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Katie Midwinter provides a runner-by-runner guide to the Cheltenham Gold Cup
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Eleven confirmations for the Grade 1 contest on Friday
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An intriguing field heads to post in Friday's feature
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Read our in-depth guide to day four at Cheltenham
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It's three winning Superboosts in Cheltenham week after our final day selection landed. More than 11,000 Betfair customers were on Willie Mullins' Selma De Vary to finish in the top four of the Triumph Hurdle at boosted odds of 5/42.25 from 4/91.44. Together with Old Park Star and Jonbon that means we have paid out multiple times this week!
An open looking Cheltenham Gold Cup could be won by an outsider
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Cheltenham, 16:00
Friday March 13
Live on ITV
The Cheltenham Gold Cup. One of the most prestigious races in the National Hunt calendar. Eleven runners will line up in search of glory and that coveted prize in a fascinating renewal of the Grade One contest on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. Sadly, there's no Galopin Des Champs this time around, but reigning champion Inothewayurthinkin will bid to retain his crown, facing a plethora of debutants to the race, headed by Gaelic Warrior as well as King George VI Chase winner The Jukebox Man.
The Jukebox Man
3/14.00 favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
King George VI Chase winner The Jukebox Man is unbeaten in four starts over fences. He made a successful chase debut at Newbury last term, when beating Masaccio in Grade Two company, before landing the Kauto Star Novices' Chase in good style ahead of Hyland, claiming his first Grade One success in the process.
Following another successful return to action after a 331-day break this term, the Ben Pauling-trained gelding returned to Kempton to record a memorable victory over talented rivals over the Christmas period. He's entitled to keep on progressing and remains on an upward trajectory, putting him in with strong claims in this contest, but will he be able to repeat his Kempton exploits and confirm the form with his opposing rivals?
Gaelic Warrior
15/44.75 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Gaelic Warrior put in a great effort to finish second to the impressive Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup, at a Leopardstown track that hasn't been the luckiest for him in the past. In contrast, the talented gelding often runs well at Cheltenham and was a dominant winner of the Arkle here in recent times.
The Willie Mullins-trained star proved his potential as a stayer with a win in the Aintree Bowl last season over 3m1f, before going close when joint-favourite in the King George VI Chase, beaten a short distance by the eventual winner The Jukebox Man, with Banbridge splitting the pair in second.
There could be more to come from Gaelic Warrior as he's a versatile type and a dominant force on his day. This may be a perfectly suitable test and he has the class to win if he stays up the hill.
Jango Baie
9/25.50 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
A strong finisher when winning the Arkle last year, Jango Baie has coped well with the step up in trip, winning over 2m5f at Ascot in November before being narrowly denied in the King George VI Chase. He has course form in his favour and remains unexposed over these staying distances, capable of showing further progression as he goes up an extra quarter-of-a-mile.
The Seven Barrows representative is lightly raced making only his seventh start over the larger obstacles having won three from six to date. He's likely to be seen staying on strongly in the finish but whether or not he'll be able to stay on better than his rivals remains to be seen.
Haiti Couleurs
5/16.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Winner of the Irish Grand National and the Welsh equivalent, among other achievements, Haiti Couleurs prepared well for this test with a comfortable success in the Denman Chase last month. He was pulled up in his only previous outing at Grade One level, but may have had excuses in the Betfair Chase at Haydock when struggling to get into a rhythm.
Worthy of another chance at this level, in deeper waters here, Haiti Couleurs is likely to adopt his front-running tactics and make it a test in the lead. If he gets into a good rhythm this time around, he'll be difficult to pass but must prove he has the class required to be winning a race of this nature despite already showing to possess a huge amount of talent.
Inothewayurthinkin
17/29.50 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Defending champion Inothewayurthinkin will wear first-time cheekpieces as he bids to retain his title having failed to fire since his win in the race twelve months ago. He beat hat-trick seeking Galopin Des Champs by a convincing six-lengths that day, pulling clear in the closing stages but has lacked the same zest this term.
