The most prestigious race of the jumps racing season happens Friday, March 15: the £625,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup! Twelve top-class jumpers will line up to clear 22 fences over a distance of three miles, two and a half furlongs. It is one of the stiffest tests in steeplechasing, and one of the most exciting days of the year for anyone who bets on horses.
The field features the first two horses across the wire in 2023, Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame. Galopin Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins, is the hot favorite to repeat. However, he faces tough foes like Bravemansgame, the in-form Fastorslow, Grand National winner Corach Rambler, and the comebacking L’Homme Presse.
Will Galopin Des Champs be able to repeat, or will one of those foes be able to topple him from his place of glory? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best places to bet the Cheltenham Gold Cup online!
Betting the Cheltenham Gold Cup Online
There is one thing you need to do before you pick a single horse or bet a single dollar on the race: sign up for one of the best online sportsbooks! You have many options, but our trusted betting site reviews help make that decision quick and easy. Our expert-recommended choices all feature market-leading odds, trusted deposits and cash-outs and a great user interface.
Our betting experts also know where you can find the best online betting bonuses for the way you like to play. Taking a few minutes to find out can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars in your bankroll. So, find out which rebates, referral benefits, or sign-up bonuses will make you the most money, and get ready for the most profitable betting experience!
These are the best sites for betting the Cheltenham Gold Cup online:
Cheltenham Gold Cup Handicapping
Now that you have created your online betting account at the best site for you, it is time to handicap the Cheltenham Gold Cup!
2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders
These are the official contenders for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup including betting numbers, trainers, and jockeys:
- Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)
- Corach Rambler (Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox)
- Fastorslow (Martin Brassil/J. J. Slevin)
- Galopin Des Champs (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
- Gentlemansgame (Mouse Morris/Darragh O’Keeffe)
- Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
- Hewick (John Joseph Hanlon/Jordan Gainford)
- Jungle Boogie (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore)
- L’Homme Presse (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch)
- Monkfish (Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins)
- Nassalam (Gary Moore/Niall Houlihan)
- The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville/Sam Twiston-Davies)
Make sure to bet the race at an online sportsbook! Instead of wagering at the track, where the price will vary until post time, you can lock in your odds with fixed-price wagering on major races, and make sure that you get the best price on your horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup!
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin des Champs | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Fastorslow | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Gerri Colombe | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| L'Homme Presse | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Bravemansgame | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Favorites
Galopin des Champs is the defending champion and he should be able to keep his crown. He comes in off of a strong score in the Irish Gold Cup (G1), the same prep he used to potent effect last year. The long distance suits him, as does the soft ground, and he should be able to jump well and finish strongly.
He was defeated by Fastorslow twice last autumn over shorter distances, and Fastorslow definitely has the quality and the soft-course ability to run a good race. However, over the longer distance of the Irish Gold Cup, Galopin des Champs got his revenge, and the even longer distance at Cheltenham raises questions about how he will finish.
The one with the most upside as an alternative to the favorite is L’Homme Presse. He won the Novices’ Chase (G1) in 2022 at the Cheltenham festival. He was unraced in 2023, but came back in winning form at Lingfield in January and was second over good to soft ground in a Grade 2 at Ascot last out. With softer going, and more ground, he has upside to find his best third off the lay.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Exotic Horses
Bravemansgame, second in this race in 2023, can get another share in 2024. Though he was winless in five 2023 starts he hit the board every time against quality company, and should be able to handle both the soft ground and the distance. Finding enough to win might be a surprise, but a piece of the exotics would not be.
The Real Whacker will be the longest shot on the board, or close to it, but has some upside in this spot. He won the Novices’ Chase last year, meaning he has shown some ability over this course, even under soft conditions. He was second in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in January as a local prep, and a step up from that could put him in the mix at big odds.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Bets
These are your expert best bets for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup!
- $20 to win - #4 Galopin des Champs
- $10 each-way - #9 L’Homme Presse
- $1 exacta key - #4 Galopin des Champs with #3 Fastorslow, #9 L’Homme Presse
- $0.50 trifecta key - #4 Galopin des Champs with #1 Bravemansgame, #3 Fastorslow, #9 L’Homme Presse, #12 The Real Whacker
- $0.20 superfecta key - #4 Galopin des Champs with #1 Bravemansgame, #3 Fastorslow, #9 L’Homme Presse, #12 The Real Whacker
