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The Magnificent Seven: Irish horses to follow at Cheltenham 2015

Irish punters could be left smiling this week as the largest battalion of horses from these shore...



The Magnificent Seven: Irish h...
Golf

The Magnificent Seven: Irish horses to follow at Cheltenham 2015

Irish punters could be left smiling this week as the largest battalion of horses from these shores make the much-anticipated trip across the pond in search of Cheltenham glory.

With the white flag about to be raised, we will mark your card with seven Irish horses who could excel around the undulations of Prestbury Park.

Many Irish runners trade at ridiculously short odds so the advice of renowned gambler Barney Curley to "always get the value" should be adhered to especially with the equine quality on show.

Listen into Off The Ball's bumper festival preview with Donn McClean and Ladbrokes' Hayley O'Connoe via the podcast player:

Arctic Fire (Tuesday, Champion Hurdle) 14/1

With all the talk surrounding 'Faugheen the Machine' and Ruby Walsh's decision to opt for the short-price favourite over dual winner Hurricane Fly, Willie Mullins' third string may have fallen through the cracks.

Guaranteed to revel at the track after last year's County Hurdle second, the strong-travelling 6-year-old has improved at a rate of knots this year and has little to find with last year's victor Jezki, who is a quarter of his odds.

 

Champagne Fever (Wednesday, Champion Chase) 6/1

After an indifferent season the dual Festival scorer Champagne Fever bounced right back to form with a smooth success at Gowran on Valentine's Day.

Champion trainer Mullins seems to be finally happy that two miles is his best trip having attempted three miles in the King George and his Festival figures of 112 leave Rich Ricci's charge bang in contention in a wide open Champion Chase.

 

Apache Stronghold (Thursday, JLT Novices' Chase) 5/1

Noel Meade has always held the son of Milan in the highest regard and his faith was reaffirmed with a battling defeat of Valseur Lido at the Hennessy meeting.

His jumping was much improved that day and having been only three lengths behind the well regarded Don Poli at Christmas, and with some doubts over the fluency of favourite Vautour, there is massive value to be availed of here.

 

Foxrock (Thursday, Ryanair Chase) 8/1

Gordon Elliott's Don Cossack tops the market but with doubts about his ability to cope with a left-handed track there may much more value in the rapid improver Foxrock, who was only three quarters of a length behind Carlingford Lough in the Irish Hennessy.

Ted Walsh's 7-year-old was supplemented to the field at a cost of £15K and having won over a similar trip at Leopardstown in January, he looks to have a lot in his favour.

 

Monksland (Thursday, World Hurdle) 16/1

With four-time winner Big Buck's retired, 2014 champion More of That on the sidelines and Annie Power set to tackle the mare's hurdle, this year's World Hurdle looks an open affair with the three-time Grade 2 winner given a great chance at a big price.

Monksland was exactly two years off the track when chasing home Lieutenant Colonel in the Christmas Hurdle and improved immeasurably to just run out of juice when beaten by Dedigout in January. Paul Carberry's mount carries a big chance.

 

Petite Parisienne (Friday, Triumph Hurdle) 9/1

With all the talk about favourite Peace And Co many other contenders are available at fancy prices, most notably Grade 1 scorer Petite Parisienne, who had stablemate Kalkir in arrears when scoring at the Leopardstown in February.

The likeable 4-year-old grey has had only two races under Rules and despite Nicky Henderson training three of the top four in the betting the Gigginstown House-owned runner is the value bet under Bryan Cooper.

 

Carlingford Lough (Friday, Gold Cup) 10/1

AP McCoy hangs up his saddle and whip at the end of the season and what a fairytale it would be to go out right at the very top with his third win in the blue riband, particularly on veteran trainer John Kiely's Carlingford Lough.

The JP McManus-owned runner has enjoyed a remarkable ascent since winning the Galway Plate in 2013 and can put last year's error-ridden RSA Chase run to the back of the memory en route to a historic success.

 

Bryan Cooper Top Jockey 8/1

And finally, for those of you believe in the passing of the torch you could do a lot worse than have a nibble on the immensely-talented Cooper to pick up the mantle from the retiring AP McCoy.

While Ruby Walsh trades at 2/5, Cooper, retained rider for all of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown runners, will have some plum mounts while also picking up some decent second string rides for Mullins as well as a host of other trainers.

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