Trying to find the best bets for the Cheltenham Gold Cup? We’ve researched key trends to give you some Cheltenham Gold Cup tips and insights ahead of the renewal.
We’ll look at front runners and favourites like Galopin Des Champs, Fastorslow and Shiskin and debate whether outsider Corach Rambler is worth betting on in our Cheltenham Festival odds.
Key Takeaways
- Current favourite to take the lead is Galopin Des Champs, followed by Fastorslow and Shishkin. Last year’s Ultima Handicap winner and Grand National winner Corach Rambler is an outsider after losing his last two races and not having competed since last November.
- The most successful Gold Cup horses are typically aged between 7 and 9, with a proven track record at Cheltenham, showcasing endurance and the ability to handle the course’s challenges; jockey experience and trainer history also play critical roles in determining the outcome.
- Betting strategies for the Gold Cup include paying attention to market movements, considering historical winner profiles, using expert tips and bet enhancements, and adapting bets to the latest odds and conditions, while avoiding impulsive betting. Visit our Safer Gambling Portal for more info.
Top Contenders for the Cheltenham Gold Cup Crown
A handful of the best horses steal the spotlight as the leading contenders for the Gold Cup. In recent times, Bravemansgame emerged as a strong contender after placing second at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
However, it is not merely about the favourites. Longshots such as Corach Rambler and Gentlemansgame, both with 20/1* odds, could provide substantial returns if they manage a placing. These horses, often overlooked, can sometimes be the dark horses of the race, shocking spectators with an unexpected win.
Let’s take a look at our Cheltenham Gold Cup odds.
The Favourites
- Galopin Des Champs – priced at 4/5* and trained by Willie Mullins, this 8 year old looks to be in prime condition to claim the Gold Cup as his own.
- Fastorslow – priced at 7/2* and trained by Martin Brassil this 8 year old beat the favourite at Punchestown on 26 November last year.
- Shishkin – priced at 7/1* and trained by Nicky Henderson, this 10 year old recently run and won at Newbury 10 February and shows he’s on form.
The Outsiders
- L’Homme Presse – priced at 12/1* and trained by Venetia Williams, this 9 year old hasn’t run at Cheltenham since he won the Brown Advisory Novices Chase in 2022.
- Bravemansgame – priced at 14/1* and trained by Paul Nicholls, this 9 year old recently always seems to be the bridesmaid and never the bride, placing second in their last 3 races.
- Corach Rambler – priced at 20/1* and trained by Lucinda Russell, it may shock some to see such a stellar horse priced at such long odds, but that’s just the nature of the game and shows the calibre of this race.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends: Past Winners, Expert Insights and Analysis
The pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival, there are some definite themes which have emerged over the years.
One thing for sure is that once a horse’s age hits the double digits, their record seems to take a hit. Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins have dominated the race in recent years with Paul Townend being the leading jockey.
Jockey Choices That Could Swing the Odds
The selection of a jockey can often change the tide of a race. The alliance of a jockey and a horse is a decisive factor in the result of a race such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Jockeys like Paul Townend, with a history of winning rides, serve as prime examples of how experience can lead to victory in the Gold Cup.
Taking a look at successful runner/rider pairings is key to weighing up the odds.
For example, Nico de Boinville is the only jockey to ride Shiskin since March 2019, there doesn’t seem to be any hints that this will change in the future, but it’s key information to have in mind in case of an injury or last minute switch up.
Also, no other jockey apart from Paul Townend has ridden Galopin Des Champs since April 2021, showcasing a winning pair with a jockey that has a 41% strike rate this 2023/24 jumps season.
Training Triumphs: Willie Mullins and Beyond
Trainers hold a significant role in leading horses to triumph at the Cheltenham Festival. Some notable trainers at the 2023 festival include:
- Willie Mullins, who has clocked in 3 wins.
- Paul Nicholls, who also has a total of 3 wins.
- Nicky Henderson with 2 wins
- Henry De Bromhead with 2 wins.
- Gordon Elliott, who is known to impact betting odds based on his festival performance record
Strategic Betting: How to bet smartly and safely on Gold Cup Day
Tactical betting is the central theme when it comes to the Gold Cup. One key strategy is to pay attention to big market moves at the Cheltenham Festival, as they are viewed more favourably than at most other meetings.
Nonetheless, you have to remember that what you see sometimes isn’t what you get at the Cheltenham Festival, with a 100/1 longshot occasionally wowing on the track and beating the favourite. For this reason not only do you have to make informed bets but you also have to place safe ones. Never bet more than you can afford to lose and use Safer Gambling Tools like deposit limits and time outs to help you.
