The Cheltenham festival comes to an end on Friday afternoon with Gold Cup day rounding off a thrilling week of horse racing. Ahead of the final day, we have picked out our favourite each way picks backed up by trends and statistics.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Each Way Picks
- 2:10 County Hurdle: Zenta @ 11/1
- 2:50 Albert Bartlett Novice’s Hurdle: High Class Hero @ 7/1
- 3:10 Cheltenham Gold Cup: Gerri Colombe @ 10/1
How Does Each Way Work?
Betting on a horse each way means that you’re backing the selection to both win AND to place in the race – with punters receiving a percentage of their stake back for a placed finish depending on the odds.
If your selected horse crosses the line first then you win the full returns of the bet – with bookmakers paying out the full sum of the winning slip.
All bookmakers will advise how many places the race pays out to prior to the start of the event as well as the odds on a place.
For example if a race was to have 1/5 each way odds for 3 places and your horse placed, you would receive 1/5 of the total returns on the slip.
Using each way betting is especially good for horses with longer odds, as even a place in the frame can get the punter a decent return of profit.
2:10 County Hurdle: Zenta @ 11/1
Our first each way selection for the final day of Cheltenham this year comes in the County Hurdle – with the 11/1 priced Zenta a good selection at slightly longer odds.
Zenta has raced just once at Cheltenham but she showed good form last year when being beaten by one of this year’s standout winners so far.
Lossiemouth beat Zenta in the 2023 Triumph Hurdle in an impressive performance but the Willie Mullins trained stablemate certainly didn’t let Lossiemouth win without putting up a fight.
Zenta travelled well throughout the race and up until the final furlong Mark Walsh’s ride was bang in contention, only for Lossiemouth to stylishly pull away in a breakout performance.
The J. P. McManus owned horse has suffered with mixed form since an impressive third in last year’s Triumph Hurdle – but we think back at Cheltenham Zenta can put in another good run.
In her last two runs Zenta finished behind some smart rivals, including a close third to Magical Zoe when last seen at Leopardstown.
There are so many likeable horses that could win the County Hurdle this year but Cheltenham form is crucial at the festival and Zenta certainly has that.
2:50 Albert Bartlett Novice’s Hurdle: High Class Hero @ 8/1
Willie Mullins has absolutely wiped the floor with all other trainers at this year’s Cheltenham festival and we are backing the Irish trainer to pick up yet another winner on Friday with High Class hero.
The Albert Bartlett Novice’s Hurdle on Gold Cup day is one of the toughest races to call, with the field 6/1 bar Willie Mullins’ Readin Tommy Wrong who is the 9/4 favourite with Lucky Block.
Willie Mullins trains the top three in the market (at time of publication) and we fancy High Class Hero as a slightly longer each way play.
High Class Hero has shown promise in all of his races so far, finishing first in every ride except one when narrowly losing out to American Mike back in 2020.
Patrick Mullins takes the ride on Friday afternoon for the first time with usual jockey Paul Townend riding the favourite in the market.
High Class Hero has done nothing wrong in his career so far and now taking part in a first graded race of his career we certainly think High Class Hero has a chance of upsetting the odds or at least placing in the top four for place money.
3:10 Cheltenham Gold Cup: Gerri Colombe @ 10/1
Gerri Colombe has only ever raced at Cheltenham once, with the Gordon Elliott trained ride finishing second to the Real Whacker at the 2023 festival.
The Real Whacker just edged Gerri Colombe in a Brown’s Advisory thriller that came right down to the line in a nail biting final furlong for backers.
Gerri Colombe impressed with his staying ability up the home straight, which is something that we have taken into account when selecting this each way pick.
The latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds have Galopin des Champs as the clear favourite to retain his title this year and others may simply be fighting for a spot in the frame.
Last time Gerri Colombe raced he faced the Willie Mullins trained Galopin des Champs and was simply no match – finishing 23 lengths behind the current Cheltenham Gold Cup champion in a convincing Leopardstown run.
Outside of Galopin des Champs we think the value in the Gold Cup comes from Gerri Colombe who may relish the conditions at Cheltenham more than last time out in Ireland.
Jack Kennedy is back in the saddle on Friday afternoon and the jockey will be confident of a good run in the Gold Cup with form figures of 1112 on Gerri Colombe.
Lucky Block currently have Gerri Colombe priced at 10/1, with a £10 each way bet returning £70 for a win or £16.25 for a place (paying out to three places at 1/4).
