16 Runners Entered For 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup
A field of 16 runners has entered the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival meeting. Nine of those horses are expected to make the trip from Ireland, while the other seven are from British stables.
Defending champion Galopin Des Champs is one of the 16 entries and his trainer Willie Mullins will be hoping his horse can replicate what Al Boum Photo achieved in 2020, by winning back-to-back renewals.
Irish Gold Cup Success Indicates Galopin Is on Form
Mullins is a three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so he knows how to prepare a horse for the most prestigious contest in the sport. His latest star chaser recently won the Irish Gold Cup, and he is now odds-on at -138 in the Paddy Power racing market for the day four contest at the Cheltenham Festival.
Galopin Des Champs looking well after his Irish Gold Cup win 𤊠pic.twitter.com/JilY33kSAg
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 6, 2023
The nine-year-old beat a strong field in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstownâs Dublin Racing Festival, and on the back of that success, he has been one of the popular racing tips for the Blue Riband event in the sport.
Galopin Des Champs was beaten on his opening start this season. He had to settle for second place in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase behind Fastorslow. Just a month later, he won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown, beating a strong field by 27 lengths to land the Grade One contest in impressive style. He is now expected to head straight to Cheltenham without another run.
King George Winner Hewick Looking to Complete Big Race Double
Hewick caused an upset earlier this season when he won the 2023 King George VI Chase. The Kempton feature is one of the most prestigious races of the season in the 3m division, and it was only the second time in the last 18 years that it was won by an Irish-trained horse.
After the victory at Kempton, connections of Hewick have been preparing their horse for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is a chaser who has won over 3m5f, so stamina should not be a problem for him at Prestbury Park.
The last horse to complete the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup double in the same season was Long Run in the 2010/11 campaign. A triumph for Hewick, a horse who was purchased for just $880, would continue his fairytale storyline in the sport.
Grand National Winner Also Part of Field
âď¸ Corach Rambler – a magnificent winner of the 2023 @RandoxOfficial #GrandNational
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 15, 2023
He gives Derek Fox & @lucindavrussell a second win in the world's most famous chase at @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/8pyBYNtJ0s
Last seasonâs Grand National winner Corach Rambler is also set to feature in this yearâs Cheltenham Gold Cup, before making a return to Aintree. Lucinda Russellâs chaser is a two-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, as he has won the last two renewals of the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Since he was triumphant in Liverpool last April, Corach Rambler has failed to hit the frame in two starts. He was fifth of six runners in the Edinburgh Gin Chase at Edinburgh, while last time out, he had just one rival behind him when crossing the line in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock.
The 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup is scheduled to take place at 15:30 local time on Friday, March 15.
