On the ready for the finale at Cheltenham 2010

On to the final day of Cheltenham 2010 and my favourite day of the meeting. Why? Because I will be in the bar unwinding after a turbulent week at my desk.

We start where else but the big one of the week, the CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP and the big DENMAN v KAUTO STAR rematch.

Kauto is the 4/6  favourite to capture his third Gold Cup with Denman 4/1 to regain the crown he took two years ago.

Both horses have put in breathtaking performances this season with Kauto Star winning the King George pulling a cart while Denman looked back to his best when bolting up in the Hennessy off top weight.

I hope both jump round so that we can experience the excitement of these two battling it out to the line. So close, but we think Kauto will win it – just.

Of the each-way bets in the race we are putting up 50/1 outsider CARRUTHERS to grab a place. He bolted up at Newbury on his seasonal debut trouncing Big Fella Thanks and then finished second to Tarnais over the course in January; he could well nick a place.

Day Four gets under way with the Triumph Hurdle and I think the Irish will take some beating in this heat.

ALAVIAN and CARLITO BRIGANTE lead the betting market and although Gordon Elliott’s horse beat the Edward O’Grady-trained French horse at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day, we think Alavian is the one to beat judged on his cosy success at Fairyhouse when he absolutely sluiced up.

Of the outsiders the Tom George-trained OLOFI looked a useful sort when winning over course and distance in December and has big claims at 16/1.

The Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle is next up and Imperial Cup winner Qaspal leads the betting for this one. But we have two ‘fat’ ones for this race. PUYOL travels from Ireland and has really big claims for this one after beating 30 runners back in January at Leopardstown and the John Mulhern (no relation) chance gets a 16/1 quote for Friday’s race. 

Another Irish horse that should go well is NOBLE PRINCE and he gets a 10/1 pricing.

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is up next and is a great race over three miles for the novices here. We like the look of the Paul Nolan-trained SHINROCK PADDY in this. He has done nothing wrong so far in his hurdling career and looks a horse on the upgrade.

RESTLESS HARRY looked a good horse in the making here when beating some useful sorts around here at the end of January and could give Paddy most to do.

On to the Foxhunters Chase and we have got this tricky race down to two. We have opted for CHESTNUT ANNIE at 25/1 who romped home at Flos Las while BOB HALL can run a big race for Alan Berry and make it four wins in a row – he’s 33/1, which seems a great each-way bet.

On to the race that Andytown won last year, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap, and we think trainer Nicky Henderson can follow up with another win in the race with PEVERIL who is unbeaten over hurdles and young David Bass is a good jockey.

PAUSE AND CLAUSE was well-backed last time out,  looks the class act and is way overpriced at 20/1.

And so 4,000 words later we’re on to the last race of Cheltenham 2010 and hopefully I’m ahead with an interest in the Grand Annual Chase – or the Get-Out Stakes.

FRENCH OPERA carries top weight in this one and has racked up three wins this season – two of them at Cheltenham – and looks the one to beat.

The each-way bet is the same as last year’s PG tip MOON OVER MIAMI who was just beaten by Oh Crick. He looks great each-way value at 25/1 with Jason Maguire taking the ride.

That’s us for another year, folks. Hopefully a few winners in there and here’s hoping to be seeing a few of you at the settler’s counter this week. Good luck with all your selections.

On to the footy and the weekend selections....

THE PG promised its loyal readers a winning bet before Cheltenham 2010 and as usual we stuck to our word when we handed out a 20/1 winning quad to put a few quid in the pockets of punters just in time for the festival.

So let’s try and get some of those Cheltenham losses back this weekend with our soccer selections.

We start the PG QUAD with IPSWICH (1/1) who scored that late, late goal to secure our quad are thr first team down on the docket this weeked at home to Barnsley.

NEWCASTLE (1/1) are coasting at the top and can claim another three points at Ashton Gate where they take on leaky Bristol City.

MIDDLESBORO (11/10) can end the good run of Reading with a win at the Riverside – Gordon Strachan’s Celtic B team are finally starting to click.

QPR (11/8) have been hard to beat at Loftus Road under Neil Warnock and they make our quad up, hopefully with a win against  Swansea.

On to the fivehit and we start at the City Ground where we think NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1/2) can grab three points at the expense of Peterboro.

WEST BROM (8/15) can keep the pressure up on Newcastle with a win over Preston while NORTHAMPTON (10/11) can win at home to Morecambe.

BRECHIN (1/2) let us down last week but hopefully they can do us a favour with a win over bottom club Clyde.

Making the Fivehit up are WIGAN (4/5) who can grab three vital points at home to fellow strugglers Burnley.

We finish with the XXX and first draw down on the weekend docket is the MK DONS v SOUTHAMPTON game which looks a tight one to call.

STOKE are a hard team to beat at home and can take a point against in-form SPURS.

We finish in the SPL where we think DUNDEE UTD can nick a point at ABERDEEN.