No sooner is it here than it is gone again for another twelve long months. However, the Cheltenham Festival once again left us with more than enough memories to keep us going until the 2026 edition rolls into view.
With the warm favourites defeated in all four headline events, this wasn’t the easiest of meetings from a punting perspective. However, the meeting scored top marks for poignancy. The victories of Caldwell Potter and Doddiethegreat sparked a nod to the heavens, but nothing could compare to the incredible second day. Returning to the scene of their 2023 victories, the two horses who shot Michael O’Sullivan into the limelight, Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, landed back-to-back events less than a month after the tragic death of the popular jockey.
Away from the incredible storylines, including Galopin Des Champs coming up short in his bid for the history books and the rare sight of Gordon Elliott in tears following a win in race 28 of 28, this was another meeting with an unmistakably green tinge.
When all was said and done, the final score stood at Ireland 20, Great Britain 8 as the Cheltenham Festival confirmed what we already knew – the crème de la crème of the National Hunt game resides on the Emerald Isle.
Here, we look back at another memorable four days at Prestbury Park and highlight the leading trainers, jockeys, owners and sires.
Top Trainer: Willie Mullins – 10 Wins
A total of 15 trainers picked up at least one win at the Cheltenham Festival, but only one man registered more than two. The well-fancied Majborough, Ballyburn, and Galopin Des Champs may have missed the mark, but Willie Mullins had more than enough ammunition to emerge as the overwhelmingly dominant force once again.
Kicking off with Kopeck Des Bordes in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Mullins picked up at least one win on all four days, including a treble on Day 2 and a spectacular four-timer on the final day. Highlights included the Grade 1 triumphs of Kopeck Des Bordes, Lecky Watson (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase), Bambino Fever (Champion Bumper), Fact To File (Ryanair Chase), Jasmin De Vaux (Albery Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle), and the improbable 100/1 shot Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle.
That tally of ten was two more than the entire British fraternity combined, and propelled Mullins to a career total of 113 Cheltenham Festival wins, taking him further clear as the most successful trainer in the history of the meeting.
Fellow Irish trainers Gavin Cromwell and Henry De Bromhead bagged a double, with Nicky Henderson the only British handler to strike more than once.
Paul Nicholls was amongst the singletons, but the success of Caldwell Potter in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap took the Ditcheat handler to the notable landmark of 50 festival victories.
Top Jockey: Paul Townend & Mark Walsh – 4 Wins
As the number one rider to Willie Mullins, Paul Townend, unsurprisingly, finished as the official leading rider at Cheltenham 2025 – but only just. Having finished in a tie with Mark Walsh, Townend took the top spot due to having more runners-up finishes at the meeting.
Kicking off with a double on the opening day with Kopek Des Bordes and Lossiemouth, Townend drew a blank on Days 2 and 3 but fired in another double with Kargese and Jasmin De Vaux on Day 4. The odds-on defeats of Ballyburn and Galopin Des Champs may have stung, but Townend enjoyed another fine festival.
Mark Walsh, meanwhile, showed why he is the number one rider for JP McManus with a series of fine rides. Getting off the mark with Puturhandstogether in the Fred Winter, the Irishman followed up on runaway winners Fact To File and Dinoblue before the scintillating success of Inothewayurthinkin in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Registering a double apiece, Rachael Blackmore, Jonjo O’Neill Jr, and Danny Gilligan were the only other riders with more than one win.
Leading Owner: JP McManus – 6 Wins
21 owners enjoyed a festival to remember with at least one winner. However, the colours most frequently sighted in the winner's enclosure were the famous green and gold silks of JP McManus.
Already the most successful owner in Cheltenham Festival history, the legendary punter bolstered his numbers with six further winners.
Puturhandstogetehr was the first to strike in the Fred Winter on the opening day, with The New Lion keeping the ball rolling in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on Day 2. Fact To File made it three with one of the most impressive victories of the meeting in the Ryanair Chase, with Jagwar completing a Day 3 double in the TrustATrader Plate. Moving on to Friday,
Dinoblue finally got her head in front at the festival in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’s Chase before Inothewayurthinkin broke the heart of Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.
Kenny Alexander (Kargese & Doddiethegreat) and Robcour Racing (Bob Olinger & Air Of Entitlement) were the only other owners to celebrate more than one winner at the meeting.
Leading Sire: Doctor Dino & Golden Horn - 4 Wins
Those who follow specific sires may have struggled to make a profit at Cheltenham 2025, with the 28 races shared amongst 26 sires. No stranger to festival success, Doctor Dino registered a double with Jazzy Matty (Grand Annual) and Dinoblue (Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase). 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn is emerging as a National Hunt stallion of note and picked up a big price double with Golden Ace (Champion Hurdle) and Poniross (Triumph Hurdle).
Favourites Fare Better than Advertised
With several long-priced winners and beaten favourites in the signature events, this looked like a particularly tough edition of the meeting. Whilst the bookmakers got the right horses beat in the right races, overall, the market leader performed respectably.
Seven of the 28 races were claimed by the market leader, representing a lower-than-average strike rate of 25%. However, with only two odds on shots in the mix, a £1 level stakes punt on all 28 jollies returned a profit of £1.59. Not a lot, but a profit, nonetheless.
Paul Harrison
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.
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