Only two Gold Cup winners this century returned SPs bigger than 10/1
Irish-trained horses have won the last seven Gold Cups
Recommended bet: Jango Baie to win
The final afternoon of the Cheltenham Festival will be headlined as always by the Gold Cup, the most coveted prize in jumps racing.
Irish domination in recent times has brought seven straight winners and Inothewayurthinkin is back to defend the crown he won so impressively last season.
Gavin Cromwell's charge is, though, out of form and facing a massive challenge from some top would-be heirs to his throne.
The latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Setting the scene
The most sought after prize in National Hunt racing is up for grabs on Friday afternoon as the Cheltenham crescendo hits boiling point for the Gold Cup itself.
Reigning champion Inothewayurthinkin has run abysmally in three starts since he won this prize a year ago and Cromwell's charge surely now sees the crown slipping from his grasp, despite recent positive updates on his well-being at home.
Willie Mullins and Henry De Bromhead have won five of the last six between them. Gaelic Warrior represents the champion trainer after his runner-up finish in the Irish Gold Cup last time, while the outstanding veteran Envoi Allen has his Cotswolds swansong for De Bromhead.
Spillane's Tower for Jimmy Mangan and Firefox for Gordon Elliott complete the Irish challenge while a rare French interest comes from Gold Tweet for Gabriel Leenders.
The home hopes include Haiti Couleurs for Rebecca Curtis, a Festival scorer here last March and successful since in the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals, as well as Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning, along with L'homme Presse for Venetia Williams, back in the Gold Cup two years after his first attempt, but now aged 11.
King George winner The Jukebox Man represents owner Harry Redknapp and trainer Ben Pauling and he had Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie in behind in the Christmas showpiece, albeit a blanket would have covered them all.
Big race stats
Only two Gold Cup winners this century returned SPs bigger than 10/1, Lord Windermere in 2014 and Al Boum Photo (2019) in his first win.
Irish-trained horses have won the last seven Gold Cups, while Willie Mullins and Henry De Bromhead have won five of the last six between them.
Eleven of the last 12 Gold Cup winners had previously shown positive form at this Festival and the SP favourite has won four of the last six stagings.
Long Run in 2011 was the last horse to follow Christmas King George glory with victory in this race.
Envoi Allen is running at the Festival for the eighth year in a row, with form figures of 11F3123.
The latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Reigning champ Inothewayurthinkin has serious questions to answer and it will be a major shock if he joins Best Mate, Kauto Star, Al Boum Photo and Galopin Des Champs as winners of multiple Gold Cups in the 2000s.
Two-time winner Galopin Des Champs is much missed after his recent setback and will instead enjoy his retirement.
He leaves Gaelic Warrior as the Mullins representative and while he is a festival winner here (Arkle) he has had three incredibly tough races en route and is opposed.
The Jukebox Man was game to win the King George but this track might favour the fourth home, Jango Baie, more.
He, too, is an Arkle winner (2025), when he flew up the hill to score. He was outpaced briefly at Kempton before finishing well and he's 2-2 at this course.
He's got the correct profile for a winner of the Gold Cup and, if his stamina holds up, he can give Nicky Henderson a third Blue Riband win, following Long Run (2011) and Bobs Worth (2013).
Back Jango Baie to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00pm) @ 4/1 with LiveScore Bet
