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The Gold Cup is nearly upon us, and although the 2023 Cheltenham Festival has flown by and will soon be over, the best is yet to come.
If there’s one race at the Cheltenham Festival that is sure to get the biggest roar from the crowd as the runners and riders pass the stands for the first time, then it’s the Gold Cup. This ultimate test of stamina is always an intriguing watch. Jockeys will be jostling for position early doors as they try to get their mounts settled in the right area, while there’s usually drama and excitement guaranteed.
This year, Galopin Des Champs, for the trainer that everyone wants to follow, looks set to go off a warm favourite, though he certainly not a sure thing, and even if he as, if there’s a race where a well-supported short-priced one can get beat, it’s this one. Last year’s winner A Plus Tard is likely to be second favourite at around 4/1, but is there value elsewhere?
Gold Cup Each Way Tips
If like me you tend to look beyond the favourite and search for something at a bigger price, then there may just be a few options ahead of this year’s renewal of the Cheltenham Festival’s showpiece race.
Conflated is my first port of call here, and as far as I’m concerned, the nine-year-old mount of Davy Russell is overpriced. Gordon Elliott’s only runner in the race certainly deserves more respect than early odds of 16/1 suggest.
Conflated beat 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in the Irish Gold Cup in February of last year, powering up the run in to score by just over six lengths. He showed some class and more importantly some real grit and determination on that occasion, seeing off a quality field including the likes of Kemboy, Delta Work and Frodon.
Since then his form has been slightly patchy, but after a spin at Down Royal in November perked him up following a 212-day lay-off, he looked a horse ready for this when winning the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in comfortable style back in late December. He once again left Kemboy in his wake that day, who had Fury Road in behind, a horse that Conflated arguably made lighter work of beating than Gallopin Des Champs has since done. That’s one reason to suggest that the disparity in odds between the current Gold Cup favourite and Gordon Elliott’s horse is too big.
Sure, he fell when attempting to chase Allaho in the Ryanair last season, but he’s clearly not worse off for that incident, while he was certainly making a challenge when falling two from the finish. If he stays on his feet here – just one fall in 14 chase starts suggests points towards him being capable of that – then don’t be surprised if he gets much closer to the chief protagonists than the early betting suggests.
Another each-way option at chunky odds if Ahoy Senor, who stayed on strongly up the Cheltenham hill to win the Paddy Power Chase back in late January. He’s been kept for this race since and we know he likes it at this venue. He’s another who could get involved at a big price, but for my money Conflated is the each-way option not to be missed.
Gold Cup Each Way Tip:
Conflated E/W at 16/1
