The 2024 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup: guide and each-way tip

A star-studded cast are in line to contest the 2024 Boodles Gold Cup. That’s as it should be, with the showpiece of the four-day meeting carrying prize-money of £625,000.

The sport’s biggest star, Galopin Des Champs, is back to defend his crown, with Bravemansgame, the runner-up, set for a rematch.

Here’s a guide to all the possibles plus an early verdict. 

Official Rating: 170. Festival form: 32. Odds: 16/1. 

Positives: The emphatic 2022 King George winner jumped the last upsides Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup last year before finishing second, and he was only a short head behind him when the pair chased home Fastorslow in the Punchestown Gold Cup the following month. Has been freshened up since finishing runner-up in the Charlie Hall, Betfair Chase and King George this term, much as he was 12 months ago. Jumps superbly and his record in Grade One races reads 1321412322, which speaks for itself. 

Negatives: Ended up being beaten seven lengths last year, and that tough race has perhaps had a lingering affect given he spurned good opportunities in the Charlie Hall and then Betfair Chase. You could also reasonably argue he again wasn’t at his best when surrendering his King Gorge crown on his latest start. 

Verdict: He’s a chunky price but his efforts this season suggest he will come up short. 

Official Rating: 159. Festival form: 11. Odds: 22/1. 

Positives: He’s 3/3 at Cheltenham, winning back-to-back renewals of the Ultima, plus was an emphatic Grand National winner last season, so what is not to like? The 10-year-old is a measured jumper and generally pounces from off the pace, making it a little tricky to gauge exactly how good he is. He was returning from a 108-day break when successful last season, fending off Fastorslow in receipt of 4lb. This time he’s been off 111 days and the more galloping New Course at Cheltenham (his previous Festival wins have been on the sharper Old Course) promises to suit him even better, given his deep reserves of stamina. 

Negatives: His Festival handicap wins, plus Grand National success, were achieved off marks of 140 and 146. Now he’s in at the deep end with Galopin Des Champs, for example, having a rating of 180. He disappointed on his return at Kelso and never figured when a distant third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. In addition, he’s got a quirk or two, needing to be held up as his rider dares. 

Verdict: Seems to come alive at Cheltenham and each-way claims. 

Official Rating: 170. Festival form: 22. Odds: 5/1. 

Positives: He’s twice got the better of Galopin Des Champs in the past year and had another good tussle with him in the Irish Gold Cup last time before having to give second best. There’s no doubting his effectiveness at Cheltenham, either, as he was touched off in the Coral Cup two years ago and lost out by a neck to Corach Rambler in the Ultima 12 months ago when conceding 4lb. He’s a polished jumper and won’t lack for freshness after only two starts this term, being a late non-runner from the Savills over Christmas because of the testing ground. The trip looks within his range and he's also had a wind op since his last run, whch may have benefited him (also see below!).

Negatives: Gold Cup winners who were beaten in handicaps at the Festival the previous two years are a rarity. In fact, we are probably back in Cool Dawn territory: he won the 1998 Gold Cup after being beaten in the hunter chase at the meeting a couple of years earlier. Jumped much better than Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup last time but was still outmuscled by him. Not guaranteed to get the trip and what about that wind op, which he apparently had 48 hours after his run in the Irish Gold Cup. Any kind of issue so near such a big race is a niggle.

Verdict: Everything looks in place for another big run. 

Official Rating: 180. Festival form: 1F1. Odds: 5/4. 

Positives: Overcome early adversity to be a dominant winner last year and is unlucky not to be 3/3 at the Festival, coming down at the final fence in the 2022 Turners’ with victory at his mercy. Dazzling when winning the Savills Chase by 23 lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas and retained his Irish Gold Cup crown on his latest start. He’s clearly got the best form – the handicapper reckons he’s got at least 7lb in hand – and, overall, is a sound jumper who is versatile regards the ground. His trainer is closing in on 100 Festival winners. 

Negatives: Suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Fastorslow in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April and also fluffed his lines on his return against the same rival at Punchestown. So, in among all his brilliance, he’s suffered three odds-on defeats in the past couple of years. His jumping lacked some snap early on 12 months ago, and Fastorslow was again better than him in that department last time. Back-to-back winners on this race remain a rarity and the other unknown is whether some toughish races over the past year or so have left any kind of mark. 

Verdict: Sets the bar high, but the odd blemish on his record will keep his rivals interested. 

Official Rating: 160. Festival form: --. Odds: 16/1. 

Positives: The grey is extremely low mileage (just three runs over fences, and only 11 runs in total) so nobody knows just how good he may be. Developed into a leading staying hurdler and has been swift to make an impact over fences, despite his novice season being restricted to just one run (when beating I Am Maximus eight lengths in a beginners’ chase at Leopardstown). Showed the benefit of his return run at Gowran when lowering the colours of Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October. Could have plenty more to offer. 

Negatives: His lack of experience, including at Cheltenham, must be a niggle and he’s clearly not the most robust, with minor setbacks meaning he has missed more assignments since his Wetherby victory. Keep in mind, too, that he was also getting 6lb from Bravemansgame that day, plus had fitness on his side and benefited from that rival blundering at the final fence. Galopin Des Champs gave him a drubbing over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival three years ago, and that horse has hardly stood still in the interim. 

Verdict: Adds intrigue, but essentially, he’s a novice who has landed in a strong renewal. 

Official Rating: 167. Festival form: 2. Odds: 11/1. 

Positives: He’s won nine of his 11 races, with his only defeats being at last year’s, when narrowly failing to claw back The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory, and when chasing home Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Horses like him, who keep finding a way to win, are worth their weight in gold, and he’s been freshened up for this assignment, with connections resisting a rematch with Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. He’s a sound jumper who stays well and seems impervious to ground conditions. 

