Reigning champion Fugitif and recent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Il Ridoto are two of the star attractions among the 11 horses deckared for Saturday’s December Gold Cup, which is run at Cheltenham at 1:50pm.

Storming home in the closing stages of last year’s race, Fugitif caught the aforementioned Il Ridoto in the final strides to land this prize for Richard Hobson and the nine-year-old is well fancied to go close again. Il Ridoto showed his love for Cheltenham at the November Meeting when he bounded to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but the Paul Nicholls-trained star has a tougher task on his hands this time around having risen in the handicap.

A stellar list of quality handicap chasers are set to take their chance and another with winning form around the track is Ga Law, who won at Cheltenham’s Trials meeting in January and chased home Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup a few weeks ago.

Dan Skelton’s Madara was staying on eye-catchingly well when fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and he will be looking to use that run as a stepping stone here, while Stage Star will be another shot fired by the Paul Nicholls gun and he will be looking to recapture the form that saw him win the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

Le Patron was an impressive winner at Newbury a couple of weeks and could make a swift return to the track for Gary & Josh Moore, while Guard Your Dreams and In Excelsis Deo will add more depth to what looks a hugely entertaining contest.

December Gold Cup 2024 Runners

13:50 Cheltenham

Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

• Going Good To Soft
• Distance 2m 4f 127y
• Class Class 1
• Race Type Chase Turf
• Surface Turf
• Runners 11
• Win Time 5m 13s

GG Edge Standard Compact

Win% is implied from the betting forecast

1st 9 2 tips Gemirande W: 10st 2lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

9/1
(Won)

J: Charlie Deutsch T: Venetia Williams

OR: — RPR: — Form: /550-1

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

2nd 8 5 tips Madara OUR TIP W: 10st 6lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

7/2

J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 119-84

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

3rd 4 2 tips Fugitif W: 11st 2lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

11/2

J: Sean Bowen T: Richard Hobson

OR: — RPR: — Form: 13PP-5

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

4th 10 Guard Your Dreams W: 10st 2lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

16/1

J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

OR: — RPR: — Form: 00-143

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

5th 11 Grandeur DAme W: 10st 2lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

8/1

J: Brendan Powell T: Alan King

OR: — RPR: — Form: 14UP-1

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

6th 5 1 tip Il Ridoto W: 11st 1lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

9/1

J: Freddie Gingell T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: 08P-51

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

7th 1 1 tip Stage Star W: 12st 0lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

11/2

J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: /1P5-4

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

8th 6 Sure Touch W: 10st 8lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Kevin Brogan T: Olly Murphy

OR: — RPR: — Form: 111-15

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

9th 2 3 tips Ga Law W: 11st 8lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

13/2

J: Gavin Sheehan T: Jamie Snowden

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1P2-22

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

10th 3 Le Patron W: 11st 5lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

12/1

J: Freddie Mitchell T:

OR: — RPR: — Form: 114P-1

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

11th 7 In Excelsis Deo W: 10st 8lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

10/1

J: Bryan Carver T: Harry Fry

OR: — RPR: — Form: U51-PU

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£27.40
Straight Forecast	£22.34
Tricast	£96.71
Trifecta	£239.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Madara

TOPSPEED:

Ga Law

RP RATINGS:

Gemirande

WEST COUNTRY:

Fugitif

Daily Record:

Il Ridoto

Telegraph:

Stage Star

The Times:

Madara

D Express:

Madara

The Sun:

Madara

The Star:

Madara

Daily Mirror:

Gemirande

POSTDATA:

Ga Law

LAMBOURN:

Ga Law

Daily Mail:

Fugitif