We've reach the final day of Cheltenham Festival 2023 which sees us cap off an amazing week of racing with the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
We expect another day packed with memorable moments as we look to wave goodbye to the greatest event on earth.
Jake Price's final NAP of the Day for Chelteham comes fromthe opener on the card, the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Cheltenham NAP of the Day - Day 4
13:30 Cheltenham Tips
JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m1f
Lossiemouth 2pts Win @ 7/4
This looks a very intriguing renewal of the Triumph Hurdle, and with Willie Mullins running 7 Horses you’d be extremely shocked if he didn’t train the winner.
In the battle of the stablemates then, realistically the race only revolves around 3 Horses for me – and that’s Blood Destiny, Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth.
Blood Destiny was a bit of a talking Horse on the preview circuit, as in his two Irish performances he has looked extremely good – beating Sir Allen by 5 lengths at Cork, before then thrashing a field at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths. The Horses in behind him at Fairyhouse do include subsequent winners Nusret and Jazzy Matty, but I think it’s fair to say that neither were trying particularly hard to beat Blood Destiny that day.
If Paul Townend had picked Blood Destiny then it would’ve been a very telling sign, however the fact that he is sticking by Lossiemouth makes this Filly the selection. Lossiemouth has looked extremely good in Grade 3 and Grade 2 victories at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, and she was sent off the 1/3f on her latest start in the Spring Juvenile. We all know what happened to her that day with a stablemate badly hampering her down the back straight, and I thought she did extremely well to only be beaten 2.5 lengths by Gala Marceau, who had pretty much everything her own way.
The fact that Blood Destiny will have to give Lossiemouth 7lbs is another crucial aspect, and whilst Gala Marceau does have a first time hood applied to try and help her to settle down, I think that Lossiemouth will be able to improve again providing she doesn’t meet the same trouble in running as she did a the Dublin Racing Festival.
Prediction: Lossiemouth 1st, Gala Marceau 2nd, Blood Destiny 3rd
