The end of the world as we know it

3 days in and a world away from 2.30 on Tuesday. Save to say after today that the Mullins yard is in fine form afterall so back to the drawing board to try to salvage something from the embers of this years festival.

Triumph:
Best not to complicate this one. Seems likes a straightforward match up here between the best of the English Defi du Seuil and the Irish who given there still isnt a standout candidate between the top 3 in the market it would suggest they are probably the weaker of the 2 sides. Defi and done everything asked easily and impressively and no reason he shouldnt come out on top here again with more asked of him. Easy start backing the clear class of the field

1.5pts Defi du Seuil 9/4

Couty Hurdle:
Very nearly got suckered in here by Mick Jazz of his race v Labaik but one swallow does not a summer make and looking through the rest of his form it is hard to argue he is thrown in here and justifies being favourite. Hard to find fault with North Hill Harvey who won a decent Greatwood here back in November and I was very close to backing him however a young horse that has been progressing nicely over the season and may just be the surprise package here is Creivehill. Decent run the last day behind Neon Wolf and at 33/1 is worth a speculative punt.

.75pts ew Creivehill

Albert Bartlett:
Strange lineup here with a couple of those at the top of the market more suited to the JLT than 3m at this point in their careers. Wholestone has a course and distance win but that form hasnt really been franked this week. Augusta Kate is coming off a fall which is a worry. Probably the only really solid option is in the form of The Worlds End who won a solid G2 over 2m7f the last day and he gets a confident vote here to put some of these talking horses in their place.

2pts e/w The Worlds End 10/1

Gold Cup:
The big one. Djackadam is favourite now and probably a worthy one given he has finally had the perfect preparation and at 8 should be in his peak. That said despite coming 2nd in 2 Gold Cups the other 2 times he's visited the track he's landed on his face trying to jump the downhill fences. Thats a pretty big negative in my book and enough to make me swerve him at 3/1. Outlander has never had the best of times in the Cotswolds and at 11 my old favourite Cue Card is probably just pushing on a little. Native River is another I dont fully trust to complete the course and the value is probably with the outsider Bristol de Mai who was punted into favourite against Native River the last day before being found to not be right post race. A solid second last year to the mecurial Black Hercules he could end up having a big say in a below par running of the race.

1pt ew Bristol de Mai 33/1

Foxhunters:
On the Fringe had a great prep for this race the last day and watching it at the time I assumed he would be unopposable come the festival. That said give a man long enough to think about anything and he'll start thinking himself into trouble and with half of Munster singing the praises of some beast called Sweet as a Nut who sluiced in at Limerick over Christmas I've found it too hard to the resist the sirens song  and am now opposing one of the sure things of the weeks by siding against OTF. It's Paddy's day though so we can look back on this race with hindsight afterwards and blames it on the drink!

1pt ew Sweet as a Nut 22/1

Martin Pipe:
A mess of a race and the only proper solid form I can find is Coo Star Sivola's 3rd in last years Fred Winter. Solid form all year despite being a little disappointing here on trials day. If you have to have a bet thats the best advice I can give you.

0.5pts ew Coo Star Sivola 10/1

Grand Annual:
If we are still trying to get out by now hopefully someone has already had the foresight to remove your shoelaces and hide the steak knifes. Its one from either end of the betting market that appeal here with a solid favourite in Le Prezien who has won over both course and distance and looks a classy beast and a winner from last year who's lost their way a little since but comes here over a 3lb lower mark Solar Impulse. Both will be backed for small stake but I hope to be sipping champagne long before gnawing my fingernails over this result!

0.5pts ew Solar Impulse 40/1
0.75pts ew Le Prezien 11/2