by The Cheltenham Festival builds on Friday’s Gold Cup which offers the ultimate test of class, endurance and jumping for the jump race’s top chasers.
Running three miles and two furlongs and boasting 22 jumps, the Gold Cup has produced some of the sport’s greatest moments, including winning Dawn Run in 1984 and the Denman and Kauto Star duopoly in the late 2000s.
That’s all you need to know about this year’s renewal.
When does the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup take place?
This year’s race will take place on Friday 17th March at 3.30pm.
What TV channel are the races on?
ITV will have live coverage moderated by Ed Chamberlin. Alternatively, you can bookmark this page and come back during the day to follow the race on our dedicated live blog.
Schedule for day four of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
Friday March 17 – Gold Cup Day
1:30pm, JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 179y
2:10 p.m., McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Class 3), 2m 179y
2.50pm, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1), 2m 7f 213y
3.30pm, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Class 1), 3m 2f 70y
4:10 p.m., Foxhunter Chase, 3m 2f 70y
4.50pm, Mrs Paddy Power Mare Hunt (Class 3), 2m 4f 127y
5.30pm, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (0-145), 2m 4f 56y
What happened at last year’s Gold Cup?
A Plus Tard was a hugely popular winner for jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead, who raced up the hill to finish miles ahead of 2021 winner Minella Indo. Dan Skleton’s Protectorate bravely prevailed for third place.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2023 Odds
You can read our complete runners and drivers guide to racing here. These are the best available rates:
Champs gallop 15/8
Bravemansgame 13/2
A Plus Tard 15/2
Classy Yeats 9/1
Statler 9/1
Merged 12/1
Shishkin 1.12
Ahoy Senor 14/1
Protectorate 14/1
Minella Indo 20/1
20/1 bar.
All quotes are valid from March 8, 2023
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Cheltenham Festival day four tips
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle
The race for fast youth hurdlers, the Triumph has produced numerous future Champion Hurdle winners, while notably, two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll won in 2014. Four of the last five winners were trained in Ireland and Willie Mullins has the top three Imaginary Runners this year: Blood Destiny and fillies Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau who will receive the three pound allowance. The one-piece course shape comes from Joseph Patrick O’Brien’s Comfort Zone, who won the test for that race at Cheltenham in January despite none of Mullins’ three competitors running that day.
Best bet: Lossiemouth
2.10 County Handicap Hurdle
This highly competitive handicap was won last year by State Man, who is expected to provide Constitution Hill’s main competition at this year’s Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s First Street was second to State Man by just over a length but will carry an extra seven pounds for this year’s race. Much of this can be attributed to a commendable third place behind Dashel Drasher and Marie’s Rock over an extra half mile at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have produced six of the last seven winners. Skelton’s Pembroke is popular, stepping back on the two-mile journey that has given him both wins this season. In January he placed second in a second class Novices’ Hurdle and this is his first effort in the handicaps. Mullins’ best chances are Hunters Yarn and Winter Fog, while Emmet Mullins’ current favorite is Filey Bay.
Best bet: Pembroke
2.50 Beginner’s Hurdle by Albert Bartlett
This race for permanent hurdling beginners is notoriously open-ended and difficult to read. In fact, only one of the last nine winners has achieved a single-digit prize. Future Gold Cup winner Minella Indo won the 2019 race by odds of 50-1. It is difficult to find a UK trained horse at the top of the market this year as Ireland dominates and no festival form to fall back on. Corbett’s Cross for Emmet Mullins has four wins and a second this season, including over three miles on soft to heavy ground at Fairyhouse in January. Willie Mullins’ Embassy Gardens was grateful for the leap forward last time he won at Thurles. Three Card Brag for Gordon Elliott is untried at this range but looks like a potential pursuer.
Best Bet: Three Card Brag
3.30 Boodle’s Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs is the standout talent of the race and would have finished the two and a half miles home in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase if he hadn’t skidded after the last time out. Passed former Arkle runner-up Fakir D’oudairies at Punchestown this season so speed is not an issue. Didn’t make it through the Gold Cup trip at Cheltenham which is a question mark but little evidence from previous runs to suggest he will struggle to stay on. Mullins runner-up Stadler is eight lengths behind his stablemates from the Leopardstown run but has solid claims.
A plus tard has only had one run since winning, pulled up. The King George winner Bravemansgame matures for Paul Nicholls but has not completed a chase at Cheltenham after ground conditions pulled him back last year. Noble Yeats and Protectorate probably need more proving grounds. Ahoy Senor won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January but his jumping is questionable and he turns right. You can also read our complete guide for the runners.
Best bet: Bravemansgame
4:10 p.m. Foxhunter Chase
This race is run over the same track and course as the Gold Cup but is for amateur jockeys. Last year’s runner-up to Billaway in this race, Winged Leader will be hugely popular while stablemate Vauclet is a heavy favorite at the moment. Despite being a veteran activist at 11, Secret Investor is worth considering for Paul Nicholls, with a pursuit win over Clan Des Obeaux at Newbury on his resume. No serious history at Cheltenham, though.
Best bet: Winged Leader
4.50pm Mrs. Paddy Power Mare Hunt
One of two mare races added to the 2021 schedule with Willie Mullins winning both overtimes. No wonder Allegorie De Vassy of the Mullins stable is the current favorite after a four-race unbeaten run. She is challenged by her Irish compatriots Impervious and Jeremys Flame.
Best bet: Jeremy’s Flame
5:30pm Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
This race, a two and a half mile handicap hurdle for fit jockeys, concludes the festival. The last two winners are Galopin Des Champs and Banbridge, both of whom have risen to better things. Favori De Champdou for Gordon Elliott fits the Martin Pipe winners profile as an easy hurdler but could run in the Albert Bartlett. So we went after his stable mate Imagine, who looks very unremarkable as a five year old.
Best bet: imagine
