Gold Cup Wide Open after Christmas racing - 'Odds of around 6/1 look very tempting'

The main event at the Cheltenham Festival is undoubtedly the Gold Cup, as it's the pinnacle of National Hunt racing and the one race every trainer is desperate to add to their CV.

We're used to having a fairly closed picture at this stage of the season, as Galopin Des Champs has been a short ante-post favourite for the last three years.

Several trials took place over Christmas and whilst some horses have strengthened their credentials, others have left their chances in tatters. Here we take a look at the Gold Cup picture after the festive results.

King George

Britain's biggest race outside of Cheltenham, the King George is often used as a stepping stone for the British Gold Cup candidates.

Fact To File was one of two Willie Mullins runners to go over and he was very disappointing. Perhaps a Gold Cup bid is now off the cards for him and his trainer can work on getting him back to his best for an attempt at defending his Ryanair Chase crown instead.

Three horses were separated by the narrowest of margins in the Boxing Day showpiece and Gaelic Warrior finished third. The sprint finish didn't really suit him and Paul Townend maybe would have made more use of him if he had another go.

His Gold Cup credentials remain fully intact and the extra two-and-a-bit furlongs are likely to play to his strengths. The Jukebox Man managed to come out on top and he has thrown his hat into the Gold Cup ring. Now available at single figures, he's growing in popularity.

Joseph O'Brien's Banbridge was a nose away from following up his victory in the 2024 renewal but the Gold Cup probably isn't for him. He looked like a non-stayer when seventh in the race last year and isn't getting any younger.

Jango Baie wasn't too far away either and he was a very impressive winner at Ascot on his previous start. It remains to be seen if he's a Gold Cup horse or not but he's capable of picking up plenty of decent prizes throughout the season.

Savills Chase

Noel Meade's Affordale Fury kept on strongly to score by two-and-a-half lengths and this horse is improving at a rapid rate. We don't know how good he is yet and he could run in the Irish Gold Cup before heading over to Cheltenham.

Galopin Des Champs was making his seasonal debut and as such, we can expect a significant amount of improvement when he comes back to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival. He ran a cracker in third but just ran out of gas in the final furlong.

Fastorslow wasn't beaten too far despite finishing sixth and he had clearly stepped forward from the John Durkan. Punchestown will be the big aim for this course specialist but he has the ability to make the frame if firing on all cylinders in March.

Defending Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin drifted badly before the race and someone knew something, as he was bitterly disappointing. It's hard to fancy him for a second Gold Cup off the back of that performance and his Festival success is looking like a fluke.

Verdict

Galopin Des Champs showed plenty on his return and odds of around 6/1 look very tempting, but it's Gaelic Warrior at 10/1 who makes the most appeal. He's the horse to take out of the King George and the longer trip at Cheltenham looks likely to suit.