Confirmed runners and riders for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup featuring Galopin Des Champs

Galopin Des Champs will face ten rivals as he bids to defend his crown in Friday's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30).

The shortest-priced British runner Shishkin was the only horse not declared on Wednesday, with trainer Nicky Henderson citing an unsatisfactory scope as the reason. King George VI Chase scorer Hewick was subsequently ruled out of the big race on account of the ground on Thursday.

Galopin Des Champs had followed last year's festival win with successive defeats in the Punchestown Gold Cup and John Durkan Memorial Chase to Fastorslow, who looks to give Martin Brassil a first Gold Cup victory.

However, the eight-time Grade 1 winner bounced back with an emphatic dismissal of a good field in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, storming clear to the tune of 23 lengths from Gerri Colombe, who is Gordon Elliott's sole representative after Wednesday's Ryanair Chase was preferred for Conflated.

Galopin Des Champs made it back-to-back wins in the Irish Gold Cup last time, reversing recent form with Fastorslow, and is no bigger than 11-10 for a repeat of last year's heroics.

Paul Townend's mount is one of two runners for Willie Mullins, who also declared Monkfish, while Charlie Hall Chase winner Gentlemansgame and the lightly raced Jungle Boogie provide depth as the Irish runners bid to make it six Gold Cups in a row for the away side.

Last year's runner-up Bravemansgame is back for more but has not won since taking the 2022 King George, following his Gold Cup second with a third in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April and then finishing runner-up in the Charlie Hall, Betfair Chase and King George this season.

L'Homme Presse won the Dipper, Scilly Isles and Brown Advisory in his novice chase campaign in 2021-22 and was fancied for Gold Cup success after defying a mark of 164 in the Rehearsal Chase that November before an injury sustained in the King George ruled him out of last year's contest.

But he showed he retained all of his ability with a gutsy victory on his return in the Fleur de Lys Chase at Lingfield over the race-fit Protektorat, who drops in trip to tackle the Ryanair for Dan Skelton, and had a good prep run for this over a trip short of his best in the Ascot Chase last time.

Grand National hero Corach Rambler tackles this before another tilt at the Aintree showpiece, Brown Advisory winner The Real Whacker looks to add to his fine Cheltenham record, while Nassalam, an easy winner of the Welsh Grand National in testing conditions last time, gets his first taste of Grade 1 company over fences.

2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup runners and riders

• Bravemansgame Harry Cobden
• Corach Rambler Derek Fox
• Fastorslow JJ Slevin
• Galopin Des Champs Paul Townend
• Gentlemansgame Darragh O'Keeffe
• Gerri Colombe Jack Kennedy
• Hewick NON-RUNNER
• Jungle Boogie Rachael Blackmore
• L'Homme Presse Charlie Deutsch
• Monkfish Patrick Mullins
• Nassalam Niall Houlihan
• The Real Whacker Sam Twiston-Davies

2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup verdict and 1-2-3 prediction

1. Galopin Des Champs

2. Fastorslow

3. Gerri Colombe

By James Hill, tipster

Had the rain not returned last weekend, you could certainly argue Fastorslow has a shout at beating his old rival Galopin Des Champs once again. But on soft ground the reigning champion will be very difficult to beat; he's such a strong stayer and, aged eight, is at the peak of his powers. He thumped Gerri Colombe at Leopardstown over Christmas, although I would think Gordon Elliott's runner can bridge the gap a bit on this occasion.

Galopin Des Champs15:30 Cheltenham

View Racecard

Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup tipping and insight:

• 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict 
• Cheltenham Gold Cup predictions and tips: why this horse can win 
• Galopin Des Champs goes for a famous Gold Cup double - but what does Willie Mullins make of his chances? 

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