It’s that time of year again. Across the internet, horse racing fans are in their element, discussing exactly what bets they’ll be placing and which horses have the best chance of victory. Of course, this is always subjective. While there are plenty of Cheltenham horses that have had strong form in recent months, when it comes to horse racing, anything can happen on the day.
No one expected legendary horse trainer, Willie Mullins, to win the Gold Cup in 2019, for instance. Not because he didn’t have the credentials – Mullins is the most successful Cheltenham trainer ever – but because he had never won a Gold Cup in his 31-year-long career. How could that be the case? That a trainer as efficient and victorious as Mullins could miss out on the most coveted trophy in the festival for 31 years?
Well, because even the best of the best can fall at the final hurdle. This sport is as much about getting lucky as it is about being in the best form possible. That being said, you can put yourself in the best position possible to get lucky, and that’s exactly what the trainers of these horses have been doing. With this in mind, we’re going to examine 3 of the horses that have the best Cheltenham odds – the ones that have it in them to be victorious at the Gold Cup – and take a look at their chances.
Galopin Des Champs – 11/10
Galopin Des Champs, an eight-year-old male trained by Willie Mullins – has the best odds to secure a second win at the Gold Cup. Having won last year, this horse’s form has continued to be strong, with an impressive showing at Leopardstown, which many have stated as being one of the best displays of the modern era. To put it simply, he was leagues apart from the competition, and it will take a huge amount of effort to beat him come Cheltenham Festival 2024.
Fastorslow – 9/2
One of the horses that are best primed to do so, however, has to be Fastorslow. This is a horse that has already beaten Galopin Des Champs in 2023, and despite Galopin Des Champs’s impressive performance at Leopardstown, Fastorslow was notably absent. Both eight years old, the rivalry between these two horses is fierce, and it’s hard to see either of them completely ‘running away with it’ when the race begins.
Shishkin – 6/1
At 6/1, betting on Shishkin to win the Gold Cup is a bit more of a risk. That being said, the nine-year-old is not without his achievements, having won ten of his fifteen career starts, and blown away the competition in the recent Denman Chase at Newbury. With this in mind, the real issue with Shishkin is his temperament.
Seriously, when he gets into a huff, we’re not even sure a day-long spa treatment can calm him down. Despite being an 8/13 favourite at Ascot in November, Shishkin refused to start, and he unseated Nico de Boinville during the George VI Chase on Boxing Day. That has led a fair few people to question just how competitive – and reliable – he will become at the Cheltenham Festival. But if the best of Shishkin shows up, then he’s sure to make an impact.
Who Will Win the Gold Cup 2024?
These are the three horses who have the best chance to take the Cheltenham Festival by storm, but as we mentioned previously, there is everything to play for. Other popular horses include:
- Gerri Colombe – 9/1
- L’homme Presse – 12/1
- Hewick – 14/1
- Gentlemansgame – 16/1
- Bravemansgame – 16/1
- Corach Rambler – 20/1
- Monkfish – 20/1
These entries all have a good chance of pulling off something special, so we’re just going to have to go with what we know, listen to our gut, and then see what happens. One thing is for sure, it’s bound to be the most exciting Gold Cup yet!
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