It all comes down to this. The final day of the Cheltenham Festival 2024 features the greatest jumps race of all, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, combined with some tough betting puzzles in the County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.

Even some of the championship events, like the Albert Bartlett and Hunters' Chase, offer a bit of off-beat form study.

From the opening Triumph Hurdle at 13:30 to the meeting-ending Martin Pipe at 17:30, here are tips for all seven races on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival.

13:30 - JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1 - 2m1f)

Worries about the health of the Nicky Henderson stable mean that Sir Gino looks a dubious favourite in the opener. Admittedly, there is a point at which that drift might go too far, but until then you can take him on. Willie Mullins has half the field and of his ETHICAL DIAMOND makes the most appeal. He has a good pedigree and cost plenty when bought off the Flat. He was the biggest eye-catcher of the meeting when sixth at the Dublin Racing Festival and deserves to be taken seriously pitched into this company.

Selection: Ethical Diamond

14:10 - BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)

It takes some doing to get an Ebor winner into the County Hurdle from a mark of 138, but that is what Willie Mullins has managed with ABSURDE. After winning at York in August, this horse went to Australia where he finished seventh in the Melbourne Cup. He still needed to run twice to qualify for Premier handicaps and did so with a couple of runs at Leopardstown which very much suggested that he was being kept in the recovery phase after his excellent Flat campaign. He shaped third best behind Slade Steel and Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival and what those two have done this week certainly advertises his claims. Selection: Absurde

14:50 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3m)

Ben Pauling cannot be crabbed for lack of trying in the novice hurdles this week and he can get some sort of reward in this race with THE JUKEBOX MAN. This horse has just the sort of background you need in this race. He is stoutly bred, has point-to-point form, and strong form at that, and he has looked all about stamina so far as a hurdler. He was boxing on in an attritional running of the Challow last time out and has been rested for this big day out since. He will relish the test and is well worth an each-way bet.

Selection: The Jukebox Man (each-way)

15:30 - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1, 3m2½f)

With Galopin Des Champs a worthy favourite, albeit one you would not set your watch by, each-way is the way to play the Gold Cup. The shortlist of two would be L'Homme Presse and GENTLEMANSGAME, with the smoother preparation enjoyed by the latter giving him the edge. He has run only three times over fences, but he was a classy hurdler too and he was able to beat Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby last time. He was initially underestimated following that win, but should not be now. At the least he can chase home Galopin Des Champs.

Selection: Gentlemansgame (each-way)

16:10 - St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (3m2½f)

This looks like something of a two-horse race between ITS ON THE LINE and Ferns Lock. The two met at Down Royal in December and, despite Ferns Lock travelling the better throughout, Its On The Line mowed him down late in the piece. That was over 3m and the extra emphasis on stamina will only suit Its On The Line more. He can atone for a defeat in this race last year behind Premier Magic.

Selection: Its On The Line

16:50 - Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Grade 2, 2m4½f)

Picking holes in Willie Mullins-trained hotpots has been a bit of a fool's errand this week, but in this case Mullins also has the natural alternative, so let's have one more attempt. Dinoblue has been impressive at shorter trips, but we know that ALLEGORIE DE VASSY stays this far and she was second in this race last year. On her last run, it looked as though she had tempered her tendency to jump to the right, so she can bring her high-class form to left-handed Cheltenham now.

Selection: Allegorie De Vassy

17:30 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)

A race that tends to be won by slow-developing chasers of the future. WATERFORD WHISPERS fits that bill and has fitted in a lot of the experience he needed to get qualified for this race in a short space of time. He looked a stayer in the making at Fairyhouse in early December, form which has worked out well. He had excuses when just beaten in handicap company next time and he is likely to have developed further in the 77 days since we last saw him on the track.

Selection: Waterford Whispers

The fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the stage for the best jumps race of them all as the Gold Cup is the feature.

Run over the stamina-sapping New course over three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs, it is the supreme test of a staying chaser.

The race has been dominated by Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead recently and hasn’t been won by a British trainer since Colin Tizzard landed it in 2018 with Native River.

A field of 12 have been declared for Friday’s big race and our expert has picked out a pair to follow.

Selection: Galopin Des Champs @ 11/10

Outsider to note: L’Homme Presse @ 21/1

Get with Galopin to make it back-to-back wins

There is no doubt about the outstanding performers this week so far. They have been Willie Mullins and Paul Townend and their best horse lines up in the Gold Cup, bidding to go back-to-back.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was the outstanding staying chaser last season when he swept all before him and produced a wildly impressive display to land this race by seven lengths from Bravemansgame.

He struggled to back that performance up when beaten on his next two outings behind the reopposing Fastorslow, but one of those defeats came at the end of a long season and the other at the start of a new one. He also probably found the 2m31/2f trip too sharp on the second occasion.

Galopin Des Champs has shown his class on his last two outings, bouncing right back to his best to thrash the reopposing Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. If he turns up in that sort of form in this event, he simply won’t be beaten.

He wasn’t as impressive when landing the Irish Gold Cup back at Leopardstown at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival, but he comfortably showed Fastorslow the way home by four and a half lengths, avenging his defeats at the hands of that rival.

This is another big test for Galopin Des Champs in a Gold Cup that is probably stronger than last year’s, but he can be expected to pass with flying colours.

