Each-way value on Gold Cup Day

Another memorable Cheltenham Festival draws to a conclusion on Friday with the eagerly awaited renewal of the Gold Cup the highlight of the week.

Galopin Des Champ is bidding to round off a historic week for trainer Willie Mullins with back-to-back victories in the blue riband event. The star chaser is the clear form choice to repeat his victory in the Gold Cup, but is priced accordingly by the bookmakers and it may pay to take advantage of BoyleSports offer of enhanced places on races with 12 or more runners.

BoyleSports are paying 1/5 odds 4 places on each-way bets in races with 12 or more runners and 1/5 odds 5 places in races with 16 or more runners throughout the week at Cheltenham.

The Gold Cup has 12 horses declared, but with a doubt about the participation of Hewick on testing ground this race could revert to 1/5 odds 3 places with BoyleSports.

Aside from Galopin Des Champs, who looks nailed-on to finish among the places in the Gold Cup, cases can be made for many of his opponents to also make the frame.

Grand National winner Corach Rambler is certainly one that has a lot going for him in Friday's showpiece. Not only is his stamina assured for the Gold Cup distance, he is also proven on testing ground and has an enviable record around Cheltenham where he is unbeaten in three previous visits. At odds of 20/1 with BoyleSports, Corach Rambler can give each-way players a good run for their money.

The opening race of the day, The Triumph Hurdle, has a good each-way look to it, particularly with the extra place from BoyleSports. Willie Mullins is going for his fourth victory in this race in five years and saddles half of the 14 runners. The champion trainer has his horses in scintillating form this week so it would seem highly likely that a number of his runners will contend here. The most interesting of his septet is Salvator Mundi who is having his first start since joining the yard.

Salvator Mundi was a close second to Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino when the pair met in a juvenile hurdle in their native France last April and it looks highly significant that he has been added to the stable’s team sheet for this Grade One contest.

Brian Hayes is booked to ride Salvator Mundi and expressed his admiration for the horse in a Cheltenham Preview show published on irishracing.com last week where he said: “I’ve sat up on him once or twice and he gave me a real good feel. He’s working very well.”

Another horse with strong claims from an each-way perspective is top weight Pied Piper in the County Hurdle. Gordon Elliott’s charge was only beaten a head in this race last year and his overall record at Cheltenham includes two victories and a fourth place finish in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle.

The very capable Danny Gilligan takes 3lbs off Pied Piper’s burden of 12st and another bold showing can be expected from a horse that relishes testing conditions. Pied Piper is priced at 10/1 with BoyleSports.

Lastly, it would be no surprise to see veteran chaser Shantou Flyer, 33/1 with BoyleSports, make the frame again in the St. James’ Place Hunters Chase. The 14-y-o has been placed at five previous Cheltenham Festivals, including third in this race last year, and arrives in good nick having won a recent point-to-point. He would prefer slightly better ground, but can still run well on what is surely his final appearance at the Festival.