Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners 2023: All you need to know about the Gold Cup runners

We are set for a fantastic renewal of the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, which takes place on Friday 17th March at 15:30 and many people will be looking at their Cheltenham tips for the race and try to back the winner of the blue riband event. So, we try to provide you with some insight on the Grade 1 showpiece with our runner-by-runner guide...

1. Ahoy Senor - D Fox - L Russell

Runner-up in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season, Ahoy Senor is looking to go one better in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox, who picked up a winner on day one with Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase. He showed his Gold Cup credentials when storming to victory in the Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham back in January and he could be one of the leading contenders for Britain.

2. A Plus Tard - R Blackmore - H De Bromhead

A spectacular 15-length winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season, A Plus Tard will be looking to emulate the likes of Best Mate and Al Boum Photo by winning back-to-back renewals, but he flopped on his only start this season when pulling up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. A horse that blossoms in the spring, Henry De Bromhead is sure to have him cherry ripe for this event and it's hard to write him off if he can reproduce last year's display.

3. Bravemansgame - H Cobden - P Nicholls

Hugely progressive this season over fences after a decent novice chasing campaign, Bravemansgame kicked off his campaign with a classy victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby back in October, but he showed he was a real Gold Cup candidate when producing a sumptuous display in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Storming a whopping 14-lengths clear of Royale Pagaille that day, the Paul Nicholls-trained star will need to show he can produce the goods on an undulating track and some pundits are slightly worried about his stamina over thing longer Gold Cup trip.

4. Conflated - D Russell - G Elliott

A dual Grade 1 winner in Ireland with wins in the Irish Gold Cup and Savills Chase on his CV, Conflated was a late faller in the Ryanair Chase 12 months ago and will hope for more luck at this year's festival as he goes for gold in the showpiece event. A fine winner of the aforementioned Savills Chase on his last start, Gordon Elliott's raider could be a leading each-way play here.

5. Eldorado Allen - B Powell - C Tizzard

A well beaten third in the Ryanair Chase 12 months ago, Eldorado Allen will step up in trip for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Joe Tizzard's raider is a huge outsider for this and it could be beyond his capabilities. Last seen finishing fifth in the Denman Chase at Newbury, the grey is another that could find this trip too far and he looks to be up against it.

6. Galopin Des Champs - P Townend - W Mullins

A red-hot favourite to claim victory in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs has crushed all before him this season as wins in the John Durkan at Punchestown and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown have propelled him to clear favouritism for this race. A faller when miles clear in the Turners Novices' Chase last season at the festival, the 2021 Martin Pipe winner will be hoping for a clear round here, and if he can produce a slicker jumping performance then he's certainly the one to beat.

7. Hewick - J Gainford - J Hanlon

A rather unconventional prep for this race saw Hewick win the American Grand National at Far Hills and the Shark Hanlon-trained raider, who was a faller when shaping like he was going very close in the Kerry National will now dine at the top table on British soil. A fine winner of the Galway Plate back in July, he will need to improve again to figure in this event, but is a fascinating runner.

8. Minella Indo - M Walsh - H De Bromhead

A gallant winner of the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Minella Indo has struggled to kick on from that victory in recent times, but did warm up for the 2023 renewal with a gutsy win of the New Year's Day Chase at Tramore, which was always a trial used by Al Boum Photo. A winner of the 2019 Albert Bartlett at the festival, he's a horse that delivers his best on the big occasion and the 2022 Gold Cup runner-up is sure to have his say in this.

9. Noble Yeats - S Bowen - E Mullins

A shock 50/1 winner of the Grand National back in April, Noble Yeats has blossomed into a real top notch Graded chaser and he showed when storming to Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase success at Aintree that he can battle it out at the very top. He was beaten by Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase in late January, but this stamina test of the Gold Cup should see him at his best.

10. Protektorat - D Skelton - H Skelton

Third behind A Plus Tard and Minella Indo in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, Protektorat started his campaign off with a sparkling 11-length victory in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park and he was immediately earmarked for a second crack at the Gold Cup. He disappointed in the Cotswold Chase when finishing fourth behind Ahoy Senor, so he has to bounce back from that, but he is a top notch performer on his day and adds depth to the British challenge.

11. Royale Pagaille - C Deutsch - V Williams

A dual Peter Marsh Chase winner at Haydock Park, Royale Pagaille failed to land a blow in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, as he finished a well beaten fifth and it's going to be a tough ask again. He finished 14 lengths behind Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase and he's one that will be hoping the rain hits Prestbury Park.

12. Sounds Russian - S Quinlan - R Jefferson

A hugely progressive eight-year-old, Sounds Russian was a gallant runner-up in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day, and Ruth Jefferson's charge then built on that when finishing an excellent runner-up in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. There's sure to be more improvement again, but this is a red-hot race and he will need to improve immeasurably.

13. Stattler - P Mullins - W Mullins

A fine winner of the National Hunt Chase at last season's festival, Stattler has progressed into a top notch staying chaser for Willie Mullins and he could be a lively player here. He was edged out by Minella Indo in the New Year's Day Chase at Tramore and then was a creditable runner-up behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup, but a return to Cheltenham should see him deliver his best.