Cheltenham Open Meeting (Paddy Power Cup)

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the highlight of this cracking three-day fixture and the main event is setting up nicely for Tikram, whose form was on an upward curve when last seen out in the spring. After coming from off the pace to win the Mildmay of Flete over course and distance, the seven-year-old came back to Cheltenham the following month to run another excellent race in a valuable handicap. All of which tells us that he loves the track, will find the trip and going ideal, and is still possibly improving. His trainer Gary Moore reports him to be in good nick for his reappearance after a racecourse gallop at Lingfield on Tuesday morning. The selection for this race would have been Martin Pipe's Our Vic, who was ante-post favourite for this race before a minor injury forced his withdrawal from the race on Monday morning. Pipe has won this race six times in all, so his remaining two runners still merit the closest attention, and the best of theses could be the relatively unexposed Celestial Gold. His future may be lie over longer distances, but with top weight Fondmort an intended runner he will have just 10st2lb to carry, and will be staying on well when some of the others have cried enough.Sunday's Greatwood Hurdle looks an ideal opportunity for Power Elite to take advantage of the 24lb he receives from former champion hurdler Rooster Booster. After a chequered juvenile season - won twice in good style but missed Cheltenham and Aintree due to muck in his lungs - he has returned to action fitter and stronger to win two flat races, showing a useful turn of foot to quickly settle the outcome. Those races will have put him spot on, while he should be well suited to this strong-galloping two mile contest after staying on well at the end of his races last season. If the weights stay as they are he would look well treated off just 10st2lb, and can take this race before going on to better things.Go to Bet365 for a free ten pound bet on this race! Bet365 Channel 4 OfferChannel 4 are showing 12 live races in total over the three-day meeting. Back a horse at 4/1 (or more) in any of these races and if it wins, we'll give you your winnings and a free bet to the same stake on the next Channel 4 race!For example - Have £50 on an 11/2 winner in the 13.45 Cheltenham on Friday. Have your £50 FREE BET on the 14.20 Cheltenham, the next live Channel 4 race. If your FREE BET wins at 4/1 or over, have another £50 FREE BET on the 14.55 Cheltenham.Live Cheltenham Channel 4 races (subject to change):-Saturday: 14.10; 14.45 (Paddy Power Gold Cup); 15.20; 15.55.Sunday: 13.35; 14.05; 14.40 (Greatwood Hurdle); 15.15.Channel 4 will also be showing one live race from both Uttoxeter and Wetherby on Saturday, and the Edward Hanmer Memorial Handicap Chase from Haydock on Sunday. Go to Bet365 for a free ten pound bet on this race!