The Cheltenham Gold Cup is seen as the most prestigious prize in National Hunt racing and with the Festival just days away, which horse is favourite to win the race?
Galopin Des Champs Is The 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup Favourite
To start with – let’s answer the headline question.
Galopin Des Champs is the horse very likely to be sent off as the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite @ 11/10 with the best horse racing betting sites – and considering his career so far, it’s entirely justified.
The Willie Mullins superstar is bidding for back-to-back successes in the race after landing the £350,000 prize for his owner Audrey Turley in 2023.
The eight-year-old jumped the final fence in synchrony with market rival Bravemansgame and pulled clear up the Cheltenham hill to win by seven lengths.
Galopin Des Champs has tasted glory in eight of his 11 chase starts – with only a few red marks on his record:
- Fell at the last fence when well clear in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2022
- Pipped by Fastorslow in the Punchestown Gold Cup at the end of a gruelling campaign in 2023
- Beaten again by Fastorslow at a reduced trip of 2m4f in the John Durkan last November
Those punters looking to take him on might cling to these, but it isn’t easy to find a chink in his armour.
Since the John Durkan defeat he’s been nothing but excellent – winning the Savills Chase in impressive style and easily landing the Irish Gold Cup.
He’ll head to his fourth consecutive Cheltenham Festival this month, looking to complete a hat-trick of wins at the home of National Hunt racing which includes triumph in the Martin Pipe three years ago.
It’s probably fair to say Galopin Des Champs won’t find the task quite as simple this year with an increased level of talent in the field, so there’s very little margin for error.
Three Of The Last Four Cheltenham Gold Cup Favourites Have Won
In the last 20 runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup there have been 10 winning favourites – therefore, a decent 50% strike-rate.
Three of those market leaders have also come in the last four runnings, with A Plus Tard (2022) and Al Boum Photo (2020) costing the bookmakers an absolute fortune.
Bobs Worth (2013) and Don Cossask (2016), are two other Gold Cup winning favourites in the last decade or so.
The stats increase further when we look at the Gold Cup favourites that finished placed – with (70%) of the last 20 finishing in the first three.
Which Horses Are Next in The Gold Cup Betting Market?
The 2023 Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow comes next in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup betting market @ 5/1.
This Martin Brassil chaser will be looking to upset Galopin Des Champs once again in their fifth career meeting – with two wins for Closutton and two for Beech Park.
Punters may be reluctant to back anything from Nicky Henderson‘s yard – operating at a 2-16 (13%) strike rate in the last two weeks – following the confirmation that Constitution Hill will miss the Champion Hurdle due to a respiratory issue, but Shishkin could be a popular choice in the market.
If it wasn’t for a stumble on landing over the penultimate fence in the King George, Shishkin likely would’ve claimed the spoils and he’s had his way with Gold Cup winners like A Plus Tard in the past.
Fears over Gerri Colombe’s lack of pace mean he isn’t quite as fancied as he was in the ante-post market earlier this season, but as we know he stays forever and if the frontrunners engage in a premature battle on heavy ground it could play into his hands.
King George hero Hewick is another intriguing each-way option as well as last year’s runner-up Bravemansgame, whilst L’Homme Presse could also have some supporters.
Latest Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Odds
- Galopin Des Champs 11/10
- Fastorslow 5/1
- Shishkin 13/2
- Gerri Colombe 10/1
- L’Homme Presse 14/1
- Bravemansgame 16/1
- Hewick 20/1
Odds correct 4th March, but subject to change.
WATCH: Galopin Des Champs Winning The Cheltenham Gold Cup
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