2023 December Gold Cup Tips

Thunder Rock is bidding for a second consecutive victory, with the seven-year-old landing a win in an Intermediate Chase at Carlisle recently. Against three other runners, the 11/8 favourite performed well over two miles and four furlongs. Back in April, there was a second-placed finish out of six runners in a Novices’ Chase at Ayr.

Monmiral was seventh out of ten runners in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree, with the horse having finished a long way behind Gerri Colombe at Sandown back in February. Paul Nicholls knows what is required to register a victory although there’s a question mark over a runner who has experienced such a long lay-off.

So Scottish was fourth out of six runners at Gowran Park a few weeks ago and could potentially come on from this performance, with Emmet Mullins saddling a horse who unseated his rider at Punchestown back in April, with the runner previously going well at Cheltenham in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase over two miles, four furlongs.

Il Ridoto was third out of fourteen runners at Cheltenham last month and there was twelve lengths separating the horse and winner Stage Star. That came after a long break following the runner getting pulled up in the Aintree Grand National, with the horse having previously performed well in a succession of races at Prestbury Park.

2022 December Gold Cup Tips

A maximum of seventeen runners will go to post for the 2022 December Gold Cup meeting, with many customers looking to bet each-way on this encounter. After all, the favourite is trading at racing odds of 6/1 right now and that means the potential to get a return for backing a horse that finishes in the frame even if it doesn’t win.

Indeed, it’s worth looking at the top racing betting sites to establish where you can get extra places, with Midnight River heading the market. Dan Skelton has a talented seven-year-old on his hands, with the horse finishing third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Previously to this, there was a victory in the Charlie Longsdon Racing Handicap Chase, with the horse enjoying a monster twenty-five length win on that occasion. Il Ridoto comes next in the Cheltenham betting, with the five-year-old finishing just behind Midnight River at Cheltenham last month and that race looks to be an accurate barometer.

Stolen Silver is a talented seven-year-old who unseated his rider in the Paddy Power, with Ciel De Neige coming over from Ireland after a decent sized lay-off. He was last seen running at Punchestown when proving underwhelming in a Claims Handicap Chase. Fantastic Lady recently claimed a Mares Chase win at Market Rasen and runs for Nicky Henderson.

2021 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Betting Tips

The 2021 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup will take place on Saturday 11 December, with Cheltenham Racecourse hosting this race as part of their December meeting. The horses will compete over two miles and four furlongs, meaning that this is a stiff test of stamina and jumping, especially with the weather likely to bring soft ground to Prestbury Park.

Hitman and Lalor Among Betting Favourites for Gold Cup

Hitman is a talented five-year-old who could end up being something special and he currently heads the market. The Paul Nicholls-trained charge might not have the same level of experience as some of his rivals, although there was a strong performance in the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at the beginning of November despite finishing second.

Previously to this, there was third place in a Novices’ Chase at Aintree back in April, with the horse having decent claims in this encounter. The same can be said of Lalor who ran well when finishing third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. The German-bred runner was behind Midnight Shadow and Protektorat in the final shake-up.

Can Midnight Shadow and Dostal Phil Be in the Reckoning?

Midnight Shadow has produced some impressive performances in recent times, with the Sue Smith-trained runner having finished second in this race last season. On that occasion, there was a fifteen-length win for Chatham Street Lad, although the runner was next best and has shown to run well at a tricky Cheltenham track.

Ryan Mania rode Midnight Shadow to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and this horse definitely looks the best each-way play out of every horse in the field. He has consistently produced the goods for his stable and also ran well at Aintree when finishing third in the Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase.

Dostal Phil finished fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, so he also merits respect for a race such as this one. Philip Hobbs thinks that there is more to come from an eight-year-old who found plenty coming up the Cheltenham hill last month and could once again be in the final shake-up.

One other eye-catching entry for this race is Fusil Raffles, with the Nicky Henderson horse now going over the bigger obstacles and there is a fair amount of pedigree attached to this horse. There was a second-placed finish in the Marsh Novices’ Chase behind Chantry House at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year, with a recent win coming in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Can Master Tommytucker Win for Paul Nicholls?

Trainer Paul Nicholls is no stranger to success in this race having landed five successes thus far, with Frodon the recent success story after landing the spoils in 2016 and 2018, while he previously scored a double with Poquelin in 2009 and 2010. There was also a win with Unioniste and now he will hope that Master Tommytucker can win the 2020 renewal.

The nine-year-old has enjoyed an excellent 2020/21 National Hunt season thus far, with the horse impressing when winning the Back And Lay On Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase on 21 November when excelling and enjoying a fifteen length win over his rivals.

This will be a step up in class for the Nicholls charge although that memory of Haydock will be in the mind of many punters and we might well see this horse go off as favourite to win.

Who Are the Other Favourites for December Gold Cup?

Nicky Henderson certainly has a couple of darts for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, with Caribean Boy the best chance for the English handler, with the six-year-old winning the Novices’ Chase at Newbury Racecourse although that was a three-horse race and it will be interesting to see how he runs in illustrious company.

Mister Fisher finished fourth in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, with the horse being among the favourites for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, although the runner was eventually pulled up.

First Flow is an interesting runner and the horse has landed four consecutive victories which makes him a very credible each-way bet, with the Kim Bailey-trained charge recently returning to the track after a long absence to win the Coral Hurst Park Handicap Chase although this will be over a longer distance.

The History of the December Gold Cup

The December Gold Cup has been known as the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup since 2014 and the race was originally inaugurated in 1963, with this race being run over two miles and four furlongs, with this being a Cheltenham Racecourse classic and it’s always a highly competitive tussle.

Between 1963-1980, the race was known as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, with many horses lining up that previously landed the spoils in the BetVictor Gold Cup and Pegwell Bay, Senor El Betrutti and Exotic Dancer are among these horses.