Key events
4.40 Market Movers via Oddspedia
4.40 Hunters’ Chase
-
Angels Dawn 3/1
-
Its On The Line 4/1
-
Shearer 8/1
-
Willitgoahead 8/1
-
Rockys Howya 9/1
-
Ryehill 9/1
-
Fairly Famous 10/1
-
Music Drive 33/1
-
Wonderwall 33/1
-
What A Glance 33/1
-
BAR 33/1 – 24 Runners
-
Its On The Line has shortened from 6/1 to 4/1 today.
-
Angels Dawn is the most popular bet of the day, taking 19% of bets on Oddschecker.
-
All but one of the last 10 winners have been aged 10 or over.
Via Oddschecker: “Inothewayurthinkin 10/1 to 3/1 favourite for the Grand National.”
Surely better odds that it runs at all at Liverpool?
4.40 FESTIVAL CHALLENGE CUP OPEN HUNTERS’ CHASE, 3M 2F 70YD
Once the elite chasers have done their thing, it’s time for the amateurs’ version of the Gold Cup, in a race that has thrown up two 66-1 winners in the last five years. It has also proved fairly resistant to the Irish challenge, with six of the last eight winners having been stabled in Britain, although two of those were saddled by Paul Nicholls, one of the finest trainers in National Hunt history, so do not really qualify as the sort of winner we would normally expect. Nicholls is back for another crack this year with Shearer, ridden by his 19-year-old daughter, Olive, and the pairing will be popular with both punters and football fans, while Angels Dawn, the winner of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir here two years ago, is another very lively candidate. Its On The Line, second in this race 12 months ago and then successful in the equivalent race over the Grand National fences at Aintree, is also very much in the mix for a fascinating and competitive renewal, and so too is Fairly Famous, both trained and ridden by Gina Andrews, who gave his rider a 500th win in all forms of racing when successful in December.
SELECTION: ANGELS DAWN.
Inothewayurthinkin is entered in the Grand National. Synchronised, in 2012, went from Gold Cup to Aintree as winner. There, he perished, a huge regret of the McManus camp, and AP McCoy in particular. Would they risk it again?
Corbett’s Cross, who was a heavy faller, has been taken to the horse ambulance. News to follow, but fingers crossed.
The word from Paul Townend, as passed on to ITV’s Mick Fitzgerald is that he couldn’t get any kind of spin from Galopin Des Champs.
Quotes, via the BBC from Audrey Turley, owner of Galopin Des Champs:“I can’t watch it much at all. I watch other people’s reactions. He’s home and he’s safe. He did avoid that danger and he knows what he’s doing. He’s home safe and that’s all we want.”
Wasn’t this supposed to be the Cheltenham of too many short-priced favs? The favourites of Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ and now Gold Cup. All got done. Cheltenham is alive and well. On the turf, at least.
There’s always a plot that can be found when everyone’s looking in the other direction. Many thought it was Banbridge. This was a coup for owner JP McManus, his second, after the great, ill-fated Synchronised in 2012, as ridden by AP McCoy. “You have to enjoy these moments, they’re so long in the making,” says JP. “Mark is more than capable. It’s an exciting day.”
Mark Walsh, Gold Cup winning rider. “I am dancing inside. Paul was on my outside and missing a few and he wasn’t happy. Gavin Cromwell’s a genius to train him this way. He’s a homebred, too, which makes it extra special.”
Cheltenham 4.00 Gold Cup result
-
1. Inothewayurthinkin (M P Walsh) 15-2
-
2. Galopin Des Champs (P Townend) 8-13 Fav
-
3. Gentlemansgame (D J O’Keeffe) 40-1
-
9 ran
-
Also: 8-1 Monty’s Star 4th
Galopin just didn’t get there. A hard luck story? Perhaps. Inothewayurthinkin was supplemented for this race and Mark Walsh rode a beauty for JP McManus.
Inothewayurthinkin wins the Gold Cup
Five to go, and Galopin looks in his stride. Banbridge dropping back? The Real Whacker. Downhill to the third last. Gentlemansgame leads but Galopin is closing. Galopin goes over the last and Inothewayurthinkin has beaten him. Galopin in second, the dream has gone.
