The 2024 Cheltenham festival is still many months in the future, however, it is the perfect time in the horse racing calendar to preview the showpiece event, with it being the first huge horse racing event in the new year.
There are four events in the UK’s horse racing calendar that take precedence above the rest and gather worldwide interest; Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby make up the big four of horse racing events in the nation.
The Grand National takes place each April, and Ascot and Epsom hold their landmark events in June. Cheltenham opens the calendar of the stunning quartet of events that all occur within a three-month period each year.
The Gold Cup is the festival’s standout race, and it is arguably the biggest and most prestigious event in the entire UK calendar.
Galopin Des Champs is expected to go back-to-back
The Gold Cup is undoubtedly the biggest event that takes place over the four-day event each year. It is the most competitive event and also awards the biggest prize fund of around Β£600,000 for the winner. In horse racing betting, Galopin Des Champs is seen as a comfortably early favourite at odds of 2/1, with over six months to go until the Gold Cup event.
The outright favourite won the 2023 event and will be looking to go back-to-back next year. There are few horses that have managed to win the title in successive years for the Gold Cup.
Galopin Des Champs has been in stunning form in 2023, having recorded a win in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February which was ideal preparation for the successful outing at Cheltenham in March.
Gerri Colombe is a contender in the biggest race of its life
Gerri Colombe could be the most likely horse to prevent double success for Galopin Des Champs next March. The horse finished second in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham this year and will look to build on that in the event’s biggest race of 2024.
Gerri Colombe followed the runners-up finish at Cheltenham with victory at Aintree in April in the Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices’ Chase.
ππ€ GERRI COLOMBE ππ€ pic.twitter.com/6jTMeTRa1S
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) April 14, 2023
The Gold Cup will certainly represent the horse’s biggest test yet – it is by far the highest calibre event it has ever entered. However, the stallion is certainly prepared, it was unbeaten in its three-year professional career prior to the narrow second-placed finish at Cheltenham 2023.
If anyone is to stop Galopin Des Champs from achieving a rare piece of history, then it will most likely be Gerri Colombe. It would be arguably an even bigger story, as it would represent a monumental level of success, compared to the horse’s prior victories.
The 2023 runner-up will compete again
Another strong threat to Galopin Des Champs Gold Cup defense is last year’s runner-up Bravemansgame. The French horse has yet to win a race in 2023, having come close in the Gold Cup in March.
The rematch is onβ¦
π₯ Galopin Des Champs vs Bravemansgame
π @punchestownrace Gold Cup
β° 5.55pm, Wednesday
πΊ Watch live on Racing TV pic.twitter.com/drDGXz9Vp2
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 24, 2023
In truth, Galopin Des Champs was incredibly dominant in the event last year, having claimed victory by seven lengths. Bravesmansgame went toe-to-toe with its rival for much of the race, but the eventual winner had an incredibly strong run-in that nobody else could match.
Bravesmansgame will undoubtedly be one of the horses waiting in the wings alongside Gerri Colombe if there are any mishaps for Galopin Des Champs. The reigning champion simply has a level of speed that nobody else is likely to be able to replicate, last year’s star is certainly expected to claim the headlines yet again in 2024.
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