Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips: Fastorslow to win the big one

The feature race on Friday - and of the entire Cheltenham Festival - is of course the Gold Cup, which is due off at 15:30.

Find our runner-by-runner guide here, and read on for my Cheltenham Gold Cup tips.

The only place to start is with the defending champion, Galopin Des Champs.

Willie Mullins' stable star was outstanding in this last year and arguably looked even better when bolting up by an incredible 23 lengths in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

However, before that he was beaten twice by Fastorslow - in the Punchestown Gold Cup a month after landing the Cheltenham edition and in the John Durkan on this season's reappearance - and seemed to lose that sense of invincibility he had previously.

You could argue it's returned somewhat, with his Savills success and Irish Gold Cup triumph last time out, but if I'm going to back an EVS shot in a Gold Cup I want them to be as bombproof as it gets.

He's not quite that - not many three-mile chasers are - so I'm taking him on with the aforementioned FASTORSLOW.

Martin Brassil's eight-year-old was beaten comfortably-enough by Galopin at the Dublin Racing Festival exactly 41 days ago, but contrary to popular belief I feel that form could be reversed.

The winner bossed proceedings from the front that day, on soft ground which suits him better. He's unlikely to be able to do that on Friday and a sounder surface, which looks likely, would be more in favour of the selection.

It's also worth noting that Fastorslow was having his first run in 69 days the last day, whereas Galopin was match-fit from the Savills. That's another reason for improvement.

Mr. Brassil is a master of getting them spot on for the big day and I'm hoping Fastorslow can get off the mark at the Cheltenham Festival having finished runner-up here twice.

Then, at a big price, I'm suggesting Patrick Neville's THE REAL WHACKER each-way.

The eight-year-old won the Brown Advisory last season, beating the well-fancied Gerri Colombe who is 9s for this race at time of writing, but things haven't quite gone to plan this season.

He was pulled-up in the Gold Cup Handicap Chase over 2m4f here last November but was much-improved when fourth in the King George on Boxing Day - and then he was a staying-on second in the Cotswold Chase over a furlong shorter than the Gold Cup trip earlier this year.

It seems like he's gradually coming into his own and looks primed to run a career-best here. It's hard to see him being good enough to win it, but I can see him making the places (4 with Betfred).