Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Guide
When it comes to the Cheltenham Festival, the main event of the week is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which sees all eyes fall on the best chasers of the season as they take to the jumps course and attempt to win the most sought-after trophy in UK horse racing. Punters from all over the world will be looking to predict the Gold Cup winner, and our betting odds take a look at the key trends, form, and expectations of the trainers and jockeys involved on day 4.
Often called Gold Cup Friday, the final day of the meeting gives trainers a chance to land more wins and have one final hurrah as the jump racing season begins to wind down. We cast our eye over the featured race of the day, its history and statistics based on past Cheltenham Gold Cup results, alongside previews and Cheltenham day 4 tips for the rest of the races.
About The Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the final Grade 1 race at the Cheltenham Festival and is one of the prestigious national hunt events to grace the UK horse racing calendar. Raced over three miles and two and a half furlongs, the feature race takes in two circuits of the new course at Cheltenham racecourse.
Open to those aged five years or over, it has featured some of the best jumps horses to have ever raced, such as Best Mate, Kauto Star, Denman, and Desert Orchid. However, there is one horse which tops the rankings in this race, having won it on five occasions, and this is Golden Miller between 1932 and 1936.
In 2022, the race itself made history as Rachael Blackmore became the first-ever female jockey to win the race. Partnering Henry de Bromhead-trained A Plus Tard, Blackmore went one step further than the previous year, where she finished second and stable companion Minella Indo won the race.
A tricky race with 22 fences, some of which can be the most testing in jumps racing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup can be won or lost heading into the final bend as a good position over the final fence can mean a potential victory.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup Favourites
The Gold Cup is not a race that many top-class horses shy away from, which is why many runners of other races at the festival build themselves up over the course of their careers to tackle the gold cup fences. When taking a look at the Cheltenham Gold Cup odds, many punters will see the reigning champion from the previous year return to the festival, and it's these which will normally start as favourites and have the shortest starting price.
2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
As part of our Cheltenham betting tips, we aim to offer up a prediction for every race. No previews are more anticipated than Gold Cup tips, with even those punters less familiar with horse racing keen to have a flutter on one of the horses involved.
Of the longlist of Cheltenham Gold Cup runners, we like the look of Minella Indo. As a former winner of this race, and having beaten some of the shorter-priced horses this season, he should have a great chance of challenging, even though he would become the first horse aged over 9 to earn Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in over 20 years. Maybe go with an each-way to be on the safe side, as Galopin Des Champs is the favourite for a reason, but we still think there’s a lot of value here.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Statistics
When it comes to this race, there are many stats and pieces of information which can influence the Gold Cup betting odds, and we've listed some of the top things to take into account below.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners
When it comes to the Gold Cup and the ante post-betting markets, most punters will note that many horses return in consecutive seasons to try and gain the title more than once. Within these contested races, those that have finished second or further down in the runners, such as Minella Indo, have returned for another chance at the crown. The most successful Cheltenham Gold Cup horse is Golden Miller.
2022: A Plus Tard
2021: Minella Indo
2020: Al Boum Photo
2019: Al Boum Photo
2018: Native River
Gold Cup Successful Trainers
When it comes to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, many trainers will see the race as the pinnacle victory of their career. However, this can be an interesting insight into the betting options, as many trainers have won this race multiple times, such as Nicky Henderson. But in more recent years, the race has been dominated by Irish trainers who have raided the Cheltenham Festival.
2022: Henry de Bromhead
2021: Henry de Bromhead
2020: Willie Mullins
2019: Willie Mullins
2018: Colin Tizzard
Gold Cup Successful Jockeys
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is never just won by the horse alone, and the jockey will play a key part in the position of the horse within the race and in the closing stages. When it comes to successful historical partnerships, the pair who come to mind are Ruby Walsh and Kauto Star. That said, the most successful Cheltenham Gold Cup jockey is Pat Taaffe, with four wins between 1964 and 1968. However, in more recent years, there has been a string of jockeys who have won the race for the first time.
2022: Rachel Blackmore
2021: Jack Kennedy
2020: Paul Townend
2019: Paul Townend
2018: Richard Johnson
Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends
It’s worth noting that the Cheltenham Gold Cup has rarely been won by a rank outsider, with four of the most recent 10 renewals being won by the favourite. What’s more, no horse priced higher than Lord Windermere at 20/1 in 2014 has tasted Gold Cup glory since Cool Dawn in 1998. For that reason, it’s worth sticking to the upper echelons of this market.
