Horse Racing

Who Are The Current 2025 Cheltenham Festival Favourites For ALL 28 Races?

Andy Newton Sports Editor

Published09 Mar 2025

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As we hot-foot closer to the Festival, horse racing fans will have one eye on the biggest jumps meeting of the season. So, with just days away now till the big four day fixture – we look at which horses are currently sitting as Cheltenham Festival favourites for ALL 28 races.

Of, course a lot can still change between now and Tuesday 11th March, which is day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

But as the excitement builds we showcase the current ante-post Cheltenham Festival fancies with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK by day for ALL the 28 races spread over the four-day fixture – billed as the ‘Greatest Show On Turf’.

Did you know? There were NINE winning favourites (or joint) at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival – meaning a 32% strike-rate.

So, how many Cheltenham bankers will win this year in 2025?

When Is The Cheltenham Festival 2025?

The four day Cheltenham Festival 2025, will run from Tuesday 11th March to Friday 14th March.

See here the full Cheltenham Festival 2025 dates, TV details and new running order.

Tuesday 11th March 2025: Day 1 – Champion Day
Wednesday 12th March 2025: Day 2 – Style Wednesday
Thursday 13th March 2025: Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday
Friday 14th March 2025: Day 4 – Gold Cup Day

You can also watch ALL the 2024 Cheltenham Festival races again here.

Ante-Post Cheltenham Festival Favourites – Day One (Tuesday 11th March 2025): Old Course

Cheltenham Festival Race and Time	Favourite	Comment
1:20 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle	Kopek Des Bordes	Trained by Willie Mullins: Impressive winner at the DRF and the yard have won this Festival opener seven times (more than any other stable).
2:00 Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase	Majborough	Trained by Willie Mullins: New favourite with Sir Gino ruled out for the season. Impressive winner of the Irish Arkle at the DRF and will be looking to give Mullins a 7th win in the race.
2:40 Ultima Handicap Chase	The Changing Man	Trained by Joe Tizzard: Consistent chaser who won his first race over fences with a facile win in the Reyonldstown Chase last time at Ascot. Up just 2lbs for that.
3:20 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle	Lossiemouth	Trained by Willie Mullins: Won this race in easy fashion 12 months ago and is heading here instead of a tilt at the Champion Hurdle. Expected to be one of the day one Cheltenham bankers.
4:00 Champion Hurdle	Constitution Hill	Trained by Nicky Henderson: 2023 Champion Hurdle winner that missed last year’s race. Back this season winning third Christmas Hurdle. Henderson has won the Champion Hurdle 9 times.
4:40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Stencil	Trained by Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm: JP McManus-owned 4 year-old who is trained in France. Caught the eye last time when 2nd to Triumph hopeful East India Dock
5:20 National Hunt Chase	Now Is The Hour	Trained by Gavin Cromwell: Yet to win over fences but lightly-raced with only four runs over the bigger obstacles and took a step forward last time when 4th at Navan in a Beginners’ Chase.

WATCH: Kopek Des Bordes Winning at the Dublin Racing Festival

Ante-Post Cheltenham Festival Favourites – Day Two (Wednesday 12th March 2025): Old Course

Cheltenham Festival Race and Time	Favourite	Comment
1:20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle	Final Demand	Trained by Willie Mullins: Shot to the head of the market after a facile win at the DRF – with the Closutton trainer also having won the last three runnings of this day two opener.
2:00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase	Ballyburn	Trained by Willie Mullins: Easy winner of the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at the 2024 Festival. Won on chase debut at Punchestown, put in his place by Sir Gino in Wayward Lad at Kempton, but bounced back over longer at the DRF.
2:40 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle	Be Aware	Trained by Dan Skelton: Went close in the Greatwood Hurdle here earlier this season, plus the yard have won the last two runnings with the controversial Langer Dan.
3:20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase	Stumptown	Trained by Gavin Cromwell: Won the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham December Meeting on his first try over this course. 2nd in the 2023 Kim Muir Chase.
4:00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase	Jonbon	Trained by Nicky Henderson: 2nd in 2022 Supreme Hurdle and 2023 Arkle Chase. Missed the Festival in 2024, but Tingle Creek & Clarence House Chase winner and now 12 from 14 over fences.
4:40 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase	Libberty Hunter	Trained by Evan Williams: Runner-up in this race in 2024 – beaten only 2 1/4 lengths. Won this season at the Cheltenham December Meeting and is now 1-2-1 at Prestbury Park.
5:20 Weatherbys Champion Bumper	Copacabana	Trained by Willie Mullins: From the powerful Mullins team, who have won the Champion Bumper 13 times. Won easily at Navan last time out and is also rated the best bet of the meeting by top Irish owner JP McManus.

