When is the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup?

Cheltenham Friday 13th March 3.30pm

Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) (5yo+)

Distance: 3 miles 2 furlongs

Weights:  11st 8lbs (5yo), 11st 10lb (6yo+), 7lb allowance for mares

The main race on day four is the big one – The Cheltenham Gold Cup, or to give it it’s full title the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase,  a grade one chase over three miles and two and a half furlongs of the course, with 22 fences to be jumped.

It is the most prestigious of all national hunt racing events and is sometimes referred to as the Blue Ribbon of jump racing. It’s roll of honour features names such as Arkle, Best Mate, Golden Miller and Kauto Star – without a doubt, this race is a true test for the very best chasers.

A key attribute is the ability to jump fluently.  Any horses that are prone to making errors at the fences are sure to get found out. Tactical race speed is important, as the Gold Cup is usually run at a quicker pace than most other chases. Stamina to see out the race distance, and the uphill finish are also very very important on this undulating track at Cheltenham.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends and Statistics

Here are the Cheltenham Gold Cup 12 year trends and statistics:

• Age – Eleven of the last twelve winners were aged between seven and nine.
• Starting Price – Ten of the last twelve winners have returned at a SP of 8/1 or less.
• Last Run – Ten of last twelve winners won on their previous run before Cheltenham. Eleven of last twelve winners ran within 83 days.
• Course Form – All of the last twelve winners had raced at Cheltenham before and six of them had a win at Cheltenham.
• Distance Form – Ten of the last twelve winners had at least two runs over 3 miles or further,  eleven of the last twelve winners had at least one previous win over 3 miles or further.
• Hurdle Form – All of the last twelve winners had at least three runs over hurdles, ten of the twelve had at least two wins over hurdles.
• Chase Form – All of the last twelve winners had at least 2 previous chase wins.
• Official Rating – Eleven of the last twelve winners were rated 164 or higher .
• Grade 1 Wins – All twelve winners had won at least one Grade 1 race.
• Season Form – All of the last twelve winners had at least one run in the current season and ten of them had at least one win that season.

Who are the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup Leading Contenders?

The leading contenders for the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup are:

• AL BOUM PHOTO – Last year’s winner subsequently beaten by stablemate KEMBOY at Punchestown in May. Won a Grade 3 at Tramore on New Years Day comfortably enough.
• SANTINI – Grade 1 winner as a novice, second in last year’s RSA Insurance Novices Chase. Won the Cotswold Chase here in January.
• DELTA WORK – Behind SANTINI in the RSA Chase last year but has taken his form to another level since then culminating in a workman like victory in the Irish Gold Cup last time.
• LOSTINTRANSLATION – Won the Betfair Chase in November staying on well but subequently pulled up in the King George on Boxing Day when the trainer reported he had breathing problems.
• CLAN DES OBEAUX – Only fifth in this last year but this dual King George VI Chase winner showed he is a stronger horse this season when he beat CYRNAME by 27 lengths in that race on Boxing Day.
• KEMBOY – Unseated rider at the 1st fence in last years race but bounced back with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown, hasn’t quite reached that level of form this season yet.
• NATIVE RIVER – 2018 Gold Cup winner who also finished fourth last year. Has showed he is right back to his best by winning well at Aintree and Newbury this term.

What’s Keith’s Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips for 2020?

Here is Keith’s Tip for the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup:

This is an exciting renewal of the greatest race in the jumps calendar and you will hear plenty of pundits offering conflicting opinions about what will and won’t win, and that is exactly as it should be.

I have to start somewhere with my analysis so it may as well be my old favourite NATIVE RIVER, he rolled back the years to win his third Denman Chase last time but I am crossing his name off the list as at ten he is older than all recent winners although he may finish in the first three. Last years talking horse KEMBOY hasn’t shown enough in his races this year to be considered. CLAN DES OBEAUX was better than ever at Kempton and a repeat of that puts him bang there in this. My worry about LOSTINTRANSLATION is that whatever was bothering him in the King George rears it’s ugly head again and for that reason he is out. There is a lot to like about the way DELTA WORK won the Irish Gold Cup and if it comes to a battle he won’t give up. You can’t ignore the claims of SANTINI and if the going turns up soft he has to have a a shout. Finally last year’s hero AL BOUM PHOTO comes under the spotlight he has been put in as ante-post favourite and as such has a favourites chance but I am not convinced he can repeat the feat against this opposition.

