Day 4 Review – Cossack Strikes Gold

The final day promised plenty, and it didn’t disappoint.

O’Brien Strikes For Punters In Opener!
Having already enjoyed a terrific first three days, the Irish struck in the opening Triumph Hurdle, where the very well fancied…

Ivanovich Gorbatov, delivered a knockout punch to the bookies at 9/2.

Trainer, Aidan O’Brien, will be licking his lips at the future that lies ahead for this 4yo in both codes, and he could well return for the Champion Hurdle here in 12 months time.

Brits Narrow Prestbury Lead
The Brits struck back immediately, though, when Dan Skelton’s, Superb Story, took the County Hurdle at 8/1, though it wasn’t much relief for the bookies as there were plenty of punters cheering on the second favourite. The score was now just 12-11 to the Irish in the Prestbury Cup.

Bookies Take A Breather!
If ever the bookies need some kind of result, then the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle provided it, with Harry Fry’s, Unowhatimeanharry, winning at 11/1. There was plenty to like about this 8yo’s victory, and he looks a cracking prospect for next season’s World Hurdle over the same C&D, where odds of 20/1 look tempting.

Cossack Strikes Gold
It was now level at 12-12 between the Brits and Irish heading into the big one – the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where two Don’s were lining-up to do battle. It was the Gordon Elliott-trained, Don Cossack who emerged triumphant at 9/4, though, with Don Poli way back in third – a victory that provided the cherry on Elliott’s Cheltenham cake, Don Cosscak being his third winner of the week.

Don Juicy Odds To Defend Crown Don Cossack may well add the Punchestown Gold Cup later in the spring, but one’s thing for sure, the nature of this victory…

make him a strong candidate to defend the crown in a year’s time, and odds of around 13/2 already look very tasty.

Bookies Hit By Bolger’s Fringe The bookies were again on the back foot going into the Foxhunter Chase and were given another mauling when Enda Bolger’s red-hot favourite, On The Fringe, scrapped home to score at 13/8. Miss Nina Carberry saluted the grandstand and the pair will no doubt head to Aintree and Punchestown to pick up the equivalent contests as they did in 2015.

Nicholls’ Big Handicap Double The bookies had plenty to thank Paul Nicholls for in the final two races of the festival – just when it was looking like a bloodbath for the layers. Nicholls stepped forward to send out Ibis Du Rheu (14/1) and Solar Impulse (28/1) to land the final two handicaps, in the process taking his tally to three winners for the meeting. It still wasn’t good enough to get near Willie Mullins’ magnificent seven winners, while Ruby Walsh took the leading jockeys’ title with the same number.

Prestbury Cup Ends In A Tie!
As for the Prestbury Cup, then the late Nicholls double made it a tie at 14-14, but the good news is that they’ll all be back to do it again in 12 months time – roll on Cheltenham 2017!

Don’t forget to check out all out ante-post prices for next year’s festival.

*Prices correct at time of publication.