As the winner of the race for the last two years, Galopin Des Champs goes into the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup bidding to become only the fifth horse in history to prevail in the race for a third time.
Galopin Des Champs has dominated the 3m chase division over the last few years, and if he wraps up another campaign with a triumph in the Gold Cup, he will be compared to some of the greats in the sport.
Willie Mullins’ Runner Set to Be a Warm Favourite
🏆🏆 𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐘
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2024
Back-to-back Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cups for Galopin Des Champs! #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/A81A4vr0hr
Such is the respect many of the leading trainers in the UK and Ireland have for Galopin Des Champs, they have entered their best 3m chasers in other races at the meeting to avoid him. Willie Mullins’ runner is a warm 1/2 favourite in the Cheltenham Festival betting for the feature race of the week.
The leading rival to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup is set to be Banbridge, who is 6/1 in the racing odds. Joseph O’Brien’s runner won the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He is set for his first shot at the 3m2f contest this year, and he looks the most dangerous to the defending champion’s races.
L’Homme Presse is one of just three British-trained horses primed to take on Galopin Des Champs this year. Venetia Williams’ runner finished fourth in the race in 2024. His latest success came in the Grade Two Cotswold Chase on Trials Day at Cheltenham back in January.
Best Mate the Last Horse to Complete Gold Cup Hat-Trick
British-trained chaser Best Mate was the last horse to win three Gold Cups when he prevailed in the race for the third straight year in 2004. Ridden by his regular rider Jim Culloty, Best Mate narrowly prevailed by less than a length ahead of Sir Rembrandt.
Best Mate won 14 of his 22 races on the track. He also recorded triumphs in the King George VI Chase, Savills Chase, Haldon Gold Cup and Peterborough Chase during his career, accumulating over £1 million in prize money.
The three-time Gold Cup winner was very popular with horse racing fans. He received a huge reception when he entered the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham in 2004 following his final victory at the meeting.
Paul Townend Has Formed a Great Partnership with Galopin Des Champs
All the great horses in the history of Jumps racing are linked with the jockeys that rode them to victories in the biggest races. Arkle was frequently partnered by Pat Taaffee, Brian Fletcher was on board Red Rum in two of his Grand National wins, while Culloty often judged his ride on Best Mate perfectly.
I AM MAXIMUS flies home like a SERIOUS horse to win the Randox Grand National!
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 13, 2024
The horse they call Moo Moo at home ❤️🤣 pic.twitter.com/6ELFDbZOMH
In Paul Townend, Galopin Des Champs is fortunate to have one of the best jockeys in the sport today. As Mullins’ retained rider, Townend is used to handling the pressure of riding good horses. In 2024, he rode his 34th Cheltenham Festival winner. He also won the Grand National with I Am Maximus at Aintree.
Despite all the success Townend has had, if he can steer Galopin Des Champs to a third Gold Cup win, it could prove to be the highlight of his career, such will be the achievement from the pair.
The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place on March 14, and it will be the 97th edition in history.
Suzanne: BA (Hons) in Marketing Management, Diploma in Equine Studies, B.E.M.A Member. An entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in marketing, publishing, content curation, editing, and media writing. Avid equestrian, riding since the age of 5 and owning horses for over 35 years. Proud mum to humans, dogs, and a horse.