'Pick your horse' ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Interest for the 2023 Gold Cup is building as we approach Paddy's day, with a number of contenders gaining momentum ahead of Friday afternoon.

In terms of popularity, the Gold Cup is second only to the Grand National. The blockbuster race, which is held on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, has the potential to change the lives of horses, jockeys, owners, and trainers, in large part because of the £625,000 prize fund.

A Plus Tard, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the competition, claimed victory in last year's race. Minella Indo, a stablemate and the defending Gold Cup champion, had cleared the final fence alongside A Plus Tard, but Blackmore's horse went in front just before the finish.

This year, A Plus Tard will once again be a contender and is one of the favorites in the ante-post market. However, Galopin Des Champs is the favorite in the betting, but Noble Yeats, the 2022 Grand National victor, is also well backed.

Overall, A Plus Tard is my pick as Rachel Blackmore jockeyed Honeysuckle to a first placed finish yesterday on the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle and the 2022 Gold Cup winner is well set ahead of Friday's race.

We have created this tool below to help you decide which horse to back in the Gold Cup if you're still undecided.