The Cheltenham Festival comes to an end for another year on Friday with the Gold Cup taking centre stage with punters.
Here, Sports Mole suggests some of the selection that you should consider for the final seven races of the festival.
JCB Triumph Hurdle (13:30)
Distance: 2m 1f
Type: Hurdle
Friday's action begins with Sir Gino heavily fancied to deliver for Nicky Henderson having stormed to victory by 10 lengths at this course and in good to soft conditions as recently as January.
At odds of below 2/1, though, you are taking a chance and this may be one for the each-way punters with Kargese consistently finishing in the top two under different stables over the past year.
That would be our selection, but another Willie Mullins horse - Majborough - cannot be ruled out at a shorter price, despite being edged out by Kargese in a run at Leopardstown last month.
WE SAY: Kargese (7/1)
BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (14:10)
Distance: 2m 1f
Type: Hurdle
Kings of Kingsfield carries the main hopes of Ireland in this race, making his Cheltenham debut after an impressive winter, yet he finished 14 lengths adrift of the monstrous Ballyburn at Leopardstown last month.
There is better value further down the card with Zenta looking a particularly attractive pick, with third being posted in last year's Triumph Hurdle behind Lossiemouth, a winner on Tuesday.
L'Eau Du Sord will get plenty of backing having finished second in a 21-horse race at Newbury last month, but the better each-way claims come with Zenta.
WE SAY: Zenta (11/1)
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (14:50)
Distance: 3m
Type: Hurdle
The partnership of Paul Townend and Willie Mullins are the standout pick for this race, with Readin Tommy Wrong unbeaten in four races since switching to the stable.
That will be our pick, but Gidleigh Park at 7/1 is another selection that should be considered, with his last outing being a win at Cheltenham as recently as January.
High Class Hero has also impressed recently, albeit in limited fields, and going off at a similar price to Gidleigh Park makes them obvious each-way picks.
WE SAY: Readin Tommy Wrong (3/1)
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (15:30)
Distance: 3m 2 1/2f
Type: Chase
In the last four editions of the showpiece race of the festival, the favourite has prevailed on three occasions, so history is very much in the favour of last year's winner Galopin Des Champs.
Two wins at Leopardstown over the winter indicate that the eight-year-old is in top form to deliver for Townend and Mullins.
The 2023 runner-up Bravemansgame will be popular at 12/1 and above, and this race may come too soon for second favourite Fastorslow after wind surgery last month, coming after defeat to Galopin Des Champs in February.
WE SAY: Galopin Des Champs (11/10)
St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (16:10)
Distance: 3m 2 1/2f
Type: Chase
The bookies have this as Its On The Line and Ferns Lock going head to head, with the pair priced at no more than 9/4, but it is the former that gets the nod with us.
Its On The Line finished as runner-up in this race 12 months ago as a 28/1 outsider, losing to the 66/1 winner, and three victories were delivered during runs over the winter.
Further down the card, Sine Nomine is an interesting pick having twice placed in the top three in races at Cheltenham and won the other three elsewhere, and betting odds of 16/1 make it a solid each-way pick.
WE SAY: Its On The Line (9/4)
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (16:50)
Distance: 2m 4 1/2f
Type: Chase
Come Friday, there is every chance that Dinoblue goes off as a marginal odds-on favourite, having finished no worse than second since the start of 2022 and been runner-up in last year's Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
There is far better value elsewhere, though, with Irish offering Limerick Lace handily priced at 9/2 on seven-year-old's first outing at Cheltenham.
Over the winter, only Coko Beach - who was heavily fancied for the now-postponed Cross County Chase - got the better of the mare, and it would come as only a minor surprise if the odds were upset here.
WE SAY: Limerick Lace (9/2)
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (17:30)
Distance: 2m 4 1/2f
Type: Hurdle
Although the favourite has never won this particular race, that is unlikely to sway punters to stay clear of Quai De Bourbon, who gained experienced from holding off pressure in the last outing at Clonmel in January, winning by half a length.
No Ordinary Joe was runner-up last year and has obvious claims at around 7/1, but we are going to end the festival with a punt on 50/1 shot Mel Monroe.
No victories in five suggests that it is an ambitious pick, but a second was recorded on the last run out in Cheltenham late last year and we feel that there are place claims as a minimum in an unpredictable race.
WE SAY: Mel Monroe (50/1)
Darren Plant
