Favorite Horses For This Years Cheltenham Gold Cup

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My anticipation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is already building, and the conversation around this year’s favorite horses is as fascinating as ever. It feels like a truly open renewal, with a compelling mix of a defending champion, a young pretender, and a few established stars all on a collision course. As I look at the market and the form, a handful of names stand out to me as the leading contenders for the blue riband event of jump racing.

The horse that immediately commands my attention is Galopin Des Champs. As the defending champion, he has that priceless commodity: proven course and distance form under the immense pressure of the Gold Cup itself. His victory last year was a display of pure class and stamina, and he has since returned this season to win the Savills Chase at Leopardstown impressively. For me, he remains the one they all have to beat; the benchmark for quality and the justified favourite at the head of the market.

However, the challenge from the younger generation looks more potent than ever, and it’s led by Fastorslow. This horse has a remarkable recent record against the favourite, having beaten him in their last two encounters. He possesses a potent turn of foot and seems to relish the battle. While he doesn’t have the same Gold Cup experience, his raw talent and proven ability to topple the king make him an incredibly credible and exciting contender. I see him as the primary danger.

I also have a great deal of time for Gerri Colombe. His relentless, galloping style is tailor-made for the Cheltenham hill. He was only just touched off in a thrilling Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival and has since won the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal. He might not have the flashy speed of others, but his engine and stamina are undeniable. I believe he will be staying on up that hill when others have cried enough.

You can never discount the horses from the powerhouse stables, and Bravemansque fits that bill for me. His previous Festival form is exemplary, including a win in the Brown Advisory and a superb second in the King George. He seems to come alive at this time of year and on this kind of stage. While he needs to find a little more to topple the very top two, his consistency and love for Prestbury Park make him a live each-way player in my eyes.

Of course, the wildcard in the pack is the potential for a surprise package. A horse like L’Homme Presse, if he can return to his brilliant best after an injury layoff, has the class to be involved. The Gold Cup often produces a dramatic story, and a resurgent performance from a former top-class novice chaser is exactly the kind of narrative that captures the imagination.

When I weigh everything up, the battle between the established brilliance of Galopin Des Champs and the youthful challenge of Fastorslow is the central storyline for me. It’s a classic clash of styles and experience. One represents the proven champion who knows how to win the big one, while the other is the hungry challenger with the tools to dethrone him.

Ultimately, my favorite for this year’s Gold Cup is Galopin Des Champs, but only just. His experience in the white-hot heat of the occasion gives him a marginal edge in my book. However, I have never been more convinced of a single rival’s chance to beat him than I am about Fastorslow. It sets the stage for a potential Gold Cup for the ages, a true clash of the titans that I cannot wait to witness.