Cheltenham Favourites 2025
Cheltenham favourites are always the most popular picks during the Festival, so it’s worth getting to know the key contenders. These horses often feature in special Cheltenham betting offers from top bookmakers, making it useful to identify which ones might offer value, and which to approach with caution.
Cheltenham Gold Cup favourites
Cheltenham favourites are typically backed due to strong recent form, top jockeys and trainers, impressive performances in trial races, and a proven track record at the Festival.
2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup odds and runners
We’ll be closely monitoring the fluctuations in the odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourites as we approach the Festival’s biggest race.
Over the Christmas period, there was significant movement in the Gold Cup odds, with Galopin Des Champs strengthening his position as the favourite after winning the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. Fact To File remains his main rival, despite being beaten by 7½ lengths in the Savills, while Banbridge has emerged as a fresh contender, following his victory in the King George on Boxing Day.
The latest movements in the Gold Cup odds occurred after February’s Irish Gold Cup, where Galopin Des Champs triumphed, finishing nearly five lengths ahead of many of his key Gold Cup rivals. He’s now the odds-on favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the third consecutive year. Grangeclare West, who finished runner-up in the Irish Gold Cup, has also surged up the Gold Cup betting odds.
However, Fact to File and Banbridge still stand as the most likely contenders to challenge Galopin Des Champs for the Gold Cup crown.
| Gold Cup runners | 20 Nov odds | 31 Dec odds | 21 Jan odds | 17 Feb odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin Des Champs | 7/2 | 6/4 | Evens | 4/7 |
| Banbridge | – | 33/1 | 16/1 | 7/1 |
| Fact To File | 4/1 | 4/1 | 9/2 | 8/1 |
| Montys Star | 25/1 | 20/1 | 16/1 | 14/1 |
| Grangeclare West | 33/1 | 80/1 | 80/1 | 16/1 |
| Corbetts Cross | 25/1 | 40/1 | 20/1 | 18/1 |
| L’Homme Presse | 50/1 | 50/1 | 25/1 | 33/1 |
| Grey Dawning | 16/1 | 33/1 | 25/1 | 33/1 |
Cheltenham Festival favourites
Find the Cheltenham favourites for all the biggest races of Cheltenham Festival 2025.
Cheltenham favourites 2025
| Day | Races | Cheltenham Favourites | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supreme Novices | Kopek des Bordes | 10/11 |
| 1 | Champion Hurdle | Constitution Hill | 4/6 |
| 2 | Coral Cup | Be Aware | 9/1 |
| 2 | Champion Chase | Jonbon | 10/11 |
| 3 | Stayers’ Hurdle | Teahupoo | 11/10 |
| 4 | Gold Cup | Galopin Des Champs | 4/7 |
*Odds subject to change and correct at 11.30am on 17th February 2025.
Cheltenham Festival betting guide 2025
Many horses are set to return for another shot at the Cheltenham Festival in 2025, with previous winners often leading the ante-post markets. Galopin Des Champs, a two-time champion, is currently at the top of the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup betting. Unfortunately, Gerri Colombe, who finished second in last year’s race, will miss out this time due to injury.
2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup results
| Gold Cup Results | Gold Cup Runners | SP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Galopin Des Champs | 10/11 fav |
| 2nd | Gerri Colombe | 13/2 |
| 3rd | Corach Rambler | 14/1 |
| 4th | L’Homme Presse | 16/1 |
| 5th | Bravemansgame | 14/1 |
Top Cheltenham 2025 Races
The Cheltenham Festival spans four days and features several high-profile races, each offering thrilling action and top-tier competition.
Day 1 – Champion Hurdle 2025
The 2025 Champion Hurdle, the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, promises top be a thrilling two-mile contest. Constitution Hill, who had to miss out in 2024 due to wind surgery, returned with a dominant win in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle, beating Lossiemouth. This victory has solidified the 8 year-old’s position as the favourite for the Champion Hurdle this March.
Based on the current ante-post odds, our table below provides an insight into the perceived percentage chances of the top four contenders for the 2025 Champion Hurdle.
| Champion Hurdle Runners | Winning Chance |
|---|---|
| Constitution Hill | 60% |
| Brighterdaysahead | 26% |
| Lossiemouth | 16% |
| State Man | 11% |
Implied probability based on best odds on 17th February 2025. Percentages may add up to more than 100% due to bookmakers’ margin.
