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Fri, 15 Mar, 2024 - 06:30

IT’S nearly all over, but at least Cheltenham keeps the best ’til last. I have started every other day chronologically, but you can’t begin Gold Cup Day on any other race but the blue riband itself.

It’s the centenary year and history is repeating itself. From Arkle in 1964 to Davy Ladd in 1977, Irish-trained horses won 10 of the 14 runnings, but this wheel of change that people can’t ever see turning back did so for a period, with Dawn Run in 1986 and Imperial Call 10 years later the two Irish-trained winners in the subsequent 26 editions.

A pair in ’05 and ’06, with Kicking King and War Of Attrition, sparked hope, but zero from the following seven was a reality check before Lord Windermere started the Irish run in 2016. We have won eight of the last 10.

This afternoon, I do not believe there will be any other result than an Irish horse making it nine from 11, but racing is a sport.

What I am getting at here is the belief that the tide will turn again, so enjoy whatever horse reaches the pinnacle of the sport today.

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That will probably be Galopin Des Champs, who has put up two awesome performances in the last 12 months and has been primed to repeat them.

If he does, his trainer will be elevated to the level of dominance in the race which Vincent O’Brien and Tom Dreaper enjoyed — and it is where Willie deserves to be.

And his jockey will join Pat Taaffe in being the only one to have ridden the winner of the best horse race four times.

The best dominate every sport, and these two are no different.

Fastorslow, Gerri Colombe, and Corach Rambler all have CVs of which their connections should be proud. Still, timing is everything in life, and sadly for them, they have come along in the generation of a superstar.

That’s how I would class him. and I will cheer him from the top of the hill when Paul Townend starts to roll, and the men are separated from the boys.

Willie Mullins had written himself into history long before this one, but the final day of the week in which he reached 100 could be the best.

He is strong in six of the seven races on day four and kicks it off with a mob hand in the Triumph.

The issue is which one. I was miles off in the bumper, but I don’t think there is much between any of Willie’s here, and prices will decide my choice. Bunting is overpriced on this ground and should not be double or triple the price of his stablemates, so I will stick with him.

Paul has chosen Absurde in the County, and plenty of people fancy Bialystok, but I fear both might not be strong enough finishers to win this, so I prefer Zenta.

Before the main event, the Albert Bartlett runners will go to post, and Readin Tommy Wrong is the yard’s first choice. However, the beauty of collateral form comes to the fore and Dancing City’s bumper run last April at Punchestown sticks out like a sore thumb.

He was second to Ballyburn and in front of Slade Steel, so deserting him now seems crazy. I don’t have a massive opinion on the Hunter Chase, but I feel Dinoblue will be hard to topple in the Mrs Paddy Power Chase as her form looks rock-solid.

Stepping up in trip might be a worry, but I would be happy to think she stays and proves herself to be the best mare jumping fences right now.

Before we know it, the last race will be upon us. The Martin Pipe brings the curtain down and has thrown up a few classy winners in the past.

It most likely will again this year too, and I think Quai De Bourbon fits that bill.