- Galopin Des Champs is the two-time defending champion of the Gold Cup
- Banbridge was an impressive winner in the King George VI Chase
- Recommended bet: Banbridge to win the Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the feature race of the whole Cheltenham Festival and the pinnacle of National Hunt racing. 

Two-time defending champion Galopin Des Champs would join a truly elite group were he to win the race again this year, and he is the odds-on favourite to do so. 

Eight horses are out to thwart him in his bid for immortality. The race will take place at 16:00 on Friday and here is how to play it.

NAP: Banbridge @ 4/1

Historically, the Gold Cup was a race in which the King George winner would often get found out for stamina against doughty stayers who had graduated through races like the Hennessy and Welsh National. 

That is an old-fashioned sentiment now. The last such Gold Cup winner was Native River who, fittingly, wore down King George winner Might Bite in an epic battle seven years ago.

Galopin Des Champs, like his stablemate Al Boum Photo before him, is a more modern stripe of Gold Cup winner. The race now is friendlier to speed types, and Banbridge is the one horse in this race who has more speed than the defending champion.

Less than a year ago, Banbridge won a Grade 1 at Punchestown over two miles. He beat Captain Guinness, who at the time was the defending Champion Chase winner. 

Banbridge also gave Energumene, a dual Champion Chase winner, a fright over two miles before stepping up to three miles for the first time at Kempton. He was the only horse to get anywhere near tearaway leader Il Est Francais, and he left that rival trailing after the last.

Now he is being asked an extra question of his stamina. As a performer, Banbridge's main rider is for decent ground, which Cheltenham has delivered this week. This is his year, and if anything is going to topple Galopin Des Champs in a fair fight it is this classy individual.

Next Best: Inothewayurthinkin @ 6/1

This is in effect a way of playing the percentages. If the Gold Cup does not pan out in a way that sees Banbridge to best effect, it will surely suit Inothewayurthinkin.

If there is an heir to Native River in this field, it is this horse. He came through the handicap ranks last season, winning the Kim Muir over the Gold Cup course and distance by a wide margin. He then won a Grade 1 novice at Aintree, the same race Native River had won as a novice.

This season has been a fairly quiet one, but the reason for that is that his connections have had a handicap in mind for him all along, namely the Grand National. He very much is that type of horse.

Inothewayurthinkin shaped quite well in the Irish Gold Cup last time, considering this test over a longer trip, with a likely stronger pace and stiffer finish, will suit him all the better. He has been supplemented for this race at great expense and is likely to go close if it turns into a slog.