The best is saved for the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, the blue riband of the National Hunt season, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It is run over 3 miles, 2 furlongs and 70 yards and is open to horses aged 5 years or older. Off time is 3.30.
Previous winners of this race include the imperious Arkle as well as Best Mate, Kauto Star, Mill House and Golden Miller, who won it 5 years in a row during the 1930s.
Arkle was sent off at 1/10 in 1966 and remains the shortest-priced winner of the race. The longest-priced winner was Norton’s Coin, who won at 100/1 in 1990.
13 go to post and some bookmakers are offering each-way terms of 4 places which makes this a good betting proposition.
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I have looked at the statistics over the last 9 years and these are my key conclusions.
Best to be fit
32 horses have contested this after a rest of more than 73 days and only 1 has won with a level stake loss of 28 points at SP.
The ideal age is 7 or 8. These horses have won 8 times from 57 attempts with a level stakes profit of 17 points. The rest have just 1 win from 60 attempts with a loss of 57 points.
Longer-priced horses have a good record. Those with forecast odds between 9/1 and 25/1 have won 5 from 52 runs with a profit of 8 points.
This leaves 2 horses. I would suggest backing these each way with bookmakers offering 4 places.
PROTEKTORAT @ 22/1 with Bet365
SOUNDS RUSSIAN @ 40/1 with William Hill
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
If you want to find out the best bookmaker promotions, look at our Cheltenham Festival betting offers page.
