One of horse racing’s most prestigious races, the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024 sees last year’s impressive winner Galopin Des Champs go all out for repeat victory for the Mullins yard
So we arrive at the race that everyone wants to see: the Cheltenham Gold Cup, among the most prestigious horse races in the world. The simple question is – can anyone keep up with returning champion Galopin Des Champs, a 7-length easy victor over Bravemansgame last year?
Bravemansgame returns for the Nicholls’ yard and is currently at 12-1 – a fair price in this company – but it’s Fastrorslow who surely poses the only threat to the 11/10 favourite. The only horse to have beaten Galopin Des Champs in the last 8 races – twice at Leopardstown – Martin Brassil’s charge is bound to give his best under J.J. Slevin, but barring any drama, second is surely the best he can hope for.
6 horse challenge tips on Gold Cup ay Friday at Cheltenham will be posted in our guide here.
Gerri Colombe runs for Gordon Elliot and 17/2 is a good reflection of his chances here. Black for a place if you can get 4 or more places from the bookies. A horse that we like a lot is L’Homme Presse from the Venetia Williams yard. 11/1 is a big price for the borse that we reckon could be one to cause an upset if such occurs with Charlie Deutsch at the reins.
We have to mention Henry de Bromhead’s entry Jungle Boogie. With Rachael Blackmore aboard the 28/1 shot has decent form, but we can’t dismiss this one from the places. Keep it safe and you might just come in nicely.
There’s little to say that the great Galopin Des Champs and Willie Mullins won’t retain the Gold Cup but this is Cheltenham and fairy tales do come true.
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Previous Update: An unbeaten record over fences when staying on all four legs Gallopin Des Champs has matured from a free going headstrong son of Timos to almost the perfect racehorse.
So why bother taking him on? I still have a few questions to ask about his ability even though he’s proved it in open company and against some pretty good novices.
His jumping this season early on in a race is something I’m a little worried about. In his races he has been a little sticky early on.
Other races of interest on Day 4 Friday:
- 13:30 Triumph Hurdle Tips
- 14:10 County Hurdle Tips
- 14:50 Albert Bartlett Tips
- 15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
- 16:10 Hunters Chase
- 16:50 Mares Steeple Chase Tips
- 17:30 Martin Pipe Tips
That would be something I’d be concerned about in a Gold Cup. They normally set off at a fair gallop and he may not be able to keep up with them even though he has form over shorter.
Read more about Cheltenham Festival tips at the 2024 Festival here.
That could just shuffle him back early on and that could be a concern for me. If the race turns into a stamina test i’m still not 100% it’s what he wants and could be vulnerable late on. For this reason I’m looking to take him on.
His stable companion Stattler, a previous winner at the Cheltenham Festival and followed Gallopin Des Champs home last time out, I think will come here with a strong chance.
A proper stamina test is exactly what he wants and that was clear to see when winning the National Hunt Chase last year.
He gets on well with Patrick Mullins who was careful with him last time but he still stayed on strongly.
He was narrowly denied by Minella Indo on his first start this season and was giving weight away to a former Gold Cup winner.
That was a serious performance and I think he’s an obvious value at 8/1.
Bravemansgame comes in here as a leading protagonist having won the King George and Charlie Hall this season. His performance at Christmas was superb and showed the stamina test was something he was bang up for. He went almost four wide that day jumping and travelling with ease against a rival who sadly won’t be appearing in this year’s field.
He showed a battling side to him last time and if the ground is good to soft at the maximum it’s something he will certainly enjoy.
The one thing that worries me is that he seems to be a better horse earlier on in the season and regresses as the season goes on but he seems to be a better horse now and I think if he runs to form he will be bang there.
A horse who I think could be a tad overpriced because of his connections and profile would be Sounds Russian. Before his run in the Cotswold when narrowly denied by Ahoy Senor I strongly fancied him to run a nice race before heading here.
He’s ran solidly in handicaps throughout the season and has progressed nicely when being beaten by Into Overdrive who has a leading chance in the Ultima earlier in the week.
If he had winged the third last which he had throughout the race I think he would have got his head in front and was possibly an unlucky loser. He jumps and he stays well. I think he has a solid each way chance for Ruth Jefferson.