Friday's 2022 Cheltenham Festival tips: Best bets for the ITV races, Gold Cup and more

Scott Allen
17 March 2022

Flooring Porter ridden by Danny Mullins wins Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival

It's the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival and the Planet Sport tipsters are keen to end the week with a bang on Friday, March 18.

For racing fans Cheltenham Gold Cup day is a bit like Christmas Day, without the having to spend time with relatives you don't really like bit. Hopefully we can dish out some big gifts with our selection of hot tips on day 4.

The weather cleared for day 3 on Thursday and delivered Group 1 glory for Alloho, Flooring Porter and a very lucky Bob Olinger. They'll be some sore heads on Friday for the members of the large syndicate that owns Flooring Porter no doubt.

The Planet Sport tipsters kept up their good form by backing both Bob Olinger and Allaho, they also delivered a juicy 20/1 winner in Third Wind too.

So, on to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day and here's Planet Sport's list of top tips. If you want a bit more info as to why our tipsters have selected our Group 1 highlighted horses scroll down the page or visit the specific race tips pages and you'll find out why.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware tips might be updated if a horse becomes a non-runner)

Hot tips for day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle - Vauban

14:10 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle - State Man

14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Hillcrest

15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup - Galvin

16:10 St James' Place Hunters' Chase - Winged Leader

16:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase - Mount Ida

17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - Hollow Games

Strong each-way selections for day 4 of Cheltenham

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle - Doctor Parnassus

14:10 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle - I Like To Move It

14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Green Book

15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup - Chantry House

16:10 St James' Place Hunters' Chase - Pont Aven

16:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase - Zambella

17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - Freedom To Dream

13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle - Vauban

Jonathan Doidge, Planet Sport tipster: "I think Vauban has got a very very serious chance and he's one of the better Mullins picks of the week for me.

"Classy horse, I think they are aiming him for the Ebor, the Melbourne Cup longer term and if he's going to be competitive in races like that then he's going to be beating Pied Piper, Fil Dor or whatever else turns up to take him on in the Triumph Hurdle, so Vauban for me."

Full Planet Sport tips article on the Triumph Hurdle

14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Hillcrest

David Carr, Racing Post: "This is always a trappy race because it is always full of staying young hurdlers, you don't know how good most of them are but we do know that Hillcrest is really, really good.

"He's a giant of a horse, he stepped up again when he won at Haydock last time, I think there's still more improvement in him."

Check out Planet Sport's full list of tips for the Albert Bartlett

15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup - Galvin

Jonathan Doidge, Planet Sport tipster: "I've been keen on this horse since I saw him win the long distance, the three miles, six race last year with a bit of improvement in him and I think Galvin is made for a Cheltenham Gold Cup where we are going to get a pretty strongly run race as we usually do.

"A lot to like about his Savills Chase defeat of A Plus Tard, just don't think that horse stays quite as well as this one will, not staying it doesn't stay at all but this will be a couple of strides in front come the line. Just looks Gold Cup winning material."

Here's the Cheltenham Gold Cup article in full

How do I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV?

ITV's coverage, led by Ed Chamberlain and Francesca Cumani, is on from 12:50pm to 4:30pm on Friday, and will feature the first five races of the day. You can also catch the action streamed on ITV Hub.

Racing TV will have coverage of the last two races of the day.