Cheltenham day four tips – Friday’s Placepot picks

Brian Healy teams up with the Tote to bring you his Cheltenham day four tips and Placepot picks on Gold Cup day at the Festival on Friday 13th March.

It is the fourth and final day of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival and another top-class day of horse racing action awaits, headed by the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3.30pm as the pinnacle of a seven-race card.

Over the course of the previous three days’ racing the Tote Placepot has been a hugely popular bet amongst punters at the Cheltenham Festival looking to win big for relatively small stakes outlay. For details on how to play the Tote Placepot then check out our guide on playing the Tote Placepot which details the bet, how to play and how to stake for the best chance of winning.

On Cheltenham Gold Cup day twelve months ago, the Tote Placepot returns dividend paid out a monster £11,701.20 for a £1 winning line so it is a bet well worth getting involved in!

We’ve looked through the seven races on Gold Cup Friday and picked our permutation for the final day of the Cheltenham Festival as we look to get in on the Tote Placepot action and try to land a share of the pot.

Cheltenham day four tips – Tote Placepot Picks

Race 1: (2) Aspire Tower, (9) Sir Psycho
Race 2: (7) Mohaayed, (14) Ciel De Neige, (20) Elusive Belle
Race 3: (5) Fury Road, (12) Monkfish, (16) Sempo
Race 4: (5) Delta Work
Race 5: (19) Shantou Flyer, (21) Stalker Wallace
Race 6: (4) Paloma Blue, (8) Eclair De Beaufeu

2x3x3x1x2x2 = 72 Bets

Cheltenham Placepot Picks Race 1 – Triumph Hurdle Tips

(2) ASPIRE TOWER – Useful flat performer for Richard Hannon and Steve Gollings prior to joining Henry de Bromhead and going hurdling.

Won his first two starts over timber, scoring at Punchestown before posting a wide-margin success over Wolf Prince in a Leopardstown Grade Two contest on Boxing Day.

Under pressure when falling at the last in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle he still held chances when coming to grief and could bounce back in the Triumph Hurdle.

(9) SIR PSYCHO – Ran twice on the flat in Ireland before joining Paul Nicholls for whom he’s been steadily progressive over hurdles.

A winner of three of his five races over obstacles, latterly winning the Victor Ludorum Hurdle at Haydock from Rockadenn, this is tougher upped in class. But he’s one going the right way and could find another jolt of improvement to feature here.

Cheltenham day 4 tips Race 2 – County Hurdle Tips

(7) MOHAAYED – Won the County Hurdle in 2018 and added to his winning tally when denying Lisp at Ascot later that year.

Dan Skelton’s charge has been operating somewhat below his best since that last success; but as a consequence he turns out here 3lbs below his last winning mark following wind surgery and might have been laid out for this race by his shrewd yard.

(14) CIEL DE NEIGE – Ex-French import who has improved with every start over hurdles since joining Willie Mullins, finishing runner-up in his last two starts at Limerick and Newbury in the Betfair Hurdle.

He was beaten less than one length in that start, showing a big field held no terrors and he’s only 4lbs higher here. JP McManus’ colours have carried plenty of success this week and there could be more to come.

(20) ELUSIVE BELLE – Won twice last term over hurdles following his switch from Peter Fahey to Nicky Henderson, scoring wins at Wincanton and Warwick. The Elusive Pimpernel mare also chased home the smart Reserve Tank at Sandown before finishing down the field in last season’s Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle here.

There was no caste lost in finishing ten lengths’ third behind Epatante on her return at Newbury, and she bumped into one in Miranda at Kempton when last seen in December. She’ll turn out a fresh horse and might have more to offer so has to be respected under leading amateur Sam Waley-Cohen.

Cheltenham Placepot Picks Race 3 – Albert Bartlett Tips

(5) FURY ROAD – Gordon Elliott has enjoyed a great Festival thus far and there could be more to come with the Stowaway gelding who possibly found the shorter trip and steady pace against him when beaten into fourth at Leopardstown in February behind Latest Exhibition.