Furthermore, the age of the most recent winners has been fairly telling, with every horse that has won in the past decade fitting into the 7 to 9 bracket. So if you’re weighing up a Cheltenham Gold Cup bet on a less-experienced horse, it may be worth reconsidering based on the key trends for the race.
Finally, many punters will look to the results of other championship races from earlier in the season to get an indication of which challengers may perform in this one. However, the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park is rarely a good yardstick for competitors, meaning that the likes of Ahoy Senor, Bravemansgame, and Royal Pagaille could be disregarded for the 2023 Gold Cup.
Cheltenham Friday Races
Below is a list of all the Cheltenham races taking place on Friday 17th March 2023.
13:30: Triumph Hurdle
14:10: County Handicap Hurdle
14:50: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
15:30: Cheltenham Gold Cup
16:10: Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase
16:50: The Liberthine Mares’ Chase
17:30: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Cheltenham Day 4 Tips
As well as the Gold Cup, which is the highlight race of the day, we'll also have betting tips for the other six races expected to take place across the day. So, whether you prefer a hurdle race or the steeplechase fences, we'll have you covered with the best Cheltenham Friday betting tips. Note that these may be revised as Cheltenham day 4 racecards are confirmed, with final declarations made at relatively short notice.
Triumph Hurdle Tips
Lossiemouth is our favourite to win the 2023 Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle, although Blood Destiny is a strong alternative.
County Handicap Hurdle Tips
Filey Bay gets our nod to come out on top in a hotly contested Handicap Hurdle race that could see Gin Coco and Pembroke also challenge.
County Handicap Hurdle Betting
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tips
Some good options in the likes of Hermes Allen and Embassy Gardens, but again we’re backing the ante-post favourite of Corbetts Cross in this race.
Hunters’ Chase Cheltenham Tips
We’re going a bit rogue here, as there’s something we like about Billaway that helps them to stand above the likes of Vaucelet, Ferns Lock, and Winged Leader in our eyes.
Mares’ Chase Tips
Back to the favourite for this one, as Jeremys Flame and Magic Daze don’t come quite close enough to Impervious, and our predicted winner of Allegorie De Vassy.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Tips
A very close race is expected in the Martin Pipe Hurdle, and we fancy Cool Survivor to edge out Spanish Harlem in this one.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day FAQs
What is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is a highlight of the national hunt racing calendar that acts as the showpiece event of the Cheltenham Festival, and is second in prestige only to the Grand National when it comes to UK horse racing.
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is raced on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. The 2023 Gold Cup will take place on March 17th at 15:30.
Who Won the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The 2022 Gold Cup was won by A Plus Tard, who was ridden by Rachael Blackmore and trained by Henry de Bromhead.
Has Any Horse Won the Cheltenham Gold Cup Twice?
Yes, there are many horses to claim multiple victories in the Gold Cup, including Kauto Star, Al Boum Photo, Best Mate, and L'Escargot.
What Are the Cheltenham Day 4 Races?
The races on day 4 of Cheltenham are the Triumph Hurdle, County Handicap Hurdle, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Gold Cup, Foxhunter Steeplechase, Mares’ Chase, and the Martin Pipe Hurdle.
Why is it Called the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup has been subject to sponsorship since 1972, with Boodles being the latest.
Is the Cheltenham Gold Cup the Biggest Race in Horse Racing?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the showpiece event of the festival, and is sometimes referred to as the blue riband of jumps racing. However, the biggest race in UK horse racing is often considered to be the Grand National.
Where Can I Find Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips?
You can find Gold Cup and other Cheltenham day 4 tips right here at LeoVegas, where we take a look at key trends to predict who might be the winners of the big race and more.
Who is the Most Successful Horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Golden Miller has the honour of being the Gold Cup winner on the most occasions, having come out on top in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936. Dorothy Paget is the leading owner, with Golden Miller’s five wins plus successes for Roman Hackle and Mont Tremblant in 1940 and 1952.
How Much is the Cheltenham Gold Cup Prize Money?
The 2023 Gold Cup prize money stands at a staggering £625,000, which is second in value to the Grand National in regard to most lucrative national hunt chase events.
Who is the Shortest Priced Winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The famous horse, Arkle, dominated in the mid-1960s, which meant that in 1966 his starting price was as short as 1/10. His record is unlikely to be broken.