The 2023 December Gold Cup runners see 12 in contention for the featured Cheltenham race this weekend. With the betting closer than ever, Thunder Rock leads the market with plenty of top class chasers also in the mix.
12 December Gold Cup Runners Confirmed For Cheltenham Spectacle
Following the final declarations on Thursday morning, 12 December Gold Cup runners will line up on Saturday at Cheltenham, and you can see below all you need to know about some of the more fancied horses that should.
We should be in for a fascinating affair at Prestbury Park this Saturday with this feature race of the two-day December meeting sure to be a Christmas cracker. You can also see the the odds for the contest with the best horse racing betting sites further down the page.
When Is The December Gold Cup 2023?
📅Date: Saturday 16th December 2023
🕙Time: 1:50pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f)
💰 Winner: £74,035.00
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV
You can see the full race times and ITV Racing schedule for the 2023 Cheltenham December Meeting here.
Thunder Rock One Of Best Backed December Gold Cup Runners
Heading the December Gold Cup runners is Olly Murphy’s Thunder Rock who has been well backed in the ante-post betting and is the current favourite.
Thunder Rock beat Mahler Mission on his seasonal reappearance in a Class 1 listed contest at Carlisle (see below) and is popular among punters going into this weekend. That form was franked in the Coral Gold Cup and he should go well at a track he’s been familiar with in 2023.
Connections are confident of a big run from this classy seven-year-old and trainer Murphy recently said: “The December Gold Cup is the plan and he’s been trained specifically for the race since he won at Carlisle.”
WATCH: Thunder Rock Wins On Seasonal Return At Carlisle
😍 Nice seasonal reappearance
🐎11-8F Thunder Rock makes an impressive return to action in the feature race @CarlisleRaces the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase for @Sean_Bowen_ & @O_J_murphy91 pic.twitter.com/w8mh8LPbw6
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 5, 2023
Paul Nicholls With Two December Gold Cup Runners In Race He Loves
14-time Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls is the best December Gold Cup trainer with a strong record in the race and is set to saddle two horses on Saturday afternoon.
The first of his two runners is Grade 1-winning hurdler Monmiral, who is the second favourite in the betting and appears to be the first choice of stable jockey Harry Cobden on seasonal reappearance.
He is yet to win in three starts over the bigger obstacle for Nicholls, but the Ditchheat handler will have prepped him well for this and going back down in trip should help his claims.
Paul Nicholls‘ other runner is Il Ridoto who returns to Cheltenham around a month after his fine third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup behind stable companion Stage Star.
This handy six-year-old was a good winner over course-and-distance earlier on this year in January and looks to be part of a strong hand for his top yard.
Cheltenham Regular Fugitif A Leading Player On Return To HQ
Richard Hobson’s Fugitif has form figures of 2-2-2-4 in the last 12 or so months at Cheltenham and returns in hope of improving from his seasonal reappearance last month.
The gutsy eight-year-old was fourth behind Stage Star in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month should come on from that performance. Also, he has been knocked down two pounds for that solid effort and looks to be a leading player.
Fugitif may have even finished better than fourth that day, though a tired mistake at the second last looked to have thwarted his chances. Hobson’s runner is a slight outsider in the field with the best betting sites, but at a tasty looking price he could be worth siding with.
Other December Gold Cup Runners To Look Out For
Four-time Grade 1 winner Fakir D’Oudairies will be involved for the Joseph O’Brien yard on his seasonal debut and he typically goes well at Cheltenham so is one to look out for.
Meanwhile Venetia Williams sends Frero Banbou for the race, who has put in two strong performances since reappearing this season. He finished third behind Gesskille at Aintree in November before finishing second behind the progressive Kandoo Kid last time out at Newbury.
December Gold Cup Odds
Check out the latest December Gold Cup odds from BetMGM, who give new users £40 in free bets upon sign-up for staking just £10.
- Thunder Rock @ 3/1
- Il Ridoto @ 11/2
- So Scottish @ 11/2
- Monmiral @ 6/1
- Fakir D’Oudairies @ 8/1
- Fugitif @ 8/1
- Frero Banbou @ 12/1
- Torn And Frayed @ 14/1
- Grandeur D’Ame @ 16/1
- Railway Hurricane @ 20/1
- Jay Jay Reilly @ 25/1
- Do Your Job @ 33/1
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
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