The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips (3:30pm)

[StevieDay1983]

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the ultimate highlight of the Festival and is run over an extended three-and-a-quarter miles. The race is open to horses aged five and older and it really puts the emphasis on a horses’ ability to jump fluently, to have excellent tactical speed and then calls upon the horse to have stamina in abundance in order to make their way up the incline in a race to the finish. Horses that make mistakes are found out very quickly in this feature event and even the brave warriors who have won in the past have found it difficult to recapture their best form afterwards. It is a gruelling contest often run at excessive speed so it can pay to side with those who have previous knowledge of the course and distance when making a selection.

If you like statistics, it usually pays to stick with horses aged between seven and nine years of age as they have won nine of the last ten renewals. Long Run is the only recent winner to have been aged as young as six and the last ten-year-old to win this Cool Dawn in 1998. It is quite a good race for well fancied runners. Four of the last ten favourites have obliged and four other winners have been within the first three in the betting market on the day. Paul Nicholls has won the race three times in the last twenty years and Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins have won two apiece in the same time-frame. Henry De Bromhead has taken the last two consecutive Gold Cups with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard.

Galopin Des Champs

Last seen winning the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. He was always travelling well, but he encountered a little bit of interference on the bend. He was classy enough to get himself out of trouble and won going away by eight lengths. It was a fine preparation for this and came on the back of another good win in the John Durkan memorial chase at Punchestown. Very much the one to beat on all form shown this season.

Noble Yeats

The reigning Grand National winner made a great start to this campaign by winning his first two races at Wexford and then at Aintree. He was well fancied in the Cotswold Chase, but ultimately had nothing left to give against a resurgent Ahoy Senor. He has been given a break since and that could well work in his favour. What goes against him is that he was only ninth in the Ultima Handicap at this track last season. He may well have not acted on the track.

A Plus Tard

The hero of the hour in this last year having disappointed in the Savill's Steeplechase at Leopardstown. His comeback this season was unfortunately even more disappointing as he pulled up in the Betfair Chase. Any horse can have an off day though and the yard were not in great form at the time. He does love this track and is a two time Festival winner. Write him off at your own peril.

Stattler

Came into his own last season when running away with the Amateurs Novices' Chase and beat Run Wild Fred by eight lengths. Although he was firmly put in his place by stablemate Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown a few weeks ago, he is fully entitled to make the frame in this race. Usually slick with his jumping, his previous festival form will stand him in good stead.

Bravemansgame

Absolutely loves a flat track and proved that with wins in the Charlie Hall Chase and the King George at Wetherby and Kempton respectively. He has yet to win from two previous visits to Cheltenham, giving the impression that he just doesn't stay up the hill. If this were to be run at Aintree, he would undoubtledly have a much bigger say in the outcome. He is class in his own right but just lacks the in depth form of the likes of Galopin Des Champs or Stattler.

Conflated

Was last seen winning the Savill's Chase at Leopardstown at the end of December. The field was not the strongest to be fair and a five length defeat of Kemboy does not translate into immediate Gold Cup winner in waiting. He fell in last years' Ryanair Chase, so that has to be borne in mind. He still needs to find improvement to trouble the main protaganists.

Ahoy Senor

Bounced back to form with a fluid win in the Cotswold Chase over the course and distance. Given that he had disappointed on each of his previous three runs, it was heartening to see him give a display that we know he is capable of. This will be the toughest opposition he has ever faced but could easily see him making the frame.

Protektorat

Has never been the most consistent of horses but had his day in the sun when winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November. He has been to Cheltenham three times since winning a novices' chase there back in 2020. He has a lot to find with Ahoy Senor based on their recent meeting in the Cotswold Chase and it is hard to see him being good enough.

Summary

Galopin Des Champs did everything right at Leopardstown and it was hard not to be impressed with his manner of victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. It is worth bearing in mind though that he fell when last seen over these fences last year but hopefully he can erase that from his memory. Wherever he is stablemate Stattler will not be far behind and could well be there to pick up the pieces. He ran a perfectly fine trial for this at Leopardstown last time and it would not be the biggest of shocks if he were there to pick up the pieces should Galopin fail to fire.

Punters Lounge Tip: Stattler E/W @ 8/1 at >Paddy Power - Click Here To Bet

by Karl Hedley @Tumbleweed King

[MCLARKE]

The best is saved for the final day of the Cheltenham festival, the blue riband of the National Hunt season, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It is run over 3 miles, 2 furlongs and 70 yards and is open to horses aged 5 years or older. Off time is 3.30.

Previous winners of this race include the imperious Arkle as well as Best Mate, Kauto Star, Mill House and Golden Miller, who won it 5 years in a row during the 1930s.

Arkle was sent off at 1/10 in 1966 and remains the shortest priced winner of the race. The longest priced winner was Norton’s Coin, who won at 100/1 in 1990.

13 go to post and some bookmakers are offering each-way terms of 4 places which make this a good betting proposition.

I have looked at the statistics over the last 9 years and these are my key conclusions.

32 horses have contested this after a rest of more than 73 days and only 1 has won with a level stake loss of 28 points at SP.

