Galopin Des Champs will be many people’s Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024 fancy, but last year’s winner is already odds-on with the top UK horse racing betting sites – so is there any Gold Cup each-way value further down the market?
We pick out one Gold Cup runner that looks a solid alternative to Galopin Des Champs and is a horse that already has one of the big staying chasers under his belt this season.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024: Is King George VI Chase Winner Hewick The Each-Way Value with NRNB?
It’s no secret that the Irish-trained HEWICK cost just £800 and after going onto win over £600k has become one of the big success stories in the last five years.
A big chunk of that career prize haul (£143k) was won after taking the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day – coming with a power-packed late run to collar the 2023 winner Bravemansgame (watch below)
Okay, recent Denman Chase winner Shishkin was still in with a say until unseating Nico de Boinville two out, but the way Hewick stayed on suggests he might have won anyway.
The form has since been boosted with Shishkin’s already mentioned Denman Chase win, while Hewick ran a blinder in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year for much of the way until falling two fences from home.
Yes, he wouldn’t have won that day, but may have stayed on for a place.
However, with another year on his back and a King George now to his name he has to be taken seriously again. Especially if the ground comes up faster than soft.
Ground Will Be Key For Hewick
Hewick is also a much better horse on ‘good’ ground, so his trainer Shark Hanlon will be on weather-watch as we draw nearer to the race. Saying on record “I’d love to meet Galopin Des Champs on good ground”.
Last year the Gold Cup ground was ‘soft’, but the four previous renewals to that (2019 to 2022) were run on ‘good-to-soft’ ground – which might just be quick enough for Hewick to be seen at his best.
He won the Oaksey Chase at Sandown on ‘good-to-soft’ ground last season.
We know he stays too, having won the 2022 bet365 Gold Cup, so it all rests on the ground really.
If conditions come up soft, then connections might even opt to save him for the Grand National, or even the Spring Sandown meeting again.
However, with many other firm going NON-RUNNER, NO BET, then you can take a chance on Hewick now at around 14/1. Getting your money back should he not run due to the ground.
- Cheltenham Festival: Back HEWICK (e/w) @ 14/1 (Gold Cup NRNB)
Hewick Career In Numbers
- Runs: 34
- Wins: 10
- Chase Wins: 6
- Prize Money Won: £613,359
What Date & Time Is The 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
📅Time/Date: 3:30pm (Friday 15th March 2024)
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
💰 Purse/Winner: £351,687.50
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
See the full 2024 Cheltenham Festival running order, race times and schedule.
WATCH: Hewick Winning The King George at Kempton on Boxing Day
Cheltenham Gold Cup Odds 2024
See below the latest betting odds ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday 15th March 2024.
- GALOPIN DES CHAMPS 4/5
- FASTORSLOW 9/2
- SHISHKIN 8/1
- GERRI COLOMBE 8/1
- L’HOMME PRESSE 8/1
- HEWICK 14/1
- BRAVEMANSGAME 14/1
- CORACH RAMBLER 16/1
All odds are subject to change and others on request.
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