Cheltenham Festival Day Four predictions: Only By Night to master the Mares'
Enda McElhinney
Cheltenham Festival Day Four: Best bet, each-way selection and treble
Recommended bets include:
Shearer each-way in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
The Cheltenham Festival draws to a conclusion on Friday and day four brings with it the Gold Cup itself, the Holy Grail for jumps horses.
This year's instalment looks like a wide-open cracker of a race with cases to be made for plenty of the 11 runners.
There are three graded events preceding the Blue Riband, including the Triumph Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle – both contests that could go to Willie Mullins.
Here is everything you need to know for Day Four including the day's best bets.
Day 4 – Key info
First race: 1.20pm JCB Triumph Hurdle
Feature race: 4.00pm Cheltenham Gold Cup
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Best bet of the day
Only By Night to win the Mares' Chase (2.40pm) @ 7/1 with LiveScore Bet
Gavin Cromwell has had this race in mind for a long while for last year's Arkle runner-up Only By Night.
She won on her comeback this season at a time when the yard were struggling and her most recent run in a Grade 1 against geldings is easily overlooked as she suffered major early race interference.
Her trainer is amongst the winners this week and while Dinoblue sets a good standard, she is just 1-4 at this Festival previously and Only By Night is a massive player on that Arkle run in 2025.
Best each-way bet of the day
Paul Nicholls and these owners suffered a nightmare run with No Drama This End on Wednesday but perhaps some compensation will come from Shearer now.
He ran well when fifth in this contest a year ago, perhaps committing for home too soon. He should come on for his Haydock third last month and Gina Andrews is an excellent asset in the plate for this race.
Day 4 acca
We are providing an accumulator suggestion for each day of the Cheltenham Festival and our Day Four treble pays 96/1 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Bet 1: Selma De Vary to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm) @ 7/2
Willie Mullins has dominated this race lately, going for a fifth successive win. Runners from the Grade 1 Dublin Racing Festival juvenile do especially well coming here and with the winner Narciso Has missing out, Leopardstown second Selma De Vary can capitalise.
Bet 2: Doctor Steinberg to win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3.20pm) @ 10/3
Doctor Steinberg was a DRF winner last time despite doing plenty wrong. He was very keen early on but still had more than enough petrol to burn off his rivals decisively.
If he's a bit more professional now, the outcome can be similar as his trainer bids for a fourth Albert Bartlett win in seven years.
Bet 3: Jango Baie to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00pm) @ 4/1
Jango Baie was behind The Jukebox Man (winner) and Gaelic Warrior (third) in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, but there was not much in it.
Given Nicky Henderson's charge was outpaced before rallying, there is a great chance this test will suit last year's Arkle winner, who is 2-2 at this course.
