TEMPLEGATE tackles the most prestigious race of the year confident of having found the winner.
And our man is in such good form he even fancies landing the 1-2-3!
Below, Templegate goes through each one of the runners, rating them from one (worst) to five (best).
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He reveals his tip and tricast prediction at the bottom for the big one due off at 4pm live on ITV1.
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Templegate’s Gold Cup runner-by-runner guide
ENVOI ALLEN 2
ALLEN not key. A Cheltenham legend with 10 Grade 1 victories and three Festival wins on his CV.
He showed he still retains plenty of ability when landing the Champion Chase at Down Royal in November on his only start this season, jumping accurately and asserting late.
However, he was hammered in the Ryanair last year and he faces younger, progressive rivals at the age of 12.
He stays 3m but this extended Gold Cup trip and relentless pace looks a lot.
FIREFOX 1
FIRE out. Tough and consistent Irish chaser who has run well at the last two Cheltenham Festivals.
He began the season with a good Grade 2 win at Down Royal over 2m3f and later finished second at Ascot before stepping up in class.
His latest run saw him finish fourth in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown over 3m on soft ground, shaping respectably but beaten some way.
A genuine performer who stays well, but he’s not up to this standard.
GAELIC WARRIOR 4
WAR horse. Top-class chaser with outstanding form at the highest level and already a Cheltenham Festival winner.
He landed the Arkle here in 2024 and later proved his stamina when winning the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl over 3m1f.
That victory marked him as a serious staying chaser and he has continued to perform at elite level this season.
He began by winning the prestigious John Durkan Chase at Punchestown before finishing a narrow third in the King George at Kempton in a thrilling finish.
He ran another strong race when second in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time out.
Sometimes keen early, which could be a concern over this extended trip, but he tends to finish strongly.
With his combination of pace, stamina and class, he will be right there for Rich Ricci.
GOLD TWEET 1
TWEET out of tune. French raider who has shown his best form in testing conditions and over long trips.
He was impressive when winning the Cleeve Hurdle here earlier in his career and later finished second in a Grade 1 chase at Auteuil over 3m3f.
However, he struggled in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and was only fifth in a minor hurdles event last time.
Stays well and handles soft ground but this level of opposition looks well beyond him.
GREY DAWNING 3
GREY has a say. Talented staying chaser who has continued to progress since winning the Turners at the 2024 Festival.
He confirmed his class with a Grade 1 victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock earlier this season over 3m1f.
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Last time he finished third in the Cotswold Chase here after making a costly mistake late on before rallying strongly up the run-in.
That effort showed his stamina and determination, though this stronger field demands another step forward.
He could easily run into the places.
HAITI COULEURS 4
HAI hopes. One of the most progressive staying chasers currently in training and already a Cheltenham Festival winner.
He captured the National Hunt Chase here last season over an extended trip before continuing his upward curve this campaign.
His standout performance came when winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow showing tremendous stamina and determination.
He then confirmed his wellbeing when comfortably landing the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury, beating L’Homme Presse by seven lengths.
With six wins from eight starts over fences, he is a bold jumper who travels strongly near the pace and clearly thrives over long distances.
Today’s extended Gold Cup trip looks ideal for him and if the race becomes a real stamina test he is very likely to be involved in the finish.
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN 3
WAY off his best. The defending Gold Cup champion produced a superb performance to win by six lengths last year.
That was his second Festival success, underlining just how well he performs at this meeting.
However, his form this season has been disappointing with three below-par runs, including when he was behind before falling in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time.
He wouldn’t be the first horse to not recover from the effort needed to win a Gold Cup.
First-time cheekpieces are fitted in an attempt to spark him back to his best and connections are talking him up.
Obviously a return to last year’s form would take him close but that’s a big ask on what we’ve seen this season.
JANGO BAIE 5
BAIE of plenty. An exciting and improving chaser who has already shown he can perform at the highest level.
He won the Arkle last season over two miles, showing loads of speed and staying power.
This season connections stepped him up in trip and he responded with an impressive win in the 1965 Chase at Ascot.
His next start came in the King George at Kempton where he finished a close fourth in a thrilling finish involving The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior when ridden wide for much of the race.
That effort suggested he stays three miles well and is likely to improve further for today’s longer trip and demanding finish.
Still unexposed as a stayer, there’s more to come and he’ll be right there.
L’HOMME PRESSE 2
PRESSE ganged. High-class and very reliable stayer who won the Brown Advisory in 2022 and was fourth in this in 2024.
He has run well again this season, finishing second in the Cotswold behind Spillane’s Tower before chasing home Haiti Couleurs in the Denman.
Now 11, he’s not getting any better but Venetia Williams has had a winner this week and he’ll run his usual honest race.
SPILLANE’S TOWER 3
TOWER on high. Irish chaser who won two Grade 1 races during his novice campaign in 2024.
He returned to winning form when landing the Cotswold Chase at this track in January, holding off L’Homme Presse after travelling strongly.
Still only eight years old and open to further improvement, he clearly handles the Cheltenham test well.
However, that victory came in a small field and he will need to find a bit more again in this stronger Gold Cup line-up.
THE JUKEBOX MAN 4
MAN of the moment. One of the most exciting staying chasers in training and unbeaten in four starts over fences.
He made a seamless transition from hurdles, having previously finished a close second in the Albert Bartlett at the 2024 Festival.
This season he has continued to improve, first winning a graduation chase at Haydock before producing a career-best performance to win the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.
There he showed tremendous determination to edge out his rivals in a dramatic finish, confirming his class at the highest level.
A superb jumper who travels strongly, he also stays well and looks ideally suited by this extended Gold Cup trip.
Still improving and with an excellent record over fences, he is right in the shake-up for owner Harry Redknapp.
Templegate’s Gold Cup tip and 1-2-3 prediction
JANGO BAIE can strike Gold for in-form Nicky Henderson.
The Seven Barrows trainer has been in fine form this week and can bag his third Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Hendo’s seven-year-old is improving with every run and was beaten just half a length in the King George VI on Boxing Day. Stepping up in trip on a stamina track like Cheltenham can see him take another step forward.
The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior were the other two in the King George finish and they look his main rivals again.
They should both enjoy this challenge too in what should be a real cracker.
It would be no surprise to see defending champion Inothewayurthinkin run a lot better than we’ve seen this season.
But it’s asking a lot to win this after hitting the deck in the Irish Gold Cup last time.
1st Jango Baie
2nd The Jukebox Man
3rd Fact To File
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