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17:20Champion Bumper
Gold Cup
16:00 Cheltenham Festival
2025-03-14
Winner: £364,313.57
Runners: 9
Going: Good To Soft
No. of hurdles: 22
Distance: 3m2f70y
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious contest in jump racing and has been won by some of the greatest horses in the history of the sport. The Grade 1 chase provides the highlight of the four-day Cheltenham Festival and, with prize-money of £625,000, is the most valuable jumps race in Britain and Ireland after the Grand National. The Gold Cup represents the ultimate challenge for the very best staying chasers, with 22 fences to be jumped during the relentless three miles and two and a half furlongs, and a punishing finish up the famous Cheltenham hill. Among the greats to have won the race are Golden Miller, Mill House, Arkle, Best Mate and Kauto Star. Galopin Des Champs is the latest to join these all-time great horses after back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. Check the Cheltenham Gold Cup runners and riders ahead of the big race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
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8(0)
1F-1P6
Royale Pagaille
-
J: Charlie Deutsch
T: Venetia Williams
11
11-10
163
173
No more than respectable form in three attempts at this race and Haydock is his track, albeit that he has looked down on his luck in two starts there since returning from a layoff with a big win (3m1f, soft) in November; has a big question mark hanging over him now.
2(0)
9-14U1
Banbridge
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J: J J Slevin
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
9
11-10
168
178
Nearly all chase runs at up to about 2m4f; however, he had looked a stayer in the making when making light of this steep finish in the Martin Pipe (2m4f) over hurdles here in 2022 and he laid out his stamina credentials when steaming home to win the 3m King George at Kempton (good; cheekpieces refitted) on Boxing Day; has a very good chance of breathing down Galopin Des Champs' neck on the home bend but will need special reserves to outstay that steely rival.
5(0)
P5-433
Gentlemansgame
-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: M F Morris
9
11-10
160
169
Has some good efforts at about 3m1f in his record but he was pulled up in last year's Gold Cup (25-1) and, after finishing a respectable third to Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown after Christmas, he wasn't at his best in a Grade 2 here last time out; his form needs an upgrade and others look better equipped for the stamina test; has been tongue tied or worn cheekpieces in recent starts, no aids today.
1(0)
62-3PP
Ahoy Senor
-
J: Derek Fox
T: Lucinda Russell
10
11-10
165
173
He was at the top table going back but excuses have often been needed since his latest win, a Grade 2 on this track (3m1f, soft; acts on good) in January 2023, and Aintree is his safe haven now; recaptured form with a fine second in the Bowl there last April and returned from a break with a good effort on the same track in October but he's cut a dejected figure in two runs since and recent wind surgery needs to have done the trick.
4(0)
1-2311
Galopin Des Champs
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
9
11-10
177
187
The great staying champion of our time who would be defending an unbeaten 4-4 record at the Festival but for crumpling after the last in the 2022 Turners Novices' Chase; his jumping hasn't always been a thing of beauty but he has learned his lessons well and his only defeats since that mishap have come right at the end and the beginning of his seasons; he's maintained a very high standard when winning two Grade 1s at Leopardstown (good to yielding and yielding) in midwinter and his dominance in the Gold Cup for the last two years looks set to continue.
7(0)
12-225
Monty's Star
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
8
11-10
160
166
Has found his calling over fences and was a good second in the Brown Advisory here (3m, soft) last March; he's had just two runs this winter and although turned over on his return to action in January, he ran well for a long way when beaten nearly 8l behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown (3m, good to yielding) in February; it's possible that run was still needed but the stamina question for this test is still up in the air.
9(0)
P5-U14
The Real Whacker
-
J: Brian Hughes
T: Patrick Neville
9
11-10
159
167
Had a season to remember two winters ago when three front-running course wins included the Brown Advisory (3m, soft) at this meeting; success has been harder since he left novice company, though, and he was pulled up in this race 12 months ago; back on song with a Wetherby Grade 2 win (3m, good) in November but so much more is needed today.