WATCH: Jonbon Winning The Clarence House Chase at Ascot

Ante-Post Cheltenham Festival Favourites – Day Three (Thursday 13th March 2025): New Course

Cheltenham Festival Race and Time	Favourite	Comment
1:20 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle	Sixandahalf	Trained by Gavin Cromwell: 80+ rated flat performer who was a fine third in the Irish Cesaerwitch last year. Has made an eyecatching switch to hurdles – winning by 12 lenghts at Faiyhouse in January.
2:00 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase	Jagwar	Trained by Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero: Winner of 3 of his 4 chase starts – with the last a 2 1/2 length success at Cheltenham on Trials Day. Owned by JP McManus.
2:40 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle	Jeriko Du Reponet	Trained by Nicky Henderson: Owned by JP McManus and despite not winning in his last four is considered well-handicapped by many off 135. Hoping to give Henderson only his second winner in the race, with his other Call The Cops in 2015.
3:20 Ryanair Chase	Fact To File	Trained by Willie Mullins: Twice been beaten by stablemate Galopin Des Champs this season so connections are expected to drop him in trip to the Ryanair Chase – a race Willie Mullins has won five times.
4:00 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle	Teahupoo	Trained by Gordon Elliott: Winner of this race in 2024 and looking to join Flooring Porter & Big Buck’s as another recent multiple winner. Last seen running second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle back in December.
4:40 TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase	Springwell Bay	Trained by Jonjo O’Neill: 145-rated hurdle that has taken well to fences this season – winning 2-from-4. Last of those came on New Year’s Day here at Cheltenham.
5:20 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase	Johnnywho	Trained by Jonjo O’Neill & A J O’Neill: 8th in the Albert Barlett last year at the Festival. Has since been switch to chasing – winning on debut at Carlisle, but has flopped since. Many feel the longer trip will suit is owned by JP McManus, who won this prize 12 months ago.

WATCH: Teahupoo Winning The Stayers’ Hurdle in 2024

Ante-Post Cheltenham Festival Favourites – Day Four (Friday 14th March 2025): New Course

Cheltenham Festival Race and Time	Favourite	Comment
1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle	Lumlaba	Trained by Nicky Henderson: Burst onto the scene for this race after a classy win at Ascot in January. Looks another top class hurdler for a yard that have won this day four opener 7 times.
2:00 County Hurdle Premier Handicap	Kopek De Mee	Trained by Willie Mullins: From the powerful Mullins yard, who have won this race 7 times. Is the latest talking horse from the stable having been bought by JP McManus after impressing with 3 wins in France. Is first run for the yard and after multiple entries connections have opted for this.
2:40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase	Dinoblue	Trained by Willie Mullins: Runner-up in this race 12 months ago – beaten only 3/4 of a length to Limerick Lace. Plus was also 2nd in the Grand Annual in 2023 & 9th in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle in 2022. A poor renewal, which should see this JP McManus horse fancied by many.
3:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle	The Big Westerner	Trained by Henry De Bromhead: Exciting mare, who is yet to lose a race and comes here 2-2 over hurdles. Last seen beating Mozzies Sister by 4 1/2 lengths at Limerick on Boxing Day.
4:00 Cheltenham Gold Cup	Galopin Des Champs	Trained by Willie Mullins: Winner of the Gold Cup for the last two seasons and will be hoping to be the first horse since Best Mate (2002-2004) to win three on the bounce. Last seen winning his third Irish Gold Cup in February and will be all the rage to cement his name as one of the all-time chasing greats.
4:40 St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase	Angels Dawn	Trained by S Curling: Winner of the Kim Muir in 2023 but fell in the same race 12 months ago when holding every chance. Has since won two Points easily and looks primed to go well at a track she loves.
5:20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle	Wodhooh	Trained by Gordon Elliott: From the yard that won this race last year and have taken 3 of the last 8. Unbeaten mare, who is 6-6 and beat Joyeuse last time who has since franked the form to take the Betfair Hurdle.

WATCH: Galopin Des Champs Winning The 2024 Gold Cup

Note: The 2025 Cheltenham Festival market leaders listed are subject to change but correct as 9th March 2025.