The final day of the Festival and there’s one race on everyone’s lips – the Cheltenham Gold Cup! We’ve gathered the opinions of all the writers, editors and tipsters here at GG to get their pick for the opener.
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Daryl Carter (GG Top Tipster and Writer)
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS has looked out of the ordinary, and while his stamina wasn’t entirely proven at Leopardstown, he took an age to pull up. His speed will be a big asset here against mainly sloggers, and nothing has been able to get anywhere near him since 2021. He would have won the Turners by a street last year and has barely put a foot wrong. He is the right price, but he is the real deal and impressed me at the DRF. Plenty of others have claims, but I am sticking with Galopin Des Champs.
Andrew Mount (GG Top Tipster and Writer)
When ELDORADO ALLEN crossed the line in second place behind Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his comeback I immediately wrote ‘Welsh National’ in my tracker. He went to Haydock for the Betfair Chase next time, rather than Chepstow, and ran another solid race, finishing runner-up to Protektorat. The right-handed track was no use to him when fourth in the King George and I’m also happy to forgive last month’s Denman Chase fifth to Zanza, as he raced too close to the pace in first-time cheekpieces and the ground was faster than preferred. He’s run cracking races at the last two Cheltenham festivals – chasing home Shishkin when 33-1 for the 2021 Arkle and placing at 14-1 behind Allaho in last year’s Ryanair Chase – and he’s got to be worth a small each-way interest in the Gold Cup.
CONFLATED still looks to be improving at the age of nine – his five best RPRs (Racing Post Ratings) have come in the past 12 months and he’s especially effective over fences on left-handed tracks, recording form figures of 131U11F21 (5-9). Those with good memories may recall that I recommended him each-way in the Ryanair Chase last year in which he was staying on well in a dispute of second place when falling late on. His jumping, while still not foot-perfect, seems more assured this season and he can also be supported each-way.
Dave Young (GG Cheltenham Expert)
There won’t be any surprises in this race from my view as I think GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is as good a favourite as you’ll see all week and his price is only held because of the magnitude of this race.
He wins, but if anything is capable of downing him then it’s last years winner A PLUS TARD who would have to be forgiven for his run earlier this season and has bounced back before
Rob Plumbridge (GG Editor and Content Lead)
I wasn’t with him all week but Henry De Bromhead has his yard absolutely firing and I can’t help thinking this is destined for A PLUS TARD. Yes, you have to forgive that Betfair Chase run. But watching the Gold Cup from last year it really was remarkable how easy he won it. I think we will see the horse in a similar mood today and he will expose any chinks in the favourites armour.
I will also have a small bet on Noble Yeats each way, who i think stays on late in the piece past tired horses.
Tom Aldridge (GG Editor)
It’s difficult to oppose GALOPIN DES CHAMPS here. He has looked unbeatable the majority of his chase career, and would still be unbeaten over fences had he not fell at the last in the Turners last year. People are doubting if he’ll have the stamina, but he thrived when stepped up to 3 miles in the Irish Gold Cup. He was keeping on well then and I just think he’s simply the best horse in the race. In fact I wouldn’t put it past him repeating Al Boum Photo and winning back-to-back renewals next year!
Dan Corbally (GG Writer and Social Media)
Galopin Des Champs is a rock solid favourite and he’s easily the one to beat but NOBLE YEATS obviously has stamina in abundance and has a cracking turn of foot as evidenced in the Many Clouds Chase late last year. He raced a bit lazily in the Cotswolds Chase but I have no doubt with a truer pace to aim at in the big one on the Friday he’ll be more at home. Emmet Mullins doesn’t need me to sing his praises but he’s clearly particularly handy at preparing them for a big day and it’s unlikely we’ve seen the horse realise his full potential just yet.
Jake Russell (GG Writer and Social Media)
A horse with many eyes on him heading into the 2023 festival, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS looks the one to beat in the Gold Cup although only having run at the 3 mile trip once in his short career so far. That performance was electric however, contesting in the Irish Gold Cup where he jumped nicely all the way around, before powering home to beat Stattler by 8 lengths, still pulling Paul Townend’s arms out as he crossed the line, suggesting there was and still is more to come from him. He doesn’t look to have any flaws in his game, and an even further step up in trip will bring more out of him. Willie Mullins is having his usual brilliant festival, and there is no one better to get a horse ready than him. They all have Galopin Des Champs to beat.