The Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place on Friday 17th March and looks set to be a cracker of the renewal. Cheltenhamfestival.net have a full preview of everything you need to know about this year’s contest.
| Horse | Silks | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin Des Champs |  | Willie Mullins | TBC | 13/8 |
| A Plus Tard |  | Henry De Bromhead | TBC | 11/2 |
| Bravemansgame |  | Paul Nicholls | TBC | 13/2 |
| Noble Yeats |  | Emmet Mullins | TBC | 7/1 |
| Stattler |  | Willie Mullins | TBC | 8/1 |
| Conflated |  | Gordon Elliott | TBC | 10/1 |
| Shishkin |  | Nicky Henderson | TBC | 10/1 |
| Ahoy Senor |  | Lucinda Russell | TBC | 14/1 |
| Protektorat |  | Dan Skelton | TBC | 14/1 |
| Minella Indo |  | Henry De Bromhead | TBC | 20/1 |
| Hewick |  | John Joseph Hanlon | TBC | 20/1 |
| Sounds Russian |  | Ruth Jefferson | TBC | 20/1 |
| Fury Road | | Gordon Elliott | TBC | 20/1 |
| Capodanno |  | Willie Mullins | TBC | 33/1 |
| The Real Whacker |  | Patrick Neville | TBC | 33/1 |
| Royale Pagaille |  | Venetia Williams | TBC | 40/1 |
| Envoi Allen | | Henry De Bromhead | TBC | 66/1 |
| Franco De Port |  | Willie Mullins | TBC | 80/1 |
| Galvin | | Gordon Elliott | TBC | 80/1 |
| Eldorado Allen |  | Joe Tizzard | TBC | 80/1 |
| Angels Breath |  | Sam Thomas | TBC | 100/1 |
| Ga Law |  | Jamie Snowden | TBC | 100/1 |
| Coole Cody |  | Evan Williams | TBC | 100/1 |
This year’s Favourite runners and riders
Galopin Des Champs
The clear market leader, and deservedly so. Was cruising to victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase last year before a fall at the last, before signing off for the season in emphatic fashion when winning the Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.
Resumed this year with another impressive performance in a 13-length victory in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, before stepping up in trip in the Irish Gold Cup. It was another assured performance, finish eight lengths clear of runner-up Stattler, and proved why he’s been heading the ante-post Gold Cup betting for some time.
Willie Mullins has another star in his ranks and he looks the standout option in this.
A Plus Tard
Finished runner-up in 2021 before bolting up to win last year’s Gold Cup by 15 lengths, and returning winners have a solid record in the race. Something was clearly amiss on seasonal reappearance, where he pulled up in the Betfair Chase and hasn’t been seen on a course since. He goes well fresh though and looks to be the chief danger to the market leader.
Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls’ star put in a career best performance when bolting up in the King George on Boxing Day, and his trainer has said “he’s probably my best chance of a Gold Cup winner since Kauto Star”. He goes well fresh and he stands every chance of being in the mix here, providing his stamina holds out.
Noble Yeats
The 2022 Grand National winner came into reckoning for this when running out a game winner of the Many Clouds Chase in December. Finished third in the Cotswold Chase on his last appearance but was staying on well that day. Could become the third winner to win the Gold Cup and Grand National, after L’Escargot and Golden Miller.
Stattler
Won the National Hunt Chase at last year’s festival and has put in two excellent efforts this season, finishing a neck behind Minella Indo in January before chasing home Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. Will be the yards second string but more than capable of going well.
Conflated
Fell when going well in the Ryanair last year, and signed off for the season with a runner-up effort in the Betway Bowl Chase at the Aintree Festival. Could only finish third behind Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase on seasonal reappearance, but put in a superb performance to win the Savills Chase when last seen. He’s certainly capable of going well here.
Shishkin
Nicky Henderson’s star was back to his brilliant best when romping to victory in the Ascot Chase, but he’s more likely to go to the Ryanair, where he’s a firm favourite to win.
Ahoy Senor
Finished runner-up in last year’s Brown Advisory and has had mixed results this season. A poor effort in the Charlie Hall Chase was followed by a good third in the Many Clouds Chase, before another poor effort in the King George. He was back to his best in the Cotswold Chase, and will need to maintain that form to be in with a shout here.
Protektorat
Third in last year’s renewal, and won the Betfair Chase on seasonal reappearance. Could only finish fourth in the Cotswold Chase in January so will need to bounce back, but he’s capable of making his presence felt.
Minella Indo
2021 winner and runner-up in last year’s running. Won the Savills New Year’s Day Chase, a race that Al Boum Photo won before winning the 2019 + 2020 renewals. Will give his running but only one horse has even come back and won after losing his crown the previous year (Kauto Star), so a place looks his best chance.
Hewick
The Galway Plate winner was last seen in October winning the Grand National Hurdle Stakes in the US, but his stamina is assured and providing he handles Cheltenham, he could be in with an each-way shout.
Sounds Russian
Has impressed since stepping up in trip, and put in a career best performance when runner-up behind Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase in January. However, he would need to improve again to threaten here.
Fury Road
Finished third behind Conflated in the Savills Chase in December, before filling the same spot behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. The Ryanair looks a more likely option for him, where he’s single-figure odds.
Capodanno
Has only had the one run this season, when third in the Red Mills Chase. Finished fourth in last year’s Brown Advisory and would need to improve to be in the reckoning here.
The Real Whacker
Has impressed since joining the Patrick Neville yard, winning both his races and was impressive when landing the Dipper Novices’ Chase last time out. Looks more likely to head to the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, where he would have a stronger chance of winning/placing.
