Galopin Des Champs is ready to put his name alongside the greats of the jumping game by landing the hat-trick but Steve Ryder and Andy Holding agree on the closest contender.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is not only the pinnacle of the final day of the Festival but is frequently dubbed the premier event of jump racing. It’s a Grade 1 contest held on the New Course, covering 3 miles, 2½ furlongs, and featuring 22 fences to be navigated. Nine runners have been declared for the race.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners, Trends & Stats
Golden Miller remains the record holder with five straight victories from 1932 to 1936, but Galopin Des Champs could join the elite trio of Cottage Rake (1948–1950), Arkle (1964–1966), and Best Mate (2002–2004) by securing a third consecutive win.
Willie Mullins guided Al Boum Photo to successive Gold Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2020, though the horse could only manage third when attempting a treble.
If you’re keen to take advantage of the best free bets for Cheltenham, here are some notable trends to consider for the Gold Cup:
- 24 of the last 25 winners were aged between seven and nine.
- 22 of the last 25 winners had competed in 12 or fewer chases.
- Nine of the last 11 winners were trained in Ireland.
- Four of the last six winners were under Willie Mullins’ stewardship.
- Four of the last five favourites have emerged victorious.
- 20 of the last 24 winners had previously won or placed at the Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners & Contenders
Galopin Des Champs
This nine-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, would have an impeccable record of 10 wins from 10 left-handed chase starts if not for a fall at the final fence in the 2022 Turners Novices’ Chase.
He claimed the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle in 2021 and has won the Gold Cup in the past two renewals. Like last year, he was defeated in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on his seasonal return but has since looked majestic in both Grade 1 successes at Leopardstown.
Banbridge
Victorious in the Grade 1 Champion Chase over 2 miles, ½ furlong at Punchestown last term, Banbridge showcased his adaptability by outpacing Il Est Francais in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He’s likely to benefit from firmer ground at this year’s festival, having underperformed on soft terrain in last season’s Ryanair Chase.
Inothewayurthinkin
Last year’s Kim Muir Handicap Chase winner at the Festival, supplemented for this race at a £25,000 cost by JP McManus. A Grade 1 victor at Aintree last season, he struggled in his opening two outings this term before finishing fourth, 7¼ lengths behind Galopin Des Champs, in the Irish Gold Cup.
Monty’s Star
With just two wins from ten starts under rules, this horse took second in last season’s Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham and was runner-up in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown behind Spillane’s Tower. After a defeat as the odds-on favourite at Tramore on his return, he placed fifth, beaten 7¾ lengths by Galopin Des Champs, in the Irish Gold Cup.
Corbetts Cross
A commanding 17-length winner of last season’s National Hunt Chase, he followed up with a third-place finish in the Aintree Bowl as a novice. He hasn’t replicated that form this season, but a return to a longer trip and Cheltenham could spark a revival.
The Real Whacker
Trained by Patrick Neville, this nine-year-old won the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and returned to form with a Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase victory at Wetherby in November.
However, he finished fourth, 17½ lengths behind Banbridge, in the King George VI Chase and faces a tough task after pulling up in last year’s Gold Cup.
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Cheltenham Gold Cup Trainers & Jockeys to Watch
Willie Mullins waited until 2019 for his first Gold Cup success but has since added three more, claiming four of the last six runnings. Henry De Bromhead took the other two with Minella Indo in 2021 and A Plus Tard in 2022, and both trainers have strong contenders this season.
Pat Taaffe once held the jockey record solo with four wins (Arkle in 1964, 1965, 1966, and Fort Leney in 1968), but Paul Townend matched him with victories aboard Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020, and Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and 2024.
Gold Cup Ground Conditions & Weather
Galopin Des Champs has demonstrated his ability to win on varied ground, though the anticipated firmer conditions strongly favour Banbridge, who lacks the same versatility.
Inothewayurthinkin’s connections are hoping for softer ground to emphasise stamina, which could also boost Corbetts Cross, a 3-mile, 6-furlong winner on heavy going at last season’s festival.
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Gold Cup Pace and Tactics
Galopin Des Champs has led from the front in his last two Leopardstown outings but raced prominently in last year’s Gold Cup. Banbridge and Inothewayurthinkin are expected to shadow the favourite, aiming to mount a challenge as they turn into the straight.
Steve Ryder's Race Prediction
- Galopin
- Inothewayurthinkin
- Monty’s Star
Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
Galopin Des Champs is poised, as his odds imply, to secure a third straight win and join the ranks of Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate. Banbridge appears the most credible threat, though his price offers little value as an each-way option.
Steve Ryder has Inothewayurthinkin to finish 2nd in the race, while Andy Holding agrees that the Gavin Cromwell-trained seven-year-old has fair claims of justifying his late inclusion and appeals as the most obvious solution in the each-way alternative/without favourite markets.
