The most eagerly-awaited race of the Cheltenham Festival is almost here: the ÂŁ625,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup (G1) on Friday, March 15! Spanning 22 fences at a distance of three miles, two and a half furlongs, it drew a field of 12 top chasers all hoping to win the most prestigious prize of the jumps racing season. This makes it one of the best horse race betting opportunities of the year, too!
The first two horses across the wire last year return to the field this year: Galopin Des Champs will be a hot favorite to repeat, while Bravemansgame returns to the fray as well. Fastorslow, who defeated Galopin Des Champs twice last year, also enters. Other contenders include Corach Rambler, who tests his class after winning the Grand National last year, as well as LâHomme Presse, who continues on the comeback trail.
Will Galopin Des Champs be able to repeat, or will someone else play the spoiler? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best places to bet the Cheltenham Gold Cup online!
Cheltenham Gold Cup Online Betting
Picking the right horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is important, but it is even more important to sign up for the best online betting site. That decision can seem tough at first given that there are so many options. But, our expert online racebook reviews are here to help you choose the place with the best odds, money management features, and incentives.
Every site that our experts recommend has the basics: trusted deposits and cash-out, market-leading odds, and a great user interface. Each different bonuses as well, better than any bonuses you will find on track. Taking a few minutes now to learn about the best betting bonuses for your wagering style, including rebates and deposit bonuses, can earn you hundreds or even thousands of dollars later!
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Cheltenham Gold Cup Field
This is the official field for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup including betting numbers, trainers, and jockeys:
- Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)
- Corach Rambler (Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox)
- Fastorslow (Martin Brassil/J. J. Slevin)
- Galopin Des Champs (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
- Gentlemansgame (Mouse Morris/Darragh OâKeeffe)
- Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
- Hewick (John Joseph Hanlon/Jordan Gainford)
- Jungle Boogie (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore)
- LâHomme Presse (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch)
- Monkfish (Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins)
- Nassalam (Gary Moore/Niall Houlihan)
- The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville/Sam Twiston-Davies)
Make sure to track the odds on your horses of interest from now until post time. Online sportsbooks offer fixed-odds wagering on major races, meaning you can lock in the best price as soon as you pace your bet. That way, when the race starts, you can be confident that you will get the price you expect no matter how the late betting action unfolds.
The current Cheltenham Gold Cup odds near the top of the market at top online sportsbooks can be found below:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin des Champs | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Fastorslow | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Gerri Colombe | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| L'Homme Presse | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Bravemansgame | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Analysis
Now that you know the best place to bet the race, get to know the contenders in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and make sure you are ready to place your bets:
Cheltenham Gold Cup Favorites
Galopin des Champs won the Gold Cup last year in decisive fashion and he is well suited for a repeat engagement. He prepped in the same race last year, the Irish Gold Cup (G1), and won it again. In that race he turned the tables on Fastorslow, the horse who had beaten him twice in the autumn. Over an even longer trip, Galopin des Champs maintains the advantage.
It would be no surprise to see the aforementioned Fastorslow put up a good effort, however. He finished second to Galopin des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup, and has some solid form on soft ground and over the Cheltenham course in particular. The question is the distance, however, and he may not find enough in the final run in.
The horse with the most upside to beat the favorite is LâHomme Presse, who has improving recent form and has not had a recent try at the favorite. Winner of the Novicesâ Chase (G1) at the Cheltenham festival in 2022, he did not race in 2023 but returned a winner in January, and then finished second in a Grade 1 at Ascot in February, his first top-level try since unseating his rider in the 2022 King George VI (G1). He is sufficiently unexposed at this distance to bet on improvement.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Exotics Horses
Bravemansgame was second in this race last year and brings consistent form into this yearâs edition. Though he has yet to win since the 2022 King George VI, he hasnât missed the board since, in five races against high-quality company. That suggests he is a similar horse to what he was this time last year.
Among the massive long shots in the race, consider The Real Whacker for a share. He has done well on soft Cheltenham ground, including a victory over Gerri Colombe in the Novicesâ Chase last year. He hasnât won in three starts since, but a second-place finish in a Grade 2 over this same course was a good sign and he was staying on well enough to make the extra distance interesting.
Free Cheltenham Gold Cup Picks
With such a large field, you have a broad range of interesting bets to make in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. These are your free expert picks for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup:
- $20 to win - #4 Galopin des Champs
- $10 each-way - #9 LâHomme Presse
- $1 exacta key - #4 Galopin des Champs with #3 Fastorslow, #9 LâHomme Presse
- $0.50 trifecta key -Â #4 Galopin des Champs with #1 Bravemansgame, #3 Fastorslow, #9 LâHomme Presse, #12 The Real Whacker
- $0.20 superfecta key - #4 Galopin des Champs with #1 Bravemansgame, #3 Fastorslow, #9 LâHomme Presse, #12 The Real Whacker
