An each-way treble for Friday at Cheltenham

The fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival is here on Friday afternoon and we’ve put together an each-way treble to follow.

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The picks include the King George winner who looks like the big threat to Galopin Des Champs and a 2024 Festival winner that is back for more.

Each-way treble

Selection One: Hello Neighbour

Selection Two: Absurde

Selection Three: Banbridge

1.20 Cheltenham - 2m1f (New) JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo)

Gavin Cromwell has been in cracking form this week and he has a big chance of adding a Triumph Hurdle success to his collection in the opening race on Friday.

This son of Derby winner Harzand made a highly promising start to life on the Flat, winning both of those starts and he’s not looked back since tackling hurdles.

He was dropped in at the deep end on his hurdle debut when tackling Grade 2 company at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and he was good value for the winning margin that day having idled in the closing stages, opening the door to one of his rivals but just getting home.

However, he showed that effort was no fluke with his Dublin Racing Festival win second time out over timber and again, he gave the impression that he was only doing enough in the closing stages of that race.

This test should really suit and with the ground on the quick side, it could bring speed into play rather than stamina, which ought to be in his favour over some of the more National Hunt types in here.

If he progresses again, he looks capable of shaking up the British favourites.

Selection: Hello Neighbour

2.00 Cheltenham - 2m1f (New) William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) (5yo+)

This can go the way of last year’s winner, Absurde, who hasn’t been seen over timber since his Festival success.

He quickened up very nicely to win last year’s renewal and there’s a decent chance he’ll take another step forward given that faster ground could be in his favour with all his best Flat form coming on a quicker surface, including a creditable effort in last season’s Melbourne Cup.

Towend seemingly prefers Kargese but she comes with negatives attached and Absurde should probably be the outright favourite for this contest.

Selection: Absurde

4.00 Cheltenham - 3m. 2f. 70yds. (New) Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+)

There’s probably only one horse in this line up that is capable of giving Galopin Des Champs a run for his money and that is the King George winner, Banbridge.

The Ronnie Bartlett-owned chaser has always been highly thought of and he showed he stayed three miles when gunning down Il Est Francais at Kempton last time.

The ground is the real key to this horse, with all of his best performances coming with good in the going description and it’s hard to see him outside the first three in this contest.

Selection: Banbridge

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