The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious race in Jumps racing around the world. It is considered the Blue Riband event in the sport and a race that every jockey, trainer and owner dreams of winning.
Here is a look at the leading contenders for the 2024 race.
Galopin Des Champs
Irish horse Galopin Des Champs is the defending champion after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. He justified the strong confidence behind him, beating a strong field which included Bravemansgame and A Plus Tard.
The eight-year-old is the evens favourite in Paddy’s horse racing odds for the day four feature of the meeting. He will be bidding to become just the third horse since the turn of the century to defend their crown in the race.
🟡🟤 Galopin Des Champs – back to his best
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2023
🏇 16 runs
🥇 10 wins
🏆 Six G1 victories
🏆 Savills Chase
🏆 Cheltenham Gold Cup
🏆 Irish Gold Cup
⭐️ Superstar@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/xsWPWiIi2p
After impressing on his latest appearance in the Savills Chase, Galopin Des Champs is likely to be one of the leading horse racing tips for this year’s meeting. He was back to his best, scoring in the Grade One contest by 23 lengths. His trainer Willie Mullins claimed after that race that his chaser may have one final run before Cheltenham, in the Irish Gold Cup.
Fastorslow
Martin Brassil’s chaser Fastorlslow shot up the ratings in 2023 with back-to-back victories at the highest level. The improving Irish horse won the Punchestown Gold Cup back in April, beating Galpoin Des Champs in what was a big upset. He then finished ahead of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup winner when landing the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.
Fastorslow was second at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 in the Ultima Handicap Chase behind subsequent Grand National winner Corach Rambler. He went down by just a neck in a close finish to the day one contest. This time he lines up in a Championship race.
The three-time chaser winner is now rated at 168 which indicates he is a major player in the Gold Cup. If he finishes ahead of Galopin Des Champs for a third straight race, he will cement his place as the best 3m chaser in Ireland.
Shishkin
🟨⬛ Shishkin soars home to win the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 13, 2023
He’s reinvented himself again!#ITVRacing | #GrandNational@NdeBoinville | @sevenbarrows pic.twitter.com/wdP62OOc2Y
After ending last season with victories in the Ascot Chase and Aintree Bowl Chase, both of which are Grade One races, a lot was expected of Shishkin in the latest campaign. Unfortunately for connections of the 10-year-old, it has not quite gone to plan so far. He refused to race on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot, while last time out, he unseated his rider in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Before unseating Nico de Boinville in the King George VI Chase, Shishkin led the field and looked to be on course for a huge victory on Boxing Day. The former champion 2m star has shown he has the stamina for the Gold Cup distance and he looks to be the best chance of the home team of overcoming the Irish challengers in the race. His trainer is bidding to win the Gold Cup for the first time since 2013.
This year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place on the 16th of March at 15:30 and the full field will be confirmed 48 hours before the race.
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