4.00 Gold Cup
Galopin edges closer with 12 to jump. Halfway, and past the stands. Ahoy Senor is leading them out. Galopin is back in the field. And has gone down the outside. Nine from the finish, Ahoy Senor comes down, and Monty;s Star and Galopin are hampered!
4.00 Gold Cup
Ahoy Senor is the early leader, Galopin sat in midfield. No major panic yet. Still 16 fences to jump but he’s yet to hit his rhythm. The Real Whacker and Gentlesman Game and Monty’s Star up front. Rachael Blackmore has to cling on to the latter after a mistake. Banbridge sticks to the inside.
4.00 Gold Cup
Away first time, over 22 fences they go. The Real Whacker smashes into the first but gets over. Galopin drops back into sixth. Huge noise as they pass the stands. Royal Pagallie is at the rear.
The Gold Cup horses canter down to the start. It looks a fine day, not much moisture, barely a breath of wind. It all comes down to this. Paul Townend has ridden Galopin to the start, and they have a glance together at the fences. There’s nerves aplenty as history awaits.
A packed crowd sees the Real Whacker go to post. Galopin goes 2/1 on – bottle – to win. Quite a few short-priced favs have gone down this year.
The Gold Cup jockeys are being introduced into the betting ring. Banbridge was the Kempton winner. “He’s earned his spot,” says Joseph O’Brien, now a mighty age of 31, his trainer. Nobody knows his limits yet. Galopin taking it cool, Willie Mullins marches to his vantage point, binoculars in hand. He can do no more.
There are nerves. It’s rare when a crowd is willing on one horse. Galopin gets to join the greats. He’s a stayer, and the public have become accustomed to him digging his way out in races.
4.00 Gold Cup Market Movers via Oddspedia
4.00 Gold Cup odds
-
Galopin Des Champs 8/15
-
Inothewayurthinkin 13/2
-
Banbridge 8/1
-
Montys Star 12/1
-
Corbetts Cross 14/1
-
The Real Whacker 33/1
-
Gentlemansgame 50/1
-
Ahoy Senor 66/1
-
Royale Pagaille 110/1
-
Corbetts Cross 22/1 to 14/1 this morning.
-
Galopin Des Champs has taken 49% of ante-post bets in 2025 to win the Gold Cup.
-
No horse aged over 9 has won this race in the past 15 years (Galopin Des Champs is 10).
Greg Wood
4.00 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHASE, GRADE ONE, 3M 2F 70YD
And so to the highlight of the day, the week and, in all likelihood, the season, as Galopin Des Champs attempts to book his place in the pantheorn with a third Gold Cup success. There’s not much more to be said about Willie Mullins’s chaser that hasn’t been said already, and another victory in a race that famously eluded him until Al Boum Photo’s first win in 2019 would be the trainer’s fifth in all, putting him alongside Tom Dreaper, trainer of the legendary Arkle among others, as jointly the most successful in Gold Cup history. He will be a strong favourite to complete the hat-trick, although Inothewayurthinkin is an interesting, and somewhat unexpected, contender, having finished a running-on fourth behind the favourite in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time. He should be ideally suited by the extra two furlongs and stiff uphill finish, although the same is undoubtedly true of Galopin Des Champs. The King George VI Chase winner, Banbridge, is also likely to attract each-way support, although this trip may well stretch his stamina to the limit, while Monty’s Star, who was also behind the favourite in the Irish equivalent last month, will have his backers too, not least as he has Rachael Blackmore holding the reins. He was a strong second behind Fact To File, yesterday’s Ryanair winner, in the Grade One three-mile novice chase here last year and has had a very light two-race campaign so far this season, presumably with a return to the festival for this race in mind.
SELECTION: GALOPIN DES CHAMPS.
KEY FORM:
It’s all about Galopin Des Champs now.
Paul Townend called this “a trying week”, as he collects another two winners. It could be worse, he could be a British trainer or rider. Still, a win in the next will cure plenty of ills.
Daryl Jacob, a fine rider in his time, tipped that one up this morning. Daryl, one of the nicest men in show business, has become a welcome media presence.
So that’s four from four for Willie Mullins. There’s always one day when he utterly dominates. Now for the big one. “Every win is special,” says Paul Townend. “Let’s keep this short and sweet.” His next ride is Galopin des Champs. No pressure, Paul.
