It’s the final day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, as three enthralling days at Prestbury Park have already been and gone.
A double success for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead yesterday makes it nine years in a row that Déise representation has been in the winners’ enclosure at the Cotswolds – and with a jam packed afternoon ahead, few would rule out the possibility of that happening again.
All eyes are on the feature, The Cheltenham Gold Cup at 4pm, as the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs bids to become the first horse since Best Mate in 2004 to win three consecutive Gold Cup crowns.
Among his rivals will be Monty’s Star, with a host of local representation littered throughout the seven-race card.
Nicky Henderson’s pair East India Dock and Lulamba head the betting for the opening Triumph Hurdle (1:20), though they do face a stiff challenge from the Gavin Cromwell-trained Hello Neighbour.
Local representation gets underway when Dungarvan jockey Niall Houlihan, who has already rode a treble at Plumpton this week, boards the Gary and Josh Moore-trained Hansard in the County Hurdle (2:00).
It appears to be a straight shootout between Willie Mullins and Gavin Cromwell in the Mares’ Chase (2:40) as Dinoblue and Allegorie De Vassy take on last year’s winner Limerick Lace and Brides Hill.
Team Knockeen will then be hoping to make it three wins this week as they hold the favourite in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3:20) which is The Big Westerner – an unbeaten mare who produced a commanding display at Limerick over the festive period.
Attentions then turn to the big one as Galopin Des Champs bids for a third Gold Cup (4:00) and fourth festival win overall, his chief challenger being the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge who won the King George at Kempton.
The Hunters’ Chase (4:40) will attract huge interest from West Waterford as the Declan Queally-trained Rocky’s Howya, who was fourth in the race last year, will look to strike on the big stage. Owned by David and Margaret Kiely from Dungarvan, connections are hopeful of a huge run – though it is a competitive field, where de Bromhead is also not without hope in the form of Plan of Attack.
The last race of the week, The Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (5:20) has produced some notable winners in recent years – notably a certain Galopin Des Champs and Banbridge, and Henry de Bromhead holds two chances – the pick of which is Taponthego who will be ridden by Tallow jockey Mikey O’Connor, while the JP McManus-owned Raglan Road will be guided by Gavin Brouder.
FRIDAY:
County Hurdle (2:00) – Hansard (12/1) – ridden by Niall Houlihan.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3:20) – The Big Westerner (11/2) – trained by Henry de Bromhead.
Cheltenham Gold Cup (4:00) – Monty’s Star (10/1) – trained by Henry de Bromhead.
Hunters’ Chase (4:40) – Rocky’s Howya (11/1) – ridden and trained by Declan Queally and owned by David & Margaret Kiely; Plan Of Attack (66/1) – trained by Henry de Bromhead.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (5:20) – Taponthego (7/1) – trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Mikey O’Connor; Raglan Road (40/1) – trained by Henry de Bromhead.
