Cheltenham Day Four Tips: 'He has a huge chance of winning the big one'

The Cheltenham Festival heads into its fourth and final day and there are still three Grade 1s to come, including the big one, the Gold Cup.

Iknowthewayurthinkin returns to defend his crown, but it’s a fascinating contest featuring three of the first four home in the King George. We’ve picked out three selections including one in the big race.

Friday’s Tips

13.20 Cheltenham - Jalon d’Oudairies

16.00 Cheltenham - Gaelic Warrior /b>

16.40 Cheltenham - Panda Boy /b>

13.20 Cheltenham - Jalon d’Oudairies

He has already proven his versatility at the highest level, having won the Arkle over two miles at Cheltenham two years ago before stepping up in trip to land the Mildmay Novices’ Chase

Enda McElhinney on Gaelic Warrior

Jalon d’Oudairies looks an interesting contender for the Albert Bartlett and could be one of the better novices in the field.

The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old has long been held in high regard, having finished an excellent third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham behind Jasmin De Vaux, who went on to win last year’s Albert Bartlett.

After returning to action over hurdles this season, he has steadily improved and produced a hugely impressive performance last time at Naas when bolting up by 27 lengths.

That dominant success suggested he possesses both the class and stamina required for this contest. The step up to three miles should suit well and he looks a horse with plenty more to offer.

16.00 Cheltenham - Gaelic Warrior

Willie Mullins will be looking to regain the Gold Cup, with Iknowthewayurthinkin and Gavin Cromwell taking it off him last year, beating two-time winner Galopin Des Champs.

He will rely on a different contender this year, eight-year-old Gaelic Warrior who is undoubtedly one of the most talented horses in training and looks a major contender in this contest.

He has already proven his versatility at the highest level, having won the Arkle over two miles at Cheltenham two years ago before stepping up in trip to land the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree over 3m1 last year.

He finished second to Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup last time, but that performance was still a strong one as he finished ahead of the Galopin Des Champs and other top chasers.

Earlier in the season he also ran an excellent race when a very close third in the King George at Kempton behind The Jukebox Man The extra two furlongs here should suit him much better and, with his proven stamina and class, he has a huge chance of winning the big one.

16.40 Cheltenham - Panda Boy

The Martin Brassil-trained Panda Boy arrives as one of the top-rated horses in the Hunter Chase division and brings an excellent profile into the race.

Since switching to the hunter chase scene he has been perfect, winning both of his starts in this sphere and doing so in impressive fashion.

At Thurles he produced a commanding performance to win by nine lengths from the useful Lifetime Ambition, travelling strongly before asserting with ease late on.

He followed that up with another convincing success at Naas over three miles, again showing his class to win comfortably by four lengths. If reproducing the level of his last two performances, he has every chance of winning here.