Galopin Des Champs heads the field in the blue riband event for the Cheltenham Festival.
15:30 Friday
The big race of the week comes on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival – who will win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Last year’s winner, Galopin Des Champs, will be looking to become a back-to-back winner of the race and is the hot favourite.
In the absence of Shishkin and Hewick, Gerri Colombe, L’Homme Presse and Fastorslow are his likeliest challengers this time around.
Let’s have a closer look at the top four in the market, as well as the 2023 Grand National winner, Corach Rambler.
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Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners
Galopin Des Champs - 11/10
A top-class staying chaser who was hugely impressive in winning this 12 months ago. He wasn’t at his best on his final day of the season in the Punchestown Gold Cup, but ran well to finish second behind
Fastorslow and then finished behind that same rival in the John Durkan on his return.
However, he’s looked as good as ever in two starts since, winning the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown over three miles and beat Fastorslow in the latest of those wins. He is a brilliant horse and should be very difficult to beat in his bid to win the race again for Mullins and Townend.
Fastorslow – 5/1
Martin Brassil’s charge has gone close at the Cheltenham Festival for the last couple of years and has taken his form to new heights since narrowly being denied by Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase last year.
He twice took the scalp of Galopin Des Champs in a pair of Grade 1 races and lost little in defeat behind that same rival in the Irish Gold Cup when last spotted. The eight-year-old should have more to come and should run well.
Gerri Colombe – 10/1
Has won nine of his 11 starts and finished second in the other two. He was unlucky not to win at this meeting last year when narrowly denied in the Brown Advisory, but made amends at Aintree’s Grand National meeting when successful in the Mildmay Novices' Chase.
He produced a late surge on his return to beat Envoi Allen but ran a touch below form when a distant second to Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase. On that basis, he has work to do to bridge the gap with the winner, but the longer trip will suit, and he has to be considered an each-way player.
L’Homme Presse - 12/1
Venetia Williams’ charge also has a good strike-rate over fences and is unbeaten in two starts at this course. He won the Brown Advisory two seasons ago and made a triumphant return to action in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield. after his late unseat in the 2022 King George (booked for second).
He couldn’t get to grips with Pic D’Orhy in the Ascot Chase last time out but still ran well to finish second and the return to this course will suit him a lot better. I can see him running well, but it is difficult to see him taking top honours in this deeper race.
Corach Rambler - 18/1
A smart chaser who twice won the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before a career-best performance in the Grand National last April at Aintree.
He could only finish a distant third in the Betfair Chase last time out, but he has been kept fresh since and this course plays to his strengths. If he can keep himself interested in the latter stages, he could sneak into the frame.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips & Prediction
The last two winning performances GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (tipped at 11/8) has delivered in Ireland suggest he could be an even better horse than last year and this race is tailor-made for him. He was too good for a few of these in his latest couple of wins and was so dominant in this race last year that he is difficult to oppose.
Galopin Des Champs, 2pts WIN, 11/8
GERRI COLOMBE (tipped at 10/1) bagged two Grade 1 wins last season and won another top-level race when edging out Envoi Allen on his Down Royal return last time out.
He was no match for Galopin des Champs in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but I’m sure he’s better than that, and he should run well with this stiffer finish more in his favour.
I have an inclination that Jack Kennedy will ride him positively on this occasion. His assured stamina and fluent jumping technique should give him a fighting chance against the favourite.
Four places are generally available and advised.
