Cheltenham Gold Cup runners, riders, favourites & odds for 2024: full horse list
L’Homme Presse is firmly back on track as a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup runner for Venetia Williams after the nine-year-old, having his first start for over a year, beat Protektorat two and a quarter lengths in the Fleur de Lys Chase at Lingfield.
Galopin des Champs, the short-priced favourite and last year’s winner, may not have been quaking in his stable at the result but it was a good return for the horse who won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the festival in 2022. He had not run since unseating Charlie Deutsch when booked for second behind Bravemansgame in the 2022 King George.
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is run on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival.
This year, the race is on Friday, March 15 and will start at 3.30pm.
How can I watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The race will be broadcast live on free-to-air television by ITV1. It will also be shown on Racing TV for subscribers.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024: horses and odds
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- Ahoy Senor 9, Mrs C Wymer & Mr PJS Russell, Lucinda Russell – 66/1
Hugely talented on his day and with two Grade 1s to his name, he has the ability to mix it with the best. This season has not gone to plan though having been pulled-up twice. Supporters will point to the fact that he usually comes alive in the spring but he has got a long way to go on this season’s form. Could well go straight to Aintree. - Bravemansgame 9, John Dance and Bryan Drew, Paul Nicholls – 20/1
Consistent but has found one too good on each of his three starts this season. May well have been hard done by in the King George after being hampered somewhat at the last but connections may feel that was a race for the taking after the departure of Shishkin. He did run a mighty race in defeat in the Gold CUp last year and will be in the shake-up again if bringing that level of form. - Conflated 10, Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott – 100/1
Very classy at his best but, now 10, he has not been able to replicate the lofty performances of his younger days. Entered for the Cross-Country and immediately installed as favourite. All indications are that will be his target come March. - Corach Rambler 10, The Ramblers, Lucinda Russell – 25/1
Last year’s Grand National winner will once again have Aintree as his main focus but connections have already indicated that this will be his tune up. Has won at the last two festivals and as such will be of interest as a live outsider to pick up some place money should things turn into a slog. - Datsalrightgino 8, The GD Partnership, Jamie Snowden – 40/1
Has earned the right to have this as an option after winning the Coral Gold Cup on Newbury. However, he would need to find 20lbs of improvement and the very least to get in the shakeup at least. - Envoi Allen 10, Cheveley Park Stud, Henry de Bromhead – 50/1
A three-time festival winner, who has the pedigree to make his presence felt. Yet to win this season and the form of his second behind Gerri Colombe took something of a hit when that rival was slammed by Galopin Des Champs at Christmas. Ryanair might well be his final target, with three miles maybe something of a stretch. - Fastorslow 8, Sean & Bernardine Mulryan, Martin Brassil – 5/1
There is a feeling this eight-year-old has plenty more to offer. Only just touched off at last year’s festival but has taken his form to another level since, winning a pair of Grade 1s including a defeat of Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown. We were denied a re-match at Leopardstown over Christmas but we’ll almost certainly get it at Cheltenham. - Galopin Des Champs 8, Mrs Audrey Turley, Willie Mullins – 11/10
Untouchable in last year’s race and will likely be sent off a short-priced favourite again this year. Back to his very best when slamming Gerri Colombe at Leopardstown last time, in a performance that appears to put him a long way clear of his main rivals in the division. Will likely run in the Irish Gold Cup before Cheltenham. - Gentlemansgame 8, Robcour, Mouse Morris – 20/1
Will certainly get some attention from punters and likely bigger odds. Lightly raced in 2023 but has looked to have improved on past efforts, with a win and second in Grade 2 company. A race like this is certainly a step up but for those looking for a challenger with scope for improvement - this could well be your one. - Gerri Colombe 8, Robcour, Gordon Elliott – 10/1
It is tough to get away from the fact that he was soundly put in his place by Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown. Was certainly rounding into a major contender but now has to prove he has what it takes to seriously challenge the supremacy of Galopin Des Champs. The Irish Gold Cup will give him a chance to do just that. - Hewick 9, TJ McDonald, JJ Hanlon – 16/1
He has the story, the charismatic trainer and the toughness - but will that be enough in a race of this nature? Came from nowhere to win the King George late on but will have to tidy up his jumping markedly if he is to seriously challenge for honours at the festival. Connections have confirmed he will run. - Jungle Boogie 10, Malcolm C Denmark, Henry De Bromhead – 50/1
A fragile horse, who at the age of ten has just run five times under rules. Produced a career-best to win a Grade 3 at Tramore on New Year’s Day but will need to step up yet again if he is to enter calculations at Cheltenham. He is running out of time to show just how good he might be but as perhaps the least exposed horse in the race, he presents an intriguing conundrum. - L’Homme Presse 9, DFA Racing, Venetia Williams – 10/1
Back with a bang at Lingfield and now represents one of Britain’s best chances. Injuries have meant we have seen him on the track just three times since April 2022 but a smashing win over a decent yardstick in the Fleur De Lys Chase means he now has to be taken seriously. There is much to like about this previous festival winner. - Monkfish 10, Mrs S Ricci, Willie Mullins – 66/1
At one time he looked to be the coming superstar force in the staying division but rotten luck with injuries has curtailed pretty much all his progress. Completely outclassed when dropped into a Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown at the end of last season, Monkfish has not jumped a fence in public since April 2021. Tough to see him challenging if he’s pitched into deep water like this. - Nassalam 7, John And Yvonne Stone, Gary Moore – 40/1
The Welsh National winner has seen his mark vault 19lb since the start of the season. A tilt at the Grand National is likely to be on connection’s mind but you could hardly blame them coming to Cheltenham first. A proven stayer, he may well offer some each-way value should the ground come up testing at Cheltenham. - Protektorat 9 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales, Dan Skelton – 66/1
Has run in the last two Gold Cups and has far from disgraced himself in either. His third-placed finish in 2022 was an especially good effort but in truth the minor places are the best he can hope for. A solid run behind L’Homme Presse at Lingfield showed there is still some spark left but much more was needed if he was to hold serious credentials as a winner. - Royal Pagaille 10, Mrs S Ricci ,Venetia Williams – 33/1
A machine-like stayer on his day but also capable of wretched rounds of jumping that torpedo his chance. Back up to a career-high mark after breaking his Grade 1 duck in the Betfair Chase earlier this season but make no mistake, this would be a shock winner. - Shishkin 10, Mrs J Donnelly, Nicky Henderson – 9/1
Jump racing’s ultimate enigma. He might well be one of the five most talented horses in training but has a frustrating tendency to get in his own way. Failed to start on his intended seasonal reappearance before a jumping error cost him the chance to win the King George on Boxing Day. For all the drama, you do feel he has at least one more seismic performance in him. Will it come here? Will it come at Aintree? Who knows… - Stay Away Fay 7, Chris Giles & Dave Staddo, Paul Nicholls – 40/1
Rounding into the top staying novice on either side of the Irish sea. Landed 18/1 odds when winning at the festival last season and had gone from strength to strength since being sent over fences. This will be the one for him before long, but with Galopin Des Champs looking so strong at the head of the market it does not feel like the year to pitch a novice into a Gold Cup. - The Real Whacker 8, Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price, Patrick Neville – 40/1
After reeling off three straight wins as a novice chaser last season – including a win at the festival – this bold-leaping front-runner has plateaued somewhat. Pulled up in a big handicap at Cheltenham before finishing ten lengths behind Hewick at Kempton, he needs to re-discover something close to his best to realistically find himself in the shake-up.
