Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips: Runner By Runner Guide With Best Odds & Offers

Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips

• A Plus Tard - 9/2 with Bet365
• Minella Indo E/W - 18/1 with William Hill

Horse racing betting sites are bracing themselves for an onslaught of activity ahead of the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup and we’ve broken down every contender in this year’s renewal.

Friday’s 3.30pm showpiece race is the one most Cheltenham offers have been geared towards, with William Hill offering enormous price boosts on the hottest prospects in particular.

William Hill have inflated odds available for new customers interested in backing popular picks A Plus Tard (150/1) or Nobel Yeats (150/1), but are the horses on everyone’s lips all that?

We break down every runner and showcase the best odds from online bookmakers. 

Ahoy Senor 

Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox

A real staying type, claimed Noble Yeats’ scalp at Wetherby last year and bagged a second Grade 1 of his novice chase season at Aintree. 

Took time to get going, with plenty of scruffy jumping but excelled in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham when beating Sounds Russian, Noble Yeats and Protektorat.

A Plus Tard 

Harry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore

A runner-up two years ago, the Cheveley Park-owned gelding bounded clear for one of the most electrifying Gold Cup triumphs in living memory last year and was strongly expected to repeat the trick this year. 

Failed to fire in the Betfair Chase when illness unearthed and, subsequently, hasn’t been seen since due to an apparently slight setback. A big ask off that prep.

Bravemansgame 

Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden

A six-time chase winner, hit highest level with a convincing victory in the King George VI Chase on soft ground. An ease won’t be a problem. 

Some have questioned his love of the track, but Bob Olinger was on a different planet when cantering past him in the Ballymore in 2021. 

The question is about how unsuited the most of those in behind were by Kempton, as stayers. Trainer is very confident.

Conflated 

Gordon Elliott/Davy Russell

A reformed lunatic, pegged as a non-stayer even after winning the Irish Gold Cup last year, was running a big race when falling in the Ryanair. 

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That confirmed to the trainer that he needed further though and he delivered around Leopardstown once more in the Savills Chase at Christmas. All about getting into a rhythm for him, quite happy to be prominent too.

Eldorado Allen 

Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell

A speculative punt by connections. Has never won over three miles, although he seems ground versatile. 

Was second, albeit a long way back, in the Betfair Chase. Well beaten when favourite at Grade 2 level last time. 

Galopin Des Champs 

Willie Mullins/Paul Townend

A Grade 1 winner over three miles as a novice hurdler, has been a revelation over fences, and was dreadfully unlucky to knuckle over after another exuberant jump at the last in the Turners 12 months ago. 

Learned to settle and leap more economically and won the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival. But that was a slow early pace and didn’t answer any doubts about staying 3m2f at Cheltenham, particularly with an ease.

Hewick 

Shark Hanlon/Jordan Gainford

Would be a fairytale winner as an €800 purchase, has answered almost every question put to him from Sandown’s Bet365 Chase Sandown in England, the Galway Plate in Ireland and the American Grand National in Far Hills. 

Good ground is key to him though and if any more rain comes, is likely to be withdrawn with a run in the Grand National in mind.

Minella Indo 

Henry de Bromhead/Mark Walsh

A third different jockey in three seasons in this race and four in four years at Cheltenham but it is his record at Prestbury Park that is significant. 

A Gold Cup winner two years ago and runner-up last year, he has also triumphed in the Albert Bartlett and been second in the Brown Advisory. 

Won his only run of the campaign at Tramore, just holding off Stattler, and put away for the time of season that suits best. Big each-way shout.

Noble Yeats

Emmet Mullins/Sean Bowen

Last year’s Grand National winner has shown plenty of indications that he is, in fact, a Grade 1 performer. 

A lot to like about a winning return to Aintree in the Many Clouds and while on the surface, finishing third in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January isn’t good enough to win a Gold Cup, it didn’t play to his stamina. 

That shouldn’t be an issue this time.

Protektorat 

Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton

Third in this last year as a seven-year-old, which was a cracking effort. 

Resumed with an 11-length success in the Betfair Chase, failed to land any sort of blow in the Cotswold Chase, which wasn’t much of a test but he is much better than that and could be a live contender if back to his best.

Royal Pagaille 

Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch

A real dour stayer, at his best on testing going but was only a short-head and a neck off third last year and ran well to be a distant second to Bravemansgame in the King George VI. 

Reportedly missed some work which won’t help but might be a place consideration, especially if the heavens open, and the Cheltenham weather forecast suggests it might.

Sounds Russian 

Ruth Jefferson/Sean Quinlan

A sound stayer on all types of ground, has continued to improve this season with his runner-up finish to Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase even though it wasn’t as quick as maybe he would have liked. 

But that would definitely have applied to Noble Yeats in third too. On the upgrade but this seems ambitious. 

Stattler 

Willie Mullins/Mr Patrick Mullins

Intriguing contestant who’s been very progressive. Won the National Hunt Chase 12 months ago and has more than held his own at elite level, staying on past a non-stayer to be second in the Irish Gold Cup.

However, that was after a bit of a dawdle early on and he wasn’t losing ground on stablemate and favourite Galopin Des Champs. A good gallop would give him a big chance.

Gold Cup Prediction

A Plus Tard

I'm going to take a punt on A Plus Tard being back to his best. That is obviously taking a bit on trust, but like his stablemate Minella Indo, who seems a fantastic each-way opportunity, has an excellent record at the track as a dual winner as well as finishing third and second. 

Hasn't had anything like an ideal prep, but it is notable that the de Bromhead horses are running very well again after a quiet spell. And there is no doubting the nine-year-old's class.