Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2025-03-16
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be remembered for two things above all else: the shock of the Champion Hurdle and the coronation of a new Gold Cup king. When Constitution Hill and State Man hit the deck in the opening-day showpiece, Golden Ace — a 25-1 outsider trained by Jeremy Scott — stormed home by nine lengths. Four days later, Inothewayurthinkin denied Galopin Des Champs a historic third Gold Cup, winning at 15-2 in one of the most dramatic finishes of the week.
Over 250,000 people made the pilgrimage to Prestbury Park between 11 and 14 March. The atmosphere was electric, the racing was fierce, and the results defied the formbook more than once. Ireland dominated the Prestbury Cup, but the storylines belonged to the underdogs: Golden Ace, Lecky Watson at 20-1 in the Brown Advisory, and Bob Olinger's emotional Stayers' Hurdle triumph for Rachael Blackmore.
This review covers all four days — every winner, every upset, and the betting lessons that emerged. For a deeper look at the Gold Cup itself, see our Gold Cup 2025 result. For the Champion Hurdle drama, check our Golden Ace shock piece. And if you're already looking ahead to Aintree, we've got Cheltenham form and Grand National angles.
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Day 1 — Champion Hurdle Day (Tuesday 11 March)
The Festival opened with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and Willie Mullins' Kopek Des Bordes justified 4-6 favouritism to land the traditional curtain-raiser. The Arkle Novices' Chase went to Jango Baie at 5-1, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville, before Lossiemouth — from Willie Mullins' Closutton yard — cruised home in the Mares' Hurdle at 4-6.
Then came the Champion Hurdle. Constitution Hill, the 2023 winner who had missed 2024 through injury, was back. State Man, the defending champion, was there too. Both fell. The race was thrown wide open, and Golden Ace — a 25-1 shot trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by Lorcan Williams — seized the moment. She won by nine lengths from Burdett Road (66-1), in one of the most dramatic Champion Hurdles in living memory.
The rest of the card saw Puturhandstogether land the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at 17-2, Haiti Couleurs take the National Hunt Chase at 7-2, and Myretown win the closing handicap chase at 13-2.
Day 1 winners: Kopek Des Bordes, Jango Baie, Lossiemouth, Golden Ace, Puturhandstogether, Haiti Couleurs, Myretown.
Day 2 — Ladies Day (Wednesday 12 March)
Wednesday belonged to the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Marine Nationale — the 2023 Supreme winner — delivered at 5-1 to beat favourite Jonbon. It was a statement performance from a horse who had promised so much over fences and finally delivered on the big stage.
The day started with The New Lion winning the Turners Novices' Hurdle at 3-1 for Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton, before Lecky Watson — ridden by Sean O'Keeffe — caused a 20-1 upset in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, beating the heavily backed Ballyburn (4-7). Jimmy Du Seuil took the Coral Cup at 16-1, Stumptown justified 7-2 favouritism in the Cross Country Chase, and Jazzy Matty landed the Grand Annual at 15-2. The Champion Bumper went to Bambino Fever at 4-1.
Ireland's dominance continued. Marine Nationale's victory was the highlight — an emotional win for connections following the recent death of jockey Michael O'Sullivan, who had partnered the horse to Festival success in 2023. Jazzy Matty, who won the Grand Annual, had also been ridden by O'Sullivan at Cheltenham two years earlier. For more on the Queen Mother and the rest of the Festival, see our complete Cheltenham Racecourse guide.
Day 2 winners: The New Lion, Lecky Watson, Jimmy Du Seuil, Stumptown, Marine Nationale, Jazzy Matty, Bambino Fever.
Day 3 — St Patrick's Thursday (Thursday 13 March)
Rachael Blackmore stole the show on Thursday with a double. Air Of Entitlement won the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at 16-1 — Blackmore's first winner of the week — before Bob Olinger, trained by Henry de Bromhead, landed the Stayers' Hurdle at 8-1, beating defending champion Teahupoo at the final flight. Bob Olinger's victory was emotional: a horse who had promised so much as a novice, struggled with injury, and finally delivered in the championship race over three miles.
Fact To File, ridden by Mark Walsh, was imperious in the Ryanair Chase, winning by nine lengths at 6-4. Caldwell Potter, ridden by Harry Cobden at 7-1, gave Paul Nicholls his 50th Festival winner in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, and Jagwar took the Festival Plate at 3-1. The Pertemps Final and Kim Muir Challenge Cup completed the card.
The Stayers' Hurdle had looked open beforehand. Bob Olinger's form had been mixed, but Blackmore produced a masterclass and the horse responded. It was a reminder that Cheltenham rewards horses who peak on the day — and jockeys who know exactly when to push the button.
Day 3 winners: Air Of Entitlement, Fact To File, Bob Olinger, Caldwell Potter, Jagwar, plus Pertemps and Kim Muir winners.
Day 4 — Gold Cup Day (Friday 14 March)
Gold Cup Day is the pinnacle of the National Hunt season, and the 2025 renewal did not disappoint. Galopin Des Champs, seeking a historic third Gold Cup, went off 8-13 favourite. Inothewayurthinkin, the young pretender who had demolished him in the Irish Gold Cup, was 15-2. The race lived up to the billing.
Inothewayurthinkin prevailed by six lengths. Galopin Des Champs ran a gallant second, but the younger horse had his measure. The race was overshadowed by the fatal injury of Corbetts Cross, who fell at the final fence. Gentlemansgame ran a huge race at 40-1 to finish third. It was a changing of the guard — Galopin's era of dominance had ended, and a new champion had arrived.
The supporting card on Friday included the Triumph Hurdle, County Hurdle, Mares' Chase, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Hunters' Chase, and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap. The Gold Cup, though, was the story. For a full breakdown of how the race unfolded and what it means for the future, see our Gold Cup 2025 result.
Day 4 highlight: Inothewayurthinkin — Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, 15-2.
Betting Takeaways from Cheltenham 2025
The 2025 Festival was a brutal one for favourite backers. Constitution Hill and State Man fell in the Champion Hurdle. Ballyburn was turned over in the Brown Advisory. Jonbon was beaten in the Queen Mother. Galopin Des Champs could not complete the hat-trick in the Gold Cup.
What worked: Each-way punters had a field day. Golden Ace (25-1), Lecky Watson (20-1), Gentlemansgame (40-1 third in the Gold Cup) — the place money flowed to those willing to look beyond the market leaders. The each-way bet, especially in competitive handicaps and open-looking championships, proved its worth again.
What didn't: Short-priced favourites in championship races are never guaranteed. Constitution Hill's fall was a reminder that jumping is the variable — form, class, and reputation count for nothing if you don't get round. The lesson: treat ante-post favourites with caution, and consider value betting angles rather than lumping on the obvious pick.
Looking ahead: Cheltenham form will shape the Grand National and Aintree markets. Horses who ran well without winning — Galopin Des Champs, for instance — may be overbet next time. Those who disappointed could offer value. See our Cheltenham to Aintree guide for more.
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