Cheltenham 3.20 result
-
1. Jasmin De Vaux (P Townend) 6-1
-
2. The Big Westerner (D J O’Keeffe) 9-2 Fav
-
3. Derryhassen Paddy (D R Fox) 10-1
-
20 ran
-
Also: 33-1 Yellow Car 4th
Jasmin de Vaux wins the Albert Bartlett Hurdle
Wendigo is making progress. Jasmin de Vaux is making progress from the back, too. She comes down the hill. The Big Westerner gets squished. Jasmin de Vaux sweeps round from the Big Westerner. Jasmin de Vaux jumps it better, for another winner for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. Make that 10 to Mullins. He rode from front to back, the former Champion Bumper winner.
3.20 Albert Bartlett Hurdle
Not much happening as they past the stands, big noise as they swing past. Ten lengths between them. Wingman, Derryhassen Paddy and Jack Junior involved, at the front. It’s a bunch and a blanket finish may well beckon.
3.20 Albert Bartlett Hurdle
The Big Westerner, who went off favourite, is midfield with Wendigo. Derryhassen Paddy is towards the front. Yellow Car, as owned by Harry Redknapp, is prominent, too.
3.20 Albert Bartlett Hurdle
The field gathers in front of the stand for this near-marathon trip. There’s some idling to do. They got there early. There’s boos from the Best Mate stand, where booze flows freely, for a false start that never was. But then comes a real false start. Then they are soon let go. Long way to go. Wingman among the first to show.
Guy Lavender, CEO of Cheltenham, has been on the defensive on falling gates. It looks packed enough on the Friday. If that drops, we’re all in trouble. Interesting quote here, though: “Every sport is different, whether it’s at Wimbledon or Augusta. The race course is incredibly successful, it’s hugely profitable. The thing for us is you have to make sure the balance is right for the customer. You have to make sure ticket prices are competitive but food and beverages are probably something we can look at.”
The price of concession food is mental, true. Beer at £7.80 is London-ish prices. West End. Same in many cities. The Guinness tastes like Guinness.
3.20 Market Movers via Oddspedia
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle odds
-
The Big Westerner 5/1
-
Jet Blue 13/2
-
Jasmin De Vaux 7/1
-
Derryhassen Paddy 9/1
-
Wingmen 10/1
-
Wendigo 11/1
-
Argento Bay 14/1
-
Ballybow 16/1
-
Intense Approach 16/1
-
Flicker Of Hope 20/1
-
BAR 22/1 – 20 Runners
-
Jasmin De Vaux’s odds have been cut from 10/1 to 6/1 over the course of the morning.
-
Venetia Williams’ Derryhassen Paddy is another market mover, shortening from 10/1 to 15/2.
-
No favourite has won this race in the previous 11 renewals. 10 out of 11 of those winners have been at an SP of 10/1 and bigger.
Greg Wood
3.20 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICE HURDLE, GRADE ONE, 2M 7F 213YD
The festival’s novice hurdle for staying hurdlers, and also for the top-class chasers of the not-too-distant future, with two subsequent Gold Cup winners – Bobs Worth and Minella Indo – on the roll of honour since 2011, as well as a future winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle (Penhill). Irish runners have taken five of the last six and they field 11 of the 20-strong field, but David Cottin’s Jet Blue is a very live runner to give France a first win in this race since the glory days of Francois Doumen and his success with Moulin Riche in 2005. Jet Blue is currently the second-favourite behind Henry de Bromhead’s The Big Westerner, with Darragh O’Keeffe in the saddle, while de Bromhead’s stable jockey, Rachael Blackmore, is aboard Willie Mullins’s Argento Boy, who was just behind The Big Westerner in second when the two horses made their racecourse debuts at Punchestown in November. Wingmen, from the Gordon Elliott yard, is another to consider after his second-place finish behind Final Demand, the beaten favourite in Wednesday’s opener, in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival, while the Irish will not necessarily have it all their own way with Wendigo (Jamie Snowden) and the unbeaten Derryhassen Paddy Lucinda Russell) in the field. The latter has shown a good attitude in three starts to date and could be a slightly under-the-radar runner for his ultra-shrewd trainer, while Wendigo seems sure to improve for the step up to three miles and his form behind The New Lion in the Challow Hurdle in December was thoroughly franked on Wednesday when Dan Skelton’s runner took the Turners Novice Hurdle.
