4 minutes As the dust settles on another sensational Cheltenham Festival, we now look forward to what the next twelve months has in store for some of the stand-out performers at Prestbury Park
As the dust settles on another sensational Cheltenham Festival, we now look forward to what the next twelve months has in store for some of the stand-out performers at Prestbury Park. Bookmakers have already opened the book on next year’s Festival with plenty of popular antepost markets available whilst we also have the small matter of the Punchestown Festival and Grand National meeting to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Galopin Des Champs eyeing another Gold Cup
Willie Mullins’ superstar, Galopin Des Champs claimed a second successive Gold Cup win in a sensational run on Friday and the eight-year-old was immediately installed as the bookies’ favourite for next year’s Gold Cup. In an effort to emulate the likes of Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate in winning a third straight Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs is as short as 3/1 with bookmakers, Betfair.
Galopin Des Champs followed up last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup win with an appearance in the Punchestown Gold Cup six weeks later. It remains to be seen whether we’ll see Galopin Des Champs at the Punchestown Festival this year but one horse that is set to enter next month’s Punchestown Gold Cup is 2023 champion, Fastorslow. Fastorslow was well-backed ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup but he unseated his rider at the 16th fence. Trainer, Martin Brassil, will want to right that wrong sooner rather than later and Fastorslow is tipped to earn a second straight Punchestown Gold Cup win.
The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup antepost market is littered with some of this year’s stand-out performers. Brown Advisory winner, Fact To File is 7/2 second-favourite, ahead of Grey Dawning who is now 10/1 following an impressive win in the Turners Novices’ Chase. Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, Gerri Colombe is 16/1 to go one better in next year’s renewal.
Lossiemouth: Mares' Hurdle or Champion Hurdle?
Lossiemouth put in arguably the performance of the week to land the Mares’ Hurdle and in the opinion of many, she could’ve been a real strong contender for the Champion Hurdle if she would’ve been rerouted in the absence of Constitution Hill. Lossiemouth is 4/1 for next year’s Champion Hurdle behind 2/1 favourite, Constitution Hill whilst she is 9/4 to land a second successive Mares’ Hurdle.
Corach Rambler tipped for more Aintree glory
Another Gold Cup participant that has been the subject of significant market movement over the weekend is Corach Rambler. A strong display of stamina saw the ten-year-old run on for third in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and last year’s Grand National winner has now been backed in to just 5/1 to win a second successive Grand National at Aintree next month.
Teahupoo claimed a first Cheltenham Festival win at the third time of asking last Thursday as he landed the Stayers’ Hurdle ahead of two-time winner, Flooring Porter. Teahupoo has been installed as 3/1 favourite to retain his Stayers’ Hurdle crown next year.
Gaelic Warrior on the right track
Many people doubted Gaelic Warrior’s ability to win on Cheltenham’s left-handed track but the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old answered his doubters emphatically as he stormed to victory in the Arkle. Next month he’s set to return to his preferred right-hand course at Fairyhouse and will be hugely popular in the betting for the WilllowWarm Gold Cup on March 31st.
Can Nicky Henderson bounce back next month?
Nicky Henderson endured a disastrous Cheltenham Festival with several high-profile withdrawals, including Jonbon, Constitution Hill and Triumph Hurdle favourite, Sir Gino. Of those that did run, most were below-par with no fewer than eight horses pulling up. The Henderson horse most likely to feature in the coming weeks is Jonbon. Having been pulled from the Champion Chase, Jonbon connections were forced to watch as the race was won by a Captain Guinness that proved no match for Jonbon in Sandown’s Celebration Chase last April. Jonbon could head back to Sandown to defend his crown whilst he could also be considered for the Punchestown Champion Chase.
