Very little is likely to change in the betting for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival’s championship races between now and the off. Only two weeks separate us from the famous Cheltenham Roar which greets the opening race, but in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Wednesday of the meeting is set for a significant highlight. We preview the top five runners in the betting, their odds with BetMGM, and their likely chances.
Leading Contenders
Jonbon
Some great jumps horses have gone through their careers without winning at the Cheltenham Festival, but it is a rarity in the modern day. Jonbon has two wins at Cheltenham over fences, but both have been in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase in the autumn. He is a hugely consistent horse, potentially only arriving recently at his prime and talent will not stop him winning in March, with BetMGM offering 4/5 about him finally achieving a belated Festival triumph. But will the field have something up their collective sleeve?
Gaelic Warrior
It has been far from a successful first season in open company for Gaelic Warrior. He is without a win, finishing second and third at Leopardstown the last twice, and indeed has not won since he won the Arkle in blistering fashion last season. That victory left a distinct impression though and soft ground at Cheltenham clearly suits him well. It is more than likely he will be Wille Mullins’ number one in the contest and 5/1 is available if you retain the faith.
Il Est Francais
A French raid on the Champion Chase would certainly be a story. Il Est Francais has looked brilliant over 3m at Kempton on two occasions, his stamina only giving out very late in the day in the King george. A step back to the minimum distance could see his slick jumping become a real asset, and 5/1 is the price with BetMGM on NRNB terms. The Ryanair Chase may just be the option for him over half-a-mile further though.
Energumene
Twice Energumene has run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and twice the now 11-year-old has won the race. He will be the veteran in the 2025 field and could not lay a glove on Jonbon at Ascot, but Cheltenham has become his manner in recent years, only for him to miss out on a chance for the hat-trick through injury last year. It will be interesting to see where in the Willie Mullins pecking order he is now, as he is two points bigger than Gaelic Warrior at 7/1.
Marine Nationale
It would be very emotional were Marine Nationale to return victorious in the memory of Michael O’Sullivan. The late jockey guided Barry Connell’s charge to success in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the eight-year-old is improving all the time over fences. Although he is winless this season, he has stepped forward with each run, only narrowly failing to peg back Solness at the Dublin Racing Festival. 8/1 can be found with BetMGM for him to bring the house down.
Potential Outsiders
The aforementioned Solness has been a revelation since his new shoot and fire tactics have been implemented. Joseph O’Brien’s charge has torn away from the front at Leopardstown the last twice, but both efforts have seen him stun the field for a pair of Grade 1 victories. He is 8/1 to repeat the trick at Cheltenham.
Meanwhile, El Fabiolo was a 2/9 shot for the race last year only to make a race-ending error at the third fence. Just 12 months on, and with only a fall at Leopardstown last month to contribute since, he is a 9/1 shot, yet we know he is a very talented horse on his day if he runs here.
For the Brits, both Libberty Hunter and Matata are on the premises of Graded quality, while a rejuvenation from Found A Fifty, runner-up to Gaelic Warrior in last year’s Arkle, could be forthcoming.
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