Get all the latest odds and Cheltenham tips with us at BetVictor on our blog. Using expert betting tips, such as advice on which horse to back, along with bet enhancements like bet boosts, each-way extras, and free bets offers can be valuable assets for bettors. We’ve gone from the usual Ante Post betting to offering Non Runner No Bet on all 28 races, which means if you’re chosen pick is a no-show pony, we’ll refund your wager.
Galloping Towards Victory: Following Galopin Des Champs and Other Favourites
Is it wise to back the favourite? Here’s where all favourites ended up over the last 20 years (latest to oldest):
1, 1, 3, 1, 8, 2, 4, 1, 7, 5, 1, 3, 1, F, 1, 2, 1, 11, 1, 1
10 favourites have won over the past 20 renewals with an extra 4 placing in positions 2 and 3. So, if you’d backed the favourite to win every single time, you would have won 50% of the time, well above the 30% industry average for favourites.
Can an old horse learn new tricks?
The results are in and it seems that no, older horses do not fare well compared to their younger counterparts at the Gold Cup. For horses aged 10 and over since 2000:
- Zero 10 year olds have won
- 84 have competed
- 8 have placed
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Race Schedule Breakdown
The Cheltenham Gold Cup Day is not solely about the primary event. The day features a total of seven races, offering a variety of betting opportunities.
The day kicks off with the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 13:30 pm, followed by the County Handicap Hurdle at 2:10 pm, and then the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 2:50 pm. The highlight of the day, the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, takes place at 3:30 pm.
Post-Gold Cup, the horse racing action continues with the following races:
- St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at 16:10 pm
- The Mares’ Chase at 16:50 pm
- The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at 17:30 pm
The Winning Post: Recap of Recent Gold Cup Champions
Reflecting on the champions of the Gold Cup can provide essential knowledge for bettors. Recent victors include Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020), Minella Indo (2021), and Galopin Des Champs in 2023.
The winning legacy of trainers and jockeys is also paramount to the Gold Cup. Trainers like Willie Mullins and jockeys like Pat Taaffe, who is the leading jockey with four wins, have significantly influenced the event’s winning history.
Golden Miller’s unparalleled record of five consecutive Gold Cup wins from 1932-1936, and horses like Arkle and Best Mate, who have also achieved multiple victories, continue to be celebrated in Gold Cup history. Among all the horses, these champions truly stand out.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 6:45.46 | Galopin Des Champs (FR) 7yo 11-10 7/5F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2022 6:41.75 | A Plus Tard (FR) 8yo 11-10 3/1F | Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (IRE) |
| 2021 6:45.35 | Minella Indo (IRE) 8yo 11-10 9/1 | Jack Kennedy Henry De Bromhead (IRE) |
| 2020 6:50.38 | Al Boum Photo (FR) 8yo 11-10 100/30F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2019 6:39.06 | Al Boum Photo (FR) 7yo 11-10 12/1 | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2018 7:02.60 | Native River (IRE) 8yo 11-10 5/1 | Richard Johnson Colin Tizzard (GB) |
| 2017 6:36.10 | Sizing John (GB) 7yo 11-10 7/1 | Robbie Power Mrs John Harrington (IRE) |
| 2016 6:35.00 | Don Cossack (GER) 9yo 11-10 9/4F | B J Cooper Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2015 6:42.50 | Coneygree (GB) 8yo 11-10 7/1 | Nico de Boinville Mark Bradstock (GB) |
| 2014 6:43.88 | Lord Windermere (IRE) 8yo 11-10 20/1 | Davy Russell J H Culloty (IRE) |
Final Stretch: Last-Minute Tips Before the Big Race
As we near the closing stages before the grand race, there are usually last-minute alterations and updates that can profoundly affect the betting odds. For instance, heavy rainfall significantly affects the ground conditions at Cheltenham, favouring horses with proven form on softer ground. Bettors need to adjust their strategies based on the latest going reports. Situations such as a leading contender being withdrawn from the race due to a training injury, or a jockey change on a top horse due to illness, can also drastically impact the race outcome.
Moreover, late fluctuations in betting markets suggest insider confidence in an overlooked horse, and expert tipsters may revise their predictions based on the current conditions at Cheltenham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Galopin Des Champs is the favourite to win the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with odds of 8/11, implying a 57.9% chance of winning.
We’re offering Cheltenham Festival tips for every day of the festival with our expert tipster Sam Boswell.
A horse’s age between 7 and 9 is considered the peak performance years for staying chasers at the Gold Cup.
*All our odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
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