Negatives: There’s an element of him being well placed during his winning spree, with his overall form lacking some substance. It was disappointing he couldn’t get the job done at the Festival last year, when 5/4 favourite, and he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on his comeback at Down Royal before being trounced by Galopin Des Champs in the Savills. 

Verdict: His form figures are seductive. However, he’s had his limitations exposed. 

Official Rating: 169. Festival form: F. Odds: 20/1.  

Is now a non-runner because of the soft ground.

Official Rating: 152. Festival form: --. Odds: 50/1. 

Positives: He’s flashed plenty of ability when making it to the racecourse, initially for Willie Mullins and latterly for Henry de Bromhead. His only defeat in five starts came first time up this season, after 708 days off over an inadequate trip behind such as El Fabiolo, and encouragingly he built on that when rallying tenaciously to land a Grade Three prize at Tramore on New Year’s Day. Essentially, we are still scratching the surface with him. 

Negatives: The ten-year-old has clearly been blighted by issues, with his career punctuated by long absences. There’s nothing in his form to suggest he’s a Gold Cup winner in rating, with the handicapper reckoning he’s got 2st to find with Galopin des Champs. Not sure to stay this far and has done most of his racing in the mud. 

Verdict: Consider purchasing the hypnotic Kool And The Gang song of the same name, released 50 years ago, instead of investing in him. 

Official Rating: 168. Festival form: 1. Odds: 14/1. 

Positives: Shone as a novice chaser, making it five wins from as many races when landing the Brown Advisory in decisive style from Ahoy Senor. Defied a mark of 164 in the Rehearsal Chase on his return at Newcastle last season but suffered an injury in the King George next time, where he exited at the final fence when booked for second. Made light of a year on the sidelines when winning on his belated comeback at Lingfield in January before not being seen to best advantage when beaten over shorter at Ascot last time. The return to Cheltenham (2/2 at the track) and a longer trip should serve him well. 

Negatives: There’s just an underlying suspicion that physical frailties mean he’s not going to quote fulfil his early potential. His defeat of Protektorat at Lingfield, when in receipt on weight, was no more than satisfactory (in terms of identifying a Gold Cup winner), and he couldn’t lay a glove on Pic D’Orhy in the Ascot Chase last time, with his jumping being a little scruffy in places. 

Verdict: Injury issues have been no help and he needs to take his form up another notch to hit the jackpot. 

Official Rating: --. Festival form: 11. Odds: 33/1. 

Positives: Looked destined for the top when landing the Brown Advisory three years ago. At the time, he had an unblemished record over fences and that was his third successive Grade One victory. In addition, of course, he had landed the Albert Bartlett 12 months earlier. He’s been beset by injury problems but gave a reminder of his powers when landing the Galmoy Hurdle on his return at Gowran last month. At ten years of age, with few miles on the clock, he still has the scope to make up for lost time. 

Negatives: We’ve not seen him over a fence since the Punchestown Festival, three years ago, when he blundered away his chance. And he had not been error-free when justifying cramped odds at Cheltenham, either. It seems inconceivable that a horse can win the Gold Cup in such circumstances, even with Willie Mullins no doubt working his magic in the background. Connections seem torn between rolling the dice here, or letting him take his chance in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Regardless, he has to show he has progressed, rather than regressed, from his latest belated return. 

Verdict: You need to take a mighty leap of faith to consider risking him. 

Official Rating: 161. Festival form: 00. Odds: 50/1. 

Positives: He’s been a revelation since being equipped with blinkers and encountering bottomless ground at Chepstow, winning at the course in December before returning, 18 days later, to turn the Welsh Grand National into a procession. He was relentless and won by 34 lengths, with the handicapper’s response being to raise him by 16lb. It was undoubtedly one of the staying performances of the season and the rain this week will excite his connections.

Negatives: It seems clear that Nassalam is a mud monster who comes into his own when underfoot conditions are barely raceable. This week's rain has been in his favour but a quick flick back to last year – when he failed to make an impact in the Ultima on soft ground off a mark of 144 – suggests he has a mountain to climb, regardless of headgear perhaps adding an edge. 

Verdict: Easy enough to look elsewhere with the ground drying up. 

Official Rating: 162. Festival form: 1. Odds: 33/1. 

Positives: Each of his three races as a novice last season came at Cheltenham, and he won them all. The highlight, clearly, was his Brown Advisory triumph, where he made all and clinged on from Gerri Colombe, with I Am Maximus, the subsequent Irish Grand National winner, back in fourth. This season hasn’t gone to plan but there have been mitigating circumstances for his three defeats, and he got back on track when runner-up in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January. A first-time visor may also help.

Negatives: He’s been unable to go to the next level this term, blowing out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup before never threatening to get involved in the King George VI Chase. And his latest defeat behind Capodanno in the Cotswold Chase, albeit when conceding 3lb, indicates he’s up against it. His new headgear indicates those closest to him appreciate he's got to find a chunk of improvement from somewhere.

Verdict: Needs to take his form to another level to become the first Brown Advisory winner since Lord Windermere, ten years ago, to take this. 

VERDICT: If Galopin Des Champs brings his A Game to the Cotswolds, then the champ is again going to take all the beating. His old rival, Fastorslow, may again provide the greatest threat. Those looking for an each-way alternative should consider Corach Rambler, who is unbeaten in three starts at Cheltenham and has a lot of the qualities needed to make his presence felt. Look out for those layers offering extra places nearer the big day. 

1 GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. 2 FASTORSLOW. 3 CORACH RAMBLER.