Royale Pagaille
Finished fifth in last year’s renewal and chased home Bravemansgame on his sole race so far this season, in the King George VI Chase. Capable of running into a place if the heavens open, but a slim chance if the ground is on the firmer side.
Envoi Allen
Returned to form with a battling win in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase in November, before a poor effort in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Would need to bounce back but is already a Cheltenham Festival winner (Ballymore in 2020) so could go well at a big price.
Franco De Port
Has flopped on his two races at Cheltenham previously and has been comfortably beaten by Conflated and Galopin Des Champs in his last two races. Looks more likely to head to the Cross Country Chase.
Galvin
Finished fourth in last year’s renewal, but had been soundly beaten in his last two races. Looks more likely to go for the Cross Country Chase, where he’s much more prominent in the betting.
Eldorado Allen
Has finished behind Bravemansgame twice this year but does tend to give his running. Finished third in the Ryanair Chase last year, and he could be a good bit of value if bookies offer 4-5 places.
Angels Breath
Was off the course for over three years before pulling up on his sole run this season. He would be a shock winner and it’s unlikely he’ll go for this.
Ga Law
Yet to race at the festival but was a winner on his sole visit to the course back in November. Sent off as favourite when stepped up to 3m in January but fell at the final fence when going well. Yet to race in Grade 1 company so he’s more likely to go for the Ryanair Chase.
Coole Cody
Was a shock 22/1 winner of the Plate Handicap Chase at last year’s festival, and has won Grade 2 honours this season in the Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot. However, he’s untested over this trip and he would be massively out of his depth in this field.
A bid to retain his crown in the Plate looks more likely.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners Past 12 Years
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Long Run | Sam Waley-Cohen | Nicky Henderson | 7/2F |
| 2012 | Synchronised | AP McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill | 8/1 |
| 2013 | Bobs Worth | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 11/4F |
| 2014 | Lord Windermere | Davy Russell | Jim Culloty | 20/1 |
| 2015 | Coneygree | Nico de Boinville | Mark Bradstock | 7/1 |
| 2016 | Don Cossack | Bryan Cooper | Gordon Elliott | 9/4F |
| 2017 | Sizing John | Robbie Power | Jessica Harrington | 7/1 |
| 2018 | Native River | Richard Johnson | Colin Tizzard | 5/1 |
| 2019 | Al Boum Photo | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 12/1 |
| 2020 | Al Boum Photo | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 100/30F |
| 2021 | Minella Indo | Jack Kennedy | Henry De Bromhead | 9/1 |
| 2022 | A Plus Tard | Rachael Blackmore | Henry De Bromhead | 3/1F |
What can we learn from the Cheltenham Gold Cup Past Trends
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a tough puzzle to solve but trends can help you to narrow down the line-up and even identify the potential winner, we’ve listed some crucial stats and trends that it could pay to keep in mind when analysing the race:
- No winner this century aged ten or over. Ages of the 21 winners since 2000; six (1), seven (6), eight (10), nine (5).
- Only three winners this century failed to finish first or second last time out.
- 13 of the past 15 winners had run no more than three times that season. Four of the last nine had run only once that season; they all won that start.
- Eighteen of the winners this century (82%) had won or placed at a previous Festival
- Twenty winners this century had 12 or less chase starts – Kauto Star (2009 – 21st chase start) and A Plus Tard (2022 – 14th chase start) the exceptions.
7yo, 8yo and 9yo horses have dominated in the Gold Cup in recent years, landing all but one renewal since the turn of the century, 6yo Long Run (2011) the exception. Horses 10yo or older have a particularly poor record and you have to go back to Cool Dawn (1998) to find the last winner aged in double figures.
Recent form is important, with only 3/22 winners (14%) arriving having finished out of the first two on their last start, albeit Minella Indo did buck that trend in 2021 – he was also making his fifth start of the season (13/15 had run no more than three times that campaign).
Festival form seems very important, with over 80% of winners since the turn of the century having won or placed at a previous Festival. Al Boum Photo was still in contention in third prior to falling two-out on his only previous Festival appearance prior to his 2019 Gold Cup victory.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Time Around The World
- Melbourne – 2:30am (Saturday 17th March)
- London – 3:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- Munich – 4:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- New York – 11:30am (Friday 17th March)
- Singapore – 11:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- Dubai – 7:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- Cape Town – 5:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- Tokyo – 12:30am (Saturday 18th March)
- Buenos Aires – 12:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- Rio De Janeiro – 12:30pm (Friday 78th March)
- Moscow – 6:30pm (Friday 17th March)
- New Delhi – 9:00pm (Friday 17th March)
- Jakarta – 10:30pm (Friday 17th March)
FAQ’s
How many horses are in the 2023 Gold Cup?
At the time of writing there are 23 horses entered in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the field is capped at a maximum of 24 anyway, but there is expected to be much less in the line-up on off-time.
Are there any GREY horses in the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
YES. Angels Breath and Eldorado Allen are both grey horses that currently hold an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Which horse has won the most Cheltenham Gold Cups?
Golden Miller is the most successful horse in the history of the Gold Cup having taken FIVE straight renewals in the mid 30s (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936).
How many mares have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
FOUR mares have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most recent of those was Dawn Run (1986) who also holds the claim of being the only horse to complete the Champion Hurdle – Cheltenham Gold Cup double.
Has any horse won the Gold Cup and Grand National?
L’Escargot and Golden Miller are the only TWO horses to have won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National.
How much is the Gold Cup prize money?
Prize money for the Cheltenham Gold Cup totals £625,000, making it the second most valuable race in the National Hunt calendar, after the Grand National. The winner of the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup will pick up over £350,000 in prize money.
Is the Cheltenham Gold Cup real gold?
YES. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is made of solid gold and worth upwards of £10,000, a new trophy is given to winning connections each year.