Last race of the week: can Willie Mullins make it an incredible six on the day?

Friday: 5.30 CheltenhamMartin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle | 2m4½f | 4yo+, 0-145 | RTV

The Martin Pipe is established as an excellent breeding ground for future Irish Grade 1-winning novices and there are a number of contenders this season whose days in handicaps could be numbered.

Galopin Des Champs (142), Champagne Classic (138), Killultagh Vic (135) and Don Poli (143) each cashed in on lenient marks beneath the race's 145 ceiling and perhaps Hollow Games could be the one to make a mockery of his rating.

Third in consecutive Grade 1 novice hurdles, Hollow Games was a single-figure price for the Albert Bartlett before declarations and a mark of 143 may have surprised connections.

The owner-trainer combination have Ginto engaged in the Albert Bartlett earlier on the card, so their hand was probably forced to run here off that rating.

The drop in trip is not considered ideal for Hollow Games. He has shaped as if his future lies over three miles, although staying novice prospects have fared well in this race.

Some punters will find it tough to overlook favourite Langer Dan. The six-year-old was nine lengths clear of the third when dismissed by Galopin Des Champs in last year's running and returns off 2lb higher.

His comeback last of six at Taunton in February served the purpose of getting him fit and he is weighted to be competitive off 3lb lower.

Gigginstown have owned three of the last eight winners and their sole representative this year, Decimation, is a notable runner who has opened up at a monster price.

Like Langer Dan, Decimation warmed up for the Martin Pipe in February, shaping with promise when seventh in a good 16-runner handicap at Fairyhouse.

Langer Dan (left) finished second to Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe last yearCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Decimation came alive last spring. He finished a neck second in a Grade 2 behind Ashdale Bob, who ran a screamer in Wednesday's Coral Cup, before he was sent off 2-1 favourite for the Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle at Punchestown in which he split Fastorslow (second in the Coral Cup) and Winter Fog (placed in the Pertemps).

Henry de Bromhead's other runner, Grand Jury, is another to have been prominent in the Albert Bartlett betting for much of the season.

He didn't get home over 2m6f when sent off 100-30 for a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, having run second to Ginto in the Lawlor's Of Naas previously, and this distance looks perfect.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'This has been the plan for a long time'

Ben Pauling famously used some colourful language when interviewed after winning the Grand Annual with Global Citizen on Wednesday and there could be further expletives on the way if Quinta Do Mar can provide him with a fourth festival win in the finale.

The seven-year-old has had a decent break since falling at the last behind the reopposing Cobblers Dream in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton in January.

The trainer said: "I do think he'll run a big race. He's trained to the minute but we could do with the ground drying out a little bit, which it surely will. He's in the right place and this has been the plan for a long time. I think he's on a workable mark and we are very hopeful of a good showing."

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Hollow Games, The Goffer, Chemical Energy, Au Fleuron, I A Connect and Perfect Attitude
Hollow Games has put together two good runs in Grade 1s. This is probably a drop in class for him and all his form this season suggests he's got to be right there. Chemical Energy won at Fairyhouse in November and we decided to put him by and freshen him up for this afterwards. We feel there is more to come from him. The Goffer has progressed really well since the start of the season and comes here on the back of a career best at Thurles. That race can be a good trial for this and he's coming forward at the right time. Au Fleuron has put together a series of solid runs and now that he moves up to this trip he could have more to offer. I A Connect did well for us in the autumn and showed a nice level of form. He had a break over the winter with a view to coming here and I couldn't be happier with him. Perfect Attitude is a solid horse and this trip, track and race could be right up his street.

Hollow Games: one of six in the race for Gordon ElliottCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Earlofthecotswolds
He was magnificent last weekend on the Flat when winning at Kempton. He must have a good chance.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Ilikedwayurthinkin
It's a bit of an unknown coming back over hurdles. He hasn't run over hurdles for a while and was beaten in this race off a 1lb higher mark in 2020. He needs to find improvement to have a chance.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Langer Dan
He had a run at Taunton the other day, which he desperately needed. Two miles round there would be his absolute minimum. We've had this race in mind all season. He couldn't run in the autumn so we kept him fresh for this and he's got to have a chance but I don't feel it will be as easy as the bookmakers are making it look.

Ben Case, trainer of Cobblers Dream
It might be a blessing that we didn't get in the Coral Cup on Wednesday as the ground may have been a bit too testing then, whereas I expect it will have dried out a bit by Friday. He's won a big prize already in the Lanzarote so anything else will be a bonus. He's had a good break since Kempton and Jack Andrews knows him well having won on him at Doncaster.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Freedom To Dream
He's in good form and has a lovely racing weight. The easier ground will help him and I think he'll run a huge race. I think he will end up being a proper Graded horse over fences and that's the calibre of horse it takes to win this race. I think this is the best form that I've ever had him in to be honest.

Oliver Greenall, trainer of Herbiers
Hopefully the ground will dry out as he's better on a sounder surface and he needed his run at Kempton the other day as he's quite a stuffy horse. I think he's got something up his sleeve and I expect him to outrun his price.
Reporting by David Milnes

Friday's Cheltenham Festival previews:

1.30 Cheltenham: who will come out on top between star juveniles Pied Piper and Vauban?

2.10 Cheltenham: 'He's got a big chance' - who fancies their chances in a red-hot County Hurdle?

2.50 Cheltenham: 'He's got the class and the form' - leading Albert Bartlett quotes and insight

3.30 Cheltenham: leading trainers on their chances of winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup

4.10 Cheltenham: which trainer is taking the best horse he's ever brought to Cheltenham?

4.50 Cheltenham: Willie Mullins once again has good reason to be hopeful about the mares' chase

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