In three runs this season, the Gavin Cromwell-trained contender has finished down the field twice before a faller late on when beaten in the Irish Gold Cup. The yard haven't enjoyed the best of seasons, but have shown glimmers of a resurgence in recent weeks and Inothewayurthinkin is a dual winner at this meeting, therefore could have saved his best for his return to Cheltenham.
Grey Dawning
12/113.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Kept relatively fresh for this race following an impressive win in the Betfair Chase last autumn, Grey Dawning will need to improve plenty on his outing in the Cotswold Chase when beaten five-lengths by Spillane's Tower, but is likely to prove much better than shown on that occasion. He wasn't quite on a going day when last seen, but he has been trained with this race in mind and he could be capable of a bold showing.
It's a fiercely competitive contest this year but Grey Dawning, who was beaten three-lengths by Gaelic Warrior at Aintree last spring, has course form in his favour and could be at the peak of his powers now as a nine-year-old in his 13th start over fences. He has amassed some valuable experience so far during his career and warrants consideration for title-seeking Dan Skelton.
Spillane's Tower
12/113.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Eight-year-old gelding Spillane's Tower landed the Cotswold Chase on Trials Day, beating L'Homme Presse, Grey Dawning and Flooring Porter. He improved on his previous outings over hurdles, seen for the first time over fences since finishing a distant second to Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown last spring.
It was a good return to action for the Grade One winner, who has form with a number of talented performers including Fact To File. He has lacked consistency over the past couple of seasons, however, which is a concern, but, at his best, he holds solid claims and enjoyed a successful trip in his only previous appearance at Prestbury Park.
Envoi Allen
28/129.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Legendary performer Envoi Allen is set to line up in his eighth consecutive Cheltenham Festival, having enjoyed a number of fruitful trips to the track in previous campaigns. The multiple Grade One winner has shown a huge amount of class and talent throughout his career, and, now as a 12-year-old, lines up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the first time.
Unexposed over this trip, he has stayed three miles well in the past and comes into the race fresh, which is often key to his chances. He often performs well following a break and his win at Down Royal in November was boosted by the runner-up Affordale Fury, who went on to beat a field which included Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, lining up in a competitive contest for perhaps the final time, Envoi Allen hasn't been seen too often during recent seasons, and campaigned selectively in races that have been likely to suit him. He still retains a huge amount of ability and is far from a forlorn hope for Henry de Bromhead in his 31st career start.
Firefox
33/134.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
A decent fourth in the Irish Gold Cup when outrunning odds of 33/134.00 in his latest start, Firefox will need to show improvement on that effort to make the frame here, but has class on his day, having gone close at the top level over fences and hurdles.
This is his tenth start over the larger obstacles and, at a price, he is far from a forlorn hope but may be vulnerable to others who have more proven form at the top table.
L'Homme Presse
40/141.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Venetia Williams struck with a 66/167.00 winner on Wednesday, and could saddle another surprise winner to victory in the form of 11-year-old veteran L'Homme Presse. He'll be suited by any rain prior to off-time on Friday, and has previous winning form at the Festival as well as good overall record at the track.
L'Homme Presse finished fourth to Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 renewal of this race, well beaten by the eventual winner but emerging with credit in defeat, and, with the benefit of experience in his favour, it would be no surprise to see him put in a competitive effort.
Gold Tweet
100/1101.00 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
French-raider Gold Tweet previously won the Cleeve Hurdle at the course before finishing eighth in the Stayers' Hurdle when sent off at odds of 7/18.00. He hasn't been seen much over fences this season, but did finish second in his penultimate start at Grade One level in Auteuil, outrunning odds of 61/162.00 that day.
Whilst he has plenty to find as the outsider of this field, he does have some form at the top level therefore could give a good account of himself if on a going day.
Katie Midwinter's Cheltenham Gold Cup Prediction
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Envoi Allen
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Gaelic Warrior
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Grey Dawning
Back Envoi Allen each-way in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday, 16:00)