Bravemansgame: 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup Odds For 2023 Second
Galopin Des Champs proved simply too strong for the gallant Bravemansgame when taking the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins, but with both horses still relatively young could the form be reversed in 2024? Paul Nicholls' charge certainly has a job on his hands to overhaul the majorly impressive winner, but he is a classy type himself and with another summer on his back to strengthen up the reigning King George champ's connections will be bullish about swapping silver for gold in 2024...
It has been a while since Paul Nicholls had a bona fide Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. Even the high class multiple King George and Betfair Chase winner Silviniaco Conti, a horse most would think looked tailormade for the test of a Gold Cup, never performed at Prestbury Park. With Topofthegame many thought Team Ditcheat had the perfect Gold Cup horse after his brilliant RSA win, but sadly injury curtailed his promising chasing career. All was not lost, however as coming through the ranks was the immensely promising BRAVEMANSGAME.
Always looking like a chaser in the making, his novice hurdle campaign showed his class with a fine Challow win before being outclassed by the exceptional Bob Olinger in the Ballymore at Cheltenham. While always optimistic, Paul Nicholls was not too disheartened on the day and insisted to all who would listen that this was a sensational chaser waiting for fences..He certainly lived up to his handler's hopes on his first few starts, jumping fences as beautifully as any novice we have seen in recent years.
After four brilliant wins over fences he headed to the 3 mile novice at Cheltenham unbeaten, but sadly was withdrawn on the day on account of the ground. He was sent fresh and as favourite to Aintree after this but could only manage a somewhat disappointing fourth behind Ahoy Senor and Le Homme Presse. Nicholls figured he had bottomed out for the year and promised even further improvement in 2022/23 when stepping into open company.
Starting as second favourite behind his Aintree conqueror Ahoy Senor on seasonal debut in the 2022 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, Bravemansgame put on an exhibition in how to jump a fence as a staying chaser by drawing away from Eldorado Allen to win the prestigious old race by 2 lengths. Back on song in great style, it was all systems go for the race many believe this horse is perfect for; the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The pride Nicholls felt when seeing his long term plan come together on 26 December 2022 was evident for all to see as his speedy stayer zipped around Kempton in a wonderful performance to claim the title his trainer has become synonymous with. As brilliant as he was that day, his detractors used how quick he was at Kempton as a stone to throw at him in regards his potential to fully stay the extended 3 mile trip of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
On the day Bravemansgame was strong in the market and his doubters were made to eat their words after he played more just a supporting part in a thrilling race, with both Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs proving with a gripping contest from the front that they were two staying chasers of the highest order. In the end, Bravemansgame just couldn't go quite as quickly in the finishing stages as the freakish talent that beat him, but his run in defeat was arguably a career best and stamina doubts were dismissed. Both the first and second that day were beaten in an upset at Punchestown next time out by Fastorslow in another gripping race, but we can put that down to both being not at their best following the Gold Cup.
Still only a nine year old, the prospect of more improvement in Bravemansgame is not pie in the sky and Nicholls' runner with even more stamina drilled into him could once again be Galopin Des Champ's greatest danger in his quest to retain the Gold Cup.
