Galopin Des Champs is set to meet eight rivals in his bid to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the third year in a row at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday.
Willie Mullins’ stable star attempts to bag a place in the history books alongside Arkle, Best Mate and Golden Miller in completing the hat-trick and he is in red-hot form after sweeping aside his challengers in the Savills Chase and Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup in recent months.
He is set to face a fresh foe in King George VI Chase winner Banbridge, who looks likely to get his favoured ground as he prepares to tackle the longest trip of his career.
Gavin Cromwell has supplemented last season’s Kim Muir king Inothewayurthinkin off the back of a staying-on fourth in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup last month.
Monty’s Star was marginally behind in fifth at Leopardstown and attempts to give jockey Rachael Blackmore her second victory in the Blue Riband.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup has been the long-term plan for JP McManus’ second string Corbetts Cross, who landed last term’s National Hunt Chase in fine style, and Jack Kennedy is booked to ride.
Ahoy Senor, Gentlemansgame, Royale Pagaille and The Real Whacker complete the line up for Friday’s 16:00.
The latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025 verdict
Timeform: GALOPIN DES CHAMPS landed a third Irish Gold Cup last month and can cement his place among the greats by repeating that feat in chasing’s blue riband event. Banbridge is a top-class chaser in his own right and December’s King George hero has the potential to give the reigning champion plenty to think about with ground conditions likely to be ideal for him. Inothewayurthinkin, who was supplemented for £25,000 last weekend, can complete his Grand National preparations by staying on for third.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025.
Ahoy Senor
Trainer: Lucinda Russell Jockey: Derek Fox Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Not a fluent jumper of fences but top-class on his day. Shaped as if as good as ever when third in Old Roan at Aintree on reappearance but has pulled up on both runs since. Has had wind surgery.
*
Banbridge
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: J. J. Slevin Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Raced mostly at shorter but there’s stamina in his pedigree and he proved suited by the return to 3m when overhauling Il Est Francais in the King George at Kempton. This race asks a different question but he’s good enough to ensure Galopin Des Champs doesn’t have things all his own way.
****
Corbetts Cross
Trainer: Emmet Mullins Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class chaser who landed the National Hunt Chase at last year’s Festival before a fine third to Gerri Colombe in Bowl at Aintree (25f, soft) in April. Operating a little below that level this season but will at least find this test more suitable than the 21f he ran over at Ascot last time.
***
Galopin Des Champs
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Only third on 2½m Punchestown reappearance but has comfortably won a pair of Grade 1s at Leopardstown since returned to 3m. Sure to take all the beating as he bids to become only the fifth three-time winner of this race.
*****
Gentlemansgame
Trainer: M. F. Morris Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Landed the 2023 Charlie Hall at Wetherby. Back to that sort of form when third of 9 to Galopin Des Champs in Savills at Leopardstown (3m) just after Christmas but below par when a well-held third in the Cotswold Chase here in January. Pulled up in this last year.
**
Inothewayurthinkin
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Won the Kim Muir at this meeting last year before adding a Grade 1 novice at Aintree. Has found life tougher in top open company since but he did stay on well when 7¼ lengths fourth to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup (3m) 6 weeks ago and this longer trip will play to his strengths.
***
Monty’s Star
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Second to Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower in Grade 1 novices here and at Punchestown last spring. Better effort this season when 7½ length fifth (Inothewayurthinkin neck ahead in fourth) to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month. Longer trip now should suit.
***
Royale Pagaille
Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 11 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Mud lover who landed a second Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. Not so good away from testing ground when a remote sixth in the Grand National Trial there last month and he’s unlikely to get his ideal conditions here this afternoon.
**
The Real Whacker
Trainer: Patrick Neville Jockey: Brian Hughes Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Won the Brown Advisory at the 2023 Festival. Back to that sort of level when making all in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby (3m, good) in November and respectable fourth of 11 in King George since. If he’s allowed to get into a good rhythm in front he might outrun big odds.
***
Cheltenham Day 4 Tips
- Paddy’s Ultimate Cheltenham Cheat Sheet for day 4 of the 2025 Festival
- ITV Racing pundit Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips for Friday
- Patrick Mullins’ Cheltenham Tips for day 4 feature a 14/1 shout
- Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham Tips for day 4 of the meeting
Read More on the Cheltenham Festival
- Cheltenham Festival race times and schedule for 2025 meeting
- Cheltenham on TV today: What channel is the Cheltenham Festival 2025 on? Coverage and schedule
- Cheltenham Festival free live stream: Watch every race at 2025 meeting
- The Ultimate Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide
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