Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 Betting Odds & Preview – 17th March, 2017

Third time lucky for Djakadam in Gold Cup?

Cheltenham Festival

This is the one that everyone is looking forward to the most. This is the Blue Riband race, the pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival, yes, it is the latest renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup which will be ran on 17th March, 2017. The feature race will be missing Don Poli, who along with stablemates Road To Riches and Valseur Lido have picked up injuries which keep them away from the Prestbury Park action. The race is also missing Thistlecrack as well of course.

So for Gordon Elliotts’ County Meath yard, which saw Don Cossack land the Gold Cup last season, options are now a bit thin on the ground for them with Outlander, who is a 10/1 Bet365 shot their main hope to get their hands back on the title. Outlander pulled off some Leopardstown heroics to beat Don Poli in the Lexus Chase at the end of last year and will be looking to pull off something equally as special in the Blue Riband race. He has been improving this season, but opposing Djakadam is tough for him.

Gigginstown has thrown Empire of Dirt into the mix to compensate for their withdrawals and he is a price of 12/1 to shock the field in Bet365 Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 betting. However, there are some serious contenders in the field, the complexion for which, all changed when it was announced that Thistlecrack wasn’t going to make it. Djakadam, who has finished runner up in the last two renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, should be a threat. He was beaten out by Coneygree in 2014 and then was four lengths back of Don Cossack last year, who put in the race of his life to deny Djakadam the Gold Cup glory. So will he be able to make it third time luck at the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

This is a constitent horse, which he has proven throughout his career and he has landed nine place finishes in his last ten starts and seven of those were Grade 1 trips as well. So this is a hard working horse and he does carry a slight advantage in that he seems to go well and adjust to different types of going, so he has the versatile edge about him. He does go better over slightly softer ground though so a bit of rain will suit him. He was third in the Lexus Chase behind Outlander and Don Poli.

He did get a win over Outlander on his seasonal opener though at Punchestown and if he runs the race of his life at Cheltenham, as Don Cossack did last year against him, he can get there. So the 22 fences, the three miles and two furlongs that awaits the runners is a test of stamina, heart and jumping ability. So who will it be? Native River, stablemate to Thistlecrack was moved to the head of the market after the injury news to the latter. He has looked stunning over the fences this season and he landed a great title at the Hennessy Gold Cup and he went off with top weight in the Welsh Grand National and came through for the win as well.

He’s not going to be outclassed by anyone in the field and he has the staying power to stick it out. Then you have Cue Card, a massive fan favourite in the staying division of racing. Nine times he has won a Grade 1 race during his career and he was immense when he took the Ascot Chase title recently. He will be out to make a big impression after falling three from home in last season’s Gold Cup and you know one thing about Cue Card, and that is that he will run his heart out to the very last and will probably show up as the best traveller in the pack.

There has been plenty of ante-post interest in Bristol De Mai which waned after he took a hit against Native River in the Denman Chase. However, he is still a good contender for this one as he showed his top form during a win at Haydock in January. Bristol De Mai has guts, he just goes full force at his jumps and although he disappointed many at Newbury on his last run, he has more in him and he is one of the top each way marks in this seasons’ Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 betting, especially after his priced drifted following that loss to Native River.

Then you have Sizing John who held off Don Poli and Empire of Dirt to land the Irish Gold Cup. He has been holding his own in better and better company this season, and has been stepping up in distance as well. The fact that he showed the staying power to hold off Don Poli and Empire of Dirt, who of the biggest proven stayers around, speaks volumes for him in this one. That win was his first run at the stayer distance a well, so he really goes into the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 as something of an unknown.

Cheltenham gold Cup 2017 Odds

Native Rivers 10/3, Djakadam 7/2, Cue Card 10/3, Sizing John 10/1, Outlander 10/1, Empire of Dirt 12/1, More Of That 12/1, Champagne West 16/1, Bristol De Mai 20/1, Minella Rocco 20/1, bar 40/1.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 Betting Promotion

Online Betting site Bet365 are offering stacks of Cheltenham Gold Cup betting value to enjoy. They are going Best Odds Guaranteed for all races at the Cheltenham Festival 2017 and their races are covered by their Price Promise as well. On top of that, their ITV Racing 4/1 offer is immense as you will collect a risk free bet (to the value of your stake) from a race in which you land a 4/1 or bigger winner, from a live televised race on the network! With top Racing Value coverage as well, go and register an account with online betting site Bet365 and earn a 100% matched deposit bonus from them as w welcome bonus.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 Betting Predictions

We have been looking at Bristol De Mai as a big each way contender in Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 betting for some time now and he is still worth a flutter even after that loss to Native River. He has much better in him and if he pulls it together on the day, the six year old could impact. As for an outright winner, we have to stick with Djakadam who is so experienced, steady and who is jumping particularly well this season.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017 Trends

The last ten winners of the Gold Cup had already won a Grade 1 Chase in the season

All but one of the last ten Gold Cup winners were in the top 3 in the betting market

Half of the last ten winners have gone off as SP favourite

Nine of the last ten winners have been single figure prices

A 7 or 9 year old has won 9 of the last ten renewals

8 of the last 10 winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup have had between 2 & 4 seasonal outings prior to Cheltenham

Seven of the last 10 victors in the Cheltenham Gold Cup had placed before at the Festival

Seven of the last ten winners have had an OR 170 or more