All good things must come to an end, and the Cheltenham Festival is no exception. Following three days of triumph, disaster, and tearjerking victories, the Prestbury Park marvel reaches its fourth and final day on Friday afternoon.
Happily, the meeting goes out in style with one of the most sizzling seven race cards of the racing season. The County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ event provide a treat for handicapping fans, the mares get their chance to shine in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase, and the top up-and-coming talent takes to the track in the Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
However, it is race five on the card around which the Cheltenham Festival - and, for many fans, the entire National Hunt season - revolves. 3m2f is the trip for the historic Cheltenham Gold Cup as the crème de la crème of the staying chase division does battle over 32 fences.
There are many other stamina-sapping events over fences throughout the racing season, but none so classy as this. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is, quite simply, the race they all want to win. £646,880 in total prize money doesn’t hurt the appeal, but this is all about a place in the annals of racing history.
Golden Miller, Arkle, Cottage Rake, Dawn Run, Desert Orchid, Best Mate, Kauto Star, and Denman are but a selection of the names peppering a roll of honour bursting with brilliance. With the final field confirmed, one of the following nine names will fill the space next to "2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner".
Here, we present a snapshot of the nine remaining contenders and pick out our best bets for our favourite National Hunt contest.
1. Ahoy Senor – 66/1 with bet365
Trainer: Lucinda Russell
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 21215351F2PP42P
Grade 1 Form Figures: 12215F2362P
Good to Soft Form Figures: 111532P43
Cheltenham Festival Record: 2nd 2022 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Fell 2023 Gold Cup, 6th 2024 Ryanair Chase.
Likeable Lucinda Russell-trained ten-year-old, who was travelling well enough before falling in his only previous crack at this. Dual winner in Grade 1 company, but the most recent of those victories came in 2022. Scored over just short of this trip at this track in the 2023 Cotswold Chase, but two pulled-up efforts since November don’t inspire confidence. Place claims at his peak, but hopes hinge on improvement following recent wind surgery.
2. Banbridge – 9/2 with bet365
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 1
Grade 1 Form Figures: 0321911
Good to Soft Form Figures:11021114U
Cheltenham Festival Record: Won 2022 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, 9th 2024 Ryanair Chase.
Arrives on the back of a thrilling success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, with The Real Whacker and Corbetts Cross amongst those in behind. Provided a positive answer to the 3m question that day, but 3m2f around this galloping track is rather different to 3m around speedy Kempton. That said, it’s hard to view that display in anything other than a positive light, he has a festival win to his name, and the ground is in his favour.
3. Corbetts Cross – 16/1 with Bet365
Trainer: Emmet Mullins
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 2F136
Grade 1 Form Figures: R2362
Good to Soft Form Figures: 1
Cheltenham Festival Record: Ran Out 2023 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, Won 2024 National Hunt Challenge Cup
Another previous festival winner following his emphatic success in the 3m6f National Hunt Challenge Cup. He couldn’t back that up when second to Gerri Colombe in the Aintree Bowl and is zero from three since his return in October. Five of six wins have come on soft or worse going, suggesting he may need the rain to be seen to best effect. Overall, he looks short enough on the balance of his form in this type of race.
4. Galopin Des Champs – 1/2 with bet365
Trainer: Willie Mullins
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 112111211
Grade 1 Form Figures: 611F1111231112311
Good to Soft Form Figures: 111111221
Cheltenham Festival Record: Won 2021 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, Fell 2022 Turners Novices’ Chase, Won 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Won 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup
In the words of the man himself, the greatest chaser Willie Mullins has ever trained - some statement, but one which is backed up by his race record. But for a fall when 12l clear at the final flight in the 2022 Turners, this supremely talented performer would be unbeaten in four at the Cheltenham Festival. Arriving seeking a Grade 1 hattrick following authoritative victories in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, 9lb clear of the field on ratings, he is set to get ideal ground conditions and is nigh on impossible to fault.
