Road to the Cheltenham Festival 2025 – 1 week to go

It’s that time of year again, where we look ahead to the Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival in March and with only one week to go, here is our final preview post of the year.

For those who haven’t followed Severn Sport during the run up to and the Festival itself, our coverage includes posts at 8, 4 2 and 1 week to go markers, as well as a Tipster League during Festival week – where figures from football in Gloucestershire compete to be crowned our King Tipster.

In January, Severn Sport’s Ryan Butler was joined by Tipster League veteran, Damon Highet, and Slimbridge Co-Manager, Tom Deakin, for our first preview post, where the boys looked at their Best and Worst Priced Favourites and Longshots.

Then, two weeks ago the trio looked at Two Horses and One Race to watch in the run up to the big week.

And last week, the boys were joined by Michael Hedley-Ward to pick their Antepost Lucky 15s.

This week, Butler takes a look at a key race on each day of the Festival and looks at how the market looks ahead of the four days.

As always, Severn Sport encourages everyone to bet responsibly and the prices below are taken from SkyBet at the time of writing, so are subject to change.

Tuesday 11 March – 16.00 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Nine horses currently hold entries for the featured race on the opening day and after the news that Brighterdayahead will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle, there is now a strong legitimate challenge to Constitution Hill.

The superstar is rightly the market favourite and after recent displays against Lossiemouth, it felt like Nicky Henderson would be set to celebrate yet another Champion Hurdle win.

But Gordon Elliott’s mare keeps things interesting, with last year’s winner State Man also capable of running a good race, even if it is believed he isn’t what he was last term.

The money in the race could come in the form of Golden Ace who is the only horse to have beaten Brighterdaysahead and will come into the race full of confidence after beating Burdett Road last time out.

I honestly do think that Golden Ace and maybe Lossiemouth may decide to go and stake a claim for the Mares Hurdle – which could open up some place money if one of the other market leaders has a bad day.

King of Kingsfield and Winter Fog will likely line up and look to try and cause a stir, whilst outsider of the field Senecia is an interesting proposition after beating El Fabiolo at 50/1 last week.

Butler’s Tip – Burdett Road to place (9/4) – Antepost rules pays 3 places, with less places potentially on offer depending on withdrawals on the day.

Wednesday 13 March – 13.20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

This year sees a change to the Turners from a Chase to a Hurdle and the market has offered up an interesting battle up top.

The New Lion and Final Demand offer two strong market leaders, who you could make a massive case for.

Willie Mullins’ Final Demand was a very heavy favourite two months ago, but after recent wins for The New Lion, Dan Skelton’s runner has made it very, very close, with admirers for both.

Kopek Des Bordes holds an entry at this stage, but currently looks like the horse to beat in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to open the Festival, whilst The Yellow Clay still holds an entry for the Albert Bartlett whilst it appears to be more likely he appears in this.

Due to the change in classification for the race, a number of runners in the market hold entries in other races, with Romeo Coolio at a similar price for this and the Supreme – a punters nightmare, with James’ Gate also holding entries in both.

Potters Charm took a big confidence blow last time out, but Nigel Twiston-Davies’ entry could still make his presence felt, whilst Sixmilebridge has won on the last three occasions and Mullins’ Kiss Will is lightly raced – yet all three are the next best in the market.

Outside of this, it is a bit of a minefield, to be honest, with the Non-Runner No Bet period allowing you to basically pick one at random and hope you get a run for your money, although you get your money back if it turns up elsewhere.

Butler’s Tip – The New Lion to win (15/8); Potters Charm each way (10/1)

Thursday 14 March – 15.20 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

The Ryanair has basically been about which of Willie Mullins’ contingent will appear.

Fact To File was set to challenge Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, but after GDC’s displays at Christmas, it seems certain FTF settles for this.

Gaelic Warrior looks set for the Ryanair after the rumours that Paul Townend would ride Energumene in the Champion Chase – although both horses hold entries in both races, it seems GW heads here out of the two.

El Fabiolo won’t make the trip to Cheltenham and there are rumours that Spillanes Tower will also miss the Festival.

Il Est Francais and Banbridge come into the week with good hopes and the market reflects that, whilst last year’s winner Protektorat would be another fitting winner for the late John Hales.

The Ryanair offers some big prices for some experienced runners like Grangeclare West at 12s Envoi Allen at 14s, Fil Dor and Blue Lord at 33s.

Earlier in the previews I backed Journey With Me at 50s as if he turns up will always run his race, no into 40s you never know.

There are question marks over whether Fact To File is as strong as the current 6/4 suggests, so he could be one to take on – with plenty of value offered.

Butler’s Tip – Il Est Francais to win (3/1); Protektorat each way (6/1)

Friday 15 March – 16.00- Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

At this point, only 14 runners are entered in the Gold Cup and at this stage, the race has plenty to offer.

Galopin Des Champs is the strong market leader, particularly after Grey Dawning was confirmed as skipping Cheltenham for Aintree and Fact To File looking almost certain to be heading to the Ryanair.

Banbridge is 4/1 for both races with his destination up in the air, whilst Monty’s Star and Corbett’s Cross might just be looking at the Grand National Race itself as the main event.

L’Homme Presse was disappointingly pulled up at Ascot last month, but usually fairs better at Cheltenham.

Grangeclare West has shortened in the Ryanair market, so looks more likely to hear there, whilst Jungle Boogie and Hewick hold entries for other races at the Festival.

A number of the bigger prices look to hold entries without really holding much hope in the market, like Gentlemansgame, The Real Whacker and Royale Pagaille, who both look set for the National and Conflated, who holds an entry for a race at each day at the Festival.

Ahoy Senor doesn’t hold any entries for Aintree as it stands, but GDC feels a cut about Lucinda Russell’s gelding.

Butler’s Tip – L’Homme Presse to place – 3 places (9/4)

Check back on Monday 10 March, where we will be launching the 2025 Tipster League, looking at the teams, their antepost tips and the new additions to the boosts!