There will be many December Gold Cup tips flying about in the build-up to Saturday’s big Cheltenham race. But in a renewal that doesn’t look as strong in previous years, SportsLens’ Andy Newton thinks, despite having 12st to carry, class can win the day with Fakir d’oudairies. Find out why below.
You can also join up with the new December Gold Cup race sponsors Virgin Bet, who will offer new players a ÂŁ20 free bet after staking their opening ÂŁ10.
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Bet ÂŁ10 Get ÂŁ20 Free Bet
*New members. Offer not available 15/04/23 ÂŁ10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable ÂŁ10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Rules & Exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply, 18+
*New members. Offer not available 15/04/23 ÂŁ10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable ÂŁ10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Rules & Exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply, 18+ |
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December Gold Cup Tips: Fakir d’oudairies The Class Act
Twelve runners will head to post for Saturday’s Virgin Bet December Gold Cup and in what doesn’t look the best of renewals, this hands a leading chance to the Joseph O’Brien-trained FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES, despite having to shoulder 12st.
It’s hard to believe this JP McManus horse is still only an 8 year-old – okay, only for another few weeks – but he seems to have been around for ages.
Festival fans will know Fakir d’oudairies well too having been 4th in the 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2nd in the 2020 Arkle and also runner-up in the 2021 Ryanair Chase. His overall record at Cheltenham reads well – 1-4-2-2.
He’s also been a stalwart at the Aintree Grand National meeting with two wins in the Marsh Chase and was also runner-up in that same event back in April – his last time on the track (watch below). Finishing just over 4 lengths behind the classy Pic D’Orhy.
Fakir d’oudairies Has A Great Record Fresh
Yes, he’s, therefore, for a 246-day break to overcome but his record fresh (144+ days) under rules is not too shabby – 1-1-2-1-2.
Meaning during his career and when running of a break of 144 days or more Fakir d’oudairies is yet to finish out of the first two. He’s returning from a 246-day break, oh and we also know soft/heavy ground is fine for him.
Of course, as the class act in the race and this being a handicap then he’s been handed a hefty burden of 12st. It clearly won’t be easy having to give a lot of weight away to the others, with the next in the ratings Fugitif, who is 11lbs back.
But Frodon showed it’s possible to carry a big weight to victory in 2018 with 11-12, while the last winner to go in with 12st+ was the mighty Pendil in 1973 (12-7).
We also had an Irish-trained winner of the December Gold Cup in 2020 when Chatham Street Lad won for Michael Winters.
The only minor question mark is that normal Fakir jockey Mark Walsh has come over to Ireland to get the leg-up on the other JP McManus runner in the race – So Scottish.
But even the top riders don’t always get it right and you suspect this would have been a hard choice for Walsh, who has partnered Fakir in the bulk of his career outings. O’Brien has booked Jonjo O’Neill, who will ride the horse for the first time.
Sat, 16 Dec 2023 , 13:50 GMT • Cheltenham • Jumps
Thunder Rock Worth Taking On With Poor Favourites Record
I also feel the likely December Gold Cup favourite Thunder Rock is worth opposing. Yes, his form looks solid after beating the recent Coral Gold Cup runner-up Mahler Mission at Carlisle, but he’s yet to win at Cheltenham from two tries. He’s also got a huge race trend to overcome as this contest has only produced one winning favourite in the last 20 runnings.
Paul Nicholls Runners Always Respected In A Race He’s Won Five Times
Of the rest, it would be foolish to ignore the Paul Nicholls runners too as the Ditcheat handler has won this race five times and more than any other yard.
He tries to make it six this year with Monmiral and Il Ridoto. The former is the pick of jockey Harry Cobden, so you feel they fancy him more. However, he’s still to win over fences (3 runs) and is also without success in his last six – that’s the concern.
Il Ridoto will be ridden by Bryony Frost, who has won this race in the past for Nicholls (Frodon, 2018) and a solid third last time out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup – a race that’s often a good pointer to this – means he’s sure to have plenty of backers too.
December Gold Cup Tip: Best Outsider
Of those at bigger prices, the Harry Skelton-ridden Jay Jay Reilly might be worth a small saver too.
This 7Â year-old was only 7 1/2 lengths behind the improving Inch House at Newbury last time and that horse is well-fancied for the race after the Gold Cup at 2:25pm.
With two runs now this season should be spot-on now in terms of fitness and after an average patch last month the Skelton horses have been showing signs in recent weeks they are now in better form.
He also ticks the age trend (7) and has just 10-5 in weight to carry here, which will feel like featherweight after lumping 11-12 last time and 12st the time before.
Also see Andy Newton’s big race December Gold Cup trends here.
December Gold Cup 2023 Race Details
đź“…Date: Saturday 16th December 2023
đź•™Time: 1:50pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f)
đź’° Winner: ÂŁ74,035.00
đź“ş TV: ITV / Racing TV
See the full race times and schedule for the 2023 Cheltenham December Meeting here.
December Gold Cup Betting Odds
See below the best December Gold Cup odds from race sponsors Virgin Bet where you can also get a ÂŁ20 free bet after staking your first ÂŁ10. If you’ve already got a Virgin Bet account you can find more top UK horse racing betting sites here.
- Thunder Rock 3/1
- Monmiral 11/2
- So Scottish 11/2
- Il Ridoto 6/1
- Fugitif 7/1
- Fakir D’Oudairies 8/1
- Frero Banbou 11/1
- Grandeur D’ame 14/1
- Torn And Frayed 18/1
- Railway Hurricane 18/1
- Jay Jay Reilly 25/1
- Do Your Job 33/1
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
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