The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious and eagerly awaited events in the world of jump racing. With its deep roots in British sporting culture, the Festival has evolved over decades to become the ultimate test of horse racing talent.
Held annually at the Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, this four-day extravaganza in March draws racing fans from around the world. The Festival is best known for its Grade 1 races, high-octane atmosphere, and, of course, the iconic Gold Cup, the crowning jewel of the entire meeting.
With 13 Grade 1 races spread across the four days, each event carries significant weight in the racing world. The meeting has been a fixture since its inception in 1902, and it remains a highly anticipated fixture on the British sporting calendar, and is by far the most popular meeting in the UK.
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival promises to be another stellar edition, with a fantastic lineup of horses, trainers, and jockeys set to compete. Whether you’re a long-time racing fan or a newcomer to the sport, there’s something for everyone during this exciting week.
So, who should you be keeping an eye on? Who’s going to be the star of the week? Let’s talk you through some of the big names and recommend a few winners along the way for what is truly the greatest show on turf.
We’re expecting a good St Patrick’s Weekend
Before delving into the racecards themselves, let’s take a look at the Irish talent that will be on display throughout the Cheltenham Festival. The Irish contingent has been dominating the Festival in recent years, and 2025 is expected to be no different. The strength of Irish-trained horses, combined with the exceptional skills of their jockeys, has set the bar high for the competition.
Top Irish Trainers
Willie Mullins
A name synonymous with success at Cheltenham, Willie Mullins is set to bring a powerhouse of talent to the Festival. With a record of 88 Cheltenham winners to his name, Mullins has a formidable stable of horses across multiple categories, making him a key figure to watch.
Gordon Elliott
Another household name in the world of jump racing, Gordon Elliott will be hoping to continue his impressive Cheltenham record. With a particularly strong focus on the stamina-heavy races, Elliott’s horses are always ones to keep an eye on, and many of them are likely to be top contenders this year. More on those later.
Henry De Bromhead
The Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer (with Minella Indo in 2021) will be targeting a repeat victory, especially as his horses have consistently performed well at the Festival. De Bromhead’s focus on quality over quantity means that his select few are often well-prepared for the biggest stage.
Emmet Mullins
While a relative newcomer in comparison to Mullins and Elliott, Emmet Mullins has shown great promise, with his horses proving themselves in some of the toughest races at Cheltenham. His ability to prepare his horses for the unique challenges of Cheltenham is quickly earning him a place in the spotlight.
Mouse Morris
An established name in the world of Irish racing, Mouse Morris has had multiple Cheltenham winners over the years. His horses often perform well in competitive fields, so expect his team to be in the mix throughout the Festival, who’s set to bring over a small army to compete on British shores once again.
Standout Jockeys and Horses
As always, the Irish jockeys will play a pivotal role in the results of the Festival. Legendary names like Paul Townend, and Rachael Blackmore will be seen guiding some of the best Irish-trained horses across the line. Blackmore, in particular, has risen to prominence in recent years, capturing the imagination of racing fans around the world with her successes at Cheltenham, including a historic win in the 2021 Grand National.
Horses including Brighterdaysahead, Lossiemouth and Fact To File are a few Irish horses expected to be among the frontrunners for some of the most prestigious races at the Festival. Let’s go through the key races of the Festival and their chances below.
Tuesday 11th March – Champion Day
The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is always one of the most exciting. Champion Day features some of the most prestigious races, with the Unibet Champion Hurdle stealing the show as the centrepiece of the day. The race is a test of speed and stamina, with the winner often going on to become one of the most talked-about horses of the entire Festival.
Key Races:
- Unibet Champion Hurdle
This is the opening day’s feature race, and Irish trainers will likely have a strong presence here. Look out for Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill, the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner, who will be aiming to defend his title at short odds. However, expect strong competition from Brighterdaysahead trained by Willie Mullins, who decisively defeated State Man in the Neville Hotels Hurdle. He’s the likeliest contender to challenge Constitution Hill, but next in line is Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth, who finished close behind Henderson’s horse at the Kempton meeting at Christmas. - Arkle Challenge Trophy
A race that often brings thrilling action, the Arkle is one of the key events on Day 1. With top-class novice chasers from both sides of the Irish Sea, the Arkle will be fiercely contested. However, Willie Mullins’ Majborough dominates the betting at odds-on, who’s expected to make light work of the nine-runner field. - Mares’ Hurdle
This race has been increasingly dominated by female horses, and some of the best mares in the country will compete for this prestigious title. Again, Irish trainers are expected to have a significant say here. At this stage, Lossiemouth is also entered, but if she doesn’t run, Willie Mullins’ stablemate Jade De Grugy, who has won four of her five races, can serve it up to the favourite.
