Cheltenham Festival 2023: Gold Cup Day Preview

JCB Triumph Hurdle (13:30)

Gold Cup day opens with the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and the previous edition of the race in 2022 was an enthralling one.

Vauban, ridden by Paul Townend won the most recent Triumph Hurdle, where he broke away from the chasing pack to win the race in some style. Fil Dor (France) and Pied Piper (Great Britain) were the closest challengers, but they had to settle for second and third respectively.

Lossiemouth is the favourite for the 2023 Triumph Hurdle according to the Racing Post.

McCoy Contractors County Hurdle (14:10)

The McCoy Contractors County Hurdle is the second race of the day, with 2022’s race seeing Paul Townend claim his second win of the day, this time riding State Man.

It was another impressive performance from Townend who won this race comfortably as he did in the Triumph Hurdle. First Street and Colonel Mustard were the closes competition, finishing second and third.

According to the Racing Post, Hunters Yarn is the favourite to win the 2023 County Hurdle.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (14:50)

The Nice Guy, ridden by Sean O’Keefe, ran home as the winner of the 2022 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

After an entertaining race, the nice guy was able to beat the competition to win with Minella Cocoona and Bardenstown Lad occupying the other two spots in the top three. Three Card Brag is the favourite for the 2023 edition of the race according to the Racing Post.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (15:30)

The Gold Cup is the headline race of the final day of the Cheltenham Festival each and every year, with the 2022 race having an enthralling conclusion.

The field was very close together going into the final stages of the race, and it was not clear who would emerge victorious. In the end, it was A Plus Tard who won the race in the final moments of the 2022 Gold Cup.

Jockey Rachael Blackmore became the first ever female jockey to win the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Galopin Des Champs is the favourite for this year’s Gold Cup, this is according to the Racing Post.

St James’ Place Hunters’ Chase (16:10)

The St James’ Place Hunters’ Chase in 2022 was a spectacular spectacle for all those who were watching.

It was Billaway who won this race last year – incredibly, this was the fourth win for trainer Willie Mullins in the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. It was an emphatic win for Billaway who was barely troubled by the chasing pack.

Winged Leader and Mighty Stowaway were Billaway’s closest competition, finishing in second and third. Vaucelet who is to be ridden by jockey Barry O’Neill is the favourite for the Hunters’ Chase in 2023.

The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (16:50)

The Mares’ Chase in 2022 was action packed, and there was an exciting conclusion to the race, with one jockey in particular who made great progress throughout the race.

Mark Walsh, riding Banbridge, won the race after making his way through the field before eventually taking the lead of the race with just two fences to go. Pink Legend finished second, whilst Scarlet and Dove had to settle for third place.

The Racing Post sees Allegorie De Vassy as the favourite for this year’s Mares’ Chase.

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (17:30)

Banbridge, trained by Joseph O’Brien, won the final race of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival in what was a comfortable victory.

Once the race started, Banbridge finally took the lead of the race by the second hurdle and he stayed in first place until the finish line. It was Cobblers Dream sand Hollow Games finished second and third respectively.

Imagine, ridden by Ben Harvey is the favourite for the Handicap Hurdle according to the Racing Post.

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