2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips - Runner-By-Runner Guide and Verdict

Here's our runner-by-runner guide to the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup. You'll find out best betting tips in the verdict section below.

*Odds correct as of 7:00am 15/3/24*

Many were pigeon-holing Bravemansgame (16/1 at Hollywoodbets) as a "Kempton specialist" and a "non-stayer" heading into last year's Gold Cup. Personally, I felt that Paul Nicholls' star was being underestimated and I put Bravemansgame up as my selection at 8/1. 

Harry Cobden enjoyed a dream run through the contest. Bravemansgame jumped superbly and hit the front turning for home. Yet, once Galopin Des Champs joined the leader at the second-last, there only ever seemed to be one winner and Bravemansgame was forced to settle for second place.

Everything went right for Bravemansgame in last year's Gold Cup and he was still beaten seven lengths. This year, Nicholls' nine-year-old comes into Cheltenham in questionable form, having recorded successive runner-up finishes in the Charlie Hall, the Betfair Chase and the King George VI Chase. Nicholls might be a genius when it comes to training staying chasers, but I can't see how Bravemansgame could produce an improved performance. Snatching a place is the best the team can hope for.

Lucinda Russell's star has been mentioned as a potential dark horse for the Gold Cup in recent months. Corach Rambler (14/1 at QuinnBet) has, after all, won the Ultima Handicap twice here at the Festival and his Grand National triumph last season was wonderful to watch.

To even finish top four in a Gold Cup, you need a horse of Grade One quality - or a horse who, at the very least, has won a Grade Two over fences. There have been a couple of exceptions to that rule down the years, with Anibale Fly and Minella Rocco both going close, and Corach Rambler will likely be ridden to place, as they both were.

Despite that Grand National success, Derek Fox's mount is yet to prove that he is better than just a brilliant handicapper. At 16/1, Corach Rambler doesn't make my shortlist.

In the build-up to last year's Cheltenham Festival, I highlighted Fastorslow (6/1 at StarSports) as a handicapper to follow, with a tilt at the Plate seemingly on the agenda. Martin Brassil decided to run his star in the Ultima instead, where Fastorslow was narrowly beaten by Corach Rambler, before JJ Slevin's mount caused an almighty upset by defeating Galopin Des Champs at the Punchestown Festival.

Fastorslow then got the better of his Gold Cup rival again when they met in the John Durkan. Galopin Des Champs gained revenge for those defeats in the Irish Gold Cup, where Fastorslow was still only beaten four lengths. I don't think either were at their very best at Leopardstown and better ground at Cheltenham would suit. He remains the clear and present danger to the defending champion.

The best Gold Cup winner we've seen since Kauto Star? I would say so. The RPR of 184 that Galopin Des Champs (Evens at StarSports) received for last year's victory is the highest any winner has achieved since Kauto's second success in 2009. 

Having been beaten twice by Fastorslow around Punchestown, Paul Townend's mount roared back to top form with a stunning success in the Savills Chase over Christmas. As I mentioned in the section above, Galopin Des Champs wasn't at his brilliant best at the Dublin Racing Festival, but Fastorslow still never looked like passing the leader at any point in the contest.

Returning to Cheltenham will favour Galopin Des Champs over Fastorslow. A reproduction of last year's performance would probably be enough to retain his crown. However, Willie Mullins' star isn't infallible. If the favouite did underperform for some reason, then several contenders could be on-hand to capitalise.

The least-exposed chaser in the likely Gold Cup line-up is Gentlemansgame (25/1 at Hollywoodbets). Mouse Morris' eight-year-old ran out an impressive winner on his sole novice outing at Leopardstown last season, before returning to action in September with a runner-up finish to Easy Game in the Grade Two PWC Champion Chase. Gentlemansgame then took advantage of a final flight mistake from Bravemansgame to land the Charlie Hall Chase. 

Morris' star has been off the track since then, and heads to the Gold Cup on the back of a 132-day absence, which has to be seen as a huge negative. As does his lack of experience, as only Coneygree - the only novice who has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the last 50 years - has managed to win tthis historic race on his fourth start over fences.

Gerri Colombe (9/1 QuinnBet) has slipped down the Gold Cup betting in recent weeks. Gordon Elliott's star was beaten in last year's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase by The Real Whacker. In fact, most of his novice chasing form looks poor on paper, and Jack Kennedy's mount has 23-length to find on Galopin Des Champs from their clash in the Savills Chase.

Despite those negatives, there are several reasons why I think Gerri Colombe is overpriced for the Gold Cup. Firstly, Elliott has been training his star with this race in mind for the last two years. Gerri Colombe won the Ladbrokes Champion Chase with an under-par performance in November - recording what was his fourth Grade One success over fences - and didn't run too badly over Christmas, considering the track at Leopardstown wouldn't suit him at all.

This dour-stayer looks tailor-made for the Gold Cup test. Davy Russell found himself too far back to challenge around the tighter Old Course in the Brown Advisory. Switching to the New Course will certainly suit and I'll be hoping to see Jack Kennedy make the most of Gerri Colombe's stamina. 

In my pre-season guide to the Gold Cup, I advised backing L'Homme Presse (10/1 at StarSports). Venetia Williams' star had looked like a potential winner before his injury in the 2022 King George VI Chase, and I had been hoping to see L'Homme Presse enjoy a full campaign in the build-up to this year's Gold Cup.

Williams chose not to run her star chaser during the first half of the season and L'Homme Presse wasn't seen until the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield, where he edged out Protektorat. Connections then opted for a tilt at the Ascot Chase before Cheltenham, where Charlie Deutsch's mount was beaten five lengths by Pic D'Orhy, after a fairly messy round of jumping. 

An argument can still be made that L'Homme Presse offers at 11/1. I've just been a little underwhelmed with what we've seen from him since his return, and there are others I'd rather back in the current market.

Monkfish

The Real Whacker (50/1 at StarSports) struck up a love affair with Cheltenham as a novice last season. Sam Twiston-Davies' mount won a novice chase in November and the Dipper on New Year's Day, before making all of the running to deny Gerri Colombe and land the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Festival.

Despite nominating the Gold Cup at his end-of-season target, Patrick Neville decided to run The Real Whacker in the Paddy Power Gold Cup under 12-00 on his reappearance and the top weight ran no sort of race. Neville's eight-year-old then looked one-paced when fourth in the King George, before finishing second in the Cotswold Chase, where he stayed on again having been outpaced coming down the hill.

If Gerri Colombe had been ridden more confidently, I'm convinced that he would have won the Brown Advisory 12 months ago and The Real Whacker's form since then hardly screams "Gold Cup contender".