Only ten runners remain in the running for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday, 14th March. The race is due off at a later time of 4pm this year as the fifth race on the day four card.
Seeking a hat-trick, the great Galopin Des Champs is the headline act of the entire week and is the clear favourite for a third successive win in the race. He has defended two titles at Leopardstown this campaign, first in the Savills Chase and latterly in the Irish Gold Cup, in both of which he powered away from his rivals. The Cheltenham Hill will not faze him as he stares history in the face.
There has been one late entry into the field who will represent owner JP McManus in Fact To File’s absence. Inothewayurthinkin is the Grand National favourite who was initially set to miss the Cheltenham Festival, but has reportedly impressed Gavin Cromwell in his work. He was fourth in the Irish Gold Cup won by Galopin Des Champs last time out.
Corbetts Cross is another for McManus and trained by Willie’s nephew Emmet Mullins. He won the National Hunt Chase in splendid style a year ago and is one of a dominant remaining Irish contingent in the race otherwise headed by King George winner Banbridge for Joseph O’Brien. The nine-year-old’s participation may hinge on prevailing good ground though.
Henry De Bromhead retains a chance in the line-up courtesy of last year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase runner-up Monty’s Star, while Mouse Morris is the other Irish handler with a runner in the grey Gentlemansgame.
The British challenge is decidedly thin on the ground, with only three declarations for the home side all at big prices. They are headed by Charlie Hall champ The Real Whacker, a former Brown Advisory winner, who was fourth in Banbridge’s King George. Grade 1 winners Ahoy Senor and Royale Pagaille have seen their form decline this term, but both may nevertheless take their chance in what is set to be a smaller than average field in this year’s Gold Cup.
2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Ahoy Senor | Lucinda Russell |
| 2 | Banbridge | Joseph O’Brien |
| 3 | Corbetts Cross | Emmet Mullins |
| 4 | Galopin Des Champs | Willie Mullins |
| 5 | Gentlemansgame | Mouse Morris |
| 6 | Inothewayurthinkin | Gavin Cromwell |
| 7 | Monty’s Star | Henry De Bromhead |
| 8 | Royale Pagaille | Venetia Williams |
| 9 | The Real Whacker | Patrick Neville |