The 2023 Cheltenham Festival reaches its crescendo in the £625,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup (G1) on Friday, March 17! The three-mile, two-and-a-half-furlong steeplechase drew a field of 13 top jumpers, all hoping to earn one of the most iconic titles in horse racing. And, with such a big field, it is one of the best horse race betting opportunities of the season!
The exacta finishers from the last two editions of the race line up again this year. In 2021 it was Minella Indo who got the best of his stablemate in the Henry de Bromhead yard, A Plus Tard. In 2022, it was A Plus Tard over Minella Indo. Noble Yeats, winner of the Grand National last year, also steps up to try to take this honor as well.
Will one of these three shine again, or will a new face prevail? Keep reading to find out, and to see how to bet the race online!
Cheltenham Gold Cup Online Betting
As important as it is to pick the right horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it is even more important to find the best place to bet the race online. There are many options for online sportsbooks, and it can seem hard to find the place with the best odds, money management features, and incentives. Our expert online racebook reviews will help you make a fast and confident decision!
All of our recommended sites have trusted deposits and cash-out, market-leading odds, and a great user interface. Each site offers different bonuses as well, incentives you will not find on track. Taking a few minutes now to learn about the best betting bonuses for your wagering style, including rebates and deposit bonuses, can earn you hundreds or even thousands of dollars later!
Cheltenham Gold Cup Field
This is the official field for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup including betting numbers, trainers, and jockeys:
- Ahoy Senor (Lucinda Russell / Derek Fox)
- A Plus Tard (Henry de Bromhead / Rachael Blackmore)
- Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls / Harry Cobden)
- Conflated (Gordon Elliott / Davy Russell)
- Eldorado Allen (Joe Tizzard / Brendan Powell)
- Galopin des Champs (Willie Mullins / Paul Townend)
- Hewick (John Joseph Hanlon / Jordan Gainford)
- Minella Indo (Henry de Bromhead / Mark Walsh)
- Noble Yeats (Emmet Mullins / Sean Bowen)
- Protektorat (Dan Skelton / Harry Skelton)
- Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams / Charlie Deutsch)
- Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson / Sean Quinlan)
- Stattler (Willie Mullins / Patrick Mullins)
Make sure to track the odds on your horses of interest from now until post time. Online sportsbooks offer fixed-odds wagering on major races, meaning you can lock in the best price as soon as you pace your bet. That way, when the race starts, you can be confident that you will get the price you expect no matter how the late betting action unfolds.
The current Cheltenham Gold Cup odds near the top of the market at top online sportsbooks can be found below:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin des Champs | +165 | +165 | +165 |
| Bravemansgame | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| A Plus Tard | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Noble Yeats | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Stattler | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Conflated | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Sounds Russian | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Ahoy Senor | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
Cheltenham Gold Cup Analysis
Now that you know the best place to bet the race, get to know the contenders in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and make sure you are ready to place your bets:
Cheltenham Gold Cup Favorites
The most interesting bet in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is Bravemansgame. Though he is contesting a chase at Cheltenham for the first time, his form reads like a horse who is ready to face the biggest stage in steeplechase. He has won six of his last seven, including both starts since wind surgery, and he romped in the King George VI (G1) in December.
The likely favorite is Galopin des Champs, and it would not be a surprise if he runs to that money. Willie Mullins’ top-string entry, Galopin des Champs has sparkling form through his campaign this year, including a smart score in the Irish Gold Cup (G1) last out. Despite that sharp recent form, he still carries seven fewer pounds than the top weight.
That top weight, who it makes sense to take a stand against, is last year’s winner A Plus Tard. Though he finished second two years ago and won last year, he comes into Cheltenham this year after pulling up in his only other start this campaign: a serious concern for a horse who had never previously finished worse than third. It is also hard to like that he carries between seven and 19 pounds more than everyone else.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Price Horses
The most interesting of the longer shots in the field is Ahoy Senor. Though he is not the most consistent horse in training, he tends to find his best form at Cheltenham, including wins in the Cotswold (G2) last out and a second in a Grade 1 novice race at the Festival last year. At a stone under top weight, he is going to be the right price to bet he finds his best.
Minella Indo, the winner two years ago, carries 12 pounds under top weight this year. He may not be quite the same horse as he was in 2021 but he still tends to find himself at Cheltenham. Off a neck victory over Stattler in the New Year’s Chase (G3) last out, he may have enough in the tank to cash a check.
The aforementioned Stattler also makes sense for a piece of the action. He is consistent, with two decent seconds this year and three wins last campaign. With 17 pounds under top weight, he is one of the best-weighted horses in the entire field, and his win in a novice chase at Cheltenham last year shows local form.
Free Cheltenham Gold Cup Picks
With such a large field, you have a broad range of interesting bets to make in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. These are your free expert picks for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup:
- $20 to win - #3 Bravemansgame
- $10 each-way - #1 Ahoy Senor
- $1 exacta key - #3 Bravemansgame with #1 Ahoy Senor, #6 Galopin des Champs
- $0.50 trifecta key - #3 Bravemansgame with #1 Ahoy Senor, #6 Galopin des Champs, #8 Minella Indo
- $0.20 superfecta key - #3 Bravemansgame with #1 Ahoy Senor, #6 Galopin des Champs, #8 Minella Indo, #13 Stattler
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