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Cheltenham Festival Tips

We are delighted to announce that Tom Lee will be with us again for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival with his tips. Tom is the Channel 4 Racing and RTE Sport presenter. Tom will be guiding you through each of the week's races in his exclusive daily column where he will hoepfully direct you in the direction of a few winners.

Friday's Cheltenham Festival tips:

1:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle - Carlito Brigante (win) @ 9/2 with Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler and Sportingbet.

2:05 Vincent O´Brien County Handicap Hurdle - Oldrick (each way) @ 12/1 with Boylesports and Paddy Power both of whom pay 5 places.

2:40 Albert Bartlett Novices´ Hurdle - Enterprise Park (each way) @ 7/1 with Sportingbet who are paying 4 places & Silver Kate (each way) @ 20/1 with at Totesport.

3:20 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup - Cooldine in the the betting without the 'big two' @ 2/1 with Bet365.

5:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup - Green Belt Elite (each way) @ 10/1 with Boylesports and Bet365 who are bothing paying 5 places. 

Tom's Day Three Analysis

You can guarantee Cheltenham will be heaving on Friday as the National Hunt's heavyweight duo Kauto Star and Denman square up once again in the Totesport Gold Cup.

The sold out signs are already up and the touts will be rivalling the bookmakers for the happiest guys on the premises.

It's a cracking race and not just because of the front two in the market, with Imperial Comander threatening to spoil the party if either of them are off their game, Cooldine bidding to add to his brilliant 2009 Cheltenham success in the RSA Chase and Tricky Trickster rated by many as a decent bet to creep into the places.

JCB Triumph Hurdle

The supporting card is no slouch either, and they kick off at 1.30pm with the pick of the four year olds in the JCB Triumph Hurdle over 2m 1f.

Nicky Henderson will fancy his chances of adding to his excellent record in the race with Adonis winner Soldatino, a grey with a likeable attitude who skipped up in his Kempton trial, but may be inconvenienced by the prevailing quick ground.

Market leader is Edward O'Grady's Alaivan, but he seems to want soft ground and a right handed track, and backers of the favourite ought to be especially wary of Gordon Elliott's Carlito Brigante - an improver who has superb form and is hard to envisage failing to make the shake up.

A key piece of form came on St Stephens Day when Carlito Brigante went off an unfancied 20/1 but thrashed Alaivan 11 lengths in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown.

He followed up in Musselburgh's Scottish Triumph Hurdle, and clearly has a great chance to add to owner Michael O'Leary's win with Weapons Amnesty earler in the week.

He meets plenty of the stats criteria, having won his latest start, has sufficient experience over hurdles (4 runs), had his prep run in February and ran at a trip on the Flat.

At a bigger price in the Triumph Pittoni is also respected despite a disappointing run last time, but I think he'll be playing for places behind Carlito Brigante who can be backed at 9/2 with Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler and Sportingbet to give the Irish their first win in the the race since Scolardy won the Triumph for Willie Mullins in 2002.

County Hurdle

Just 35 minutes later we're faced with what is surely the most difficult race to get your head around on the fourth and final day.

The possibilities are endless in the County Hurdle at 2.40pm, but I'm risking a few quid each way on a consistent type in Oldrik to give Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson yet more success after Menorah (Tuesday) and Copper Bleu (Thursday).

Having crept into the weights as number 26 of 28 Oldrik is just the type to relish a battle up the hill, regularly featuring at the business end of some competitve affairs, such as his excellent second to Qaspal in Saturday's Imperial Cup.

His lack of career wins (3/23 over hurdles) is partially offset by his record of making the frame, with six seconds and two thirds bolstering his cv.

Oldrik seems to love his racing, recent good performances at Ffos Las and Newbury prove he can race left handed and he ran very well in a key trial (Totesport Trophy) which has featured four of the last six winners.

Hobbs' horse also fits an interesting ratings trend which saw the last five winners rated between 128-135: Oldrik's mark is 129 (9lb well in as due to go up to 138), and pleasingly he was second last time out (12 of the last 21 winners were first or second last time out).

A slice of the 12/1 available each way to five places with both Boylesports and Paddy Power is what's required.

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Next up at 2.40pm I'm really looking forward to seeing Enterprise Park take his place in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

There's a real buzz around for this horse, and although Willie Mullins also runs Quel Esprit (who fell at the second in the Neptune) I think Paul Townend's mount is exactly the type to relish better ground and step up in trip.

Granted the selection is more about potential than achievement thus far, but he looks a top class stayer in the making and the form of his Limerick win in December has worked out very well.

Back him each way at 7/1 with Sportingbet (each way 1/4 odds 1-2-3-4).

The other one I respect in the field is filly Silver Kate - she races with the mares' allowance and has been a revelation for her small yard.

A couple of quid each way at Totesport's 20/1 can do no harm, especially as the Wigan firm are paying an extra place.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

In the Gold Cup at 3.20pm I have to say I'm firmly in the green, gold and purple camp - not some sort of militant anti-Glazer splinter group planning to pay a visit to Tampa to burn down Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer's hovel, but the green, gold and purple of the brilliant Kauto Star.

I'd love to see him make it three, and you'd have to say he'll have to have an off day to give the others a chance.

That said I won't be rushing to back him at 8/11 and 4/6, preferring instead to snaffle a bit of the 2/1 available with Bet365 that Cooldine tops the market betting 'without the big two'.

If he gets in a war with Kauto I don't fancy losing the win part of my each way stake, so instead this market looks ideal.

He'll like this better ground and could even nick second if Denman isn't on best behaviour.

Grand Annual

In the concluding Grand Annual Chase at 5.15pm get stuck into Venetia Williams Green Belt Elite each way - in the form of his life he's well fancied by his connections and can be supported each way at 10/1 with Boylesports and Bet365, both of whom pay out to five places.

Fighting Chance would enter calculations if significant rain arrived.

Good luck!
Tom