SELECTION: WENDIGO.
KEY FORM:
It’s been a better day for fav backers after that 100/1 winner. Paul Townend has walked into the weighing room and will ride in the Albert Bartlett and the Gold Cup.
Allegorie De Vassy is up and doing, and so is Paul Townend, who had a difficult ride there. “Fourth time lucky,” says Mark Walsh, the winning jockey. “Both of them look ok,” says Willie Mullins of Allegorie and Townend. “Fingers crossed Paul is OK.”
Cheltenham 2.40 result
-
1. Dinoblue (M P Walsh) 6-4 Fav
-
2. Brides Hill (K M Donoghue) 9-2
-
3. Shecouldbeanything (Danny Gilligan) 12-1
-
9 ran
-
Also: 50-1 Mayhem Mya 4th
Dino Blue wins the Mares’ Chase
Allegorie still in the lead as they go four out. Dino Blue a patient ride. Brideshill involved, plenty of chances. Dino Blue leads with two out. Allegorie falls at the last, and Dino Blue storms to win her first at Cheltenham, another for Mullins, JP and Mark Walsh.
2.40 Mares’ Chase
Past the stands, Fontaine Collonges drops back. Dino Blue and Limerick Lace sitting off the leader, who jumps out right. Paul Townend had to watch his step on Allegory. Limerick Lace dropping back? Shecouldbeanything joins Limerick Lace with five to leap.
2.40 Mares’ Chase
Again, they whip past the start from a distance. Limerick Lace makes an early error at the first. The Rick Ricci colours of Allegorie De Vassy take up the lead, Dino Blue in second. Limerick Lace is in third with 12 fences to jump.
2.40 Mares’ Chase odds
-
Dinoblue 6/4
-
Allegorie De Vassy 4/1
-
Brides Hill 9/2
-
Limerick Lace 6/1
-
Shecouldbeanything 11/1
-
Royale Margaux 33/1
-
Fontaine Collonges 50/1
-
Mayhem Mya 66/1
-
Je Tai Porte 100/1
-
Dinoblue is well fancied by Oddschecker punters this morning, picking up 44% of bets placed.
-
Brides Hill has shortened from 7/1 to 9/2 over the last 24 hours.
-
None of the four winners of this race have had an SP higher than 3/1.
2.40 Market Movers via Oddspedia
John Hunt spoke to Mark Chapman on his return to BBC service: “I am just thinking about the individuals who illuminate this sport. Nothing else matters Mark. Galopin des Champs is the Antoine Dupont of horse racing. He has looked magnificent. His form is rock solid.”
“It really does take me back. Everything about Best Mate was geared to Cheltenham. I think Galopin is even better than Best Mate. The weight of history can prove too heavy a toll. Strange things can happen – he’s still got 22 fences ahead. If he’s cherry ripe he will bring this home.”
Greg Wood
2.40 PADDY POWER MARES’ CHASE, GRADE TWO, 2M 4F 127YD
A recent addition to the festival schedule and a race that has yet to be won by a British-trained horse in four runnings to date. It is unlikely to be any different today, as the top five in the betting are all trained in Ireland and the shortest price about a British-based runner is 33-1. It is also a race that has been won by a runner in JP McManus’s green and gold colours three years running, and Limerick Lace and Dinoblue, who were separated by less than a length when first and second respectively in this race last year, are back to renew their rivalry. While Limerick Lace just got the better of things last time around, though, Dinoblue is a warm favourite to emerge victorious today, with the thinking being that Mark Walsh should perhaps have been a little bolder on Dinoblue last year, when she was tackling this trip for the first time over fences. Other live contenders include Brides Hill, a stable companion of Limerick Lace at the Gavin Cromwell yard, and Allegorie De Vassy (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend), who was a neck behind Dinoblue in a three-runner race at Naas in February.
SELECTION: DINOBLUE
Someone won £18,000 on Poniros, £100 EW. It certainly wasn’t me. That may the the Mullins plot of all time.