Cheltenham Tips: Ruby Walsh’s best Gold Cup bets including a 20/1 non runner money back shout

Ruby reckons Willie Mullins' Galopin Des Champs can retain his Gold Cup crown but last season's Grand National winner Corach Rambler could be each-way value play.

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 10 months ago

Ruby Walsh’s Gold Cup Picks

Galopin Des Champs
Corach Rambler (each-way)

          In the fourth of this year’s Paddy Power Media’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown’, host Tom Nugent together with former champion jockey turned tv pundit Ruby Walsh and well-known journalist and broadcaster Rory Delargy, look at the Gold Cup on day four of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

                  RUBY WALSH

                  In early December people would have been wondering whether Galopin Des Champs could retain his crown, but by late December after his stunning performance in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown, most simply thought he would. The plan is to run him at the weekend in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – he was very good in the race last year. He was brilliant at Christmas and he has Fastorslow as the obvious fly in the ointment.

                  Fastorslow beat him at Punchestown at the back end of last year and he beat him there this year over 2m 4f , but when I look at both horses, Galopin Des Champs has gone to Cheltenham on three occasions – he won a Martin Pipe, he was going to win a Golden Miller (but tipped up after the last) and he won a Gold Cup last season. Fastorslow has been twice – he’s been beaten in a Coral Cup and been beaten in an Ultima.

                      So is there an argument that Galopin Des Champs could be a better horse at Cheltenham and maybe Fastorslow isn’t quite as good? That’s just another way of looking at it. We know Galopin Des Cahmps goes and does it at Cheltenham, Fastorslow has to prove it that he can.

                      Galopin Des Champs is very honest and does recover well from his races. Even looking at him after Christmas, you’re thinking ‘wow, what a performance,’ but to look at him on New Year’s Eve, he didn’t look like he’d had a run or you couldn’t see it in him. He didn’t look light or tucked up – the strength was still there. He’s able to recover from his races and I suppose that’s the same with humans as well as with horses. Some players can play in every match and others can’t.

                            I couldn’t contemplate taking on Galopin Des Champs – simple as. But he’s not everybody’s price so as an each-way play I’d be fully with last season’s Aintree Grand National winner, Corach Rambler.

                            I could see him coming home the best of the field as horses get in the mix early and plenty fade from the home turn. Corach Rambler’s proven stamina could see him picking off plenty to run into the money.

                                    Ruby Walsh’s Gold Cup Picks

                                    Galopin Des Champs
                                    Corach Rambler (each way)

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