Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Paddy Tierney

Cheltenham Gold Cup tips 2023: Irish domination of racing's blue riband to continue

With the fourth and final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival looming, we take a closer look at the leading contenders for Friday’s Gold Cup.

At the recent Boylesports Cheltenham Preview night at the Bardic Theatre in Donaghmore, in aid of SVP, a panel of racing experts gave their thoughts on the big race of the week.

Hosted by David Jennings of the Racing Post, David Casey, Denis O’Regan, Peter Fahey, Robbie Power, Tony Keenan and Jonny Dineen gave their thoughts on who would win this year’s renewal.

Read more: Robbie Power on the "forgotten horse" in this year's Gold Cup

The Irish have won the last four Gold Cups and six of the last seven and the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs is the strong favourite.

David Casey, assistant trainer to Mullins, said: “Galopin Des Champs is the best horse in the race.

“He has a lot of class, pace, stamina, he jumps very well and he’ll improve from his last run. The danger is last year’s winner A Plus Tard, but he’s coming off a bad run.”

Peter Fahy was also keen on the favourite’s chances, adding: “It’s Galopin Des Champs for me.

Paul Townend on Galopin Des Champs as they win the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

“He was very good at Leopardstown, he stayed at it really well. There is no question over stamina and I think he’s rock solid for it.”

Robbie Power, who is Henry De Bromhead’s race planner, thinks Galopin Des Champs will be hard to beat, but thinks former winner Minella Indo is overpriced.

“A Plus Tard is in very good form at home, everyone is happy with him.” said Power.

“His form round Cheltenham is top class and he’s got a good chance again, but Galopin Des Champs is a major stumbling block. He’s going to be very hard to beat, but so will A Plus Tard if he is back to his best. That’s an ‘if’ for everyone, he seems good at home but we won’t know until he gets there.

“I’d be amazed if anything outside A Plus Tard and Galopin Des Champs won, but Minella Indo is too big a price. He’s been first and second in the last two Gold Cups, I think he’ll be in the top three again.

“He’s a different horse when he arrives over at Cheltenham and he’s going into the race with better preparation than last year.”

Jonny Dineen felt Noble Yeats was a good each-way alternative to those at the top of the market and Denis O’Regan agreed, stating: “I’d give Noble Yeats a chance. He ran a nice race in the Cotswold Chase, he didn’t get into a battle and it was a nice run going into a Gold Cup.

“He won one of the best Grand Nationals for a few years.

“He stays going and there are question marks over stamina for others like Conflated. He is a good solid each-way chance behind Galopin Des Champs and I think Minella Indo will be placed again.”

The only panellist to favour an English-trained horse was Tony Keenan who tipped Bravemansgame each-way for the Paul Nicholls team.

Visit the SVP website for more information or click here to make a donation to SVP.

Gold Cup selections

  • David Casey – Galopin Des Champs

  • Denis O’Regan – Noble Yeats EW

  • Peter Fahey – Galopin Des Champs

  • Robbie Power – Galopin Des Champs & Minella Indo EW

  • Tony Keenan - Bravemansgame EW

  • Jonny Dineen - Noble Yeats EW

READ NEXT:

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.