Cheltenham Festival 2025 Review

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Cheltenham Festival 2025 Review

The Cheltenham Festival 2025 delivered another spectacular week of racing with dramatic finishes, surprise victories and record-breaking performances. It lived up to its reputation as one of the premier horse racing event in UK. Cheltenham Festival 2025 proved why it is one of the most prestigious events in the horse racing calendar. With over 250,000 spectators at Prestbury Park, the festival remains the crown jewel of National Hunt racing.

This year’s festival was filled with record-breaking performances, standout victories from Irish and British trainers and exciting betting trends that shaped the markets. From Golden Ace’s shocking win in the Champion Hurdle to Inothewayurthinkin denying Galopin Des Champs a record-breaking hattrick at Gold Cup, Cheltenham 2025 had something for every racing fan and bettor. From the electrifying roar of the Cheltenham roar on Day 1 to the nail-biting Gold Cup finale, this year’s event lived up to its reputation as the "Olympics of Jump Racing."

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Schedule for 2025 Cheltenham Festival

Tuesday, March 11

• Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – £150,000

• The My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase – £200,000

• Ultima Handicap Chase – £150,000

• The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – £120,000

• Unibet Champion Hurdle – £450,000

• The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – £80,000

• National Hunt Chase – £200,000

Wednesday, March 12

• Turners Novices’ Hurdle – £150,000

• Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase – £200,000

• Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) – £100,000

• The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase – £75,000

• The BetMGM Queen Mother Steeple Chase – £400,000

• The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup – £150,000

• The Weatherbys Champion Bumper – £80,000

Thursday, March 13

• The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – £105,000

• Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – £125,000

• Pertemps Network Final – £100,000

• Ryanair Steeple Chase – £375,000

• The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – £325,000

• TrustATrader Plate Handicap Steeple Chase – £150,000

• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase – £75,000

Friday, March 14

• The JCB Triumph Hurdle – £150,000

• The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle – £98,370

• Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase – £120,000

• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – £150,000

• The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase – £625,000

• The St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase – £50,000

• Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle – £75,000

Day-by-Day Recap for major events

Day 1 – Champion Day (March 11, 2025)

The festival kicked off with a thrilling Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where Kopek Des Bordes, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, claimed victory. However, the day's biggest shock came in the £450,000 Unibet Champion Hurdle, where Golden Ace, a 25-1 outsider, secured an upset win. With previous champions Constitution Hill and State Man both falling during the race, jockey Lorcan Williams and trainer Jeremy Scott celebrated a stunning and unexpected triumph.

Day 2 – Ladies Day (March 12, 2025)

The highlight of Day 2 was the £400,000 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, which saw Marine Nationale dominate under jockey Sean Flanagan and trainer Barry Connell. Marine Nationale's victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase was emotionally charged, dedicated to the late jockey Michael O'Sullivan. Trainer Barry Connell made a heartfelt gesture of donating the prize money to O'Sullivan's family. ​

Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday (March 13, 2025)

Day 3 featured two major races: the £375,000 Ryanair Chase and the £325,000 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. Fact To File, the 6-4 favorite, delivered a commanding performance in the Ryanair Chase, ridden by Mark Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. Bob Olinger, with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle and Henry de Bromhead as trainer, triumphed in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. With this win, Blackmore completing a remarkable double, who had earlier won the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle on Air Of Entitlement. Blackmore's achievements on Day 3 further cemented her legacy as one of the festival's most accomplished jockeys.

Day 4 – Gold Cup Day (March 14, 2025)

The grand finale saw Inothewayurthinkin shock the racing world by denying Galopin Des Champs a historic Gold Cup hat-trick. The £625,000 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the festival’s most prestigious race, was won by Mark Walsh, riding for trainer Gavin Cromwell and owner JP McManus. The seven-year-old crossed the finish line six lengths ahead of the competition, preventing Galopin Des Champs from joining an elite club of three-time winners.