He had won all three previous hurdles starts which includes an impressive success in a Limerick Grade Two contest over Christmas and he should appreciate the return to this longer trip where the likely stronger pace and stiff finish will suit.

(12 ) MONKFISH – Winning ex-pointer who is improving with every start over hurdles although tackles this trip for the first time in the Albert Bartlett.

Willie Mullins’ Stowaway gelding is 2-3 over hurdles, scoring his latest success at Thurles with a defeat of Alpine Cobra, scoring by 20 lengths.

This will be tougher upped markedly in grade on his first try over three miles, but every chance there’s more to come and stoutly-bred could relish this additional yardage and stiff uphill finish.

(16 ) SEMPO – Kept on well for sixth in last season’s Champion Bumper won by Envoi Allen; that form has worked out really well and Joseph O’Brien’s charge can continue to progress over hurdles.

The Oscar gelding looked in need of the experience over timber although hinted that he’d be suited by further when finishing third at Fairyhouse on debut. He bettered that run at Leopardstown over Christmas before getting off the mark with a defeat of Minella Encore at Thurles when last seen.

Likely to continue to improve faced with this stiffer test he can get involved. He looks to be one of our best each-way Cheltenham day 4 tips.

Cheltenham day 4 tips Race 4 – Gold Cup Tips

(5 ) DELTA WORK – Finished third in last year’s RSA Chase as a six-year old, travelling well into the race and hampered after the last before running on again.

Gordon Elliott’s charge won a Grade One at Punchestown in the wake of that defeat and has carried on the good work this term, winning both the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup where he’s finished off strongly each time and has beaten the likes of Monalee, Presenting Percy and Kemboy.

The Network gelding should see out this longer trip and ought to post a big effort as he bids for Gold Cup glory.

Cheltenham Placepot Picks Race 5 – Foxhunter Chase Tips

(19 ) SHANTOU FLYER – Loves Cheltenham and has a very good record here with two wins and four efforts in the frame from eight career starts.

Rose Loxton’s charge finished runner-up in this race twelve months ago and warmed up for his bid to go one better with a bloodless victory at Fakenham latest. He looks all set for another big performance under owner/jockey David Maxwell in the Foxhunter Chase.

(21) STALKER WALLACE – Very lightly-raced nine-year old who won in the point-to-point sphere before finishing third to the high-class Foxrock over fences at Leopardstown.

Absent for almost three years following that run, he returned to Rules with an excellent runner-up to Billaway at Naas before winning a point-to-point in February at Nenagh. Represents JP McManus and the shrewd Enda Bolger, and with Jamie Codd in the saddle the unexposed King’s Theatre gelding can post a big effort.

Cheltenham day 4 tips Race 6 – Grand Annual Tips

(8 ) ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU – Won twice over hurdles and was in the process of running well in the County Hurdle twelve month ago when unseating his rider. However he’s bettered his form since stepping out over fences and Gordon Elliott’s charge is a popular Cheltenham day 4 tip.

A winner at Wexford in October he has tackled the likes of Notebook and Tornado Flyer in subsequent runs before returning from a short break to deny Paloma Blue at Leopardstown in February. He’s worse off at the weights with that rival, but there’s likely plenty more to come and he should make his presence felt.

(4 ) PALOMA BLUE – Progressive over hurdles, winning at Leopardstown before finishing fourth to Summerville Boy in the 2018 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He’s continued to show up well since being switched to the larger obstacles and could run a huge race in the Grand Annual.

A Leopardstown winner last term, he finished sixth in the Arkle Chase here twelve months ago and has made the frame on all three chase starts this term which includes behind Riders Onthe Storm at Ascot.

He could have more to offer over fences and looks fairly weighted for this assignment so could post a big run under Aidan Coleman.