Let L’Homme Presse show the way to each-way profits

The Gold Cup is a race that never proves easy to win and plenty can go wrong, so it’s worth having an each-way bet on something else just in case it does and L’HOMME PRESSE is the one to support.

He was the outstanding staying novice of his generation a couple of years ago, when he won all of the big ones including the Brown Advisory at this course, and he appears to have returned from a long absence at the top of his form this season.

L’Homme Presse was having his first outing since the 2022 King George at Kempton when he returned to the course at Lingfield in January, but you wouldn’t have known it. He came through strongly to beat Protektorat by two and a quarter lengths and the front two were clear.

The selection went on to the Ascot Chase last time, but got taken off his feet over 2m5f by the speedy Pic D’Orhy and had no chance from a long way out. Nevertheless, he was still going forwards at the finish and came home just five and a half lengths behind the winner.

That was a decent effort all things considered and L’Homme Presse will be suited by returning to a longer 3m21/2f trip here. He also likes Cheltenham, so the track will also play to his strengths and there is every chance he can run into a place. He might even win if Galopin Des Champs disappoints.

Every day of the Cheltenham Festival, BetMGM horse racing ambassador Megan Nicholls brings her renowned insight on the biggest week in the sport exclusively to our Cheltenham Hub.

The former jockey, now an award-winning TV pundit, previews the action on the final day of action in Gloucestershire.

Megan casts her eye over the key races on the card including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Triumph Hurdle and the BetMGM County Hurdle.

And remember: for the latest odds, specials, profiles, blogs and more visit the BetMGM Cheltenham Festival Hub.

Cheltenham 1.30 – Triumph Hurdle

This is a really wide-open heat. Plenty of the runners have that form that links in together from Leopardstown.

Kargese (6/1) was the winner there but, with a stronger pace on, it might suit some of her stablemates.

I am going to look away from the Willie Mullins team and go for Nurburgring (6/1), who goes for Joseph O'Brien.

This horse has got plenty of experience and has posted some really good efforts hurdling. He wasn't far behind Kargese in the South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle in December – despite having to suffer off a slow pace he stayed strongly.

A good gallop will seriously help this horse improve and, if it does remain dry as predicted, then that will help his chances too.

Megan’s Selection: Nurburgring WIN

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Cheltenham 2.10 – BetMGM County Hurdle

The Skeltons have had a really great week and L'eau Du Sud (4/1 fav) really bounced back last time when running a massive race at Newbury.

The slight concern would be the form at Cheltenham previously, in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, but I don't think he performed at his best.

Prior to that he was good in handicaps and I think has a massive chance here in the BetMGM County Hurdle – and the Skeltons will boost what has already been a big week for them as a result.

This is a really open race though and I am also going for Pied Piper (12/1) as an each-way chance.

He's a very solid horse, goes well at Cheltenham and had a narrow defeat in this race last year. He had a top weight in the Coral Cup and ran very well, so that doesn't bother me too much. I think he has a massive chance each-way.

Another horse I would be interested in is Magical Zoe (12/1), who is a very consistent mare and the ground seems fine for her.

Megan’s Selection: L'eau Du Sud WIN; Pied Piper E/W; Magical Zoe E/W

Cheltenham 2.50 – Novices’ Hurdle

I’m so keen on Captain Teague (8/1). He's very well, very talented and ran a huge race in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last year.

He's a Challow Hurdle winner too, so stepping up in trip from that is a massive plus. Some of these Irish horses have tied in form together but some of them I have question marks over despite them having lots of 1s next to their names.

I don't think Readin Tommy Wrong (2/1 fav) was expected to win last time while High Class Hero (10/1) is stepping up in grade. He was impressive to start with but I still think he requires more.

Captain Teague is proven at this level – I think he has a massive race in him.

Megan's Selection: Captain Teague WIN

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Cheltenham 3.30 – Cheltenham Gold Cup

Galopin Des Champs (Evens fav) is going to be very hard to beat.

At his best, he's an absolute monster. He was very impressive last time, just effortless to beat Fastorslow. It was a mighty performance. I still think that Bravemansgame (14/1) can run a big race. He's really, really well. He's had less-than-ideal preparation but he's in the form of his life, he's fresh and connections are very positive.

At a bigger each-way price, Corach Rambler (14/1) does love Cheltenham. He will be able to pick his way through the field and, if there is a good gallop on, he will probably be one of the faster finishes and could sneak into the places.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if it were Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame fighting it out once again.

Megan's Selection: Galopin Des Champs WIN

Cheltenham 4.10 – Festival Challenge Cup

It's really tight between a few of these runners.

Its On The Line (6/4 fav), Ferns Lock (10/3) and Billaway (8/1) all have form together while Premier Magic (6/1) was the winner last year and has returned to point-to-pointing in really good form.

Shantou Flyer (40/1) was third last year and he's got a good each-way chance again.

He is overpriced – he's 14 now but has been targeted for this and, with a light campaign building up to it, I wouldn't be surprised to see him running on into the places. So I will be going Shantou Flyer each-way. Olive Nicholls, my sister, is on board and hopefully she has a safe and fun trip round.

It's really hard to split some of the others, it’s really competitive. Its On The Line, not dissimilar to Stayers' Hurdle winner Teahupoo, being now a seven-year-old with an extra year on his back and a bit stronger with a bit more stamina, would make him the one for me.

Megan's Selection: Its On The Line WIN; Shantou Flyer EW

All odds correct at time of publication but subject to change

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