The form of the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup is coming under heavy scrutiny at the moment with the first two home – Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame – losing again. But does the poor form line of this Blue Riband race run even deeper?
Can The Cheltenham Gold Cup Form Be Trusted?
On paper last season’s 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup looked a decent renewal. Trainer Willie Mullins was winning the race for a third time after jockey Paul Townend gave the expected next big County Carlow superstar – Galopin Des Champs – a top ride.
In the process he beat the Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame, who had already won that season’s King George VI at Kempton, so the form was looking rock solid. Right?
Well, it was until the supposedly bombproof Galopin Des Champs was beaten at 4/11 in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April, with Bravemansgame also only third.
This defeat by Fastorslow was when the Cheltenham Gold Cup form cracks started to appear.
At the time, many horse racing fans just put that double Gold Cup first and second defeat down as a bit of a fluke. Afterall, the end-of-season Punchestown Festival has a habit of throwing up the odd shock or three.
Galopin Des Champs & Bravemansgame Were Expected To Bounce Back
The bookmakers were also not panicking, still making Galopin Des Champs the big ante-post Gold Cup favourite over the summer months. Having Bravemansgame not far behind.
With the best horse racing betting sites expecting both the Mullins and Nicholls staying stars to freshen up over the hotter months and return with a bang for the 2023/24 season. They are still only 7 and 8 respectively too.
However, the with the new jumps season now in full swing the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup form was quickly back in the spotlight when Bravemansgame was turned over in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on November 4th. Being sent off as the 10/11 favourite.
This defeat meant the Paul Nicholls chaser was now two runs without a win since taking the Boxing Day King George VI and that run was about to get worse with another defeat. This time in the Betfair Chase on 25th November.
Then, things got even worse for the Gold Cup form the day after the Betfair Chase, with Galopin Des Champs beaten as the 1/2 favourite in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. A race he’d won by 13 lengths the season before.
The Gold Cup Form Doubts Run Deeper Than Just Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame
There is more bad news for 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup form as it’s not just the first two home that are failing to advertise the Prestbury Park result.
You have to go down to the horse that finished sixth in the race – Royale Pagaille – before you find a runner that has won a race since. The Venetia Williams chaser took the Betfair Chase recently at Haydock, which was a cracking win and had Bravemansgame 6 1/2 lengths back in second.
This is the only recent success to come out of the Gold Cup. But with the Rich Ricci chaser a much better horse at Haydock, many will question if he can reproduce this away from the Lancashire venue.
2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup Has Produced Just Three Winners So Far
In total – as it stands from 27th November – the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup has produced just three winners.
Of the 13 horses that ran in the race last March, these have been out 23 more times between them. Only Royale Pagaille (Betfair Chase), Hewick (Oaksey Chase) and Minella Indo (Irish Daily Star) have won.
Add in that the first three home – Galopin Des Champs, Bravemansgame and Conflated have raced eight times between them since the Gold Cup and all been beaten. Four times were also at odds-on.
See below the full list of 13 the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup runners, where they finished and their form since.
- 1st – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS – Two runs: 2nd (4/11), 3rd (1/2)
- 2nd – BRAVEMANSGAME – Three runs: 3rd (100/30), 2nd (10/11), 2nd (8/11)
- 3rd – CONFLATED – Three runs: Pulled up (9/2), 5th (11/4), 3rd (17/2)
- 4th – NOBLE YEATS – Two runs: 4th (10/1), 7th (84/10)
- 5th – PROTEKTORAT – One run: 4th (5/2)
- 6th – ROYALE PAGAILLE – Two runs: Fell (10/1), 1st (5/1)
- 7th – ELDORADO ALLEN – Three runs: 5th (10/1), 4th (6/1), 3rd (11/2)
- Brought Down – SOUNDS RUSSIAN – Not run yet
- FELL – HEWICK – Three runs: 1st (6/5 fav), 4th (15/1), 14th (14/1)
- FELL – AHOY SENOR – Two runs: 2nd (11/4), Pulled up (3/1)
- Pulled Up – A PLUS TARD – One run: 3rd (100/30)
- Pulled Up – MINELLA INDO – Two runs: 1st (15/8), 4th (17/2)
- Pulled Up – STATTLER – One run: 6th (28/1)
Total Runs: 25
Total Wins: 3
Galopin Des Champs Still The 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Favourite
Despite there being more holes than a rabbit warren appearing in the Cheltenham Gold Cup form from last year, the best online gambling sites are still making last year’s winner Galopin Des Champs the favourite.
The Willie Mullins horse could be in action in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown next and then take in the Irish Gold Cup in February. Which was a race he won last season.
Galopin Des Champs will be hoping to become the first back-to-back Gold Cup winner since Al Boum Photo (2019/2020).
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024 Betting Odds
- Galopin Des Champs 3/1
- Gerri Colombe 13/2
- Bravemansgame 16/1
- Fastorslow 18/1
- Royale Pagaille 20/1
- L’Homme Presse 20/1
- 25/1 bar
Note: Odds are subject to change
WATCH: Galopin Des Champs Winning The 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup
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