Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Preview


Galvin Cheltenham Gold Cup


The Cheltenham Festival has certainly served up its share of thrills and spills, from spectacular performances to flopping favourites and much more besides. All things must come to an end however, and Friday sees the drama draw to a conclusion for another year. And as ever, the meeting goes out with a bang, with the headline act being just about the classiest jumps race on the planet. Here we pick out our best bets in the big one of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in addition to a couple of solid looking bets on the undercard.

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Gold for Galvin and Gordon

2021 Gold Cup champ Minella Indo hasn’t looked quite at his peak this term but did take a step in the right direction last time out and can’t be ruled out in his repeat bid. It is however last year’s runner up A Plus Tard who heads the betting having posted a brilliant win in the Betfair Chase and only been beaten a short head in the Savills Chase last time out. He likely won’t be far away, but it is the horse who got up to chin him on the line in that contest over in Ireland who will be carrying our cash here. Hailing from the yard of Gordon Elliott, Galvin needed every yard of that 3m trip in the Savills Chase, but did still manage to get there, and seems sure to be suited by the step up to 3m2½f. Successful in the National Hunt Chase in 2021, the mount of Davy Russell is fancied to bag a second Festival triumph in the biggest one of them all.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Crest Looks Best

The Irish have taken four of the past five editions of this staying contest for the novice hurdlers, and look set to make a bold bid once again with Gordon Elliott’s five-time seeking, Ginto leading the charge. Looking just the type of resolute galloper to go well in this, he likely won’t be far away, but is nevertheless trying both this trip and the track for the first time. Overall we feel the trophy may remain on home soil this season, and the one to do it is Henry Daly’s giant of a horse, Hillcrest. Having scored over this trip in heavy ground at Haydock last time out, he surely wont be found wanting in the stamina department, whilst his win in the Listed Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle here in January suggests the hill should hold no fears. Boasting excellent form in the book, backed up by rock solid times he is taken to but that huge stride to good effect here.

  • Hillcrest at 7/2 with Betfred

St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup: Winged To Lead Them Home

Billaway heads the betting for the big Hunter Chase on the card but has done so in each of the past two seasons, without managing to win. Whilst respected, he doesn’t look to offer much in the way of value, particularly as there is one amongst the opposition who beat him by no fewer than 12 lengths in January of this year. That horse hails from the small yard of David Christie and goes by the name of Winged Leader. Seemingly still improving at eight years of age, it wasn’t only the winning margin which impressed in that January display, but also the ease with which he cruised clear. This is tougher, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised should he prove up to the task.

  • Winged Leader to Win at 5/1 with Betfred

Top 20 Betting Offers

Betway
Betway
£30 Free Bet +100 Free Spins Claim Offer

*New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Max Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org. Full Terms apply

Tote
Tote
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses Claim Offer

New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on a selected game within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply.

talkSPORTBET
talkSPORTBET
Get up to £40 Football Free Bets Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

BetWright
BetWright
Bet £10, Get a £10 Free Bet Claim Offer

New Customers use code EPL10. Deposit £10 and place a bet of £10 on any Premier League Outrights 2025/26 market at minimum odds of 2.0. Free Bet credited within 24 hours and must be wagered on English Premier League markets only. Full Terms apply. Bangers N'Cash rewards are a separate promotional scheme and must be opted into during the weekly promotional period via the BetWright Rewards Section. 18+ begambleaware.

BetMGM
BetMGM
Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Betfred
Betfred
Bet £10 and get £50 in Free Bets Claim Offer

New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.

Bresbet
Bresbet
Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet Claim Offer

T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account.

Bet442
Bet442
Bet £20, Get £20 in Free Bets Claim Offer

18+. New customers only. Deposit and place first bet of £20 or more at min odds Evens (2.0). Get £20 in Free Bets credited as x1 £10 Free Bet and x2 £5 Bet Builder Free BetsT&Cs Apply. Please gamble responsibly.

BetMaze
BetMaze
Bet £20 Get £20 Free Bet Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Min deposit £20. Min Wager £20 at min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max free bet £20. T&Cs apply begambleaware.

Midnite
Midnite
Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Place a £5+ bet at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £25 in Free Sports Bets + 50 Free Spins (valued at £0.10 each), valid for 7 days on selected bets and games. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org

QuickBet
QuickBet
Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet Claim Offer

#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly!

LiveScore Bet
LiveScore Bet
Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets Claim Offer

*New members only. £10+ bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. 2x£5 Free Bets for Bet Builder only. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+

Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets Claim Offer

18+. New UK & ROI customers only . Certain deposit methods & bet types excl . Min first £10 win or E/W bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 & get 4 x £10 free bets . Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + T&C apply

10bet
10bet
100% Welcome Bonus up to £50 Claim Offer

New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ Please gamble responsibly.

Spreadex
Spreadex
Bet £10 Get £60 in Free Bets Claim Offer

Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet.18+ www.gambleaware.org.

32Red
32Red
150% Casino Bonus up to £150! Claim Offer

18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD

SportingIndex
SportingIndex
Bet £10 Get £20 Claim Offer

New customers place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get 2 x £10 free bets. 18+ begambleaware

BetZone
BetZone
Bet £10 Get £10 in Free Bets Claim Offer

18+ | New Customers Only | Promo Code: ACCA10 | Place a £10 acca bet within 7 calendar days of registration. The Acca must have a min of 4 selections | Min odds 1/2 of each selection | Get 2 x £5 Free Bets | Free Bets valid for 7 days | Max win £250 | T&Cs apply | GB residents only | Gamble responsibly

Coral
Coral
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets Claim Offer

18+ New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. 1st Deposit & Bet £/€10+ at min odds 1/2 on Sports within 14 days of account reg & Get 4x £10 Free Bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days) Max 1 Free Bet per player. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.

PUB Sports
PUB Sports
Bet £10, Get a £10 Free Bet Claim Offer

New Customer only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Full terms apply. Gambling can be addictive, play responsibly. 18+