Reigning champion Fugitif and recent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Il Ridoto are two of the star attractions among the 11 horses deckared for Saturday’s December Gold Cup, which is run at Cheltenham at 1:50pm.
Storming home in the closing stages of last year’s race, Fugitif caught the aforementioned Il Ridoto in the final strides to land this prize for Richard Hobson and the nine-year-old is well fancied to go close again. Il Ridoto showed his love for Cheltenham at the November Meeting when he bounded to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but the Paul Nicholls-trained star has a tougher task on his hands this time around having risen in the handicap.
A stellar list of quality handicap chasers are set to take their chance and another with winning form around the track is Ga Law, who won at Cheltenham’s Trials meeting in January and chased home Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup a few weeks ago.
Dan Skelton’s Madara was staying on eye-catchingly well when fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and he will be looking to use that run as a stepping stone here, while Stage Star will be another shot fired by the Paul Nicholls gun and he will be looking to recapture the form that saw him win the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Le Patron was an impressive winner at Newbury a couple of weeks and could make a swift return to the track for Gary & Josh Moore, while Guard Your Dreams and In Excelsis Deo will add more depth to what looks a hugely entertaining contest.
December Gold Cup 2024 Runners
13:50 Cheltenham
Good To SoftNyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
- First Prize: £71187.5
- 2m 4f 127y
- Class 1
- 11 runners
- Win time: 5m 13s
9/1 (Won)
- Win: £6.50
- Place: £2.20
prominent, went second 3rd, led 4th, mistake 4 out, faced challenge when hampered 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well, cosily
7/2
- Place: £1.70
in touch with leaders on outer, headway 12th, went second before 3 out, pressed leader going best home turn, jumped right and hampered rival 2 out, no extra towards finish
11/2
- Place: £2.50
didn’t always jump with fluency, towards rear on inner, still plenty to do 3 out, headway when switched right and bit short of room home turn, went third 2 out, hung left and no extra run-in
16/1
took keen hold, in touch with leaders, mistake 10th, headway 3 out, soon briefly went third, not fluent 2 out, no impression from last
8/1
prominent, not fluent 1st, no impression from 2 out, mistake and weakened last
9/1
raced in second, prominent 3rd, lost position 3 out, weakened 2 out
11/2
led, raced in second 4th, not fluent 8th, not fluent 4 out, lost position 3 out, weakened from 2 out
25/1
held up in last, brief headway on outer before 3 out, weakened 2 out
13/2
towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened from 2 out (trainer could offer no explanation for the poor form shown)
12/1
prominent, lost position 6th, soon pushed along briefly, weakened after 3 out
10/1
didn’t always jump with fluency, always behind
+o+e Betting Returns
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £274.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £223.40 |
| Tricast | £967.10 |
| Trifecta | £2398.00 |