The race towards the Gold Cup is now firmly underway, with two early pacesetting contests having taken place at Down Royal and Wetherby at the weekend. The movers and shakers can all be found as GG covers those already Going For Gold…
Down Royal Champion Chase – Saturday, 2nd November
Infamous jumps racing flop Envoi Allen secured his fifth Grade 1 over fences at his beloved Down Royal, winning at the Belfast venue for the fifth time in six appearances. It was also his tenth Grade 1 in all, quite something for a horse who has apparently failed to live up to his reputation. He is a head away from being unbeaten at the track, having been denied in the dying strides by Gerri Colombe in the 2023 edition of this race.
However, Henry De Bromhead’s charge convincingly reversed that form, though it is not he who is of interest in the Gold Cup betting, as the ten-year-old is still absent from ante-post markets for the big one. Gerri Colombe, on the other hand, was the story, as the two who beat him home became just the third and fourth horses to ever finish in front of him over obstacles.
On Racing Post Ratings, this was his worst performance over fences since his debut and the markets reacted with suitable unease. Having held his place 8/1 with SkyBet and 12/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair ever since being introduced to the 2025 Gold Cup betting back in April, each responded by cooling his odds by four points. He briefly touched 20s with Paddy Power and Betfair before falling slightly to a current market high of 16s.
This could easily have been the pipe opener he needed, and his last gasp success a year ago suggests he may not always be up to his best first time up. Nevertheless, he still managed to win last year from the same rival who was 13½ lengths ahead this time around, so it is unsurprising that the layers were happy to be fairly bold afterwards.
Hewick was the other Gold Cup potential to throw down a challenge at Down Royal, and boy did he manage that. The defending King George champion stepped forward from his reappearance at Punchestown to be narrowly outpointed in second, but he was well clear of Gerri Colombe and looked more full of zest than ever.
As big as 50/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair, and not even in the early markets with SkyBet, the diminutive star is now 33/1 across the board for Cheltenham’s Friday showpiece. Having missed the race a year ago and fallen at the second last in 2023, Shark Hanlon will feel there is unfinished business.
Charlie Hall Chase – Saturday, 2nd November
The 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up was supposed to win his first race for nearly two years on Saturday. Alas, Bravemansgame has forgotten the art of winning, and gave best to The Real Whacker, who returned to something near his best with a bold jumping display from the front under Brian Hughes.
He himself was winning for the first time since successful in the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, but has more wins at Graded level in him if matching his display from the weekend. Seemingly forgotten about from a Gold Cup perspective in the off-season, Paddy Power and Betfair had introduced him at 100/1 two weeks ago. Those odds have halved, with SkyBet also matching the 50/1 he now sits at.
Bravemansgame has moved in the opposite direction as his winless run continues. Paul Nicholls suggested there should have been no excuses for the nine-year-old, who despite finishing second, only beat 12-year-old veteran Sam Brown by just over a length, form miles off Gold Cup standard. He is now 100/1 from 66s with Paddy Power and Betfair.
GG Going for Gold – The Road to Cheltenham Gold Cup Glory Starts Here
Going for Gold at Cheltenham is to travel in search of the ultimate jumps racing accolade. So many try and so many fail, but there remains the promise of glory beyond equal measure, even during the rest of the Cheltenham Festival. At GG, we are Going for Gold ourselves this year, previewing the big race…
Tue 08 Oct 2024Gold Cup Market Moves
Hewick ↑ 33/1 from 50/1
The Real Whacker ↑ 50/1 from 100/1
Gerri Colombe ↓ 16/1 from 12/1
Bravemansgame ↓ 100/1 from 66/1
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