Irish bankers - how to play the hotpots at Cheltenham

Few things are more defining than the Irish banker. That's the moniker attached to a well-backed favourite emerging from the Emerald Isle with the hopes of a betting nation attached.

There can be multiple Irish bankers across the four days in the Cotswolds and their successes or otherwise often determine the balance of power between bookmakers and punters.

We're taking a look at some of the strongest Irish hopes in the Cheltenham markets and assess whether they will be a banker or bust at the big meeting.

Kopek Des Bordes — Supreme Novices' Hurdle

His Christmas hurdling debut win at Leopardstown was an exhibition on how not to jump, while at the Dublin Racing Festival he was still too keen but nevertheless powered clear to win in fine style.

All of which points to the massive amount of latent ability this rising star must possess. Kopek Des Bordes could be nigh-on unbeatable once he starts to get the hang of things.

Verdict: Banker

Majborough — Arkle Novices' Chase

Majborough was a ready winner of the Irish Arkle and clearly has a serious engine given the way he belted some of the fences early on in that Grade 1 success. He has Festival-winning form from last season and could be very hard to beat if he gets around unscathed. The Arkle can be an unforgiving race if he makes a mistake though.

Verdict: Bust

Final Demand — Turners' Novice Hurdle

Amid all the Kopek Des Bordes hype at the Dublin Racing Festival, it appears to have gone a little bit under the radar that Final Demand trounced a really decent rival in Wingmen by 12-lengths when winning the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

He's still around 6-4 for Wednesday's opening contest and his main market rival is The New Lion, winner of Challow Novices' Hurdle in December — a Newbury race from which the winners have a dismal strike-rate in novice hurdles at this meeting.

At the current prices, Final Demand could well be the most rewarding Irish banker of the meeting as Willie Mullins bids to land this race for the fourth straight year after Sir Gerhard, Impaire Et Passe and Ballyburn justified short odds.

Verdict: Banker

Ballyburn — Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

A year on from a dominant win over hurdles, Ballyburn is heading back to Cheltenham to try and win the Brown Advisory on his first crack at three miles for Mullins and owner Ronnie Bartlett.

It hasn't been seamless over fences so far, but he has two chase wins and finished behind the outstanding Sir Gino over two miles around Kempton that proved inadequate. His jumping still can improve but he's an improving novice chaser and it will take a good performance to stop him.

Verdict: Banker

Fact To File — Ryanair Chase

Many believed Fact To File was going to be part of an all-star Gold Cup cast this season but after being beaten a couple of times by Galopin Des Champs in Ireland over three miles, connections are diverting down the Ryanair route. He retains lots of potential but this intermediate Grade 1 won't lack depth and he might find at least one too good.

Verdict: Bust

Teahupoo — Stayers' Hurdle

He's the best around in the staying hurdles division and it isn't hard to imagine Teahupoo retaining his crown.

He's only raced once this season but it was a stellar effort over a trip shorter than optimal in the Hatton's Grace and his record when fresh is exceptionally good.

Verdict: Banker

Galopin Des Champs — Gold Cup

He was beaten in the John Durkan on his comeback but Punchestown has never truly been his track and that was over 2m3½f. A pair of utterly dominant Leopardstown wins have followed over 3m½f and the way in which he swatted off a host of challengers in the Irish Gold Cup was the latest hallmark of a generational talent. Galopin Des Champs looks on course for a Gold Cup hat-trick barring an accident.

Verdict: Banker

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