English/Ire
King’s best bets - 13th March 2026
Sam King is back with four selections on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Galopin Des Champs' defection from the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00) is a big shame but it's still a potentially high-class renewal, with a whole host of horses lining up with a live chance.
Of those towards the top of the market, Jango Baie looks the one to side with. The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old looks to have been crying out for a proper stamina test and his last-gasp victory from miles off the pace in last year's Arkle lives long in the memory.
It was clear he got badly tapped for toe around a sharp track like Kempton when beaten half a length into fourth on Boxing Day and although the likes of Gaelic Warrior and The Jukebox Man, who both finished ahead of him that day, clearly command respect, this test might just bring out further improvement from Henderson's contender.
The overnight rainfall will also have done his chances no harm and he looks poised to put up a big performance for a trainer enjoying a fine week.
At a much bigger price, Firefox could easily outrun his odds for the Gordon Elliott team. He caught the eye when steadily keeping on into fourth behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup last time out and it's possible that he's just been crying out for this extra yardage.
1pt Win – Jango Baie
Odds – 4/1
0.5pt Each-way – Firefox
Odds – 33/1
Willie Mullins has an exemplary record in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20), and it could well continue here.
As expected, he saddles a whole host of chances, but Selma De Vary makes the most appeal, especially after the overnight rain.
A smart performer in France, she conceded first run to ante-post favourite Narcisco Has, who has subsequently been ruled out, but stayed on in fine fashion under tender handling to finish runner-up.
There looks to be plenty of pace on paper and with Townend likely to play his hand late, she can come with a swooping run in the closing stages to pounce.
1pt Win – Selma De Vary
Odds – 4/1
Dan Skelton has won the William Hill County Hurdle (2.00) four times in the last ten years, so it's no shock to see him with a handful of live contenders this season.
Sinnatra could be the pick of them and an opening mark of 133 looks more than fair to me, with the form of his third-place finish behind Act Of Authority in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon taking a big boost when that one went on to finish a good runner-up in the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Hurdle here on Wednesday.
His recent smooth win at Warwick will have done his confidence the world of good and he looks like the type that will appreciate the tests that Cheltenham's new course has to offer.
1pt Win – Sinnatra
Odds – 9/2
I'm a big fan of Doctor Steinberg, who clearly has a massive engine but his tendency to race a touch freely might leave him vulnerable here and at the prices, Spinningayarn seems an interesting alternative in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3.20).
Gordon Elliott's horses had been running well without winning until Wodhooh claimed Grade 1 success yesterday. That might have seen the yard turn a bit of a corner this week and I'm hopeful that Spinningayarn, who is a general 16/1 chance, can provide him with another winner before heading back across the Irish Sea.
This powerful son of Order Of St George has looked to be crying out for a step up in trip when winning at Punchestown and Fairyhouse the last twice, so it's no shock to see connections opt to go this route, while the form of his latest success took a boost when the runner-up finished a solid third in Grade 3 company since.
There could be bundles of progress on the cards from this unexposed six-year-old, who also seems fairly versatile on the ground having scored on a decent surface at Fairyhouse before landing the spoils in heavy ground at Punchestown.
0.5pt Each-way – Spinningayarn
Odds – 16/1
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