.30: Hollow Games
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