2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup Tips - Odds, trends and best bets

Stage Star was rated 155 after winning the 2023 Turners' Novices' Chase at Cheltenham and ran out a very good winner of this handicap on his reappearance 12 months ago. Paul Nicholls will be hoping for something similar from Ginny's Destiny, who's also been rated 155 after finishing a close second to Grey Dawning in the Turners, before another runner-up finish in Grade One company at Aintree.

Ginny's Destiny ran up a hat-trick of handicap wins at Cheltenham last term, before clocking an RPR of 162 in the Turners. There's no doubt that the favourite is well-handicapped and Ginny's Destiny brings stacks of course form to the table. However, odds of 3/1 are rather skinny, especially considering that Ginny's Destiny is 0 from 4 when returning from a significant lay-off.

There are plenty who, like the favourite, have shown a liking for Cheltenham in the past. Ga Law, Fugitif and In Excelsis Deo all won handicaps at Prestbury Park last term, while Il Ridoto and top-weight, Protektorat also bring course-and-distance winning form to the table. Then there's Imagine for Harry Derham, who's record with recruits in handicaps is exceptional. None can be ruled out lightly.

Few trainers boast a better strike rate around Cheltenham than Henry De Bromhead, and that percentage rises significantly when you isolate the chasers that he's sent over to Prestbury Park. We've seen De Bromhead win big handicaps over the Cheltenham fences with the likes of Senior Chief, Maskada, Whacker Clan and Dancing On My Own in the last two years alone, and I fancy LETS GO CHAMP (12/1) could add his name to that list.

De Bromhead's raider may be nine-years-old, but Lets Go Champ is still unexposed over fences. This son of Jeremy has only run nine times under rules in his career. Just three of those outings have come in handicaps over fences, with Lets Go Champ winning well over two-and-a-half miles at the Punchestown Festival back in May.

Lets Go Champ went for the Galway Plate over the summer. De Bromhead's chaser caught a wide trip throughout the entirety of that gruelling contest and couldn't find another gear when the leaders straightened for home, keeping on a little one-paced to finish sixth.

De Bromhead's raider has been rated just one pound higher by the British handicapper, meaning he'll shoulder 10-02 off his mark of 141. With Rachael Blackmore still out injured, Darragh O'Keeffe - who rode Senior Chief to victory during the Showcase Meeting - will likely travel over for the ride on Lets Go Champ and he should be confident, given that De Bromhead's horses are currently striking at around 30%.

*Update*

Lets Go Champ has been confirmed in the field. Mike O'Connor takes the ride, having ridden a big handicap winner for Henry De Bromhead earlier in the week, and his three-pound claimer sees Lets Go Champ carry 9-13 into Saturday's feature. If he takes to the track, he must have a massive chance.

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