Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips, Odds, Free Bets, Betting Offers & Preview
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is run over three miles and two and a half furlongs, with 22 fences and an uphill finish.
It’s the biggest race of the whole Cheltenham Festival and the race every jockey, trainer and owner wants to win. The winner’s names are not just etched into a trophy but into the minds of racing fans for decades to come.
The contest itself is a true test of a chaser because not only does a horse need the ability to jump fluently, but it also needs the stamina to see out the race distance and manage the lung-bursting final incline.
We’ve got the latest Cheltenham Gold Cup betting odds below and our Gold Cup Day tips on our dedicated page!
| Race Details | |
|---|---|
| When: | Friday, March 15th - 3:30pm |
| Winner’s Prize: | £351,688 |
| Distance: | Three-miles & two-furlongs |
| Race Type: | Grade 1 Chase |
| Age: | 5-Years+ |
| Course: | New Course |
| Weights: | 11st 8lbs (5yo), 11st 10lbs (6yo+), (7lb allowance for mares) |
| Where to Watch? | ITV Racing, Racing TV, Bookmaker Streams |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Offers & Free Bets
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Cheltenham Gold Cup Odds 2024
After a historical week for trainer Willie Mullins, Galopin Des Champs has hardened at the head of the betting for Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, now hovering around the Even-money mark.
Fellow Irish-trained horses Fastorlow and Gerri Colombe are bound to be popular with punters looking to oppose the reigning Gold Cup holder, while the Grand National winner, Corach Rambler, is sure to see plenty of each-way support.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners 2024
Check out the runners and riders for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup in the table below.
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| Bravemansgame | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden |
| Corach Rambler | Lucinda Russell | Derek Fox |
| Fastorslow | Martin Brassil | JJ Slevin |
| Galopin Des Champs | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| Gentlemansgame | Mouse Morris | Darragh O’Keefe |
| Gerri Colombe | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| Jungle Boogie | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| L’Homme Presse | Venetia Williams | Charlie Deutsch |
| Monkfish | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
| Nassalam | Gary Moore | Niall Houlihan |
| The Real Whacker | Patrick Neville | Sam Twiston-Davies |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Favourite Odds
Having won the Gold Cup in 2023, Galopin Des Champs is a short-priced favourite to defend his crown in Friday’s big race.
He’s two from two this season, winning the Grade 1 Savills Chase and Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup in excellent fashion and he’s the one they all have to beat.
Since crossing the line 12 months ago, he has been favourite for this year’s Gold Cup, and he represents trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend, who once again have dominated proceedings at the Festival this week.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
The one race that everyone wants to find the winner of, and our tipsters are no different. Whether you decide on the day or you already have your pick in place for the feature race, you will want to see what our tipsters fancy in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Check out Alan Kelly’s, Charlie McCann’s, and Ed Quigley’s free tips for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Alan Kelly - The Real Whacker (Each-Way)
While the claims of reigning champion Galopin Des Champs are there for all to see based on his two victories at Leopardstown this season, I have long considered Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin a potential Gold Cup winner. Unfortunately, whatever is ailing the Seven Barrows stable at the moment has resulted in Shishkin, who would surely have won Boxing Day’s King George but for tripping over his own feet as he was about to assert his authority over the field, being withdrawn from Friday’s championship highlight.
The Gold Cup is such a tough race to win that any horse put in at a very short price is worth opposing (unless the horse in question happened to be the peerless Arkle) as the record books are littered with such defeats. With soft or heavy ground almost guaranteed for the final day, cases can be made for many each-way alternatives to the market leader, Corach Rambler, Gentlemansgame, L’Homme Presse and Nassalam to name four. However, the each-way vote goes to Patrick Neville’s The Real Whacker and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.
The eight-year-old made all of the running to beat fellow rival Gerri Colombe in last year’s Brown Advisory on soft ground. Yet to hit that kind of form this season, the Mahler gelding looked to be approaching his best when second in the Cotswold Chase back in January. The Real Whacker is a joy to watch when jumping as well as he can up front and if his talented rider can get him into a good rhythm, a potential shock could be on the cards. Four places and odds of 40/1 are available with several bookmakers.
Charlie McCann - Galopin Des Champs & Gerri Colombe (W/O Galopin Des Champs)
What could go wrong, bar falling, did go wrong for GALOPIN DES CHAMPS in last year’s Gold Cup but he still came home 7L clear of Bravemansgame and he cannot be opposed in his bid to follow up.
