Horse Racing Tips

December Gold Cup Tips 2024: Runner-By-Runner Guide

9 months ago

| BY News Team

The December Gold Cup is the feature horse racing betting event of this weekend’s Cheltenham fixture and there is a £125,000 prize pot up for grabs. Here is our runner by runner guide to the 2024 December Gold Cup:

Stage Star (Paul Nicholls)

Stage Star was never really at the races in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and you have to start wondering whether the hard battle he had in last season’s Ryanair has left its toll? He’s a risky bet in my opinion.

Ga Law (Jamie Snowden)

Nudged up 1lb for that brave performance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Jamie Snowden decided to forego the Peterborough Chase for another Cheltenham tilt with Ga Law. Another bold show can be expected.

Le Patron (Gary & Josh Moore)

Moore didn’t enter Le Patron into the Paddy Power due to his rating being too high and swerved the Peterborough Chase due to the going, so it’s all systems go for a stab at this December Gold Cup. A comfortable scorer at Newbury the other day, you wouldn’t bet against a repeat performance.

Fugitif (Richard Hobson)

Following a Paddy Power Gold Cup fifth behind old rival Il Ridoto on his seasonal reappearance, Fugitif is back to defend his December Gold Cup title on Saturday afternoon. You’d like to think he’ll be on the podium at the very least this year.

Il Ridoto (Paul Nicholls)

Ri-dotted up in the Paddy Power Chase here a month ago, but I’m inclined to think that was somewhat of a flash in the pan result for the seven-year-old. Freddie Gingell retains the ride which is at least a positive.

Sure Touch (Olly Murphy)

Sure Touch was beaten in the teens in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree and it was decided a week later to give the eight-year-old a wind operation. Odds of 33/1 way well look silly if the procedure has the desired effect in time for this feature race.

In Excelsis Deo (Harry Fry)

You may recall this horse was my tip for the Paddy Power Chase but unfortunately he unseated four from home whilst still there with some sort of a chance. Winner of the Silver Trophy here back in April, Harry Fry is quietly confident about the six-year-old getting back on track.

Madara (Dan Skelton)

Dan Skelton’s youngster is 6lbs well in from his fourth place in the Paddy Power Chase and punters have been keen this week to follow the money placed on this Doctor Dino-gelding. Harry Skelton takes the ride but will he get his fractions right?

Gerimande (Venetia Williams)

She’s landed a big race of some description every single weekend for the past month, so why shouldn’t Venetia Williams scoop this one too? A 7½ scorer at Ascot 22 days ago, Gerimande enjoys it around Cheltenham and can feature in the finish.

Guard Your Dreams (Nigel Twiston-Davies)

Placed over this distance here in both October and November, Guard Your Dreams takes on his toughest chasing assignment yet. Son Sam has a 15% win strike rate this past fortnight and is certainly one of the hardest triers in the weighing room.

Grandeur d’Ame (Alan King)

An Alan King runner at the bottom of the handicap should never be taken lightly, and Grandeur d’Ame’s sound beating of Ga Law at Chepstow in October is an outstanding piece of form. He has to enter the equation off just 10st 2lbs.