Champion Hurdle 2024 Winner – State Man
Heavy favourite State Man romped home to land for favourite backers. The absence of his most significant rival, Constitution Hill, will lessen his victory for some. However, a Cheltenham Festival win is a massive achievement regardless of the circumstances.
Day 2 – Champion Chase 2025
The Champion Chase, a top Grade 1 contest, features the best two-mile chasers in the business. El Fabiolo is expected to have another go in March, but it’s Jonbon that looks the one to beat, having won at the Cheltenham November Meeting and again at Sandown in the Tingle Creek.
| Champion Chase Runners | Winning Chance |
|---|---|
| Jonbon | 52% |
| Gaelic Warrior | 12% |
| Energumene | 11% |
| Il Est Francais | 11% |
| Marine Nationale | 10% |
| El Fabiolo | 9% |
Implied probability based on best odds on 17th February 2025. Percentages may add up to more than 100% due to bookmakers’ margin.
Champion Chase 2024 Winner – Captain Guinness
Staged on Cheltenham’s Old Course, this race really is a speed test and was won in 2024 by Captain Guinness, after odds-on favourite El Fabiolo came up well short of pre-race expectations.
Day 3 – Ryanair Chase 2025
Day three’s most valuable race, if not the feature event, is the 2½-mile Grade 1 Ryanair Chase. Also known as the Festival Trophy, this event has raised its profile gradually over the years to become one of the most important races on the National Hunt calendar.
There’s currently uncertainty over exactly which horses will come forward for the Ryanair Chase in March. It’s Fact To File who is strengthening as the Ryanair favourite though, as it appears increasingly unlikely that he has what it takes to beat Galopin des Champs in the Gold Cup. The Ryanair odds would be given a major overhaul if the likes of Banbridge and El Fabiolo are eventually added to the mix too.
| Ryanair Chase Runners | Winning Chance |
|---|---|
| Fact To File | 34% |
| Il Est Francais | 20% |
| Gaelic Warrior | 14% |
| Protektorat | 12% |
| Spillane’s Tower | 11% |
| Banbridge | 7% |
Implied probability based on best odds on 17th February 2025. Percentages may add up to more than 100% due to bookmakers’ margin.
Ryanair Chase 2024 Winner – Protektorat
Favourite Envoi Allen and eventual winner Protektorat pulled clear of the rest of the field at the last fence. After a competitive battle, Harry Skelton’s mount found more, winning by around three lengths.
Day 3 – Stayers’ Hurdle 2025
Thursday’s championship event is the Stayers’ Hurdle, a three-mile slog around the New Course, with Teahupoo the favourite to win the race once again.
| Stayers’ Hurdle Runners | Winning Chance |
|---|---|
| Teahupoo | 47% |
| Home by the Lee | 12% |
| Lucky Place | 10% |
| The Wallpark | 7% |
| Rocky’s Diamond | 6% |
| Langer Dan | 5% |
| Gowel Road | 5% |
Implied probability based on best odds on 17th February 2025. Percentages may add up to more than 100% due to bookmakers’ margin.
Stayers Hurdle 2024 Winner – Teahupoo
Teahupoo proved to be the class of the field in the Stayer Hurdle. He travelled well throughout and pulled clear from Flooring Porter when Jack Kennedy asked him to go and win.
Day 4 – Gold Cup 2024
This is the big one. The Cheltenham Gold Cup staged on the final day of the meeting, is the sport’s ‘Blue Riband’ event. Run over 3¼ miles of the New Course, the Gold Cup really takes some getting with only the very best able to conquer it down the years.
Galopin Des Champs certainly justified favouritism in both 2023 and 2024, and he heads the Cheltenham Gold Cup ante post market once again.
| Gold Cup Runners | Gold Cup Betting Odds | % Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Galopin Des Champs | 4/7 | 63% |
| Banbridge | 7/1 | 12% |
| Fact To File | 8/1 | 11% |
| Monty’s Star | 14/1 | 7% |
| Grangeclare West | 16/1 | 6% |
| Corbett’s Cross | 18/1 | 5% |
Implied probability based on best odds on 17th February 2025. Percentages may add up to more than 100% due to bookmakers’ margin.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024 Winner – Galopin Des Champs
The heavy favourite, Galopin Des Champs, justified his short price by capturing his second consecutive Gold Cup relatively easily. Grand National 2023 winner Corach Rambler stayed on strongly to finish third, a very positive sign for his chances at Aintree.
Cheltenham Favourites 2025 – Ante-Post betting guide
One of the key advantages of Cheltenham betting is the ability to place ante-post bets on major championship races well in advance of the Festival.
