Cheltenham Festival Tips 2025: Expert Cheltenham Tips
We have all the latest tips for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, which takes place between Tuesday 11th March and Friday 14th March, 2025. Not only will we have tips for all 28 races over the four days of the National Hunt extravaganza from our resident tipsters Andrew Mount, Matty Sutcliffe and Dave Young, but the latter pairing offer their ante-post thoughts on the Cheltenham Festival 2025.
Latest Cheltenham Festival News
Cheltenham Ante-Post Book – Maughreen the Mare for Thursday Festival Opener
It’s been a frustrating period with so many meetings cancelled due to the weather, but we’re out the other side of it now and there’s some big weekends coming up. We have the Berkshire Winter Million 3-day event this Friday, Saturday and Sunday then it’s Trials Day the week after followed by the Dublin Racing…
Tue 14 Jan 2025
Cheltenham Day 1 Tips – Tuesday, 11th March 2025
Day one of the Cheltenham Festival is Champion Day, as the feature race on the Tuesday is the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle. The race crowns the best two-mile hurdler across Britain and Ireland for that season and is the fastest-paced championship race of the whole Cheltenham Festival.
Further Grade 1 prizes are bestowed upon novice hurdlers and novice chasers with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle eliciting the famous “Cheltenham Roar” when it gets the Festival underway at 1.20pm. The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a two-mile showpiece over fences for novice chasers directly afterwards.
As well as this, the Mares’ Hurdle, which will now be run before the Champion Hurdle, is another top level contest – the likes of Apple’s Jade and Honeysuckle have both won the race.
From a handicap perspective, the Ultima Handicap Chase, Boodles Juvenile Handicap Chase and National Hunt Chase will all give horses a little below the top rungs a chance of Cheltenham Festival glory.
Cheltenham Day 1 Key Stats and Facts
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
• Recent Trends: Nine of the last ten winners were aged 5 or 6, while the last seven winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• Performance Indicator: Slade Steel was the first winner of the Supreme for seven years to have not won on his previous start
Arkle Challenge Trophy
• Rating Insight: Except for Put The Kettle On, every Arkle winner in the last decade was rated 151 or higher
• Winning Profile: A key trend is looking for a horse with at least two wins over fences
Ultima Handicap Chase
• Home Advantage: The last 10 winners were trained in Britain, showcasing a dominance by the home team
• Cheltenham Experience: All of the last ten winners had at least one previous run at Cheltenham, underlining the importance of course experience
Mares’ Hurdle
• Age Factor: Other than Honeysuckle as a nine-year-old in 2023, the Mares’ Hurdle has been won by horses aged between five and seven in the last 10 renewals
• Rating Trend: Looking for a mare rated 147 or higher has been a successful strategy, with eight winners since 2015 meeting this criterion
Champion Hurdle
• Unbeaten Champions: All of the last 10 winners of the Champion Hurdle were unbeaten for the season leading into the race
• Elite Competition: This race often features top-tier competitors, with last year’s absence of Constitution Hill highlighting the high calibre of entrants
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• Unique Profile: The last 10 winners had not won a Grade 1-3 hurdle, had never run at Cheltenham, and did not run in a handicap last time out
• Exclusivity: This race is open only to horses with a very specific age and racing profile, making it a unique betting challenge
National Hunt Novices’ Chase
• Recent Changes: Significant changes to the race in 2020 have influenced outcomes, with the last five winners being trained in Ireland
• Irish Dominance: This trend underscores the strong performance of Irish-trained horses in recent years
Cheltenham Day 2 Tips – Wednesday, 12th March 2025
The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is Ladies Day, which is appropriate given that the feature race is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The two-mile headline race is a rapid thrill ride over the bigger obstacles, with the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Energumene all successful in recent years.
The opening Grade 1 is now sponsored by Turners, who have sponsored racing at the Festival before. It is a 2m5f novice hurdle, won last year in superb style by Ballyburn.
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is second up as a novice’s prep for the Gold Cup, while the Champion Bumper is the other top level race on the Wednesday. From a handicap perspective, the Coral Cup, Grand Annual and Cross Country Handicap Chase are all big betting heats for punters to get stuck into.