My selection for the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup is: CLAN DES OBEAUX 8/1 each way (NRNB).

As this article is written in advance of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, the likely contenders are expected to change as we get closer to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. The picture also starts to get much clearer as we approach the festival, with trainers starting to show their cards in the weeks leading up to Day 4. 

To get Keith’s very latest, up-to-date thoughts on the Day 1 card, and his final Day 4 tips, simply register as a FREE FRT member here, and Keith will email you the full Day 4 tips (including for this race) on the morning of Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.

What was Keith’s Gold Cup Tip for 2019?

For the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Free Racing Tips Tipster Keith advised:

Last year’s RSA Chase winner PRESENTING PERCY is at the head of the ante post market he has had a strange preparation for this race winning a hurdle at Gowran Park in January. King George VI Chase winner CLAN DES OBEAUX and NATIVE RIVER who was third behind him at Kempton suffered a setback due to racing being suspended in February because of the Equine Flu outbreak which caused them to miss out on a valuable prep race in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

This is one race that has so far eluded the top Irish trainer Willie Mullins and he has two entered in the race which have an outside chance BELLSHILL and KEMBOY.

My selection is last year’s winner NATIVE RIVER 11/2 his stamina is assured and he has winning form off longer breaks than this one.

Result of the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup – 

🏆 WINNER – AL BOUM PHOTO 12/1

2ND – ANIBALE FLY 22/1

3RD – BRISTOL DE MAI 18/1

4TH – NATIVE RIVER 6/1

Cheltenham Gold Cup Previous Winners

• 2008 Denman 9/4 8 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls
  
• 2009 Kauto Star 7/4F 9 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
  
• 2010 Imperial Commander 7/1 9 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies
  
• 2011 Long Run 7/2F 6 Mr Sam Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
  
• 2012 Synchronised 8/1 9 Tony McCoy Jonjo O’Neill
  
• 2013 Bobs Worth 11/4F 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
  
• 2014 Lord Windermere 20/1 8 Davy Russell Jim Culloty
  
• 2015 Coneygree 7/1 8 Nico de Boinville Mark Bradstock
  
• 2016 Don Cossack 9/4F 9 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott
  
• 2017 Sizing John 7/1 7 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
  
• 2018 Native River 5/1 8 Richard Johnson Colin Tizzard
  
• 2019 Al Boum Photo 12/1 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins

As these articles are written in advance of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, the likely contenders are expected to change as we get closer to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. The picture also starts to get much clearer as we approach the festival, with trainers starting to show their cards in the weeks leading up to Day 4. 

To get Keith’s very latest, up-to-date thoughts on the Day 4 card, and his final Day 4 tips, simply register as a FREE FRT member here, and Keith will email you the full Day 4 tips on the morning of Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.

Who is FRT’s Cheltenham Day 4 Tipster?

Keith Bond is our resident pro tipster here at FRT Towers. Keith lives and breathes horse racing, having begun his love of horse racing over 40 years ago with a part time job at Catterick Racecourse, as one of three fourteen year-olds looking after two jumps and a hurdle.

Over the years, Keith has been a regular at the northern tracks attending countless race meetings and building up a network of contacts, and a portfolio of systems and strategies. 

He was one of the co-founders of Free Racing Tips all the way back in 2008, and his free tips are now backed by more than seventy thousand FRT members every single day.

“Thanks Keith – It’s great to be part of an amazing group of people all after the same thing, passing on tips to beat the bookies” 

Colin Parkinson, Harrow.

The FRT community love Keith’s attention to detail, knowledge of past races, and ability to pick horses…

“You offer some great tips, some fantastic outsiders tipped up as well. Most tipsters just put up favourites. Well done and keep up the good work”

John Woolley, Stockport