'I think he's a fine price' - Tom Segal and Keith Melrose are in agreement over who to back in this year's Gold Cup

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Top tipster Tom Segal and Racing Post betting editor Keith Melrose are against The Jukebox Man in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00) and both instead fancy Haiti Couleurs to land the prize.

It's a red-hot running of the Grade 1 and Harry Redknapp has a leading fancy in King George winner The Jukebox Man, but it's Rebecca Curtis who they believe can triumph on the day with Sean Bowen in the saddle.

• 4.00 Cheltenham: Harry Redknapp dares to dream of Gold Cup glory with King George hero The Jukebox Man 

For Melrose, this isn't the King George and, despite third-placed Gaelic Warrior and fourth-placed Jango Baie both lining up again, he expects things to work out differently.

Speaking on Racing Post's In The Know show, Melrose said: "The Jukebox Man gives you the impression he's a galloper, but all his finishes have been fast finishes, including the King George.

"Surely it's going to be a very different race from the King George, which is interesting considering how much of the book has been taken out by horses who finished within half a length in that race.

"I have backed Haiti Couleurs, he's come and won here, he has since won the Irish National and Welsh National."

Segal is in agreement but fears Willie Mullins' Gaelic Warrior, who finished behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup and won the Arkle in 2024, as a big danger.

Paul Townend takes the ride on Gaelic Warrior in the Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann

He said: "I think Haiti Couleurs is a fine price because, like Keith, I'm not certain The Jukebox Man is going to stay. I love Jango Baie and I think he's got a massive chance, but he does smack a fence from time to time, and he's going to have to be clean to win this.

"Gaelic Warrior is extremely dangerous and he would be the one I'd be most worried about, but if Haiti Couleurs gets rolling off the front, I think he's going to be really hard to pick up.

"The last furlong of Haiti's races are always the best. He's always going away from his pursuers at the line and if he gets into a rhythm out front, it's going to take a really good one to get past him.

WATCH: In The Know Cheltenham Festival day four preview

'He's a standout to me'

Keith Melrose believes that he has found a standout contender in 14-1 shot Hello Neighbour in the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (2.00). 

Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the five-year-old finished sixth in the Triumph last year and arrives here after two midfield finishes this season in hot races off a mark of 148.

Melrose said: "He had a spin round Cheltenham last year and is coming here very well handicapped.

"He went through the Triumph really well last year and then turned up for a third at Punchestown. If you look at his reappearance run in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown, he comes to the last five lengths down but that's the Champion Hurdle happening in front of him, that's proper form.

Hello Neighbour: Keith Melrose's fancy in the County HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

"It looks like they've lined him up for the County Hurdle and it looks like he's the kind of horse graduating up to that level. He was basically Grade 1 class last year and I think he's a standout to me."

Segal said about the Cromwell runner: "I know that horse like the back of my hand, I backed him for the Triumph last year. He's just got to settle and has got to get home because he doesn't hit the line very hard.

"That's the good thing, however, he's got the right man [Keith Donoghue] on board to do that."

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More key insight from In The Know

I think she's very very talented. I do slightly worry if she's a bit mad but I do think she'll be the best horse in this race.
Melrose fancies Selma De Vary in the Triumph (1.20)

He's going to love the trip, his pedigree says he shouldn't but the point-to-point form and the way he races suggest he will. I also know that I'm going to get a very nice smooth passage because that's what Keith Donoghue does.
Segal has landed on The Passing Wife for Gavin Cromwell at 10-1 in the Albert Bartlett (3.20)

Watch this next:

WATCH: It's Gold Cup day and Tom Segal and Keith Melrose are out to end the Cheltenham Festival with a bang 

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