The Timeform TV Focus team pick out the best bets for the ITV racing on day four of the Cheltenham Festival.
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4.40 1 pt ew – Music Drive
There’s a typically strong Irish challenge for the premier hunter of the season, former Festival winner Angels Dawn spearheading that team, though the market looks to have underpriced the majority from that side of the Irish Sea once again. British-trained runners have won this on all bar two occasions since 2016 and the strongest contender this time looks to be Music Drive. A promising type for Gordon Elliot at the start of his career - thought good enough to contest a Champion Bumper - he’s returned from a lengthy absence to win both his starts in points this year and has clocked some impressive times in the process, both at least 6 seconds quicker than any other race on the card. Music Drive recorded an 11-length victory last time after only coming off the bridle when leading at the at the last and the well-run nature of this event should suit him to a tee. This is his first start over fences under Rules but he looks an assured jumper and represents a yard which has gone mighty close to winning this race in the past.
5.20 1 pt – Taponthego
An ultra-competitive affair brings the curtain down on this year’s Festival and it could well provide the shortest-priced favourite in a handicap all week. There’s no denying that French import Kopeck de Mee could be well-in on his debut for Willie Mullins, particularly judged on his latest success when defeating one who’d beaten his now 148p rated stablemate with Timeform, but his skinny odds has resulted in value elsewhere. Novices have tended to dominate this race lately, the qualification criteria now set at five runs possibly as a result and it’s one who’s had that many runs that appeals the most. Taponthego has made a most promising start and his nine-length defeat of McLaurey reads very well with that one having landed a major handicap since. He’s found the drop back in trip against him the last twice and his latest run behind William Munny received a timely boost in the Supreme earlier in the week. Taponthego is already proven in a big-field event where the pace is strong from the outset and he can get firmly back on the up returned to a more suitable distance.
You can access the TV Focus selections and rationale at 5pm the evening before racing for £7.50 on the Timeform website.
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