Cheltenham is one of the most respected horse racing festivals in the world. With its origins dating back to the late 1800s and numerous incredible races, the Cheltenham Festival draws thousands of visitors to Gloucestershire each year. One of its most popular races is the Gold Cup. This takes place on the last day of the festival, which runs from 11th to 14th March.
In this article, we’ll explore the Gold Cup and the horses, trainers and jockeys poised for excellent shows in the 2025 festival.
What is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
As we briefly mentioned above, the Cheltenham Festival consists of a variety of horse races over four days. These include the following:
- Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Championship Hurdle
- Stayers’ Hurdle
- Queen Mother Champion Chase
The most popular of these is the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It spans nearly the entirety of the final day of the festival and takes place over three miles, two-and-a-half furlongs and 22 fences. Consider the Grade 1 race Cheltenham’s showpiece, particularly for steeplechasers.
Jockeys and Horses to Watch
The competition between Irish and British jockeys is fierce this year. Traditionally, Irish horses have had the advantage in the race, but this year’s festival also features entries from incredibly talented British trainers and jockeys.
Let’s take a look at all of the top contenders to win it, including Galopin Des Champs, the two-time Gold Cup champion poised to make history with a third win.
Favourites
Because they’re favourites to win the cup entirely, we’ll first explore the horses likely to take it home. Then we’ll look at the most well-respected jockeys in the festival.
Willie Mullins
Hailing from Kilkenny, Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. This year, he is racing multiple horses in the competition. His most anticipated performance will be with his horse Galopin Des Champs. The French-bred gelding turns nine this year and is a favourite to win the Gold Cup. Mullins also has the second and third favourites to win the cup: Fact To File and Grangeclare West.
JJ Slevin/Joseph O’Brien
Another top contender for the Gold Cup is Joseph O’Brien’s star, Banbridge. The horse has already shown itself to have incredible stamina, and jockey JJ Slevin notes that it is being trained specifically for the event. Slevin, who is O’Brien’s regular jockey, notes that Banbridge could give Galopin Des Champs a run for its money. Both Irish and British fans are excited to see the incredible show that Banbridge will put on, with some of them boosting the horse’s BetMGM UK Cheltenham odds ahead of the festival.
Jockeys
Paul Townend
Paul Townend is one of the most talented jockeys in horse racing history. In 2024, he landed six wins over 15 rides and is especially noted for his victories with Mullins. He has jockeyed Galopin Des Champs for the past two years, winning the cup twice in a row and hoping to make it a third. Townend was tied with Pat Taaffe for the most-winning jockey at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, and we wouldn’t be surprised if this year is the same.
Rachael Blackmore
Coming in just behind Townend, Rachael Blackmore is a top jockey with the potential to win multiple races at the festival. She currently has the second-most wins at Cheltenham in the past 10 years and made history in 2022 when she became the first female jockey to secure the Gold Cup. Fans are positive that Blackmore has what it takes to land a second win.
Nico de Boinville
Nico de Boinville was previously the jockey with the second-most wins at Cheltenham. Displaced by Blackmore, De Boinville remains a fan favourite. His best showing to date was at the 2019 festival, but don’t count him out in 2025! The experienced jockey has what it takes to make a winning comeback. He might not have quite the odds of winning as the previous two jockeys, but a first-place finish wouldn’t be a complete shocker for him either.
There you have it! We’ve gone through the most talented horses, trainers and jockeys for this year’s Gold Cup. Are you ready to dive in and watch the incredible show? Stay tuned for more news ahead of the festival’s March opener.