Gold Cup Tips :: Galopin Des Champs alternatives?

Who is the Favourite to win the Gold Cup?

Galopin Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins, is the frontrunner with even odds (EVS) to clinch this year's Gold Cup.

His recent victory in the Savills Chase, which helped him rebound from a previous setback, underscores his potential.

At 8 years old, he's among the younger competitors, potentially giving him an advantage over older horses aged nine and above. He stands a strong chance of securing his second Gold Cup victory.

Has anyone ever won the Gold Cup back to back?

Should Galopin Des Champs, last year's champion, secure another victory in the Gold Cup, it would mark the fourth triumph for his trainer, Willie Mullins, in this prestigious event.

No horse has achieved three consecutive Gold Cup wins since Best Mate, trained by Henrietta Knight, accomplished this feat in 2004.

Presently, Irish-trained horses are leading the betting markets, with six out of the top ten contenders hailing from Irish stables.

However, given the inherently unpredictable character of this race, it's entirely possible for British trainers to make a comeback and clinch their first Gold Cup victory since 2018.

Can anything beat Galopin Des Champs?

Fastorslow is another contender, entering the race with 7/2 odds. His prospects look promising, especially if he replicates his performance from the Punchestown Gold Cup, where he surprisingly outperformed Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame.

Shiskin, priced at 8/1, is also in the fray. His chances are bolstered by his past performances, despite a recent mishap at the King George where jockey Nico De Boinville was unseated.

With a history of strong performances at Cheltenham and success in Grade 1 races like the Arkle and Supreme, Shiskin could well find himself among the top finishers, or possibly even winning, if the race unfolds as planned.

Lastly, Hewick stands out with 14/1 odds. His remarkable victory in the King George VI Chase in December cannot be overlooked.

Despite a fall in the same race last year, his ability to endure the distance is clear. His odds make him an attractive each-way bet, though he'll need to demonstrate his capacity to handle the demanding Cheltenham course.

What are the Gold Each way selections?

I'm quite fond of L'Homme Presse and was thrilled to see him win upon returning from his break. His victory over a well-prepared Protektorat, especially after a year's absence, was impressive. As the winner of the 2022 Brown Advisory, L'Homme Presse seems like a strong contender to challenge Galopin Des Champs in March. However, his current odds of 10/1 don't appeal to me. Instead, Gentlemansgame, at more attractive odds, catches my eye.

Trained by Mouse Morris, Gentlemansgame has proven himself a serious contender for the Gold Cup this season.

Morris, known for his patient approach, has skillfully developed this horse. It was only his third chase when he triumphed over Bravemansgame at the Charlie Hall Chase in Wetherby last November.

Gentlemansgame's sole chase in 2022 was at the Leopardstown Christmas Meeting.

This race was our first glimpse of his prowess over larger obstacles, where he convincingly won, beating I Am Maximus by 8 lengths.

Since then, I Am Maximus has gone on to win the Irish National off a 149 rating and the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse.

Bravemansgame further validated the Charlie Hall Chase form by finishing second in the King George on his subsequent outing.

Morris has chosen to skip the DRF this weekend, ensuring Gentlemansgame is well-rested for the upcoming challenge, similar to his condition when he impressively beat I Am Maximus.

While I would have preferred Gentlemansgame to have experience at Cheltenham, it's encouraging that his two chase victories were on left-handed tracks.

He's lightly raced and still has potential for improvement. While overcoming Galopin Des Champs might be a tall order, Gentlemansgame possesses the qualities to possibly place. At odds of 16/1, he stands out as my each-way ante-post selection.

Stats and Trends

As the excitement builds with only four weeks until the festivities at Prestbury Park, it's time to delve into some key statistics with Dave Stevos in our quest for Festival winners.

This year's focus includes the Ryanair, Stayers’ Hurdle, and Champion Chase, but we kick off with a deep dive into the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, examining crucial stats that could influence the outcome.

Age is a significant factor in the Gold Cup. Since 1998, no horse over 9 years old has claimed victory in this race.

Historically, winners have been between 6 and 9 years old. Notably, Long Run was the sole 6-year-old winner in this period.

We’ll therefore concentrate on horses aged 7 to 9, eliminating five of the sixteen contenders, including notable names like Shishkin (10yo) and Grand National winner Corach Rambler (10yo).

Winning form is another crucial statistic. Post-2010, nearly all Gold Cup winners had secured at least one race victory in the season leading up to their win.

This trend means we bid farewell to Protektorat and Bravemansgame, among others, as they haven’t won a race this season.

Course form is also vital, with many horses struggling to handle Cheltenham’s challenging hill.

This leads us to discount Hewick and our previous ante-post e/w pick, Gentlemansgame, leaving us with five final contenders.

Among the remaining horses, Nassalam stands out for his stamina, proven in the Welsh National, though his Cheltenham track record is mixed.

Gerri Colombe, while a strong contender, trails Galopin Des Champs significantly based on their last Leopardstown encounter.

L’Homme Presse, returning victoriously at Lingfield, is a serious competitor. However, considering Protektorat's 15L deficit to Galopin Des Champs last year, L’Homme Presse will need significant improvement to challenge the favorite.

Galopin Des Champs, looking stronger than ever, appears almost unstoppable. Despite past defeats by Brassil's horse under certain conditions, Galopin Des Champs's performance last year was remarkable.

Nassalam might be an intriguing e/w bet if conditions turn heavy, but it’s best to wait for the weather forecast closer to the event.

At 10/1, L’Homme Presse seems undervalued, especially compared to Gerri Colombe at 9/1.

An e/w bet on L’Homme Presse could be worthwhile, though odds might fluctuate based on his upcoming Ascot performance.

Despite these considerations, Galopin Des Champs remains the strong favorite, potentially set for back-to-back victories.