Templegate’s Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup tip, 1-2-3 prediction and complete runner-by-runner guide

TEMPLEGATE looks to keep up his electrifying form by finding the winner of the Gold Cup.

Our man goes through every runner below, reveals his tip at the bottom and 1-2-3 prediction.

AFPFirst-placed Jockey Rachael Blackmore rides ‘A Plus Tard’ (R) ahead of third-placed Jockey Harry Skelton on ‘Protektorat’ (3L) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, in Cheltenham, England on March 18, 2022. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty […][/caption]

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Templegate’s Gold Cup runner-by-runner guide

AHOY SENOR 3

AHOY there. Genuine Grade 1 performer who was second in the Brown Advisory here last time before beating Bravemansgame at Aintree. Has been hit and miss this season but came right back to his best when winning the Cotswold Chase here last time ahead of a couple of these. He can make jumping errors – which will be exposed – but he deserves his place.

A PLUS TARD 5

PLUS point. Was second in 2021 before a breathtaking display to win this easily 12 months ago. Things haven’t gone to plan since then and it was later found he was ill when pulled up on comeback at Haydock. A minor knock kept him out at Christmas so he has a few questions to answer. Trainer Henry De Bromhead says he has him right back to his best and that could well be good enough to score again.

BRAVEMANSGAME 4

BRAVE bet. Was already smart but has stepped up a notch this season and kicked off by winning the Charlie Hall at Wetherby before a convincing King George victory at Kempton on Boxing Day. He wasn’t stopping there so there’s every chance he’ll get this longer trip. Shortlisted.

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CONFLATED 3

NO Con. Fell in the Ryanair last season but has won a couple of Grade 1s including the Savills Chase by five lengths at Christmas. He showed plenty of staying power there and his jumping was good. He needs to step up on that against these stronger rivals.

ELDORADO ALLEN 1

AL pass. Has run well at past Festivals but has always come up short at this high level and looks outclassed.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS 4

COULD be Champ. The rising star of the chasing game, he has been brilliant this season with two good Grade 1 wins at Punchestown and Leopardstown last time where he saw out three miles with plenty left in the tank. He famously fell at the final fence when way clear in the Turners last year but he’s a good jumper who goes on any ground and deserves to be favourite.

HEWICK 2

HEW blue. Cost £800 but has won almost £400,000 in races as diverse as the Galway Plate and American Grand National over brush hurdles. He stays well but this is his stiffest test yet and ground may be on the soft side.

MINELLA INDO 3

IN the hunt. Won this in 2021 and was a good second 12 months ago. Has run just once this season when beating Stattler a neck at Tramore on New Year’s Day. We know this trip and track are ideal and, despite his advancing years, he has place claims again.

NOBLE YEATS 3

NOBLE hope. Brilliant Grand National winner who has run well in classy company this season, with a Grade 2 win at Aintree the highlight. He didn’t match that when third behind Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold here in January. He has won on an undulating track so that wasn’t the excuse. He needs more for this but certainly won’t lack for stamina.

PROTEKTORAT 3

HE’S a Pro. Third in this last year and was brilliant when winning the Lancashire Chase at Haydock that A Plus Tard flopped in. Was then very disappointing in the Cotswold but trainer Dan Skelton says he didn’t have him fit enough. No surprise to see him run a big race but he looks like a place player.

ROYALE PAGAILLE 1

ROYALE flush. Good handicapper but was left trailing by Bravemansgame in the King George and he’s unlikely to top last season’s distant fifth.

SOUNDS RUSSIAN 2

MUST rush. Really good handicapper who was a solid second in the Cotswold Chase last time. He stays well but needs his sights lowering a little.

STATTLER 3

STRONG Stat. Won the National Hunt Chase here last season and was a solid second behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup last time. A repeat of that form could see him in the places.

Templegate’s tip and 1-2-3 prediction

A PLUS TARD can defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.

He was a brilliant winner last year and trainer Henry De Bromhead – the king of getting them to peak at Cheltenham – says he’s over his injury issues.

Galopin Des Champs is the biggest threat after his good Irish Gold Cup win last time. Bravemansgame is a genuine challenger for Paul Nicholls and Protektorat can turn around Cotswold Chase form with Ahoy Senor.

Noble Yeats and former winner Minello Indo are also in the place battle.

1st A Plus Tard

2nd Galopin Des Champs

3rd Protektorat

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