5. Gentlemansgame – 50/1 with bet365
Trainer: Mouse Morris
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 1P5433
Grade 1 Form Figures: 223P543
Good to Soft Form Figures: 32
Cheltenham Festival Record: Pulled Up 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
This one's career-best effort came when landing the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase in 2023, but he has come up short in all previous efforts at the top table. Has a solid in-the-frame percentage but not at his best so far this season and was pulled up before the second last in the 2024 edition of this.
6. Inothewayurthinkin – 7/1 with bet365
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 1154
Grade 1 Form Figures: 431754
Good to Soft Form Figures: 44
Cheltenham Festival Record: Won 2024 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
Intriguing late supplementary entry who adds significantly to the field. A brilliant eight-length winner of the Kim Muir last year and even better when breaking his Grade 1 duck in the Mildmay Novices Chase. Zero from three this season, but he posted his best effort yet when running on for fourth in the Irish Gold Cup last time. More open to improvement than most and one of the most likely to prevail if Galopin Des Champs has an off day. On the downside, all four wins have come on soft or worse, and he is zero from four under conditions similar to those forecast on the day.
7. Monty’s Star – 12/1 with bet365
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 1225
Grade 1 Form Figures: P225
Good to Soft Form Figures: 425
Cheltenham Festival Record: Pulled Up 2022 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, 2nd 2024 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Huge horse who we likely haven’t seen the best of yet. In solid form in Spring 2024 with back-to-back runners-up finishes in the Brown Advisory and the Grade 1 novice event at the Punchestown Festival. Not so good in two outings this term but only 7½l behind Galopin Des Champ in the Irish Gold Cup when the De Bromhead yard appeared to be under a cloud. The in-and-out form of his trainer remains a concern, but not out of it from a place perspective.
8. Royal Pagaille – 66/1 with bet365
Trainer: Venetia Williams
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 116215526F1F1P6
Grade 1 Form Figures: 62552611
Good to Soft Form Figures: 62255F6
Cheltenham Festival Record:.6th 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup, 5th 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, 6th 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Hugely likeable stable star from the Venetia Williams operation. His two most recent successes have come over just short of this trip in Grade 1 company. However, both wins were in soft ground editions of the Betfair chase, and this Rich Ricci runner likely needs the heavens to open to have any chance of being involved.
9. The Real Whacker – 50/1 with bet365
Trainer: Patrick Neville
3m+ Chase Form Figures: 142PU14
Grade 1 Form Figures: 14P4
Good to Soft Form Figures: 2
Cheltenham Festival Record: Won 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Pulled Up 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Enjoyed a spectacular 2022/23 campaign, culminating in a thrilling Brown Advisory success. This race has been the plan ever since, but he has only rarely threatened to rediscover his peak form. That said, he scored nicely in the 2024 Charlie Hall Chase and posted a fair effort when fourth in the King George last time. This track suits him better, and ground conditions should be close to ideal, but yet to give the impression that he is a true top-notcher.
The Verdict
For win purposes, we can’t find any good reason to oppose the sensational Galopin Des Champs. On paper, the 2025 field isn't any stronger than those he so comfortably dispatched in the 2023 and 2024 editions. Appearing to be as well as ever in his two most recent outings, he looks much the most likely winner. However, at odds of 1/2, that’s hardly surprising. That price is fair considering his class edge and proven ability over track and trip, but he is unlikely to suit all betting budgets.
Of the others, we suspect Inothewayurthinkin will be the best in time. However, connections may have stumped up the supplementary entry just in case the rain arrives, which doesn’t look likely at present. With similar ground concerns applying to Corbetts Cross and Royal Pagaille, Gentlemansgame and The Real Whacker looking a notch below Gold Cup class, and Ahoy Senor out of form, the each way bet in the race is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Monty’s Star. He hasn’t quite shone this season but peaked at around this time last year and can hit the festival frame for a second time.
Recommended Bet: Galopin Des Champs to win @ 1/2 with bet365
Recommended Bet: Monty’s Star each way @ 12/1 with bet365
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
Paul Harrison
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