Cheltenham Festival 2025: Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Day 4

Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Day 4 At Cheltenham 

• Tanya Stevenson's Panel Selection 1: McLaurey (NB) - County Hurdle (14:00) - Win
• Tanya Stevenson's Panel Selection 2: Derryhassen Paddy - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (15:20) - Each-Way
• Tanya Stevenson's Panel Selection 3: Inothewayurthinkin (Without Galopin Des Champs) (NAP) - Gold Cup (16:00) - Win  

Tanya Stevenson Panel Tips 1: Inothewayurthinkin (Without Galopin Des Champs) - Gold Cup (16:00)

Gold Cup Day could be a day when we witness history with Galopin Des Champs winning one of the sport’s blue riband races for a third time.  

In his four previous visits to Cheltenham, he has won the Martin Pipe at 8-1, won two Gold Cups, with a fall in the Turners Novices' Chase in between.  

After falling on State Man, Paul Townend’s form figures have been F035PP0, and two of those have been favourites on horse racing betting sites.  

Cheltenham is so competitive that there are not going to be many jockeys without wins and Paul has ridden two.

I suppose when you are dealing with a legend like Galopin Des Champs, it's cruel, but you have to pounce on any weakness.

That said, I'm not going to go against him. Instead I'm going to the 'betting without' market for the Gold Cup and my nap - Inothewayurthinkin. 

He has been brilliant since winning the Kim Muir, which he did in a stroll. He then went to Aintree and taught Iroko a lesson in the Grade 1 Mildmay. 

The seasonal debut was that of a slow old boat, though it was in the Grade 1 John Durkan against Fact To File, Spillanes Tower, Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow. 

A great way to get acquainted with the best around and see if you can lay up with them over a mile shorter than required.

Next up Gavin Cromwell put him in the Savills Chase over three miles and he loomed large into the contest about three out, then just blew up two out and sauntered home in fifth place behind Galopin Des Champs. 

My eye had been caught and I couldn’t wait for his next appearance, and he didn’t disappoint.

In the Irish Gold Cup, he was given so much to do, it was almost as if he was heading for the Grand National.  

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No doubt a decision was made to steer clear of any tough battles and he made up an enormous amount of ground too, only be beaten seven lengths in fourth by Galopin Des Champs.  

No surprise then that he has been supplemented for the Gold Cup. He could even win it as the distance will suit now he is back over 3m 2f and not three miles.

My nap is Inothewayurthinkin without Galopin, but he might just gallop on by, so I have a little saver to win the Gold Cup, where it might be his year in 2026.

Inothewayurthinkin is owned by JP McManus, who has already gone through the 80-winner barrier for the meeting with The New Lion on Wednesday.

Tanya Stevenson Panel Tips 2: McLaurey - County Hurdle (14:00)

That tally may increase further with McLaurey, who we haven’t seen the best of yet.  

Mind you, I was a bit perturbed that there were only 16 runners in the County Hurdle. Normally they are queueing up to get in.  

Instead, it looks like a Willie Mullins morning gallop. After the Cheltenham we’ve had to date, never be scared of one horse, is never more pertinent.

Everyone has latched on to Townend riding in a handicap and he is on Kargese, who is normally found running in Grade 1s. She comes into the race off 141 and she won't have it all her own way as last year's winner and stable companion Absurde returns. 

Don’t forget to check out Hansard. The form of his last race reads well now, third to Golden Ace and Burdett Road in the Kingwell. Even if the big heroes had stood up, that form would have been franked as those two would have run brilliantly.

McLaurey could develop into a very nice horse. He has shown tactical acceleration in a short space of time. Back in November, it was quickly discovered that 2m 4f was too far. He couldn’t retain his speed as he raced too free and green.  

However, Emmet Mullins tried again over a furlong shorter only to bump into James’s Gate. He crept into the race, but once again ran a little green. Forty Coats, who was third ran a cracker with a brilliant fourth in the first race on Wednesday at the Festival.

Dropped to two miles for another maiden, this time at Limerick, he waltzed home. He would have expended more energy heading down to the start. 

Then he headed to the Dublin Racing Festival, and was thrown straight into a Listed Handicap Hurdle and he won with total maturity. He is up plenty for that and it might be a year early, but I'm hoping he can improve again.

Tanya Stevenson Panel Tips 3: Derryhassen Paddy - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (15:20)

Lucinda Russell has already won the Ultima with Myretown, one of the gambles of the Festival. There were also follow up trickles in the market for her pair in the Grand Annual in Primoz and Traprain Law. 

She has won an Albert Bartlett before with Brindisi Breeze, and I get the impression connections think really highly of Derryhassen Paddy. He has been wrapped up in cotton wool and only brought out on the odd occasion.

He won an ordinary bumper at Ayr in February. Then he wasn’t seen for 272 days, when he won his maiden hurdle in economic and slick fashion over 2m 4f at Uttoxeter. 

He was next seen at Windsor, where he rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in a protracted battle with Honky Tonk Highway. He was even headed at one point. 

Windsor is so tight and sharp, the complete opposite to what Derryhassen Paddy needs. He’d have more room racing round Cheltenham’s paddock. 

He comes into the Albert Bartlett, fresh and a bit of an unknown. It’s generally a gruelling contest, but his 'will not be denied’ attitude at Windsor showed he has what it takes.