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5 Irish horses that can pay the bills, bust the bailout at Cheltenham

Angela Merkel thinks we’re in the bookies — here are five Irish fancies that you need to keep an eye on.

THERE’S ONLY ONE thing better than backing a winner at Cheltenham and that’s backing an Irish winner. That way, you get a sense of patriotism and some lovely lucre all rolled in to one neat four-legged package.

If you want to buy Irish, here are five of our top tips for this week. Feel free to disagree — we don’t mind so long as you tell us who is actually going to win.

1. Hurricane Fly

Race: Champion Hurdle (Tuesday, 3.20pm)

Willie Mullins’ Hurricane Fly is the horse that everybody is going to be talking about in Tuesday’s big race. The question is: which Hurricane Fly will show up? Will it be the one who stormed up Cheltenham’s famous hill to win this race in 2011? Or will it be the one who looked a shadow of himself when finishing third last year?

All the signs so far this season point towards the former, thankfully. If Hurricane Fly is back to his best, it will take something a very special run to stop him.

Odds: 2/1

2. Quevega

Race: OLBG David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (Tuesday, 4.40pm)

They don’t call Quevega “the wondermare” for nothing. In fact, that doesn’t even begin to do justice to how far she is ahead of her female peers. She has only been beaten once since 2009, a run which includes a jaw-dropping four successive wins in this race.

Nowadays Willie Mullins only brings her out once or twice a year for the big races, which she invariably wins. She can’t go on forever but you’d be a fool to bet against her this week.

Odds: 8/15

3. Pont Alexandre

Race: Neptune Novice Hurdle (Wednesday, 2.05pm)

If Hurricane Fly and Quevega have been the Irish stars of recent years, Pont Alexandre is one for the future. When Barry Geraghty calls a horse “a Denman in the making”, you sit up and pay attention.

This is only his third race but no horse has managed to come within 10 lengths of him in his two previous wins. Wednesday will be a little more of a test but there’s nothing to suggest that he won’t be good enough.

Odds: 7/4

4. Our Conor

Race: Triumph Hurdle (Friday, 1.30pm)

Friday’s Triumph Hurdle is one of the most competitive runnings of the race in recent memory, but Our Conor from the Dessie Hughes yard is the one they all have to beat.

After missing his Christmas race at Leopardstown due to a cough (we’ve all been there, don’t judge him), he turned heads with a superb performance to win the Spring Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. A repeat of that run will give him every chance.

Odds: 4/1

5. Sir des Champs

Race: Gold Cup (Friday, 3.20pm)

It has been seven years since an Irish horse last won the big one: the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Sir des Champs (another Mullins runner — are you sensing a trend here?) is our best chance of ending that drought.

Unfortunately this is a seriously competitive field. Anybody that knows anything about racing will tell you that horses like Bobs Worth, Silviniaco Conti and former winner Long Run have to be respected.

We know Sir des Champs stays up the hill — he won here the last two years — so if he gets his jumping right, he will be a legitimate contender.

Odds: 4/1

All photos (c) INPHO

Have we missed your Irish banker of the festival? Let us know in the comments section below.

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26 Comments
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    Mute Seannangle
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    Mar 11th 2013, 7:20 PM

    Try 5 euro accumalator on those horses that returns in excess of €1350

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    Mute Sean Flanagan
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    Mar 12th 2013, 7:18 PM

    Took your advice and did just that… so far so good…

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    Mute Annemarie
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    Mar 11th 2013, 9:24 PM

    Ruby to win the first race on champagne fever..

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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Mar 11th 2013, 9:50 PM

    The ground is certainly going in his favour

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Mar 11th 2013, 7:11 PM

    Pretty short prices there to pay the bills for a small gambler. Any 25/1 shot that could cause an upset.

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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Mar 11th 2013, 9:50 PM

    Have a look at Munkerty Tunkerty at 16/1 tomorrow! Solid chances. Have him each way if you’re sceptical :)

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    Mute louise finnegan
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    Mar 12th 2013, 12:37 AM

    Have a look at benefficient he is running on tue and thur. He won twice in the last year at crazy odds

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    Mute joe o shea
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    Mar 11th 2013, 8:07 PM

    I like Tullamore Due and planet of sound in 2 40 go good on soft ground also bostons angel in 4.00 cross country chase

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    Mute Kenneth Bambrick
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    Mar 11th 2013, 7:45 PM

    cardigan in the 2:30 he’s a good jumper,

    foundation last race tomorrow ye put you’re house on it.

    top tips for tomorrow best luck.

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    Mute Patrick Agnew
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    Mar 11th 2013, 8:25 PM

    Jeez… I actually looked up foundation in last race card tomorrow. “Doh!!!!!!”

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    Mute Thomas Barry
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    Mar 11th 2013, 8:43 PM

    Dusty carpets. Never been beaten.

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    Mute John Carolan
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    Mar 11th 2013, 9:06 PM

    The squirrel each way…he should be in the first tree…

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    Mute Thomas Barry
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    Mar 11th 2013, 9:10 PM

    Tarzan always ends up in the top tree aswell

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    Mute buyinitaly
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    Mar 11th 2013, 7:32 PM

    I want Sean Fitzpatrick to be my Banker for cheltenham!!!!!! get on

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    Mute Eoin Lynch
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    Mar 11th 2013, 8:38 PM

    I’ll probably be the only person alive laying quevaga tomorrow. Serious fancy for une ariste to take it

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    Mute joe o shea
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    Mar 11th 2013, 8:14 PM

    And i feel the fly will be lay of meeting for me zarkander great chanc but im in gradouets camp

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    Mute Mary Cleary
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    Mar 11th 2013, 10:12 PM

    Watch out for Loose Button. Sure to come off!

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    Mute duzB
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    Mar 11th 2013, 7:31 PM

    All with great chances and worth €5 accumulator.
    @Begrudgery – Try Howard’s Legacy 5.15 tomorrow in to 16/1 from 25′s. Irish bred horse?

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Mar 11th 2013, 8:20 PM

    might get on that.

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    Mute Relevent?
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    Mar 12th 2013, 4:47 PM

    @duzB if Howard’s legacy comes in top 3 I get €1800!!!! From a €4 bet, just from the posts I read here last night!!

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    Mute duzB
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    Mar 12th 2013, 5:07 PM

    Geez – good luck – I’m sweatnyself :)

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    Mute john michael
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    Mar 12th 2013, 12:25 AM

    Quevega is a banker but Rock on Ruby will beat Hurricane Fly.

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    Mute Dave Fingleton
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    Mar 12th 2013, 9:15 AM

    you’ll get 25/1 on pique sous, a mullins trained horse in the 1.30 today…definitely worth an e/w punt..

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    Mute Red4fred
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    Mar 11th 2013, 11:33 PM

    Slightly Taller looking good. He will be ahead all the way on Friday.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    Mar 12th 2013, 12:07 AM

    An e/w accumulator here provides good insurance

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    Mute Lashes
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    Mar 12th 2013, 3:43 AM

    Colour squadron in last tomorrow…. Money from America

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