3(0)
13-262
Corbetts Cross
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Emmet Mullins
8
11-10
161
173
Strong stayer who made short work of his rivals in the National Hunt Chase here (3m6f, heavy) last March and showed he could do more than just grind away when close up in the Bowl (3m1f, soft) at Aintree after; unable to go with Banbridge in the home straight in the King George at Kempton (3m) on Boxing Day and his pace was again lacking over 2m5f at Ascot (good) last month, but this test can see him back in a good place; a dollop of rain would help but he isn't a forlorn hope.
6(0)
11-754
Inothewayurthinkin
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: Gavin Cromwell
7
11-10
160
167
Staying trips were a big help last spring when winning the Kim Muir here (3m2f) with authority and moving seamlessly back into Grade 1 company to follow up in the 3m1f novice (again on soft) at Aintree; has offered no great opposition to Galopin Des Champs this winter but he looked to be coming to hand at Leopardstown in February and this greater test can suit; has been supplemented by owner who's also represented by Corbetts Cross and time is still on his side.
RACING POST TIP
Galopin Des Champs
There are always challengers wanting to dethrone the king but GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is a horse for the ages and there is no reason to desert him as he goes for his third Gold Cup. Age will weary him one day, and after all this is his fifth Festival, but he has stood the test of time so well and there has been no sign of his powers fading this winter. Banbridge is the most likely of the principals to be glad of the dry spell leading up to the Festival but it took connections a while to test the 3m waters over fences and, although he rose to the occasion magnificently in the King George, this race presents a quite different challenge. Corbetts Cross will be much more at home back over a staying trip but the newly supplemented Inothewayurthinkin is preferred for a place behind Banbridge. Monty's Star is also worth a look, while it's possible that recent wind surgery will breathe his old life back into Ahoy Senor.
Cheltenham Free Bets
PREVIOUS GOLD CUP WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2024 | Galopin De Champs | 12-311 | 8 | 10-11F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2023 | Galopin De Champs | 1-11 | 7 | 7-5F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2022 | A Plus Tard | 112-12 | 8 | 3-1F | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2021 | Minella Indo | 2-11F4 | 8 | 9-1 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2020 | Al Boum Photo | RO-112-1 | 8 | 100-30F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2019 | Al Boum Photo | 2F1RO-1 | 7 | 12-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2018 | Native River | 1-1113 | 8 | 5-1 | Colin Tizzard | Richard Johnson |
| 2017 | Sizing John | 33-211 | 7 | 7-1 | Jessica Harrington | Robbie Power |
| 2016 | Don Cossack | 1-11F1 | 9 | 9-4F | Gordon Elliott | Bryan Cooper |
| 2015 | Coneygree | 13-111 | 8 | 7-1 | Mark Bradstock | Nico de Boinville |
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
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Aged between seven and nine, 10/10
-
Adjusted RPR of at least 172, 10/10
-
Grade 1 chase winner, 9/10
-
No more than 13 starts over fences, 9/10
-
Won over at least 3m, 9/10
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Ran no more than four times that season, 9/10
-
Within 9lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
-
Won a Graded chase that season, 9/10
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Won or placed previously at the festival, 8/10
Other factors
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In 2015, Coneygree became the first winner not to have run at a previous festival since Imperial Call in 1996. He was also the first novice to win since Captain Christy in 1974.
-
Four of the last ten winners had run in the King George or Savills Chase (formerly Lexus) that season
We have all the best Cheltenham Free Bets and Betting offers ahead of placing your bets on the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 2024
Just as occurred in 2023, Galopin Des Champs was crowned as the best staying chaser of his generation with his second impressive Gold Cup success in a row. There was never a moment’s doubt as he joined some of the chasing greats with multiple wins in the race when scoring by three and a half lengths under Paul Townend. Gerri Colombe was once again beaten by his old foe but ran a huge race in second, while the Grand National winner Corach Rambler ran a huge race in another famous chase in third.