Cheltenham Festival 2025 betting preview

The greatest show on turf is back. From 11-14 March, fans worldwide will tune in to arguably the greatest week in the racing calendar.

And if you’ve landed on our betting preview, you’re in the right place for tips across the major races, along with a few each-way swings across the week. And now you can bet using your voice - without a touch of a button.

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Let’s dive straight in with our FIRST’s best bets…

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day 1 

The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival currently has four odds-on favourites across the seven races.

Three belong to Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who will be a very popular man to follow and holds the record for the most number of winners across the festival (10 back in 2022).

The biggest news that broke on Sunday saw Mullins announce Lossiemouth would compete in the Mares’ rather than taking on Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle. A wise decision? 

We’ll have to wait and see, but racing fans were not best pleased. It’s winners Mullins wants, and the opening day could well belong to the Irishman. However, our NAP starts with Nicky Henderson’s machine.

FIRST’s top tip: Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle (8/13 with Betway)

The Festival banker to kickstart the week? 

Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley has stated his horse is “better than ever” heading back to Cheltenham, who has won all 10 of his races, including when romping home in the Champion Hurdle back in 2023. 

An injury kept him sidelined last campaign, but the eight-year-old is fitter than before and is ready to claim his crown back on Tuesday afternoon - and hopefully in style.

Extra tips

The most competitive race of the day is the 14:40 Ultima Handicap Chase, where a 24-strong field will race over 3m1f, and Gavin Cromwell’s Malina Girl has caught the eye. 

Having won at Cheltenham over 3m3f in November 2023 by 10 lengths, the return to the same track is a major boost. This is her sole entry - and isn’t entered into the National - and a strong pace should suit.

Malina Girl each-way in the Ultima Handicap Chase, six-places, at 12/1 with Betway.

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day 2

Cheltenham day 2 appears to be far more competitive than Tuesday’s card, where Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is the sole odds-on favourite, who’ll be competing in the main event: the Champion Chase.

However, it’s worth noting that 11 of the last 16 favourites that started odds-on, only three went on to win. 

Do keep in mind that previous runners at the festival perform well, with 19 of the 24 winners this century having already competed at Cheltenham.

Away from the main event, all eyes will be on The New Lion and Final Demand, who are expected to be involved in the finish in the Turners Novices Hurdle, while Ballyburn is a warm favourite to win the Brown Advisory. 

Elsewhere, the Coral Cup looks primed and ready to challenge punters; a race known for throwing up a big-priced winner. 

FIRST’s top tip: Better Days Ahead each-way 2 places in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (7/1 with Betway) 

Last year’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle winner will have to be at his best to beat Mullins’ pair, but this is a race where only nine of the last 25 favourites have won.

However, 10 of the last 14 winners ran over hurdles at the previous year’s festival: advantage to Gordon Elliott.

Although 2m5f, this is a race where stamina is key, and Better Days Ahead will look to pick off his rivals once turning for home - even if one or two are ahead of him. 

The ‘Martin Pipe’ can be a springboard for horses to go and win bigger and better races at the festival, and Elliott’s horse looks like a staying chaser. Ballyburn will be tough to beat, but Better Days Ahead’s profile appeals.

Extra tips

It’s often best to look at outsiders for the Coral Cup, with 50/1, 33/1 and 28/1 winners cropping up in recent years. 

Willie Mullins has only won this race once in 50 attempts, so don’t expect this to be an event he’ll land.

Instead, side with Dan Skelton’s Santos Blue. Impressive at Newbury last month, the eight-year-old has course form and often travels very strongly into his races. 

The more pace to aim at, the better for this horse that comes from a yard that has won the race the last two years.

Santos Blue each-way in the Coral Cup, six-places, at 25/1 with Betway.

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day 3

With two feature races set to take place - the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle - this is the day we see a switch from the ‘old’ course to the ‘new’ one. 

Once again, Willie Mullins has a huge favourite with Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase, who has finished behind Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs in his last two attempts at Leopardstown. 

Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo, who has won three of his last five races, heads the betting for the Stayers’ Hurdle, while stablemate The Wallpark could be the perfect each-way swing at a much bigger price.

FIRST’s top tip: Djelo each-way 4 places in the Ryanair Chase (14/1 with Betway)

With 15 of the previous 16 winners aged between seven and nine, and British horses edging out the Irish, Venetia Williams’ Djelo fits the bill at a big price. 

A consistent performer, Djelo has run three career bests this year and has yet to finish out of the first two from four attempts this campaign. 

Not only did he beat last year’s winner Protektorat convincingly at Huntingdon, before beating the likes of Bravemansgame and Hitman at Newbury last time out. 

At a double-digit price, there’s lots to like about Djelo’s chances in the Ryanair.

Extra Tips

Reckon Teahupoo won’t have it all his own way in the Stayers’ Hurdle? Then Mystical Power could be your each-way selection. 

Second in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he’s ‘up in trip’ (running a longer distance than ever before) for the first time, but don’t let that put you off - we’ve seen these kinds of tactics deployed by Willie Mullins before.

It’s worth noting that Mystical Power was as short as 6/5 to beat Sir Gino two runs back, and he could well be underestimated in this field.

Mystical Power each-way in the Stayers’ Hurdle, five-places, at 16/1 with Betway.

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day 4

The Gold Cup is the pinnacle on the final day, and this year looks to be no different. 

This time round, it’s all centred around the reigning champion Galopin Des Champs, who is looking to make it three wins in a row for Willie Mullins. 

His entry has put plenty of competitors off, but there are still nine others looking to steal his crown. One in particular has been underrated.

FIRST’s top tip: Inothewayurthinkin each-way 3 places in the Gold Cup (7/1 with Betway) 

Galopin Des Champs is a very short favourite to win a historic third straight Gold Cup - but odds of 1/2 aren’t all that enticing. 

Instead, Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin - the 2024 Kim Muir winner - can play a key role in the feature. 

His run at Leopardstown really caught the eye, and while there are hopes and aspirations for the Grand National, Inothewayurthinkin still hasn’t shown his full potential. 

If the reigning champion doesn’t turn up, Cromwell’s horse has a great chance to spring a surprise.

Odds correct at the time of writing.