After the race, Mark Walsh described his victory as a "dream come true." However, it was later confirmed that Inothewayurthinkin would skip the 2025 Grand National as Gavin Cromwell has decided to rest him. This ended the hopes of a legendary Gold Cup and Grand National double for Inothewayurthinkin, a feat last achieved by Golden Miller in 1934. Galopin Des Champs, the reigning champion from 2023 and 2024, was striving to become just the fifth horse and the first since Best Mate 21 years ago to secure a third consecutive Gold Cup victory. Gold Cup Day was also marred by tragedy, as Corbetts Cross, trained by Emmet Mullins, suffered a fatal injury during the race. The tragic loss cast a shadow over an otherwise exhilarating day at Cheltenham.

​Stats and records from Cheltenham 2025

Willie Mullins once again asserted his dominance, finishing as the festival's leading trainer with 10 victories. He was followed by Gavin Cromwell, Nicky Henderson, and Henry de Bromhead, each securing two wins. In the jockeys' standings, Paul Townend and Mark Walsh shared the top spot, both claiming four wins across the four days. Danny Gilligan, Rachael Blackmore and Jonjo O’Neill Jr. finished just behind them with two victories each. Paul Townend was named the top jockey of the festival and emerged as the leading rider, securing four victories, one second-place finish, and one third-place finish. Mark Walsh also achieved four wins and two third-place finishes, matching Townend's win count but with fewer placements. Danny Gilligan and Rachael Blackmore each recorded two wins, with Gilligan adding one second and one third-place finish, while Blackmore secured three third-place finishes.

Prize money at this year's festival hit new heights, with a record-breaking £4.93 million awarded across all races, an increase of £115,000 from the previous year. The prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup had the highest purse, offering £625,000, significantly up from £350,000 in previous editions. Spectator turnout remained strong, with 71,500 fans packing the stands on Gold Cup Day and an average daily attendance of 65,000 throughout the festival.

The Gold Cup delivered one of the biggest upsets of the week as Inothewayurthinkin denied Galopin Des Champs a historic third consecutive victory. Meanwhile, Rachael Blackmore showcased her brilliance with a remarkable 152-1 double, winning the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle on Air Of Entitlement and the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle on Bob Olinger. Her achievement was even more impressive considering she had recovered from a neck injury just three months earlier.

Irish vs. British Winners at Cheltenham 2025

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival once again highlighted the ongoing rivalry between Irish and British trainers, with Ireland maintaining its dominance on the biggest stage of National Hunt racing. Irish-trained horses secured an impressive 19 victories across the 28 races, continuing their stronghold on the festival. Willie Mullins led the charge, finishing as the top trainer with 10 wins, while Gavin Cromwell and Henry de Bromhead each claimed two victories. Other notable Irish successes came from Gordon Elliott and Emmet Mullins.

British trainers made some strides compared to previous years but still fell short of reclaiming dominance. They managed 9 wins, with Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls securing notable victories. British-trained horses performed particularly well in handicap races, an area where they have traditionally been stronger in recent years.

Some of the standout Irish-trained winners included Inothewayurthinkin, who denied Galopin Des Champs a historic third Gold Cup victory and Bob Olinger, who triumphed in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle under Rachael Blackmore. Meanwhile, Fact To File delivered a dominant performance in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, further showcasing Irish excellence. On the British side, Lossiemouth secured a brilliant win in the Mares' Hurdle, while Shishkin claimed victory in the Ryanair Chase, giving home trainers something to celebrate.

Despite some positive results for British trainers, the overall outcome of Cheltenham 2025 reinforced Ireland's superiority. With another Irish-dominated festival, the balance of power firmly remains in their favor, as they continue to set the standard in National Hunt racing.

Final Thoughts

The Cheltenham Festival 2025 delivered sensational races, dominant performances, and exciting betting trends. With Irish-trained horses continuing to shine, punters will be looking for the best strategies for next year’s festival. For those seeking an exceptional online casino experience alongside sports betting, platforms like bestirishonlinecasino.com offer a top-tier gambling environment where Irish players can enjoy a wide range of casino games. By combining their love for horse racing with the thrilling offerings at online casinos, Irish bettors can enhance their experience with exclusive promotions and diverse betting options.

The festival saw strong performances across all four days, attracting a record number of spectators and setting new benchmarks for prize money. Trainer Willie Mullins, as usual, cemented his dominance, claiming the prestigious Leading Trainer title with an impressive 10 victories. With Cheltenham 2025 now in the books, all eyes are on Aintree’s Grand National and next year’s Cheltenham Festival.