(3 minutes read)
Memories of 2004 are rekindled once more as the Willie Mullins trained superstar chaser Galopin Des Champs looks to emulate Arkle and Best Mate by winning a third consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Based on his excellent season thus far and his formidable record around the Cheltenham Gold Cup course and distance, it is on paper a formality for this incredible horse to oblige and bring the roof down on the final day of Cheltenham Festival 2025.
We assess the chances of the big players in this Cheltenham Festival 2025 flagship race and check out the best Cheltenham bets and top odds from our partner firms, Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
NRNB
Non-Runner No Bet is now available with all of our partner firms. This means if you place a bet now for Cheltenham Festival 2025, all stakes will be returned if the horse is withdrawn at any stage.
The Big Players
Galopin Des Champs
Now being proclaimed the greatest chaser to have come out of Ireland, the Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs was simply irresistible in the Irish Gold Cup last month, beating a quality field and stamping his authority as rightful leader of the Cheltenham Gold Cup market.
However, the key to Galopin’s attempt to claim this third title is the opposition. This has to be one of the weakest Cheltenham Gold Cup fields in recent years. Barring a fall or a freakishly run race, there should be no stopping this leviathan from claiming that third Gold Cup.
He jumps beautifully, has an enormous engine, a versatile set of gears and stays up the Cheltenham hill like no other. One of our selected bankers of the week.
Betting wise, the antepost backers from earlier in the season who grabbed 3/1 when his form was being questioned must be sitting with glee. Now available at best odds of 1/2 with Bet365, Bet Victor and Betfred.
Banbridge
The Joseph O’Brien stayer comes into this after a brilliant performance in The King George, beating Il Est Francais after the last fence when it looked like the French challenger had stolen a march on the entire field.
If Banbridge can reproduce that kind of form, and time his run in a similar fashion in the Gold Cup, there will at least be a spectacle for the Prestbury Park crowd to enjoy.
He will need to improve and there is every reason to believe he will. The horse is an excellent each way proposition, but the odds do not reflect that fairly at 9/2 best with Bet365 and Betfred.
Monty’s Star
Henry De Bromhead has a good recent record in this race having saddled previous winners Minella Indo and A Plus Tard. Monty’s Star has been consistent this season and despite travelling well in The Irish Gold Cup, he was nowhere near laying a glove against Galopin Des Champ and needs to make up nearly 8 lengths, which is unlikely.
However, he stayed on well in last year’s Brown Advisory so the Cheltenham hill poses no challenge. He certainly enters each way calculations at 12/1 best odds with William Hill.
Inothewayurthinkin
The runaway winner of last year’s Fulke Walwyn handicap is an interesting entry, although his participation depends on soft ground, which is not guaranteed: a dry forecast is dominant with some showers on Day 2.
However, that performance last year puts him firmly in the mix, but his recent form is not overly encouraging. Inothewayurthinkin represents good each way value if he can replicate the form of last year’s Festival win. 8/1 best odds with Betfred and Boylesports.
Fact To File
Could be a danger if he reproduces his absolute best. The Willie Mullins second string has come the closest to Galopin Des Champs this season and represents the nearest definition of race rival, but it remains to be seen if he has the staying power of Banbridge or Galopin in a fast run race like this. He will be there or thereabouts, however. Best odds of 6/1 with Bet365 and Bet Victor.
The Others
Corbett’s Cross ran a cracker in last year’s National Hunt Chase but like a lot of these, has not demonstrated much to shout about this season. 16/1 best odds with Bet365.
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