The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing. First ran in 1924, the Gold Cup is the most valuable race at the Cheltenham Festival and has a roll of honour which includes many of the sport’s all time greats, including Golden Miller, Arkle, Desert Orchid, Kauto Star and Denman. Twenty-two jumps and a distance of 3m2f, finishing with the Cheltenham hill, provides the ultimate test for a steeplechaser.
This year’s race could see history be made; here’s a rundown of the leading contenders…
FRIDAY SUPER BOOST: GALOPIN DES CHAMPS EVS + BET £10 GET £30
Sign up here for your SUPER BOOST and get £30 worth of free bets for Cheltenham 2025
Available to new customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. 18+ #AD
Galopin Des Champs
Galopin Des Champs has firmly established himself as the frontrunner for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he’ll aim for a historic third consecutive victory in jumps racing’s biggest prize.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the nine-year-old gelding has continued right at the top of his game this season. He was beaten by Fact To File on his return in the John Durkan, but that came over a trip short of his best and he reversed form with that rival back at 3m with dominant performances in the Savills Chase at Christmas and the Irish Gold Cup.
Already with three Cheltenham Festival wins and ten Grade 1 trophies in his cabinet, it’s hard to see who could stop the champion from completing the hat-trick.
The withdrawal of last season’s runner-up Gerri Colombe – perhaps likely to have been amongst the main threats against this time around – will only make Galopin Des Champs’ task easier and he’s a hot favourite to raise the roof by joining the all time greats of the sport as triple Gold Cup winner.
Banbridge
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Banbridge tasted success at the Cheltenham Festival when landing the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle in 2022. He’s since established himself as a top-class chaser, landing his third Grade 1 victory over fences in the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton over Christmas.
Ground is perhaps key to his chances in the Gold Cup, as his best form comes on quicker surfaces and he has previously displayed enough speed to win at the top level over 2m. He’s untested over the Gold Cup trip, but is one of the few in the lineup that has form that would mean he could capitalise if Galopin Des Champs underperforms.
Monty’s Star
Trained by Henry De Bromhead, Monty’s Star is a best price of 12/1 to win the Gold Cup. He was runner-up in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the Festival last season and shaped quite well when fifth to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup last time.
Whilst it’s hard to see how he could turn the tables this time, stamina is clearly his strong suit and the longer trip of the Gold Cup should play to his strengths. He could be one hold a live chance in the Grand National after Cheltenham.
Grangeclare West
Grangeclare West looked a hugely exciting chase prospect last season before picking up an injury that ruled him out of Cheltenham. He was slow to get back off the ground this campaign, but after two lacklustre performances, bounced back to his best to outrun odds of 66/1 and chase home Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. Again.
It’s hard to see where he’d be able to reverse form with his stablemate, but a repeat of his Leopardstown performance would see him hold solid place claims.
Corbetts Cross
Corbetts Cross’ first visit to the Cheltenham Festival ended in dramatic fashion, still in contention in the Albert Bartlett when running out at the last. Luckily for trainer Emmet Mullins, things proved more straightforward last season, as he ran out an impressive winner of the National Hunt Chase.
He is winless from 3 starts this season, though positives could be taken from his second in the Ascot Chase over a trip short of his best last month. The longer distance he’ll face in the Gold Cup is guaranteed to suit, so he’s not fully ruled out.
Other races of interest on Day 4 Friday:
- 13:30 Triumph Hurdle Tips
- 14:10 County Hurdle Tips
- 14:50 Albert Bartlett Tips
- 15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
- 16:10 Hunters Chase
- 16:50 Mares Steeple Chase Tips
- 17:30 Martin Pipe Tips
Previous Previews 2024:
So we arrive at the race that everyone wants to see: the Cheltenham Gold Cup, among the most prestigious horse races in the world. The simple question is – can anyone keep up with returning champion Galopin Des Champs, a 7-length easy victor over Bravemansgame last year?
Bravemansgame returns for the Nicholls’ yard and is currently at 12-1 – a fair price in this company – but it’s Fastrorslow who surely poses the only threat to the 11/10 favourite. The only horse to have beaten Galopin Des Champs in the last 8 races – twice at Leopardstown – Martin Brassil’s charge is bound to give his best under J.J. Slevin, but barring any drama, second is surely the best he can hope for.
6 horse challenge tips on Gold Cup ay Friday at Cheltenham will be posted in our guide here.
Gerri Colombe runs for Gordon Elliot and 17/2 is a good reflection of his chances here. Black for a place if you can get 4 or more places from the bookies. A horse that we like a lot is L’Homme Presse from the Venetia Williams yard. 11/1 is a big price for the borse that we reckon could be one to cause an upset if such occurs with Charlie Deutsch at the reins.
We have to mention Henry de Bromhead’s entry Jungle Boogie. With Rachael Blackmore aboard the 28/1 shot has decent form, but we can’t dismiss this one from the places. Keep it safe and you might just come in nicely.
There’s little to say that the great Galopin Des Champs and Willie Mullins won’t retain the Gold Cup but this is Cheltenham and fairy tales do come true.
Previous Update: An unbeaten record over fences when staying on all four legs Gallopin Des Champs has matured from a free going headstrong son of Timos to almost the perfect racehorse.
So why bother taking him on? I still have a few questions to ask about his ability even though he’s proved it in open company and against some pretty good novices.
His jumping this season early on in a race is something I’m a little worried about. In his races he has been a little sticky early on.
That would be something I’d be concerned about in a Gold Cup. They normally set off at a fair gallop and he may not be able to keep up with them even though he has form over shorter.
Read more about Cheltenham Festival tips at the 2024 Festival here.
That could just shuffle him back early on and that could be a concern for me. If the race turns into a stamina test i’m still not 100% it’s what he wants and could be vulnerable late on. For this reason I’m looking to take him on.
His stable companion Stattler, a previous winner at the Cheltenham Festival and followed Gallopin Des Champs home last time out, I think will come here with a strong chance.
A proper stamina test is exactly what he wants and that was clear to see when winning the National Hunt Chase last year.
He gets on well with Patrick Mullins who was careful with him last time but he still stayed on strongly.
He was narrowly denied by Minella Indo on his first start this season and was giving weight away to a former Gold Cup winner.
That was a serious performance and I think he’s an obvious value at 8/1.
Bravemansgame comes in here as a leading protagonist having won the King George and Charlie Hall this season. His performance at Christmas was superb and showed the stamina test was something he was bang up for. He went almost four wide that day jumping and travelling with ease against a rival who sadly won’t be appearing in this year’s field.
He showed a battling side to him last time and if the ground is good to soft at the maximum it’s something he will certainly enjoy.
The one thing that worries me is that he seems to be a better horse earlier on in the season and regresses as the season goes on but he seems to be a better horse now and I think if he runs to form he will be bang there.
A horse who I think could be a tad overpriced because of his connections and profile would be Sounds Russian. Before his run in the Cotswold when narrowly denied by Ahoy Senor I strongly fancied him to run a nice race before heading here.
He’s ran solidly in handicaps throughout the season and has progressed nicely when being beaten by Into Overdrive who has a leading chance in the Ultima earlier in the week.
If he had winged the third last which he had throughout the race I think he would have got his head in front and was possibly an unlucky loser. He jumps and he stays well. I think he has a solid each way chance for Ruth Jefferson.