Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup |
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| Grade 1, Cheltenham 16:00 £625,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 2f 70y, Class 1  |
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Notably, only five of the 19 entries are British-trained, marking a record low and highlighting the increasing dominance of Irish stables in this prestigious event.
Leading the entries is the two-time defending champion, Galopin Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins. Following an impressive victory in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he is the favourite to secure a third consecutive Gold Cup win, a feat last achieved by Best Mate between 2002 and 2004.
✅ 6/6 over fences at Leopardstown
— Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) December 28, 2024
✅ 2/2 in the Savills Chase
A sparkling performance again from Galopin Des Champs at the track 👏🏻
pic.twitter.com/dhXHqkdn33
Among the Irish challengers is Fact To File, also from Mullins' yard, who finished second to Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase and is considered a strong contender. Other notable Irish entries include Gerri Colombe, Monty's Star, and Banbridge, the latter having secured a victory in the King George VI Chase in December.
Connections of L’Homme Presse are not shying away from the challenge. The winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2022, the gelding has long been one of Britain’s shining lights in the staying chase division and finished best of the home team when third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance.
That performance gives the L’Homme Presse camp plenty of cause for optimism ahead of the rest of the campaign and having led the field to two out before suffering an injury in last year’s Gold Cup, they see no reason to shirk another tilt at the ultimate chasing prize.
The rest of the British representation comprises Grey Dawning, who was runner-up in the Betfair Chase but did not finish in the King George, Royale Pagaille, winner of the Betfair Chase, The Real Whacker, and Ahoy Senor. Each of these horses is currently listed at odds of 33-1 or longer, indicating the challenges they face against the dominant Irish contenders.
Additionally, French-trained Il Est Francais, who finished second in the King George, adds an international dimension to the race.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
£625,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 2f 70y, Class 1
19 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 362-3P Ahoy Senor 10 11-10 Lucinda Russell
2 9-14U1 Banbridge 9 11-10 Joseph O'Brien
3 -6U587 Conflated 11 11-10 Gordon Elliott
4 F13-26 Corbetts Cross 8 11-10 Emmet Mullins
5 112-P1 Embassy Gardens 9 11-10 W P Mullins
6 111-12 Fact To File 8 11-10 W P Mullins
7 11-231 Galopin Des Champs 9 11-10 W P Mullins
8 1P5-43 Gentlemansgame 9 11-10 M F Morris
9 1221-3 Gerri Colombe 9 11-10 Gordon Elliott
10 /11-P6 Grangeclare West 9 11-10 W P Mullins
1 113-2P Grey Dawning 8 11-10 Dan Skelton
12 -32325 Hewick 10 11-10 Miss Tara Lee Cogan
13 15-1P2 Il Est Francais 7 11-10 Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm
14 /416-1 Jungle Boogie 11 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
15 /124-3 L'Homme Presse 10 11-10 Venetia Williams
16 631-58 Minella Cocooner 9 11-10 W P Mullins
17 312-22 Monty's Star 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
18 F/1F-1 Royale Pagaille 11 11-10 Venetia Williams
19 P5-U14 The Real Whacker 9 11-10 Patrick Neville
