Top Irish jockey Patrick Mullins, who has ridden eight Cheltenham Festival winners, reveals his best bet of the 2024 meeting – plus lifts the lid on TWO handicap fancies and his big-priced tip to look out for.
Patrick Mullins Cheltenham Festival 2024: “Fact To File My Best Bet Of The Meeting”
In a recent interview with the Racing Post, the son of Willie Mullins, Patrick Mullins, revealed that FACT TO FILE is his best bet of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
Fact To File, who is carries the famous JP McManus green and gold silks, was last seen winning the Grade One Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival – slamming stablemate Gaelic Warrior.
He’s now 2-from-3 over fences, having also won at Leopardstown over Christmas and now it’s all systems go towards the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
The conundrum for punters at this stage is that he’s entered in both the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on the Wednesday and the Turners Novices’ Chase on the Thursday.
However, with most UK horse racing betting sites now offering non runner, no bet so you can still wager on Fact To File in both races and be refunded on the one he doesn’t run in.
- Fact To File is currently 4/5 with Paddy Power for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Weds, 13th March) (NRNB)
- Fact To File is currently 6/4 with Paddy Power for the Turners Novices’ Chase (Thurs, 14th March) (NRNB)
Patrick Mullins said about Fact To File
“He got beat by a fast Flat-bred horse in the Champion Bumper last year, and a trip and fences were always going to be his game. He’s a beautiful horse to ride, big and comfortable, settled and sensible, with a high cruising speed and a change of gear. I’d expect him to be hard to beat and I really hope he can get to the Gold Cup next year.”
WATCH: Fact To File Winning At The Dublin Racing Festival
Patrick Mullins Cheltenham Festival Big-Price Fancy: “Predators Gold Looks A Big Price In The Baring Bingham”
When asked for a Cheltenham Festival tip at a big price, Patrick Mullins replied with PREDATORS GOLD, who is set to run in the Grade One Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday 13th March.
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud and is another trained by Patrick’s father Willie, this 5 year-old was last seen running second in the Nathaneil Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival (watch below).
Despite being sent off as the Evs favourite that day and being beaten into second by Dancing City, Patrick Mullins feels the horse, who has only had four career runs, is over-priced for Cheltenham and can “get involved”.
“I think Predators Gold is a big price in the Baring Bingham. He’s still unexposed and learned a lot in his last two runs. Expect him to be involved.”
- Predators Gold is currently 12/1 for the Baring Bingham (Weds, 13th March)
Patrick Mullins Cheltenham Handicap Fancies: Glengouly and Ocastle Des Mottes Catch The Eye
Finally, when asked about some horses to look out for in the handicaps – Patrick Mullins came back with two horses.
First up was GLENGOULY, who is set to run in the Ultima Handicap on the Tuesday (day one).
This Willie Mullins horse has returned this season with two solid seconds at Limerick and Gowran Park and Patrick feels the 8 year-old will appreciate the better ground.
The second Cheltenham handicap tip Mullins revealed was OCASTLE DES MOTTES, who holds an entry in the Coral Cup on the Wednesday (day two).
Patrick said that the horse was given a hard task last time out in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (8th of 16), but that came off a 238-day break and can be expected to be better for it (watch below).
The horse was also reshod at the start of the race that day, so that wouldn’t have helped and this Munir/Souede-owned horse is expected to run better.
“Ocastle Des Mottes was given a hard assignment first time out in the Betfair Hurdle and got quite wound up getting reshod before the start. He’s worth another try. Glengouly will appreciate better ground too.”
He’s also entered in the County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap.
- Glengouly is currently 14/1 for the Ultima Chase (Tues, 12th March)
- Ocastle Des Mottes is currently 20/1 for the Coral Cup (Weds, 13th March)
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