Cheltenham Day 2 Key Stats and Facts
Turners Novices’ Hurdle:
• The last nine winners won on their last run leading up to the festival
• Superstars like Faugheen and Envoi Allen have taken this race in years gone by
• Favourites have dominated this race over the last few years – five of the last seven market leaders have emerged victorious
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase:
• Seven of the last nine winners were aged 7
• Six of the last ten winners were sent off favourite
• Six of the last nine winners have been trained in Great Britain
Coral Cup:
• Dan Skelton’s Langer Dan became the first horse to win two Coral Cups in 2024
• Only one of the last ten winners went off favourite
• Seven of the last nine winners carried 11st or more to victory
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase:
• Will be run as a handicap for the first time since 2015
• Irish yards have won every renewal since 2015
• Tiger Roll qwon the race three times while it was not a handicap (in 2018, 2019, and 2021)
Queen Mother Champion Chase:
• Only two winners aged younger than eight have won this in the last ten years
• Only three favourites have won in the past decade
• Six of the last seven odds-on favourites for the Champion Chase have lost
Grand Annual Chase:
• The oldest race at the Festival and the oldest chase in the present National Hunt calendar, having been first run in April 1834
• Just one favourite has scored in the past decade
• Eight of the last ten winners have gone off at double-figure prices (e.g. above 10/1)
Weatherbys Champion Bumper:
• Six of the last seven winners have been five-year-olds
• Willie Mullins has claimed five of the last seven runnings
• All of the last ten winners had won their previous start
Cheltenham Day 3 Tips – Thursday, 13th March 2025
The third day of the Cheltenham Festival is St Patrick’s Thursday, a celebration of the Irish, which has been extra loud in recent years given the success of their trainers.
It has had a makeover too, with the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, one of the newest races at the Cheltenham Festival, opening the card, followed by a new race in the shape of the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase.
The two feature races are the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle, both Grade 1 contests which have been won by some modern greats such as Cue Card and Big Buck’s.
Handicap-wise, the Pertemps Final, the only race which contestants have too qualify for at the Festival, the TrustATrader Plate and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Trophy, can all attract big fields, with plenty of big-priced winners in each over the years.
Cheltenham Day 3 Key Stats and Facts
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle:
- Will be run as the first race on Thursday’s card for the first time
- Since Willie Mullins claimed the first five renewals, four different trainers have won the race, with British handlers winning the last three
- The first three favourites were victorious in the race – since then none have obliged
Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase:
First running of the race….
Pertemps Final:
- None of the last seven winners had won a qualifier for this race
- Only one winner in the last decade has gone off as favourite
Ryanair Chase:
- Every winner since 2012 has been aged 7-9 years-old
- Protektorat was just the second British-trained winner since 2016
Stayers’ Hurdle:
- There have been 33/1 and 50/1 winners in the last five years
- Six of the last eight winners were seven-year-olds
TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase:
- There has been a mixed bag of winners regarding prices – 9/4 and 100/30 favourites have won, as have 20/1, 22/1 and 33/1 outsiders in the past decade
- Three of the last six winning jockeys have been able to claim weight
Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase:
- Five of the last six winners have been Irish-trained
- Only one of the last nine winners has been older than eight
Cheltenham Day 4 Tips – Friday, 14th March 2025
Friday is simply known as Gold Cup day, as it host to one of the biggest races of the National Hunt season. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is coveted by connections the racing world over and is a staying chase that requires both class and guts to secure victory.
The Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle are also Grade 1 prizes on offer on the Friday. Both are for novice hurdlers of various ages and experiences, while the St James’s Place Hunter Chase is run over the same course and distance as the Gold Cup, but for amateur riders only.
The Mares’ Chase is the newest race run at the Festival, having only been introduced in 2021. That is second on the card, while the two handicaps on the final day are the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.