The ideal age is 7 or 8. These horses have won 8 times from 57 attempts with a level stakes profit of 17 points. The rest have just 1 win from 60 attempts with a loss of 57 points.

Longer priced horses have a good record. Those with forecast odds between 9/1 and 25/1 have won 5 from 52 runs with a profit of 8 points.

 

This leaves 2 horses. I would suggest backing these each way with bookmakers offering 4 places.

PROTEKTORAT 14/1

SOUNDS RUSSIAN 25/1

[The Brigadier]

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the ultimate highlight of the Festival and is run over an extended three-and-a-quarter miles. The race is open to horses aged five and older and it really puts the emphasis on a horses’ ability to jump fluently, to have excellent tactical speed and then calls upon the horse to have stamina in abundance in order to make their way up the incline in a race to the finish. Horses that make mistakes are found out very quickly in this feature event and even the brave warriors who have won in the past have found it difficult to recapture their best form afterwards. It is a gruelling contest often run at excessive speed so it can pay to side with those who have previous knowledge of the course and distance when making a selection.

 

If you like statistics, it usually pays to stick with horses aged between seven and nine years of age as they have won nine of the last ten renewals. Long Run is the only recent winner to have been aged as young as six and the last ten-year-old to win this Cool Dawn in 1998. It is quite a good race for well fancied runners. Four of the last ten favourites have obliged and four other winners have been within the first three in the betting market on the day. Paul Nicholls has won the race three times in the last twenty years and Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins have won two apiece in the same time-frame. Henry De Bromhead has taken the last two consecutive Gold Cups with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard.

Ahoy Senor

Trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell who’s already been amongst the winners this week with Corach Rambler. Bounced back to form in the Cotswolds Chase here on Trials day in January but overall is opposable as his jumping can be a bit hit and miss.

A Plus Tard

Ran away with this race last year sprinting away on the run in to win by a staggering 15L under Rachael Blackmore. Only seen the once since when going off a warm odds on favourite in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November when running below form and pulling up. He came back ill that day and hasn’t been seen since. Trainer Henry De Bromhead did the trick with Honeysuckle on Tuesday and if back to anywhere near his best is a massive player today.

Bravemansgame

Brings arguably the best form from this season to the table having won the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Has won 6 of his 7 starts over fences and is a very good jumper. Wouldn’t want the ground too become too soft and if that’s the case has a very big chance with Harry Cobden riding for Paul Nicholls who isn’t having the best of weeks so far.

Conflated

A good winner of the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over 3M at Christmas time and comes here a fresh horse. Fell in the Ryanair last season and runs here in preference to that contest this season. Davy Russel rides and holds each way chance if staying the extra two furlongs.

Eldorado Allen

Held by plenty of his rivals today and impossible to fancy for trainer Joe Tizzard and jockey Brendan Powell. A rank outsider.

Galopin Des Champs

Has won all of his five completed starts over fences and fell at the last when had race comfortably won in last years Turners at this meeting. Comfortable winner of both his races this season in grade ones at Punchestown and Leopardstown. Has an extra 2 1/2F to try today but should have no problem and a major player for Messrs Mullins and Townend. The only thing not to like about him is his price.

Hewick

Trained in Ireland by Shark Hanlon. Last seen winning in America in October. Much better on good ground and todays conditions will not suit. Hard to fancy.

Minella Indo

Won this in 2021 and a 15L runner up in last year’s contest to A Plus Tard. At ten is the oldest horse in the field here and Henry De Bromhead appears to have a better chance with A Plus Tard though did win last time out at Tramore from Stattler. Mark Walsh rides and has a small place chance.

Noble Yeats

Last season’s Grand National winner who appears to have improved this season by winning at Wexford and the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in fine style. Bit disappointing in third behind Ahoy Senor and Sounds Russian in the Cotswolds Chase here last time. Probably needs to improve further to get involved at the business end. Trained in Ireland by Emmet Mullins.

Protektorat

Beaten 17 1/2L in third place in this last year behind A Plus Tard and was a very impressive winner of the Betfair Chase at Haydock on re-appearance last November. Disappointed since here in Cotswolds Chase. Softer the better for Dan Skelton’s 8 year old.

Royale Pagaille

Venetia Williams’ 9 year old is hard to fancy on the form book (14L behind Bravemansgame at Kempton) and his only chance is if the ground went heavy which he adores. Charlie Deutsch takes the ride.

Sounds Russian

Improving Northern chaser whose best effort came in the Cotswolds Chase in January when runner up to Ahoy Senor. Needs to improve further and on official ratings has 19lb to find with the top rated A Plus Tard.

Stattler

A real stayer who won the 3M 6F NH Chase at the meeting last year. Willie Mullins’ second string here and was 8L behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown. Each way claims but may not be good enough to win.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Tips

This year’s Gold Cup is a cracker with the value surely with last year’s winner A Plus Tard, who took the field apart under Rachael Blackmore winning by 15L and is officially rated a 7lb better horse than the favourite. He’s reportedly back to his best at home and there’s no finer big race trainer for getting them ready in Henry De Bromhead. Favourite Galopin Des Champs is an obvious danger along with Bravemansgame who could do with the rain staying away.

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