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.
“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.
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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
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