The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner as the best horses from the UK, Ireland and even France do battle around Prestbury Park over four days of breath-taking action. Our in-depth guide gives readers the best horse racing betting tips for the Festival, as well as the best bets online.
With day one taking place tomorrow, take a look at our best bets for the opening seven races…
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*All odds are correct at time of publication but subject to change, tipped horses may also become non-runners
1.20pm – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
The traditional curtain raiser to the Festival is greeted with a huge roar by the tens of thousands in attendance and am sure 2025 will be no different as the tape goes up. As is the case with most of the races in recent years, Willie Mullins holds a strong hand and his Kapek des Bordes has a great chance to get the Irish contingent off to a flyer. However, we fancy Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio to win this. He was impressive in his last race, thrashing Bleu de Vassy at Leopardstown, and we fancy him to follow up. At a longer price, Tripoli Flyer is fast-improving and could run well at bigger odds.
Selection – ROMEO COOLIO – 6/1
Each-way – Tripoli Flyer – 20/1
2pm – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 2m
This is set to be another rip-roaring race at a frenetic pace. With some of the best speedsters from both sides of the Irish Sea lining up, this is always one of the biggest spectacles of the four-day Festival. Mullins has another odds-on favourite in the shape of Majborough, who has been impressive over fences so far. However, at such a breakneck pace, his jumping can be sketchy, so we side with Dan Skelton’s L’Eau du Sud. He has reeled off a four-timer over the bigger obstacles and won well at Warwick last time out. He looks tailor-made for this contest. For each-way backers, Only By Night won easily at Exeter on her previous run and is improving enough to make the frame.
Selection – L’EAU DU SUD – 4/1
Each-way – Only By Night – 10/1
2.40pm – Ultima Handicap Chase – 3m1f
The first handicap of the week looks as tricky as ever to solve. With a big field expected, this race has thrown up plenty of surprises down the years and there could be another one as the field gets whittled down to a maximum of 24 runners. The British runners could hold the aces with some strong chances heading the betting, including The Changing Man, who can justify favouritism by winning this. He easily won at Ascot in a Grade 2 last time and has a touch of class. At longer odds, Trelawne could sneak a place, having run well at Haydock on the mud last time out.
Selection – THE CHANGING MAN – 6/1
Each-way – Trelawne – 22/1
3.20pm – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m4f
This race is set to whet the appetite ahead of the Champion Hurdle and there are some major players set to do battle for this valuable prize. With hot favourite Lossiemouth declared, we really like Mullins’ Jade du Grugy. She is proven over this distance and although she was fourth in this race last year, we fancy her to improve on that and win for Paul Townend and the master trainer. For those looking for real value, we think Jetara could outrun her odds. She won a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time and comes into this race in good form and will relish the trip.
Selection – JADE DU GRUGY – 9/2
Each-way – Jetara – 25/1
4pm – Champion Hurdle – 2m
The big race of the first day is the Champion Hurdle. The likes of Istabraq, See You Then, Hardy Eustace, Rooster Booster and Constitution Hill have all emerged victorious in this legendary race, and the latter is back again after missing last year’s renewal through injury. He has been as impressive as ever in his performance this term and looks a sure-fire bet to win his second Champion Hurdle and remain unbeaten. As for the rest, State Man has had an up-and-down campaign, but he did win comfortably on his last start in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown and could chase home Constitution Hill yet again.
Selection – CONSTITUTION HILL – 5/8
Each-way – State Man – 8/1
4.40pm – Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 2m
Another really hard handicap to dissect, as plenty of runners are expected to go to post for this intriguing contest. Although this race can fall to those bigger prices, we think the French may end up having a really good first day as ante-post favourite Stencil ticks all the boxes for this race. He was stepped up in class last time out and ran really well behind potential superstar, East India Dock. Now dropped in grade, he can storm to success. We really like Liam Swagger at generous odds. He won really well at Wetherby earlier in the season. The form has been franked from that race and he could well be in contention at the winning post.
Selection – STENCIL – 5/1
Each-way – Liam Swagger – 16/1
5.20pm – National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase – 3m6f
The final race of a breathless first day is the National Hunt Cup, run over a gruelling distance of almost four miles, so your selection will need to have stamina in abundance. With that in mind, we think the UK contingent can finish the opening day strongly with race favourite Haiti Couleurs. This Rebecca Curtis-trained horse has been in sparkling form this term and jumps and travels well through his races. He has also won round the course over a slightly shorter distance, but we think he will get this trip no problem.
Selection – HAITI COULEURS – 4/1
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