9 months ago
56
NOT many horses have won two Gold Cups in a row – but Galopin des Champs is primed to do just that this afternoon on the final magnificent day of Cheltenham 2024.
If the Grand National is the people’s race, then there’s no doubt the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one for the purists.
The TimesJust eight horses have won the prize more than once, most recently Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020.
He was trained by Willie Mullins as, of course, is Galopin des Champs, and I would be a strong believer the latter is a classier horse than his heroic former stable companion.
The winner of 11 of his 17 starts, Galopin des Champs infamously fell with the 2022 Turners in the bag.
Since then, though, under the excellent Paul Townend he has proved himself the star chaser in the business despite two Punchestown defeats at the hoofs of today’s re-opposing Fastorslow.
In both the Savills and Paddy Power Gold Cup Galopin des Champs looked supreme. He’s impossible to oppose.
This, though, is a deep Gold Cup even without the gutting absence of Shishkin, and if something went amiss it’s a wide open event with a number of eachway possibilities.
The best of those for me is Corach Rambler, who loves this place and has been an Ultima hero in recent times as well as landing the Grand National in some style.
He could well run on into a place for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox.
The final day of Cheltenham 2024 gets under way with the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle over two miles and a furlong. With Sir Gino out it’s all change here.
NURBURGRING was a fine third last time in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown with the useful Kargese in second.
My hope was running on strongly that day and I suspect he has strong eachway claims for Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin.
The County Handicap Hurdle is over two miles and a furlong.
A bit boring but KING OF KINGSFIELD will be very hard to keep out the places for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
The Gigginstown runner was third behind the class Ballyburn and Supreme hero Slade Steel at Leopardstown last time and a mark of 140 might be very generous. Worth a few quid eachway.
Another Grade 1 in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles.
CAPTAIN TEAGUE has been gagging for a step up in trip and this is his chance to shine for champion Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.
The 2023 Bumper third from last year did well to land the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury last time but he’s always been crying out for a longer distance and he gets ground he loves. Another eachway selection.
Hunter Chase time now in the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup over an extended three miles and two furlongs.
My two big fancies this week have always been Chianti Classic – who banged in on Tuesday – and ITS ON THE LINE who goes here for Emmet Mullins.
Last year’s runner-up has been in tremendous form since, and while he’s a character who can do some odd things on the way round I expect him to go one place better this time around.
In the beautiful Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase over an extended two miles and four furlongs many believe Dinoblue is a good thing but I like her stable companion from the Willie Mullins yard ALLEGORIE DE VASSY.
Paul Townend is on top and she only has 3lb on ratings to find with the favourite.
I believe the yard have changed a few things with her for this and she did well to win in heavy at Naas last time.
Finally, Cheltenham 2024 comes to a close with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.
TEDDY BLUE is a massive price for Niall Houlihan and Gary Moore but I think he might defy the odds.
It might be this trip stretches his stamina, but at the odds I’ll risk him eachway.
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