One of the most exciting events on the calendar, the Cheltenham Festival, is already well on its way and it will be here in the blink of an eye. Alongside the important race cards today UK bookies are already putting out odds for the main event and, most notably, the winner of the pinnacle race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
But who will win? Will last year’s winner, A Plus Tard, show us once again that he isn’t too late to the party and come in first past the post? It seems that he’s certainly one to watch.
Set to Be a Thriller
As is the case every year, it looks as though the Cheltenham Gold Cup is going to be one of the most thrilling spectacles of the year, and horse racing fans are certainly eager to start placing their bets on the winner.
Last year, we watched in awe as A Plus Tard won in superb style and he seems to be up there with the front runners this year as well. However, even though he didn’t run so well in Haydock back in November, his jockey, Rachael Blackmore, insists that he will be back to his best for the March event. Considering he is now priced as the second favourite to win, people seem to believe her.
Is the faith justified? Well, it does seem to be a little over-confident given his more recent performance and the fact that he will have to beat the heavy favourite, Galopin Des Champs.
Galopin Des Champs has shown impressive form recently, where he performed impressively at the Irish Gold Cup, claiming his fifth Grade 1 win, and dispelling any concerns regarding his stamina.
Other impressive performances came from Stattler, who came in 2nd behind Galopin Des Champs – and he is currently joint third favourite for the Gold Cup. Other names thrown into the mix of possibilities include Fury Road, who came 3rd in the Irish Gold Cup, and Ahoy Senor, who enjoyed a great win at the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase.
However, odds are changing all the time, which means that if you have your eye on a horse, it’s probably better to get your money down sooner rather than later in case the odds drop even more…
The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2023 Favourites
So, according to the latest odds, here are the current favourites to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023, along with their perceived chances of victory:
- Galopin Des Champs: 38%
- A Plus Tard: 15%
- Noble Yeats:14%
- Stattler: 14%
- Bravemansgame: 13%
- Ahoy Senor: 10%
- Conflated: 9%
- Minella Undo: 8%
- Protektorat: 7%
- Hewick: 6%
- Sounds Russian: 6%
- Monkfish: 6%
- Fury Road: 5%
- Capodanno: 4%
- Royale Pagaille: 4%
- Shishkin: 4%
- Envoi Allen: 3%
- The Real Whacker: 3%
- Franco de Port: 2%
- Galvin: 2%
- Eldorado Allen: 2%
- Frodon: 2%
- Coole Cody: 2%
- The Big Breakaway: 2%
- Angels Breath: 2%
The Previous 10 Years’ Winners
Here are the previous winners over the last 10 years:
- 2022: A Plus Tard: Ridden by Rachael Blackmore
- 2021: Minella Indo: Ridden by Jack Kennedy
- 2020: Al Boum Photo: Ridden by Paul Townend
- 2019: Al Boum Photo: Ridden by Paul Townend
- 2018: Native River: Ridden by Richard Johnson
- 2017: Sizing John: Ridden by Robbie Power
- 2016: Don Cossack: Ridden by Bryan Cooper
- 2015: Conygree: Ridden by Nico de Boiville
- 2014: Lord Windermere: Ridden by Davy Russell
- 2013: Bobs Worth: Ridden by Barry Geraghty
Put the Date in Your Diary
Some very exciting riders are set to start the race and, no matter what, this is certainly going to be a nail-biter. Although Galopin Des Champs seems to be the one to watch, A Plus Tard, when on form, definitely can’t be ruled out, especially given the horse’s impressive Gold Cup history.
So, trust your gut, trust the stats and get your money down sooner rather than later to get the best profit possible.
