Cheltenham Festival 2025 promises to be an exhilarating event showcasing world-class horses, jockeys, and trainers. Galopin Des Champs aims to secure a third Gold Cup, while Constitution Hill seeks to reclaim his Champion Hurdle crown after an injury setback. Jonbon, with a string of Grade One victories, is a leading candidate for the Champion Chase, despite past Cheltenham misfortunes. Brighterdaysahead and Teahupoo are also noteworthy contenders. With newcomers like Kopek Des Bordes and The New Lion poised to shine, the Festival will be a spectacle for all racing enthusiasts.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 promises thrilling races with top global talent
Galopin Des Champs seeks a third Gold Cup; Constitution Hill returns for Champion Hurdle
New stars like Kopek Des Bordes and The New Lion set to make an impact
Jockey Nico De Boinville celebrates winning the Champion Hurdle on Constitution Hill in 2023. (Getty)
Cheltenham 2025 Preview
Cheltenham Gold Cup - Galopin Des Champs
Champion Hurdle - Constitution Hill
Mares' Hurdle - Brighterdaysahead
Champion Chase - Jonbon
Stayers' Hurdle - Teahupoo
Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Kopek Des Bordes
Turners Novices' Hurdle - The New Lion
Triumph Hurdle - Lulamba
The Cheltenham Festival 2025 is just around the corner, and this year's renewal promises to be an unforgettable event.
This prestigious four-day festival, set in the heart of the Cotswolds, attracts the best horses, jockeys, and trainers from around the world, all vying for glory in the most competitive races.
Whether you're a seasoned punter, a racing purist or a newcomer to the sport, our guide to the key races and horses to watch at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will help you make the most of this thrilling spectacle. Here are our expert insights to help you stay ahead of the game.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Key Races & Top Horses
Cheltenham Gold Cup - Galopin Des Champs
There's no better way to kick off this list than with the best National Hunt horse in training, Galopin Des Champs.
Willie Mullins' superstar is a three-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, having won the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle in 2021 and the last two editions of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Galopin Des Champs would be unbeaten at this famous meeting had he not fallen at the final flight in the Turners' Novices' Chase in 2022, when ten lengths ahead of the opposition.
Away from Cheltenham, Willie Mullins' star has made Leopardstown his stomping ground, winning the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup on three occasions. A third victory in the Gold Cup would cement Galopin Des Champs' position as an all-time great.
Jockey Paul Townend rides Galopin Des Champs past the finish post win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. (Getty)
Champion Hurdle - Constitution Hill
The two most electrifying performances we've seen from a hurdler in recent renewals of the Cheltenham Festival have both been produced by Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson's star slammed a quality field to win the 2022 Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 22-lengths, before thrashing State Man in claiming Champion Hurdle glory the following year.
Injuries prevented Constitution Hill from defending his title 12 months ago, but Henderson's eight-year-old has returned to top form this season, winning both the Christmas Hurdle and the International Hurdle on Trials Day. Nico De Boinville's mount remains unbeaten under rules and it'll take a top-tier performance to stop him from winning back his Champion Hurdle crown.
Mares' Hurdle - Brighterdaysahead
The fly in the ointment for Constitution Hill could be Brighterdaysahead. Gordon Elliott's mare has won two of the three Grade Ones for two-mile hurdlers in Ireland this season, beating State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle before destroying the reigning Champion Hurdler by 30 lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Being a mare, Brighterdaysahead would get seven pounds in weight from Constitution Hill, should she be confirmed for the Champion Hurdle. However, Elliott has also entered his star in the Mares' Hurdle on day one - where she would face little competition - and the team at Gigginstown Stud may prefer the easier of the two options.
Nico de Boinville riding Jonbon (green/gold) clear the last to win The BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot. (Getty)
Champion Chase - Jonbon
The best two-mile chaser in National Hunt racing at the moment is Jonbon. Nicky Henderson's star has won eight Grade Ones over fences, including three Tingle Creeks, two Celebration Chases and the Clarence House Chase on his most recent outing at Ascot.
Jonbon has only suffered defeat three times in 20 career starts. All of those defeats happened to come at Cheltenham, with Jonbon finishing a distant second to Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme, second to El Fabiolo in the Arkle the following year and second to Elixir De Nutz when the 2024 Clarence House was rerouted to Prestbury Park. Henderson is desperate to see his star chaser claim a much-deserved Cheltenham Festival win, which could very well happen on March 12th.
Stayers' Hurdle - Teahupoo
Having finished third the previous year, Gordon Elliott's Teahupoo stormed to victory in the Stayers' Hurdle in 2024. Elliott's star was heavily backed in the build-up to last year's renewal and barely broke a sweat as he made up for the disappointment of 12 months previous.
Like last season, Teahupoo comes into the Cheltenham Festival fresh, having been off the track since a narrow defeat to Lossiemouth in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. Teahupoo is the stand-out horse in an otherwise weak three mile hurdle division. It's very hard to see him getting beat.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Kopek Des Bordes
The last star to come off the conveyor belt at Willie Mullins' yard is Kopek Des Bordes. Mullins' ran his youngster just once in bumpers last term and Paul Townend's mount jumped terribly when winning his maiden hurdle over Christmas.
Kopek Des Bordes produced a much more polished performance at the recent Dublin Racing Festival, streaking clear of the field to win his first Grade One at a canter. Mullins' rising star has since been backed into odds-on favouritism to win the opening race of the Festival. Punters have Supreme confidence in this Cheltenham hotpot.
Paul Townend riding Kopek Des Bordes clear the last to win The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. (Getty)
Turners Novices' Hurdle - The New Lion
Leading owner, JP McManus spent a seven-figure sum to purchase The New Lion during the winter. Dan Skelton's rising star carried an unbeaten record into the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. With his brother, Harry in the saddle, Skelton watched his novice saunter into contention approaching the final flight and the favourite strolled to victory on his first Grade One appearance.
The New Lion will face stiff competition from Irish rivals Final Demand and The Yellow Clay, both of whom have won top races on home soil this year. Skelton, however, has been incredibly bullish during the build-up, stating that it will take a performance of the highest order to deny The New Lion in the curtain raiser on Ladies' Day.
Triumph Hurdle - Lulamba
Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival opens with the Triumph Hurdle, the premier race for four-year-olds during the National Hunt season. Topping the betting is Nicky Henderson's Lulamba, who impressed on his sole start over hurdles in France before arriving at Seven Barrows.
Nico De Boinville's mount stole the show on Clarence House day at Ascot with a magnificent performance on his British debut, asserting readily after a good jump at the last to win by four lengths. Lulamba was immediately cut into short-priced favouritism for the Triumph on the back of that breathtaking display. After Henderson and owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly were forced to skip this race with Sir Gino 12 months ago, they'll be itching to celebrate Grade One success on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
