2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup News - Key quotes from connections

Willie Mullins talks about Galopin Des Champs

My owner and I are on the same wavelength. We say no matter whatever happens this year, we have one Galopin Des Champs Gold Cup on the mantlepiece already. Winning this year would be a bonus.

He was very good in the two Leopardstown races this winter but El Fabiolo in the Champion Chase showed that anything can happen.

Mullins also touched on Monkfish's chances

When he won at Gowran everyone started talking about the Stayers' Hurdle, but his work coming up to the festival has been so good that I felt we should go for the Gold Cup. If he is ever going to win the Gold Cup, it has to be this year, so we want to give him that opportunity.

Fastorslow's trainer, Martin Brassil speaks to the press

He is a decent horse but this will be the biggest test of his career. I really don't know how he will get on because it really depends on what the ground is like and how the race is run. I don't want any rain because the better the ground, the better his chance. I also think an honest, true-run race would help him.

It (the recent wind surgery) wasn't invasive, just a palate cautery, something they do to stiffen the palate. Nothing emerged in the Irish Gold Cup, it's just something I do routinely. There is no downside to it. We'll only find out tomorrow, I suppose.

Gordon Elliott talks about Gerri Colombe

I don't think that was the real Gerri Colombe in the Savills at Christmas. In another stride or two he would have been caught for second and that's not him. He has spent his whole life hitting the line hard. His last furlong is always his best one, but it wasn't at Leopardstown.

We've freshened him up and there has been one date and one date only in his diary all season – March 15. We've trained him specifically for this and we think the track and trip will really suit him. I'm also starting to think nicer ground might suit him.

We're under no illusions and know he has a mountain to climb to make up the 23 lengths on Galopin Des Champs, but I do think we will get a good deal closer to him. He looks terrific, too.

Next up is L'Homme Presse's owner, Andy Edwards

I'm still calm but very excited at the same time. I had a chat with Charlie the other day and said to him, 'You know I never give you any instructions or interfere, but I'm going to say something this time. We believe in you, we believe in Venetia and we believe in this horse.

Be positive, free as a bird, connect with him and both of you soar like eagles'. I told him there was no pressure – and he told me he appreciated me saying that.

Everything is in his favour. I think he is the one horse who could potentially beat Galopin Des Champs, simply because they haven't yet raced against each other. My faith in this horse has been unwavering and unstoppable all the way through.

Venetia would say he has a chance. I would say he has a very good chance. I really do think he is a cracking each-way bet.

Lucinda Russell speaking to the presse about Corach Rambler

If the ground turned heavy, I wouldn't be keen to run him. He is in great form but I don't want to give him a hard race because the aim is the National. Having said that, you don't get many opportunities to run a horse like him in the Gold Cup.

He is 100 per cent, or certainly as close to 100 per cent as we can get him at home. I think the race might hopefully bring him on but you can't use the Gold Cup as a warm-up.

Paul Nicholls with a few words on Bravemansgame

He is in a good place and there isn't too much rain forecast, which is helpful. He has been so consistent this season, finishing second in the Charlie Hall, Betfair Chase and King George, but although he has run really well, I don't yet think he has run to his best. 

I do now think we've got him somewhere near his best but I know he has it all to do. If you took Galopin Des Champs out of the race, it would be one of the most open Gold Cups we've ever had, but he is a standout and, given the form of his stable this week, he is going to be hard to beat. I think we'll be doing well to finish where we did last year – anything on top of that would be a plus.

Gentlemansgame's trainer, Mouse Morris 

We all have a bit to find on the figures with the favourite but our horse ran a good race at Wetherby. He is not without his problems, as you can see by the fact he hasn't run much, but he seems in good fettle.

Gary Moore is hoping for rain for Nassalam

The more rain the better, it's as simple as that. It gives him a much better chance if the ground is proper soft, especially if the others don't handle it as well as he does. The handicapper thinks he is good enough to be running in a Gold Cup, and he's not often too far wrong. If you'd have asked me six months ago whether I thought he'd be running in the race, I'd have laughed at you, but he's earned it with his two wins at Chepstow. This is also a good race to have before the Grand National, which is our main aim.

And last up, The Real Whacker's jockey, Sam Twiston-Davies

There is only one Gold Cup a season, so the trainer is trying a visor. He has got happier and happier with the horse from one race to the next, which is encouraging. He has some top-class form and, looking at his price, the dream would be to finish in the top four. Just to get a ride in the Gold Cup is tough, so to be competitive would be incredibly special.