As soon as one Cheltenham Festival ends, betting sites like Paddy Power and Betfair open ante-post markets for the following year’s top races, including the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, and Champion Chase.
As the Festival approaches, more races become available for betting, with odds and favourites constantly shifting based on horses’ performances in the lead-up to the event.
Non-Runner, No Bet
In the weeks leading up to the Cheltenham Festival, major betting sites like Paddy Power, William Hill, Coral, and bet365 typically introduce Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) on their ante-post markets. This means that if your selected horse doesn’t run, your stake is refunded, and the bet is voided.
Ante-post betting carries risk, as stakes are usually lost if a backed horse is withdrawn before race day. However, many bookmakers offer NRNB as a safeguard, initially covering the feature races before expanding to all 28 Cheltenham Festival races closer to the event.
Additionally, operators like Paddy Power and Betfair often provide extra places and odds boosts, giving you even more value on your Cheltenham bets.
Cheltenham Festival: Horse Racing – Cheltenham Festival – Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain – March 12, 2019 Jeremiah McGrath on Beware The Bear celebrates winning the 2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase REUTERS/Eddie Keogh/Ritzau Scanpix
Live Cheltenham betting
Paddy Power and bet365 are two of the UK’s biggest bookmakers, both offering live betting on Cheltenham Festival races. This allows customers to place bets on race winners even after the race has started, with odds adjusting in real time as the action unfolds. Betting remains available until the result becomes clear.
Some bookmakers also offer place-only betting and each-way options on live races, particularly for Cheltenham favourites.
Many UK betting sites provide live streaming of Cheltenham races, though access typically requires a placed bet. Additionally, a cash-out feature is available on select bets, enabling customers to secure a profit or minimise losses before the race is over.
Cheltenham betting offers 2025
Most bookmakers will have extra Cheltenham Festival offers in the weeks leading up to the event – these can include faller insurance and extra place offers so it’s always best to shop around and find the best Cheltenham offers.
The welcome offers are generally matched deposit and bet bonuses. Any bonus funds can be used for betting on winners at Cheltenham. Each welcome offer is available when the Terms & Conditions are followed completely.
Check out the Cheltenham 2025 betting offers here.
Cheltenham favourites summary
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest events in the betting calendar, with all major bookmakers offering ante-post markets on race winners. Customers can place win and each-way bets, with some bookmakers also providing enhanced odds on selected runners.
In the weeks leading up to the Festival, Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) becomes a popular concession, offering added security for ante-post bets. With a wide range of welcome offers and promotions available, Cheltenham presents plenty of opportunities to bet on the Festival’s biggest races and favourites.
*All odds subject to change.
Cheltenham Festival Favourites FAQs
How many favourites win at Cheltenham Festival?
Over the past five meetings there have been 45 winning favourites from 149 total races at the Cheltenham Festival. The exact number of winning SP favourites varies from year to year.
What percentage of favourites win at the Cheltenham Festival?
Using the data from the last five years, 32.1% of horses that were the SP favourite at the Cheltenham Festival won. This result correlates closely with the well-established belief among horse racing fans that roughly 1 in 3 SP favourites go on to win.
Who is the heaviest favourite at Cheltenham?
The heaviest favourites at this year’s Cheltenham Festival are Sir Gino in the Arkle and Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle. Both are odds-on, so bookmakers will be facing an expensive first day payout if the double comes in.
Who is favourite to win the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle?
Constitution Hill is now the odds-on favourite for Tuesday’s Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. The Nicky Henderson trained superstar was forced to miss Cheltenham 2024 due to illness so would prove a popular winner.
Who is favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Galopin Des Champs is a strong favourite for this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Willie Mullins star won the race at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, as well as the Irish Gold Cup in 2023 and 2024.
What is the most popular race at Cheltenham?
The Gold Cup is undoubtedly the headline contest of the Cheltenham Festival. The majority of racing fans recognise it as the most prestigious race at the year’s most significant jumps meeting. While the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a highlight, there’s elite action to enjoy throughout the card on all four days.
Who is the leading jockey at Cheltenham Festival?
Champion Jump Jockey Paul Townend has won the Leading Jockey title at the Cheltenham Festival in four of the last five years. His total of 6 winning runs in 2024 put him head and shoulders above his nearest rival. Townend’s haul included winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Galopin Des Champs and the Champion Hurdle on State Man. Given the quality of his potential rides, he has a solid chance of retaining the title at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
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