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Is Galopin Des Champs the One to Beat in Cheltenham Gold Cup?

Last year’s winner Galopin Des Champs goes into the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup bidding to become only the third horse this century to defend his crown in the Blue Riband event of the Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Willie Mullins in Ireland, Galopin Des Champs has the potential to secure his place in the sport’s history books as one of the greatest 3m chasers of all time. He blew his rivals away at Cheltenham in 2023, powering up the racecourse’s famous hill to score by nine lengths.

As you may have read in a sports blog, the nine-year-old has been in excellent form this season, winning two Grade One races. He was successful in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December. That field included some new rivals, including fellow Gold Cup contender Gerri Colombe, but it was the more experienced horse who won that battle.

In what was his final appearance before making the trip across for the Cheltenham Festival, Galopin Des Champs won the Irish Gold Cup. It was a performance that suggested he is the horse his rivals all must beat in this year’s prestigious contest. 

Fastorslow Has the Best Form Against Defending Champion

The only horse in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup field with a winning record against Galopin Des Champs is Fastorslow. He has a 2-1 record over last year’s winner and his connections will be hoping their horse can improve that further at the Cheltenham Festival.

As you may have seen in the sports news, Martin Brassil’s runner beat the 2023 Gold Cup winner in the Punchestown Gold Cup last season. He then confirmed that form in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown chase on their opening starts of the 2023/24 campaign.

Galopin Des Champs did get one over Fastorslow in the Irish Gold Cup, but the latter ran a respectable race, finishing second at Leopardstown. The Dublin Racing Festival runner-up is likely to be suited by Cheltenham in what will be a stiffer test of fitness.

As of February 7, Fastorlsow is the +450 second favorite in the Cheltenham Festival betting for the 2024 Cheltenham.

Gerri Colombe Team Still Have Confidence in Their Horse

In what is set to be a strong contingent from Ireland this year, Gerri Colombe is another Irish chaser who has a big reputation. He ended last season as one of the leading novices in either the UK or Ireland.

The former Mildmay Novices’ Chase winner began the season with a triumph in the Grade One Champion Chase at Down Royal. He got the better of Envoi Allen in a close finish to the 2m contest.

Gordon Elliott’s runner proved no match for Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase, but his trainer did not feel he was at his best in the race. The Irishman opted against running his horse in the Irish Gold Cup as he wants the chaser to be fresh for his shot at the Cheltenham Festival feature.

Shishkin and L’Homme Presse the Pick of Home Team

Although it is Irish-trained horses who are at the top end of the betting for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Shishkin and L’Homme Presse are two horses who could spoil Ireland’s party.

Shishkin was traveling well in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day before stumbling on landing at the penultimate fence. The six-time Grade One winner prevailed in the Ascot Chase and Aintree Bowl Chase last season.

Nicky Henderson is a trainer who has had 73 Cheltenham Festival winners, so he is one of the great success stories in horse racing. He feels the Gold Cup is the best option for his former champion 2m chaser.

L’Homme Presse warmed up for the Cheltenham Festival with victory in the valuable Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield. That was his first start in 391 days, but Venetia Williams’ chaser showed no signs of any rustiness.

With seven wins from nine outings over fences, L’Homme Presse has the best strike rate of any horse on the Gold Cup field this year. This will be his toughest test to date for the former Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner.

This year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup will be the 96th running of the race. It can feature a maximum field of 22 runners, and it looks set to be one of the strongest renewals in many years.

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