Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners 2024: A guide to the 12 contenders

The centrepiece of the Cheltenham Festival is of course the Gold Cup on Friday (15:30) and this year's renewal, which features defending champion Galopin Des Champs, looks another corker.

Here's our guide to all 12 of the intended Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners - including their odds at time of writing and a brief assessment of their chances.

Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) @ 12/1

Second in last year's Gold Cup but winless in four starts since, albeit in top company. A consistent performer but he's hard to advise from a win perspective, for as much as his each-way claims are solid.

Corach Rambler (Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox) @ 18/1

The Grand National hero who comes alive at Cheltenham, having won the Ultima in 2022 and 2023. He's progressed with each run this season and should be coming into his own once again, so can't be ruled out. Whether or not he's got the class to land the blue riband is up for debate.

Fastorslow (Martin Brassil/JJ Slevin) @ 5/1

Runner-up to the aforementioned Corach Rambler in last year's Ultima before a sensational defeat of Gold Cup champ Galopin Des Champ at Punchestown a month later. Proved that was no fluke when downing Willie Mullins' stable star again in the John Durkan back in November, but 'Galopin' got his revenge in the Irish Gold Cup at last month's Dublin Racing Festival. Fastorslow may have needed that, though, and has every chance of landing the big one.

Galopin Des Champs (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) @ 11/10

The one they all have to beat. Arguably a career-best - yes, even better than his emphatic success in this race last year - when bolting up by 23 lengths in the Savills Chase over Christmas and if he shows up in that sort of form, he'll be extremely hard to beat. He has been beaten twice in his last four appearances, however, and that's a slight vulnerability, especially with his two-time conqueror Fastorslow in opposition.

Gentlemansgame (Mouse Morris/Darragh O'Keeffe) @ 18/1

One of the most interesting runners in the field. Seriously unexposed having only ran three times over fences - and on two of those occasions he beat Irish Grand National hero I Am Maximus by eight lengths and Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall back in November. He's had his struggles since, however, and the drying ground won't suit.

Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy) @ 9/1

Unlucky not to win the Brown Advisory at last year's Festival but made amends with an emphatic Grade 1 success at Aintree and reappeared this season with a victory in the Champion Chase at Down Royal on his first try in open company. Was vying for Gold Cup favouritism after that, but he got well and truly put in his place when 23 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs in the Savills and is a lot harder to fancy now.

Hewick (John Joseph Hanlon/Jordan Gainford) @ 16/1

A somewhat surprising winner of the King George last time out, but he was right there pitching amongst the big boys when falling at the second-last in last season's Gold Cup and if the ground does quicken up significantly, he would look great each-way value.

Jungle Boogie (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore) @ 33/1

Another fascinating runner. A 10-year-old who's only ran five times in his career - three times for Willie Mullins between 2020-2022 and twice for Henry de Bromhead this season. His only defeat came over an inadequate two miles and he looked an out-and-out stayer when getting up late to win the New Year's Day Chase at Tramore last time out. Hard to see him winning, but it's not so far-fetched to imagine him running into the places at a huge price.

L'Homme Presse (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch) @ 12/1

A classy animal on his day and not without a chance if peaking here, but his prep in the Ascot Chase last month was a little underwhelming and all his formlines leave him with a bit to find. Each-way claims for me.

Monkfish (Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins) @ 25/1

Hard to fancy, as much as he did rate a classy prospect after his Brown Advisory success in 2021. Been riddled with injuries since, hasn't jumped a fence all season and the forecast isn't in his favour.

Nassalam (Gary Moore/Niall Houlihan) @ 33/1

An emphatic 34-length winner of the Welsh Grand National over Christmas but he's another who won't like the drying ground. In fact, don't be surprised to see him pulled if the forecast is right, with the English Grand National his main target for the season.

The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville/Sam Twiston-Davies) @ 40/1

Beat Gerri Colombe in last year's Brown Advisory but was pulled-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup over 2m4f back in November on this season's reappearance. Better when fourth in the King George next and was a staying-on second in the Cotswold Chase last time out. Seems to be peaking at the right time and looks a huge price for each-way punters.