Cheltenham Day 4 Key Trends and Stats:
JCB Triumph Hurdle:
- The last 12 winners of the JCB Triumph Hurdle had their last run within the last 48 days
- Willie Mullins has claimed four of the last five runnings, with Paul Townend riding three of those
County Hurdle:
- Trainers Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have dominated, saddling nine of the last ten winners between them
- Mullins and Skelton sent out the first two home in 2024
Mares’ Chase:
- No favourite has won this race since its inception in 2021 – however, all four winners have been priced at 3/1 or shorter
- The winner of this race has been aged 7 or 8
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle:
- Only one horse in the last 10 renewals has won at a single-figure starting price
- Two 33/1 shots and one 50/1 shot have won since 2018
Cheltenham Gold Cup:
- The last ten winners have been aged between 7 and 9
- Four of the last five renewals have been won by the favourite
- The last six inners have been trained in Ireland – all of them by either Henry De Bromhead or Willie Mullins
Open Hunters’ Chase:
- Sine Nomine was the first winner under ten years old since 2014
- The likes of Nina Carberry, Bryony Frost and Patrick Mullins have all won this race
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle:
- Despite some big names emerging from the race, no favourite has won the Martin Pipe in the last 10 years
- Eight of the last ten winners were aged 5 or 6
Tips To Help You Pick The Winning Horse At Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Festival is often referred to as the greatest show on turf, and it is easy to see why it has been attached to this label. The best jumps horses from both sides of the Irish Sea do battle across 28 races, with thousands of racing enthusiasts in attendance roaring them home.
Here at GG, our experts have delved into the Cheltenham Festival cards, producing their Cheltenham tips for all 28 races.
The Cheltenham Festival provides punters with 28 enthralling races to get their teeth stuck into over the four days, and with plenty of top equine talent on display, We have provided three key pointers to consider when looking for that fantastic Festival winner. These Cheltenham Festival tips are going to help you make informed betting decisions.
Ground conditions
The likely ground conditions and forecasted going can be a real asset for punters when it comes to determining which horse will thrive come post time.
Ground conditions can change on a daily basis when the Cheltenham Festival takes centre stage but it is certainly something to consider prior to placing your Cheltenham bets.
Trainer
The Irish trainers have been the ones to focus on in recent seasons with Willie Mullins landing the Leading Trainer award at last year’s Festival.
Cheltenham Trainers often target particular contests at the Festival with their runners and the likes of Willie Mullins’ contingent are often well found in the betting market for the feature Festival contests, however, some trainers have a formidable record in the ultra-competitive handicaps across the four days.
This brings us on nicely to another Irish handler, Gordon Elliott. Runners from his Cullentra base have often performed on the highest stage in March, and in particular on Day 3 of the meeting.
Jockey
The 2021 Cheltenham Festival was a year to remember for Rachael Blackmore who became the first female rider to be crowned leading jockey, registering a fantastic six winners across the four days including the Champion Hurdle when she partnered superstar mare Honeysuckle to an effortless victory.
Jockey bookings can be a useful pointer for any punter, especially so at the Festival where trainers often have more than one entry in a particular race. The stable jockey often has a first preference when it comes to deciding which horse to ride for their yard and can often point you in the direction of their most fancied runner.
How to Analyse Horse Form for Cheltenham Festival Races
For those new to horse racing wanting to share knowledgeable tips for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, learning how to analyse a horse’s form is key.
The form figures listed on a racecard indicate a horse’s past finishing positions. A sequence of 1s suggests consistent victories, a strong indicator of a horse’s potential success in Cheltenham’s championship races.
It’s also beneficial to check a horse’s previous performances at Cheltenham since some may not adapt well to this particular venue. Additionally, understanding the going, or ground condition, is crucial. “Soft” ground is common in jumps racing following heavy rain, but not every horse performs well under these conditions. Recognising this can significantly impact the outcome of your bets.
Consider the horse’s performance in races with similar distances to those at Cheltenham and take note of their results under different jockeys. Some horses might show a preference for certain jockeys or perform better under specific conditions.
Age of The Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup winner past 15 years
| Year | Winning Horse | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Imperial Commander | 9 |
| 2011 | Long Run | 6 |
| 2012 | Synchronised | 9 |
| 2013 | Bobs Worth | 8 |
| 2014 | Lord Windermere | 8 |
| 2015 | Coneygree | 8 |
| 2016 | Don Cossack | 9 |
| 2017 | Sizing John | 7 |
| 2018 | Native River | 8 |
| 2019 | Al Boum Photo | 7 |
| 2020 | Al Boum Photo | 8 |
| 2021 | Minella Indo | 8 |
| 2022 | A Plus Tard | 8 |
| 2023 | Galopin Des Champs | 7 |
| 2024 | Galopin Des Champs | 8 |
Cheltenham Festival Favourites and Predictions – Who will win the Gold Cup 2025?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the crown jewel of the entire meeting. A strong field is almost always guaranteed, and the 2025 edition looks like being no exception.
