The Cheltenham Gold Cup is inarguably the most prestigious race at the Cheltenham Festival, so we’re going to take a good look at the showpiece now that we’ve passed the campaign’s halfway point.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025: Galopin into the History Books
It’s sure to be another cracking race and the market appears to have settled for the time being. We still have a couple of key trials to consider in the next month or so, including the Irish Gold Cup and the Cotswold Chase on trials’ day at Cheltenham in a couple of weeks. Galopin Des Champs will be the name on everyone’s list, as he bids to join Best Mate as a three-time Gold Cup winner.
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Historic Hat-Trick
Brilliant and imperious when at his best, Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs is currently available at evens and one would imagine his price won’t be getting any bigger. There are clearly more chinks in his armour when running at Punchestown, having been beaten there more times than he has won. That was the case in the John Durkan on his seasonal debut when he could only manage third behind stablemate Fact To File and the up and coming Spillane’s Tower. Gaining sweet revenge on the former at Leopardstown over Christmas, he reaffirmed his status as the top dog in the staying chase division.
Mullins’ two-time Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo failed to make it three-in-a-row, but Galopin appears to be in a totally different league and a much more aggressive campaign appears to suit him. A dramatic last fence fall in the 2022 Turners Novices’ Chase is the only blip on his almost perfect record at Cheltenham, winning on his three other visits to the Gloucestershire track. This absolute monster of a racehorse is well set to come out on top once again.
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Main Dangers
Fact To File looked like the ideal Gold Cup horse when winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival last year and looked like he only joined the race at the third-last. Firmly put in his place by Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase, he would be of more interest in the Ryanair unless his stablemate fails to make it.
Gerri Colombe will probably run into a place once again, but the favourite appears to have his measure on the evidence we’ve seen so far. Banbridge won the King George courtesy of a canny ride from Paul Townend, but stamina could be an issue over this course and distance. Corbetts Cross looks very easy to oppose and it’s hard to see him having the necessary cruising speed to get into this. Monty’s Star has a similar profile to Minella Indo, who won this in 2021, but would be more interesting each-way than win only.
Cheltenham Gold Cup: UK Runners
It’s bitterly disappointing that Britain’s greatest Jumps race only has five British-trained entries at this stage and even more concerning that the most fancied one is a whopping 25/1. Grey Dawning appeared to be the home team’s best hope until his bitterly disappointing display in the King George last time out. The scary thing is that Dan Skelton’s eight-year-old will have to bounce back dramatically in order to give Britain a chance now.
Venetia Williams has entered L’Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille and the former ran well enough last year before failing to get home. This makes him pretty opposable and two-time Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille is in danger of getting outpaced once again. Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor is hard to fancy at 66/1, having had plenty of chances over the years, and The Real Whacker isn’t at the required level to make a serious challenge.
Please note that the information provided in this Cheltenham Gold Cup article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org
