If you are a jump racing fan, one event you don’t want to miss during the season is the Cheltenham Festival. One of the most vibrant National Hunt events in Great Britain, it is conducted annually in the third week of March and attracts horse racing professionals and enthusiasts alike.
On Tuesday, 11 March the Cheltenham Festival will begin its 2025 edition that will go on until Friday, 14 March. From novice races to championships and, of course, the universally popular Gold Cup, Cheltenham offers a programme that will cater to the most exquisite tastes.
Race participants are in for a substantial prize pool that is second only to the Grand National prize. Last year the average number of attendants across four days came to 65,000, shooting up to 71,500 on the Gold Cup Day. With attendance this high and the Gold Cup being one of the most prestigious awards in jump racing, it isn’t surprising at all that betting is in full swing during the Festival and overall betted amounts often reach six figures.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 at a Glance
Start: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Finish: Friday, 14 March 2025
Venue: Cheltenham Course, Prestbury Park, Cheltehnham, Gloucestershire
Number of races: 28
Number of hurdles: 13
Number of chases: 13
Other races: 1 bumper, 1 cross country
Number of Grade 1 races: 13
Number of championships: 4
Prize: varies per championship
Cheltenham Festival History Throughout the Years
Since its inception in 1860, Cheltenham Festival changed its location quite a number of times. It would occasionally return to Cheltenham but then move elsewhere again, until in 1911 its venue was permanently fixed in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire.
In its early format, Cheltenham Festival lasted for three days and included 18 races. With the addition of new races, it was decided to prolong its duration, and since 2005 Cheltenham has been conducted over the course of four days, with seven races per day, or a total of 28 races.
The culmination of the Festival, the Gold Cup Chase, was established in 1924. The first winner to collect the £685 award was a five year old chestnut gelding called Red Splash.
Below you will see a list of the Gold Cup winners in the past eleven years, from 2014 to 2024.
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer |
| 2014 | Lord Windermere | 8 | Jim Culloty |
| 2015 | Coneygree | 8 | Mark Brackstock |
| 2016 | Don Cossack | 9 | Gordon Elliott |
| 2017 | Sizing John | 7 | Jessica Harrington |
| 2018 | Native River | 8 | Colin Tizzard |
| 2019 | Al Boum Photo | 7 | W P Mullins |
| 2020 | Al Boum Photo | 8 | W P Mullins |
| 2021 | Minella Indo | 8 | Henry De Bromhead |
| 2022 | A Plus Tard | 8 | Henry De Bromhead |
| 2023 | Galopin Des Champs | 7 | W P Mullins |
| 2024 | Galopin Des Champs | 8 | W P Mullins |
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Schedule
The modern format of the Cheltenham Festival consists of four days, each with its own programme:
- 11 March – Champion Day
- 12 March – Style Wednesday
- 13 March – St. Patrick’s Thursday
- 14 March – Gold Cup Day
During each day you can enjoy seven races, including several Grade 1 events. On our website you can find more details on this year’s schedule and racecards.
Every day at Cheltenham includes one championship race. This year they will be conducted according to the schedule below:
| Date | Race | Distance | Grade | Prize Money |
| 11 March | The Champion Hurdle | 2m 87y | Grade 1 | £458,158 |
| 12 March | Queen Mother Champion Chase | 1m 7f 199y | Grade 1 | £389,480 |
| 13 March | The Stayers’ Hurdle | 2m 7f 213y | Grade 1 | £319,703 |
| 14 March | The Cheltenham Gold Cup | 3m 2f 70y | Grade 1 | £614,813 |
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Odds and Predictions
With less than a month left until the Cheltenham roar announces the start of this year’s opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race, bookmakers and bettors make predictions, naming potential winners of the Gold Cup.
Currently, there are 15 best horses in consideration for the champion title, however the two main contenders are Galopin Des Champs and Fact to File.
Two way winner Galopin Des Champs is clearly seen as the favourite this season. While the last time a horse had won three trophies in a row was in 2004, many believe Galopin Des Champs has every chance to do it. If he wins his third trophy, this 9 year old gelding will be joining Cottage Rake, Arkle, and Best Mate, who have three titles each.
The next closest contender is Fact to File. Same as Galopin Des Champs, he represents France and trains under the same trainer, Willie Mullins, however is a year younger than the season’s favourite. This will be his third appearance at the Cheltenham Festival. Last year’s win at the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and another one at the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in Ireland make many believe that he will be a worthy rival to Galopin Des Champs.
When it comes to withdrawals, so far four horses have stepped down from the competition: Embassy Gardens, Gerri Colombe, Il Est Francais, and Minella Cocooner.
Below you will find detailed information as well as current odds on 15 best horses competing for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
| Horse | Sex | Age | Colour | Trainer | Odds |
| Galopin Des Champs | Gelding | 9 | Bay | Willie Mullins | 8/15 |
| Banbridge | Gelding | 8 | Chestnut | Joseph O’Brien | 8/1 |
| Fact to File | Gelding | 8 | Bay | Willie Mullins | 10/1 |
| Monty’s Star | Gelding | 8 | Bay | Henry De Bromhead | 12/1 |
| Corbetts Cross | Gelding | 8 | Chestnut | Emmet Mullins | 20/1 |
| Grangeclare West | Gelding | 9 | Bay | Willie Mullins | 20/1 |
| Grey Dawning | Gelding | 7 | Grey | Dan Skelton | 33/1 |
| Jungle Boogie | Gelding | 10 | Bay | Henry De Bromhead | 33/1 |
| L’Homme Presse | Gelding | 10 | Bay | Venetia Williams | 40/1 |
| The Real Whacker | Gelding | 8 | Bay | Patrick Neville | 66/1 |
| Hewick | Gelding | 10 | Bay | Tara Lee Cogan | 66/1 |
| Gentlemansgame | Gelding | 9 | Grey | Mouse Morris | 66/1 |
| Ahoy Senor | Gelding | 10 | Bay | Lucinda Russel | 66/1 |
| Royale Pagaille | Gelding | 11 | Bay | Venetia Williams | 100/1 |
| Conflated | Gelding | 11 | Bay | Gordon Elliott | 150/1 |
If you are interested in the odds or would like to place a bet on a Cheltenham Festival race, 7bet offers a variety of picks on major horse races. Note that the odds are always being updated, so make sure to check the latest odds before placing a bet.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org