Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024 tips, odds, runners and prediction
Jamie Radford is going against the market for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The blue riband event of National Hunt Racing is undoubtedly the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The feature race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is worth over £350,000 but 1st place means so much more than the money on offer.
Galopin Des Champs bids to join an exclusive list of back-to-back winners on Friday. With Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin recently ruled out, his old nemesis Fastorslow may prove to be the biggest danger in what will be their fourth head to head.
Although Galopin Des Champs is 2-1 down in those contests, his recent victories as well as his course form leaves him a firm favourite to become a dual Gold Cup hero.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners
Galopin Des Champs
The defending champion, a two time Festival winner who is really a three time Festival winner given his fall in the Turners - a horse who’s been given the 7th highest Timeform rating of all time, yet on Friday at 3.30pm all of that will mean nothing.
When the tape goes down, when the crowd roars and then silence takes over, he will have to prove it all again. Despite putting up a career best over Christmas in the Savills and finally getting the better of rival Fastorslow in the Irish Gold Cup last time out, the son of Timos hasn’t won over every critic in the game.
Indeed, his win in the race last year didn’t wow me as it wowed many. 2nd placed Bravemansgame has always been a doubtful stayer as many King George winners are, and he got given an excellent ride out the back off a strong pace.
He doesn’t seem to attack his fences anymore. He is now ridden more patiently and I would worry over the lengths he will use over the 22 fences. Fastorslow has impressed me more in that regard and has a big chance of overturning the form.
Fastorslow
2nd in last year’s Ultima, it was a shock to many when Fastorslow popped up at Punchestown to defeat the Gold Cup 1-2 at odds of 20/1. Yet he confirmed his ability when winning the Grade 1 John Durkan on reappearance, a race where he again beat Galopin Des Champs.
He gained over 10 lengths on Galopin Des Champs that day, who’s jumping was messy and jumping is the asset he must use to win again.
Although he was beaten in the Irish Gold Cup last time out, it was a messy race with Galopin Des Champs making the running in a four runner race.
He’s been given a wind operation since too and I think a bigger field, nicer ground and an extra five additional fences to jump will all be in his favour. Available at an each-way price, he seems a more appealing betting proposition.
Gerri Colombe
Although he was defeated in last year’s Brown Advisory, he seemed to everyone to be the horse to take out of the race regarding next year’s Gold Cup. Gerri Colombe isn’t a horse equipped with a turn of foot, but he gallops on relentlessly and has stamina in abundance.
Bobs Worth and Native River’s Gold Cup wins have shown the importance of stamina rather than speed; however, he was more than disappointing over Christmas when granted his favoured soft ground as he trailed in 23 lengths behind the favourite.
He's been kept fresh since and has won every time first time out and one must believe it was too bad to be true last time out. Then again, his novice form can be picked at with Brown Advisory winner The Real Whacker also disappointing this season and there is a possibility that last year’s novice crop were below par. He has the qualities made for the race but the question mark lingers over his ability in open company.
L’Homme Presse
This 2022 Brown Advisory winner has had a patchy profile ever since his Cheltenham romp. He beat subsequent Aintree winner Ahoy Senor that day and returned the following season with a big weight win in the Rehearsal before a fall at the last in the 2022 King George when booked for 2nd behind Bravemansgame.
He’s a Kempton specialist so that run is more than respectable but we had to wait until January of this year until we saw the son of Diamond Boy again. He beat Protektorat that day who’s seemingly been beaten by many this season and his 2nd in the 1965 Chase at Ascot caused many to lose hope.
However, he has a proclivity to jump out to his right and so a run round Ascot wouldn’t have suited. With two runs under his belt, he may be ready to bounce back to his best now upped in trip. Having never run over further than three miles, he’s unexposed at this sort of trip and he’s an interesting contender.
Bravemansgame
Out of his 18 runs over obstacles, Bravemansgame has come 1st or 2nd 16 times. Mr Consistent has continued that into this season, finishing 2nd three times in a row.
Although that sounds great on paper, defeats at his favoured Wetherby and Kempton didn’t inspire confidence especially given that Cheltenham wouldn’t seemingly play to his strengths. This son of Brave Mansonnien jumps economically and often travels smoothly into his races before flattering to deceive.
His tendency to find little when asked for effort doesn’t inspire confidence around Cheltenham, especially around the new course. Last year’s rendition showed his doubtful stamina reserves and he comes into this year’s race with a slightly worse preparation. He jumps well and his consistent but doesn’t hold a winning chance.
Corach Rambler
Having won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, including when beating Fastorslow last year, it might seem surprising this Gold Cup hero is available at 20/1.
Although his defeat in November’s Betfair Chase didn’t inspire confidence, Race IQ data showed he gained the most lengths jumping throughout the entire field and this Grand National winner has always seemed to come best in the Spring.
He’s been given time off since that run and comes here fresh as he did for last year’s festival. He can jump round and get in the frame at big odds without threatening the principles.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips & Prediction
1pt win Fastorslow @ 5/1
I am keen to oppose the favourite at the odds available and although Shishkin initially seemed an ideal candidate, his withdrawal has left me with Fastorslow.
Martin Brassil’s horse has already beaten Galopin Des Champs twice and I would urge people to ignore his last defeat in a muddling four runner contest on horrid ground.
Galopin Des Champs can go very close if jumping well but I worry about it and am willing to take him on with a daunting 22 fences to jump. L’Homme Presse and Corach Rambler are ideal each-way bets at bigger odds. Here’s my prediction for the top three:
Fastorslow
L’Homme Presse
Corach Rambler
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