The Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Guide 2025.
The Blue Ribbon of jump-racing.
A steeplechase over 3 miles 2 ½ furlongs, 22 fences, to make history.
This years Cheltenham Festival takes place from the 11th - 14th March. The Boodles Gold Cup is held on the final day 14th March, 2025. It takes place approximately 4pm.
I’m sure you have your favourite winner of this fantastic race. Inaugurated in 1924, this left-handed course sees horses aged 5 years and older take part. Win prize money £351,688.
Who couldn’t be impressed by Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs. Winning well in the last two races. A strong favourite both times. Ridden to perfection by Paul Townend. Mrs Audrey Turley must be on the edge of her seat.
I know what you are saying: ‘He’s a skinny price to win for the third time at even money.’
I can hear the late John McCrirrick saying: ‘Levels you devils!’
There's an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. Both giving me ‘inside info’ and to be honest they talk a good race.
That devil must have some age about him, as he keeps reminding me of Red Splash! And reciting the words of Major Humphrey Wyndham.
If Dorathy Paget was still alive I’m sure they’d be sitting round the fire, fork in hand cooking up sausages with talk of Golden Miller, Roman Hackle & Mont Tramblant.
Looking back over the last 10 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, you’d be hard pressed to ignore the simple trends.
2015 – Coneygree 7/1 (8yo) Mark Bradstock, Nico de Boinville
2016 – Don Cossack 9/4f (9yo) Gordon Elliott, Bryan Cooper
2017 – Sizing John 7/1 (7yo) Jessica Harrington, Robbie Power
2018 – Native River 5/1 (8yo) Colin Tizzard, Richard Johnson
2019 – Al Boum Photo 12/1 (7yo) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2020 – Al Boum Photo 10/3f (8yo) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2021 – Minella Indo 9/1 (8yo) Henry De Bromhead, Jack Kennedy
2022 – A Plus Tard 3/1f (8yo) Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore
2023 – Galopin Des Champs 7/5f (7yo) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2024 – Galopin Des Champs 10/11f (8yo) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
Looking at the ante-post market, it very much looks a two-horse race with the Willie Mullins pair, Galopin Des Champs (1/1) and Fact To File (9/2) heading the market.
Next best is Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe (12/1).
I guess a lot of punters are holding out to see who wins the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase, at Leopardstown (3:30) which takes palce on the 1st February. The leading players – Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File & Gerri Colombe - will be testing their mettle. Has the favourite been a little uneasy in the betting for the Festival?
To be fair, I’m not much of a National Hunt man when it comes to betting but who cannot be excited by the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup 2025?
Five favourites have won over the last decade. Mullins and De Bromhead taking five wins between them. The biggest priced winner being Al Boum Photo 12/1 (2019). However, we have seen a few third and fourth favourites make their presence felt.
Surely, it’s a favourites race?
There’s no doubt Galopin Des Champs knows how to win the Cheltenahm Gold Cup. There have been plenty of quality nine-year-olds win.
He put Fact To File in his place in the Savills Chase. He couldn’t have been more ‘impressive’ that day.
If I put my listening ears on, that angel on the right shoulder is singing the sweetest song. But that devil, I hope he doesn’t need a shoulder to cry on.
As Basil Briscoe once said: Training horses is child’s play. It’s a hell of a bloody job trying to train Miss Paget.
However, she seemed to get the best out of Golden Miller.
Good luck to all.