Cheltenham Gold Cup: Race Preview & Odds
Here at Betting.Bet we take an in-depth look at Friday’s highlight, revisiting former Cheltenham Gold Cup renewals as well as looking forward to this year’s race, offering expert betting tips as well as the very best race odds and free bet offers
The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the National Hunt calendar, offering four days of top-class racing yet even a Festival of such high standing has to have a pinnacle and that comes in the form of the week’s blue riband event; the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. As the feature race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is also the week’s final Grade 1 race. Here at Betting.Bet we take an in-depth look at Friday’s highlight, revisiting former Cheltenham Gold Cup renewals as well as looking forward to this year’s race, offering expert betting tips as well as the very best race odds and free bet offers from our betting partners at NAGS Bet.
100 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024 and the past century has produced some memorable moments and seen some of the sport's biggest stars win past renewals of this iconic race. Former winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup include Golden Miller, Mill House, Arkle, Best Mate, Kauto Star and Denman.
Last year’s race was won by Galopin Des Champs to give trainer, Willie Mullins a third Gold Cup in five years. The eight-year-old is back to defend his title and is the red-hot favourite for Friday’s feature race. Galopin Des Champs heads to Cheltenham on the back of successive Grade 1 wins over at Punchestown in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup. Having also won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap in 2021, Galopin Des Champs is eyeing a third Cheltenham Festival win.
Who can stop Galopin Des Champs?
As good as Galopin Des Champs is, he is not unbeatable. Last year’s Ultima runner-up, Fastorslow has defeated Galopin Des Champs twice already this season and in with an excellent chance of landing the big one on Friday. Winner of the Punchestown Gold Cup last April, Fastorslow returned to the course to land another Grade 1 in November before being edged into second in last month’s Irish Gold Cup. Had had wind surgery since and will be a leading player once more.
Shishkin was expected to feature prominently in the Gold Cup reckoning after impressing in last month's Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase but on Wednesday he became the latest high-profile Nicky Henderson-trained horse to fall by the wayside. Shishkin will not run in the Gold Cup, with his Seven Barrows team now eyeing Aintree or Punchestown.
Owner, Brian Acheson has two big chances in Friday’s Gold Cup as he hopes to add another Grade 1 success to Slade Steel’s win in the Supreme on Tuesday. Gerri Colombe bids to win at the Festival for the first time having failed to justify favouritism in last year’s Brown Advisory whilst Gentlemansgame has certain place claims if reaching the levels shown when winning the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in November.
Last year’s Brown Advisory winner, The Real Whacker has been entered into Friday’s race but he hasn’t quite been at Gold Cup standard in three runs this season. The same applies to last year’s runner-up, Bravemansgame. The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old has failed to win any of his five races since landing the 2022 King George VI Chase at Kempton. Last year’s King George VI Chase was won by Hewick and although you should never downplay any King George win he can count himself fortunate that Shishkin fell when looking ready to take the race up.
There are a couple of real dark horses in this race that are worth serious consideration. Corach Rambler is a two-time Festival winner having won back-to-back Ultimas in 2022 and 2023 and having won last year’s Grand National the difficult conditions should suit. The forgotten horse in the race is Monkfish. Winner of successive Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 races in 2020 and 2021 before enduring a tough couple of years. Won a Grade 2 at Gowran Park in January and could be a real player if rediscovering his form of old.
Cheltenham Gold Cup odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin Des Champs | 112-311 | W P Mullins | P Townend | 11/10 |
| Fastorslow | 5521-12 | M Brassil | J J Slevin | 5/1 |
| Gerri Colombe | 1121-12 | G Elliott | J W Kennedy | 8/1 |
| Bravemansgame | 123-222 | P F Nicholls | H Cobden | 12/1 |
| L'Homme Presse | 13/1U-12 | Miss V Williams | Charlie Deutsche | 12/1 |
| Gentlemansgame | 713/1-21 | M F Morris | D J O'Keefe | 16/1 |
| Hewick | 1F1-401 | J J Hanlon | J C Gainford | 16/1 |
| Corach Rambler | 5411-53 | Miss Lucinda V Russell | D R Fox | 20/1 |
| Monkfish | 112/29-1 | W P Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | 22/1 |
| Nassalam | 307-411 | G L Moore | H F Houlihan | 25/1 |
| Jungle Boogie | 111/41 | H de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 40/1 |
| The Real Whacker | 111-P42 | P Neville | Sam Twiston-Davies | 40/1 |
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