Galopin Des Champs, the two-time defending champion, is the favourite to hold on to his title, but there are plenty of worthy opponents. However, danger could lurk from within his own house, with Fact To File and impressive winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in 2024. Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe will only be one year fitter and stronger too.
Our in-house tipsters have already provided their thoughts throughout the season for the Gold Cup, with all of their ante-post tips below.
The Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse has a capacity of 73,000 with its most prestigious meeting in the season being the Cheltenham Festival which features the top equine talent in Britain and Ireland battling it out for the top Grade 1 races in the NH calendar.
The course itself has two separate tracks that run alongside each other, The Old Course and The New Course. The Old Course is used on the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival and the last two day’s are held on The New Course.
The Old Course
The Cheltenham Old Course is the original course that covers a shorter and less demanding circuit than that of The New Course. This course is favoured by the horses running in the opening two days as it generally benefits the speedier types before the New Course takes over for the last two days of the Festival.
The New Course
The New Course offers a longer and wider racetrack than that on its sister course, benefitting the stronger and durable staying types in races such as The Stayers’ Hurdle on Day 3 and The Cheltenham Gold Cup on Day 4.
Cross Country
Cheltenham also has a cross-country track which is situated inside the main racecourse and hosts the Cross Country Chase on Day 3 of the Festival which has been made famous in recent seasons by dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll, who won this three times, and was second on his final start to stablemate Delta Work when seeking a fourth triumph.
Where to Apply Cheltenham Festival Tips: Choosing Bookmakers and Markets
There are many different places you can place bets on our Cheltenham Festival tips at. However, we have also covered the best Cheltenham Free Bets elsewhere, while we have also provided an in-depth look at the best bookmaker offers that are not Cheltenham specific. Either way, you will be given a great deal when you sign up to a bookmaker which offers free bets and offers online ahead of betting on our best 2025 Cheltenham Festival tips.
Certain markets can be more profitable to bet on than others too. That is because some races will have specific offers affiliated to them, such as money back offers if your horse in that race finishes second, third or fourth. Make sure to look out for these offers and races, as they can sometimes be offered only on the day of the race.
FAQs
Our expert racing writers and betting tipsters won’t just be clueing you in on their wagering thoughts for each and every race. Nay, you’ll also be privy to the latest 2025 Cheltenham free bets, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck on your punts, whether that’s on the esteemed Gold Cup or the Stayers Hurdle.
Absolutely! Before each and every day of the Cheltenham races, our dedicated team of writers and tipsters will be rolling out the Cheltenham tips the morning before and evening prior, so you’ll be able to prepare yourself as best possible for an online betting experience like any other.
Fear not, because our Cheltenham 2025 tips won’t just be handing you the lot. We’ll also be highlighting the NAP of the day, the best picks to punt on, and pointing out the favourites to win across every race of Cheltenham 2025. So, if you are stuck on which tip to wager on, or unsure whether or not you’re choosing the right horse to bet on, head on over and take a read of our previews to find out!
Yes! Our tips are constantly updated throughout the day, as new information seeps through to the writers and tipsters. This means that although we do aim to have them up on the site well before a single hoof is raring to race, you can take a wager on the action as it unfolds, live, before your eyes. How good is that?
We are forever handing out free Cheltenham tips through our relentless churn of previews, racing features, NAP’s, and much more. These are betting insights you can get exclusively from us to help add another gear to your online betting experience, available the evening before each day of racing.
If you’ve made a stake on a particular tip of ours, whether that concerns Ladies Day or the Gold Cup fanfare, then the resulting permutations can differ based on what happens next. If the race is abandoned before the first meeting of the day has taken place, then you will receive a full refund. However, only 50% will be refunded if the race is abandoned before the third or feature race. On some occasions, your bet can be fully refunded as cancellations make any wagers void. Yet this is particular to the race and circumstances.
Lucky 15 bets can be placed during the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. With seven races per day, you have plenty of options to combine four horses into one combination bet and have the chance of winning big.