The countdown is on to essentially the most eagerly anticipated assembly of the 12 months. At exactly 1.20pm on Tuesday, the starter will increase the tape, the well-known roar will echo throughout the Gloucestershire countryside and the Cheltenham Pageant 2025 can be below manner.
4 days of elite horse racing, enhanced by a carnival environment as punters from round the UK and Eire collect for the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’.
The celebs are, in fact, the horses. Structure Hill, Jonbon and Teahupoo are all scheduled to run earlier than the climax comes on Friday with Galopin Des Champs going for his third successive Gold Cup.
Across the races come the narratives regarding the trainers: can Willie Mullins proceed his dominance; how will Nicky Henderson fare after his 2024 nightmare; will Gordon Elliott trump them each?
Add within the many intricacies of this explicit sport, the going, the climate, the shape, and there’ll undoubtedly be numerous storylines that emerge over the course of an absorbing week.
Racing merely doesn’t get any higher… 🤯
4pm, Tuesday eleventh March – DO NOT MISS IT 💥 pic.twitter.com/Kz06Paic8p
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 5, 2025
Day One led by Structure Hill
Structure Hill is the primary of the big-hitters to carry out, going within the Champion Hurdle, the function race on Tuesday. Henderson’s star flip missed out final 12 months resulting from poor well being however was anticipated to return with a bang. That was, nevertheless, till Elliott opted to enter Brighterdaysahead after a massively spectacular show at Leopardstown in December. It should be a battle royale.
Day two, or Model Wednesday because it has rebranded, sees Jonbon in motion within the Queen Mom Champion Steeple Chase. Henderson might have extra confidence on this one, though don’t rule out Gaelic Warrior, Energumene or Marine Nationale.
Can anybody cease Jonbon? 👀
A number of the main present contenders within the @betMGM Champion Chase 💪 pic.twitter.com/52hRUYT7zc
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 5, 2025
Thursday is St Patrick’s Day the place the emphasis is as a lot on the ‘craic’ as it’s the racing. That’s to not say there received’t be loads of pleasure on the monitor with two function races, together with the Stayers’ Hurdle by which Elliott’s Teahupoo should have sufficient to repeat final 12 months’s triumph.
Gold Cup Friday
After which it’s the large one as Galopin Des Champs makes an attempt to make historical past by becoming a member of the likes of Cottage Rake, Arkle and Greatest Mate and go back-to-back-to-back.
The star of the Mullins steady clinched a 3rd successive Irish Gold Cup final month and can be closely backed to repeat the feat at Cheltenham.
“It’s large,” Mullins stated.
“It’s unbelievable that now we have a horse going for a 3rd Gold Cup, [he] could possibly be in Arkle, Greatest Mate class.
“To be related to a horse like this, it’s an enormous honour to be concerned. We’re all delighted and we hope the dream stays alive.”
Nothing looks like Cheltenham… 🤩
This time subsequent week the ROAR returns 🔊 pic.twitter.com/AyE8nesOjt
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 4, 2025
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It could be a becoming finish to what’s positive to be one other thrilling competition if Galopin Des Champs can get it completed.
But when he doesn’t, it merely creates one other headline, one other horse thrust into stardom.
And are available what might, the followers will get pleasure from themselves: the Guinness can be drunk; the tales can be instructed; the laughs can be lengthy and loud.
Carry it on.
