Fowler on the Festival: Back Banbridge to chase Galopin home in Gold Cup

There are now just three weeks to go until the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and Odds Now have enlisted the help of national hunt enthusiast Harry Fowler to keep you abreast of all the key developments.

Catch Harry’s column every week between now and March to stay on top of the big stories and market moves from horse racing’s most anticipated meeting.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the crown jewel of the National Hunt racing calendar, is set to take centre stage once again at Prestbury Park three weeks from today.

As the pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival, this gruelling 3m 2½f test separates the good from the great, with past champions etching their names into racing history.

This year’s renewal is all about Galopin Des Champs, who is the current 8/15 favourite and unlikely to get much bigger between now and post time. He is looking to win this race for the third year running and if he hasn’t already for some, make it known that he is one of the greatest staying chasers of all time.

He has been better than ever this season, starting with a third in the John Durkan which over that two-and-a-half-mile trip which was a cracking seasonal reappearance.

Then onto the Savills Chase, where last season he won by 23 lengths without getting out of second gear. This season was about how the new challenger in Fact To File would fare after winning the John Durkan. Sure enough, Galopin Des Champs won cosily, jumping the last and extending away in breathtaking fashion.

Next to the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, and it was a similar story once again with Galopin Des Champs winning comfortably, making it three Irish Gold Cups in a row and Fact To File only managing a disappointing third, with Grangeclare West staying onto second. Given those last two runs and the way he extended after the last, it really is hard to see any horse beating him up another two furlongs.

2025 Irish Gold Cup - Galopin Des Champs pic.twitter.com/HWZsKt8sxE

— Racing Bulletin (@racingbulletin) February 1, 2025

In previous columns I have made clear my belief that Fact To File will run in the Ryanair and come back next year for a potential Gold Cup tilt instead. I think two of his best runs have been over the two-and-a-half-mile trip, with the John Durkan at the start of this season and then the Dublin Racing Festival last season, when putting Gaelic Warrior to the sword.

In terms of other contenders, last weekend we were treated to the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, where L’Homme Presse and Corbetts Cross had their last run before the Festival. They took on the Ascot course specialist Pic D’orhy and duly brought about the phrase of the weekend that was, ‘This is Pic D’orhy’s Gold Cup.’

For both the two actual Gold Cup candidates, the ground was on the quick side and the trip was on the sharp side. Both horses' jumping was shaky at best, with L’Homme Presse’s usual jumping out to the left also coming into play.

The speed was set early and maintained by Pic D’orhy, who had them up against it from the word go and duly won by 10 lengths. It really wasn’t the ideal preparation for the big day in a few weeks’ time, and I do think both L'Homme Presse and Corbetts Cross are duly up against it to make the places – especially the way they jumped.

Cheltenham Gold Cup odds as of February 21, 2025

Galopin Des Champs 8/15

Fact To File 13/2

Banbridge 7/1

Monty Star 121

Corbetts Cross 16/1

Grangeclare West 18/1

Grey Dawning 25/1

L’Homme Presse 331

Jungle Boogie 66/1

Cheltenham Gold Cup tip: Banbridge a bet without the favourite

Second favourite Banbridge is a top-class horse and comes into this race as the King George winner, where he put in a career-best on first attempt at three miles.

It is suggested that connections only have eyes for the Gold Cup following that victory, which is good to see, given the King George winner really should be taking part in this race.

Banbridge for all his quality and class is majorly ground dependant. If the ground comes up Soft on the day then he won’t be running at the Festival at all. It’s always been the case throughout his career – and when connections did reluctantly decide to give it a go last year on soft ground, he disappointed in last season's Ryanair.

Grey Dawning is another who could show here but that looks unlikely now and will likely be with a few others in the 'wait for Aintree' camp to avoid Galopin Des Champs. Jungle Boogie is entered in both the Ryanair and the Gold Cup and feel where he takes place will be dependent on the competition.

With horses I think are unlikely to line-up, here is what I anticipate we could be left with Galopin Des Champs, Banbridge, Monty Star, Grangeclare West, Corbetts Cross, L’Homme Presse and Jungle Boogie.

As a result, I am very much drawn to the without the favourite market. Banbridge at 5/2 NRMB Without Galopin Des Champs for me is a bet.

He does need decent ground as mentioned earlier but if it isn’t he won’t run, so your stakes will be back in your pocket should such a scenario occur.

There is 8/1 available for Banbridge to have an each way bet on but to do that, you have to think that Banbridge has a genuine chance of beating Galopin Des Champs. If not, having a £5 ew bet on an 8/1 shot and it placing is the same return as a £10 single on a 1.3 shot.

For me I think Galopin Des Champs looks bulletproof, and you are a lot better off taking 5/2 without the favourite for Banbridge than having an each way bet that will likely return very little.

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