The entries have been made for the four championship races at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. They have attracted strong fields, with the defending champion set to line up in each contest.
Here is a look at the entries for the four big races of the week, including the sport’s Blue Riband event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Galopin Des Champs Fancied to Prevail Again
There were 19 entries made for this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, with the standout name being Galopin Des Champs. The Irish horse is vying to win the race for the third straight year for trainer Willie Mullins.
On the evidence of his performance in the Savills Chase last time out at Leopardstown, the defending champion is the one they all must beat once again. As of 23rd January, he is 4/5 in the horse racing betting for the feature race of the week.
The chief rival to the dual Gold Cup winner is likely to come from his own stable, as Mullins has also entered the John Durkan Memorial Chase winner Fact To File. He defeated Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown, but then finished behind him in the Savills Chase.
Grey Dawning and L’Homme Presse are two of the leading British-trained horses with entries. The former won the Turners Novices’ Chase at the meeting in 2024, while the latter was a respectable third in the King George VI Chase on his return to action this season.
State Man Will Need to Defeat Constitution Hill to Defend His Crown
In what was his second run in the race, State Man justified favouritism to win the Champion Hurdle in 2024. He is now one of 16 runners entered for the latest renewal of the premier hurdles race in the sport.
With Constitution Hill back in action, Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth proving to be talented mares, and Anzadam emerging as a strong contender, it looks to be a much stronger race this year.
State Man has been beaten by Brighterdaysahead in both of his two appearances this season. Mullins will be hoping he bounces back in the Irish Champion Hurdle, the race he has won in each of the last two years.
Constitution Hill made a winning return in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner looks set to be a warm favourite to regain his crown in the day one championship race. Nicky Henderson’s star has won all nine of his races over hurdles and has an official rating of 175.
Enegumene Has to Reverse Form with Jonbon to Complete a Hat-Trick
There were 26 entries made for this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, and it included both Energumene and Jonbon. Those two horses clashed in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot recently, with the latter coming out on top for Henderson.
Energumene is bidding for a hat-trick of Champion Chase crowns this year. Only one horse in history has won the 2m contest three times, so he will join Badsworth Boy in the history books if he prevails again.
King George VI Chase runner-up Il Est Francais is one of the most interesting horses entered. After the early speed he showed at Kempton on Boxing Day to finish second, his connections are considering dropping down in distance with their horse for the day two championship race.
Teahupoo Remains Leading Staying Hurdler in the Sport
With 36 runners, the Stayers’ Hurdle attracted the most entries of the four championship contests at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. It includes Teahupoo, who will be defending his crown and looking to add to his tally of four Grade One successes.
Teahupoo has featured just once so far this season. He was second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle over a shorter distance than he is familiar with. The eight-year-old will be making his fourth appearance at the Festival this season.
Home Be The Lee is one of the horses expected to put up a challenge to the Stayers’ Hurdle champion in the 3m contest. He won the Grade One Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown over the festive period.
The declarations for each of the four championship races will be made 48 hours before each race. At that point, the final runners and jockey bookings will be revealed.