Wednesday 12th March – Style Wednesday
On the second day of the Festival, the focus is not just on the thrilling races but also on the fashion. The “Best Dressed” competition has become an annual highlight, with racegoers competing to be crowned the most stylish of the Festival. However, let’s look at who will be the best on track on the second day.
Key Races:
- Queen Mother Champion Chase
One of the most anticipated races of the Festival, this race features the best of the best in the chase category. Expect fierce competition, with Marine Nationale, Energumene and Solness looking extremely capable on their day. However, Nicky Henderson has another clear favourite at the Festival with Jonbon. Having won his last five races, including at Cheltenham, the nine-year-old’s 4/5 with Tonybet looks rather inviting. - Coral Cup
A handicap race that often produces surprises, the Coral Cup is one of the Festival’s most open races, offering opportunities for horses that might not have the same pedigree in the public eye but are more than capable of pulling off an upset. With only one favourite winning this race from the last 12 attempts, and eight of those winning at 12/1 or bigger, it might be best to look at outsiders in the market. - Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
A chance for young talent to shine, this race typically includes exciting up-and-coming horses ready to make a name for themselves. With a 20+ field expected, this is another intriguing race where we could witness an upset. The well-named Naturally Nimble ran well at Leopardstown when last seen and his efficient jumper could see him go off closer to the favourite on the day. Tonybet are currently offering 10/1.
Thursday 13th March – St Patrick’s Thursday
On Day 3, the Festival celebrates its Irish roots with St Patrick’s Day taking centre stage. This is always a big day for Irish fans and trainers, with top Irish horses featured across the card. Let’s talk through some of those key runners and races below.
Key Races:
- Ryanair Chase
A Grade 1 event, the Ryanair Chase has become one of the most important races at Cheltenham. And this year, it is no different. Willie Mullins’ Fact To File is your current 7/4 favourite, but as the week progresses and Mullins continues to rattle in the winners, expect this price to shorten drastically on the day. According to Tonybet, Il Est Francais and Protektorat, a horse no stranger to the Festival, are Fact To File’s closest competitors in the market hoping to cause an upset. Willie Mullins is also set to run Gaelic Warrior, a previous winner at Cheltenham, who knows what it takes to be first past the post. - Stayers’ Hurdle
The Stayers’ Hurdle is one of the most demanding races at Cheltenham, with horses needing a mixture of stamina and speed. Irish-trained horses often excel in this event, and this year appears to be no different as Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo is your hot favourite currently priced at evens. Elliott’s horse heads into the race having won 11 of his 17 races, finishing second twice and third once. He’s bound to end up on the podium.
Friday 14th March – Gold Cup Day
The final day of the Cheltenham Festival is always highlighted by the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup. This prestigious Grade 1 race is the culmination of the Festival and is watched by millions of fans around the world. The Gold Cup often features a strong Irish contingent, and it’s widely regarded as the greatest race in the sport of jump racing.
Key Races:
- Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is the pinnacle of jump racing. With Irish trainers dominating the race in recent years, this year’s contest will be fierce. But reigning back-to-back champion Galopin Des Champs is looking to create history and keep his challengers at bay. Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old has bossed this race for two years in a row, and heads into this race after a strong performance at Leopardstown.
For those feeling brave and wanting to take on the odds-on favourite, Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge is his closest competitor at 5/1. Having won at the Kempton Christmas meeting, his stock has risen, and the horse has continuously shown enough grit and determination to win – qualities required at the Cheltenham Festival.
Monty’s Star, Corbetts Cross and Grangeclare West are all next in line, who’ll be hoping to cause a huge shock as the Festival draws to a close. - Hunters’ Chase
While not as high-profile as the Gold Cup, the Hunters’ Chase is still a competitive race that attracts attention from both experienced trainers and those seeking to clinch a victory before the Festival ends for another year. This race is restrictive to amateur jockeys, adding a unique edge to the penultimate race. Although this race is dominated by British trainers, the favourite, Angels Dawn, is trained by Sam Curling. Having won the Kim Muir in 2023, the horse is no stranger to Cheltenham, and Curling has expressed how hopeful he is that she can win once again and end the Festival in style.
As the Cheltenham Festival approaches, it’s clear that the competition will be fierce, with a stellar lineup of horses and trainers from across the globe.
If you’re looking to place a bet on the action, Tonybet is a great place to do it, with competitive odds and all the key markets covered. Whether you’re looking to bank on a few favourites in an accumulator, or look at an each-way swing that can spring a surprise, Tonybet has you covered with multiple markets on every single race at the Cheltenham Festival.
Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of one of the most thrilling events in sport.
Explore the upcoming racing fixtures today!