He was held up at the back of his field twelve months ago and made the odd mistake, but there were some who doubted his stamina last year and I expect Paul Townend to race much more prominently today with his stamina assured. His 23L defeat of Gerri Colombe at Leopardstown over Christmas was one of the best performances I have ever seen from a chaser given I feel the latter, the forgotten horse of the race, is his chief threat.
Galopin Des Champs was more workmanlike when landing the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival last time although he was still over four lengths too good for Fastorslow who is second favourite in the lists.
I have also backed GERRI COLOMBE in the market without the market leader given I think this more severe test of stamina will really suit the Gordon Elliott-trained runner who missed the DRF to wait for Cheltenham. He has an excellent record fresh, should have won the Brown Advisory here last year and gives every impression that this step up in distance is what he has been crying out for.
Ed Quigley - Gerri Colombe (Each-Way)
Galopin Des Champs has a great opportunity to get his name in the record books, and he is the class act who is very likely to make it back-to-back wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
GERRI COLOMBE looks the obvious each-way angle with slow ground in his favour. He was only just touched off in last year’s Brown Advisory, and I think he will be much happier over this longer trip on the New Course where his stamina can really kick in.
When they last met, Galopin Des Champs comfortably put him in his place, but he will be much more suited to this scenario.
If the reigning champion fails to bring his A-game to the table, then Gerri Colombe can prove the most likely beneficiary of the Closutton star’s shortcomings.
What Happened Last Year?
The Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs won the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, giving Mullins his third success in the race in the last five years.
Partnered by Paul Townend, Galopin Des Champs was sent off the 7/5 favourite for the race and put in a stunning round of jumping to take the win.
Townend was happy to stalk the leaders for the majority of the race before asking Galopin Des Champs to quicken as they approached two fences out.
The duo quickly took the lead and pulled away from Bravemansgame up the Cheltenham hill to land a popular victory with punters.
Interesting Gold Cup Facts Related to Odds
- In 2020, the favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup was Al Boum Photo, who was sent off at 10/3. He went on to win the race for the second year in a row, becoming the first horse since Best Mate in 2004 to do so.
- The odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup can be influenced by many factors, including the horse’s recent form, their age and weight, the jockey’s record in big races, and injuries.
- One of the biggest upsets in the history of the Cheltenham Gold Cup came in 2008, when Kauto Star was beaten by the 33/1 outsider, Denman. Kauto Star had been the odds-on favourite for the race, but Denman’s superior stamina and jumping ability saw him come out on top.
- In 2018, the Cheltenham Gold Cup was won by Native River at odds of 5/1. He beat off competition from the likes of Might Bite and Our Duke, who were both considered strong contenders for the race.
- The odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup can sometimes be influenced by the going conditions on the day of the race. If the ground is particularly soft or heavy, horses with a good record in those conditions may see their odds shorten.
- In recent years, there has been a trend towards backing horses with longer odds in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This is partly due to the unpredictable nature of the race, as well as the potential for big payouts if a long shot comes in.
Previous Winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
We’ve listed the last 10 winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the table below.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Galopin Des Champs |
| 2022 | A Plus Tard |
| 2021 | Minella Indo |
| 2020 | Al Boum Photo |
| 2019 | Al Boum Photo |
| 2018 | Native River |
| 2017 | Sizing John |
| 2016 | Don Cossack |
| 2015 | Coneygree |
| 2014 | Lord Windermere |
FAQs
Who is favourite for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Last year's winner, Galopin Des Champs, is the current antepost favourite to win the 2024 Gold Cup.
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival. In 2024 this will be on Friday, March 15th, with an off-time of 3:30pm.
What time is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is the fourth race on the card. The official start time of the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup is at 3:30pm. (Local UK time).
Who won the 2023 Gold Cup?
The winner of the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup was Galopin Des Champs, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins.
What is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, England. Run over a distance of approximately 3 miles 2 ½ furlongs, with 22 fences to be jumped, it is the feature race of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, and is the pinnacle of jump racing. The event takes place every year in March during the Cheltenham Festival.
Where can I watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
In the UK you can watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup live on ITV Racing or the subscription Racing TV channel. You can also watch Cheltenham races live via online bookmaker streams. For more information and live streaming links to watch all the Cheltenham races check out the Cheltenham Live Streaming page.
Who holds the record for the most Cheltenham Gold Cup wins as a jockey?
The jockey who has won the most Cheltenham Gold Cups is Pat Taaffe, who won the race four times as a jockey. He won the race in 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968, riding the legendary horse Arkle on all four occasions.
Is the Cheltenham Gold Cup a flat race?
No, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a National Hunt chase with 22 fences jumped.
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