Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup CONFIRMED runners and riders, odds and Templegate tips
THE Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup is the most prestigious National Hunt race in the calendar.
And all the runners and riders have been confirmed.
Jack Kennedy won it last year on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo.
It was heartbreak for Rachael Blackmore, as she gave up the ride on the winner for eventual runner up A Plus Tard.
But she jumps back in the saddle for the big race on Saturday.
Below is the final confirmed field.
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Cheltenham Gold Cup confirmed runners
3-1 A Plus Tard
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
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3-1 Galvin
Jockey: Davy Russell
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
9-2 Minella Indo
Jockey: Robbie Power
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
15-2 Protektorat
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Trainer: Dan Skelton
10-1 Al Boum Photo
Jockey: Paul Townend
Trainer: Willie Mullins
12-1 Tornado Flyer
Jockey: Danny Mullins
Trainer: Willie Mullins
16-1 Chantry House
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
16-1 Royale Pagaille
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Trainer: Venetia Williams
25-1 Asterion Forlonge
Jockey: Bryan Cooper
Trainer: Willie Mullins
50-1 Santini
Jockey: Nick Schofield
Trainer: Polly Gundry
66-1 Ayr Right
Jockey: Callum Bewley
Trainer: Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford
Cheltenham Gold Cup trends
Nine is the oldest you want to go
Eight of past ten won on their latest outing
Stay above 164 in the official ratings
Your fancy must have already won a Grade 1 chase
Horses beaten in the race before have a modest record
A placing at a previous Cheltenham Festival is a plus
Must have been off the track for at least 30 days
Your fancy must have won over at least 2m4f, most have won over 3m-plus
Templegate tip
GALVIN can strike Gold for trainer Gordon Elliott.
We haven’t had a horse older than nine win the Gold Cup since Cool Dawn in 1998. That has to be a negative for dual winner Al Boum Photo along with fellow veteran Santini.
A couple of these are too low in the official ratings to score, namely Aye Right and Chantry House so they will have to show lots of improvement to figure.
Asterion Forlonge was only fourth last time, which is a no-no and leaves him with a mountain to climb.
Horses who have suffered more than one defeat in the season have a modest record.
That has to be a concern for defending champion Minella Indo and Royale Pagaille who have been beaten twice this campaign.
It’s pretty tough to come back and win the Cheltenham Gold Cup having been beaten in the race before.
That is a worry for fans of last year’s second A Plus Tard.
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That leaves a shortlist of three who have all won a Grade 1 chase before – Galvin, Protektorat and Tornado Flyer.
Having won or placed at the Festival before is a bonus and that leaves GALVIN as our selection. He won the NH Chase last season and was second here in 2020 for good measure.
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