2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Friday's feature race at the Cheltenham Festival is the biggest event of the week, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30), in which Galopin Des Champs is a red-hot favourite for Willie Mullins. Who will come out on top in one of the biggest races of all? Get our-runner-by-runner guide . . .

3.30 Cheltenham (Friday, March 17): Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

1 Ahoy Senor

Too powerful for three of these rivals over 3m1f here in January; not too far away

Trainer: Lucinda Russell
Jockey: Derek Fox
SP forecast: 20-1

Ahoy Senor15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Derek Fox Tnr: Lucinda Russell

2 A Plus Tard

Sprinted up the hill for a brilliant win in this last year; had interrupted prep this time

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
SP forecast: 9-2

A Plus Tard15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Rachael Blackmore Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

3 Bravemansgame

Understated but still progressive and was a fine winner of the King George on Boxing Day

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
SP forecast: 7-1

Bravemansgame15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Cobden Tnr: Paul Nicholls

4 Conflated

Stays 3m well on soft; ran in the 2m4f Ryanair last March; new trip in exalted company

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Davy Russell
SP forecast: 14-1

Conflated15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Davy Russell Tnr: Gordon Elliott

5 Eldorado Allen

Smart on his day but is currently falling well short of what will be needed in this race

Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Jockey: Brendan Powell
SP forecast: 150-1

Eldorado Allen15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Brendan Powell Tnr: Joe Tizzard

6 Galopin Des Champs

Special talent; unbeaten when completing over fences; strong finish back over 3m latest

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP forecast: 2-1f

Galopin Des Champs15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Paul Townend Tnr: W P Mullins

7 Hewick

Progressive chaser who won big 3m5f Sandown chase on good last April; big ground query

Trainer: Shark Hanlon
Jockey: Jordan Gainford
SP forecast: 50-1

Hewick15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Jordan Gainford Tnr: John Joseph Hanlon

8 Minella Indo

Won then second in this race for the last two years; looks up against it for win purposes

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Mark Walsh
SP forecast: 18-1

Minella Indo15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mark Walsh Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

9 Noble Yeats

Grand National winner; smart form over regulation fences since; recent rain is a help

Trainer: Emmet Mullins
Jockey: Sean Bowen
SP forecast: 10-1

Noble Yeats15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Sean Bowen Tnr: Emmet Mullins

10 Protektorat

Third in this last year; impressive at Haydock in November; lesser effort back here since

Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
SP forecast: 18-1

Protektorat15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Skelton Tnr: Dan Skelton

11 Royale Pagaille

Sixth and fifth in last two runnings of this race; much softer ground will suit a lot better

Trainer: Venetia Williams
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
SP forecast: 50-1

Royale Pagaille15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Charlie Deutsch Tnr: Venetia Williams

12 Sounds Russian

Has improved; divided Ahoy Senor and Noble Yeats here latest; needs more at weights

Trainer: Ruth Jefferson
Jockey: Sean Quinlan
SP forecast: 40-1

Sounds Russian15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Sean Quinlan Tnr: Ruth Jefferson

13 Stattler

Won 3m6f chase at the 2022 festival; useful staying form since; thorough slog would suit

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Patrick Mullins
SP forecast: 14-1

Stattler15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

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Gold Cup: 'If he has a clear round it will be all to play for' - Willie Mullins on Galopin Des Champs 

The verdict

The ability to reproduce his best form over 3m2f under the conditions has to be proved but GALOPIN DES CHAMPS can rise to the occasion.

Galopin Des Champs15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Paul Townend Tnr: W P Mullins

Cheltenham Gold Cup: William Hill offer

150-1 A Plus Tard or Noble Yeats to win the Gold Cup with William Hill. 18+. Play safe. New customers using EP150APT or EP150NYS. Applies to bets placed from 9:00 on 7 March 2023 until 15:30 on 17 March 2023. £1 must be staked on A Plus Tard to win at 150-1 or Noble Yeats to win at 150-1. Returns paid as 3 x £50 or 3 x £50 in free bets (30-day expiry). Player and currency restrictions and terms apply.

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