Cheltenham Odds: Who Are the Frontrunners?

Following an eventful weekend at the Dublin Racing Festival, the picture for the Cheltenham Festival in 2025 looks much clearer in some of the Championship races.

A two-day meet that offered no shortage of supreme performers has seen the ante-post markets rocked, with some notable names drifting in price, while others have come into prices that would lead many to consider them as unbeatable at the Festival this year.

If you consider betting on Cheltenham check out who are the leading contenders according to TwinSpires here: twinspires.com/200-signup/

But, who are the front-runners for notable races that could be very difficult to beat at the home of jump racing?

 Photo:  By Carine06 from UK - Handicap chase, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37285208

Constitution Hill

At the start of the season many questioned whether Constitution Hill would be the force of old, especially with talented mares such as Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead emerging as leading contenders.

However, the time for trying to get Nicky Henderson’s superstar beaten now appear over. Constitution Hill has won two from two this season, including a dominant success over two miles and one in the International Hurdle when cruising clear of Brentford Hope.

The Irish picture looks even more muddled after the Irish Champion Hurdle, with Lossiemouth crashing out after falling and State Man looking far from convincing. To add only further weight to Henderson’s chances, it looks likely that Brighterdaysahead is going for the Mares’ Hurdle, especially after the consistent support seen on the exchanges.

Galopin Des Champs

There is no denying that Galopin Des Champs is the best staying chaser of the modern era, and the Willie Mullins finally got all the credit he deserved when dominating the field in front of a frenzied crowd at the Dublin Racing Festival in the G1 Irish Gold Cup.

A third win in that race was questioned by some, with Fact To File and Grangeclare West among the newcomers bidding to overthrow the king. However, Galopin Des Champs was at his mesmeric best, producing bold displays and taking lengths out of his rivals at important fences when he needed them most.

It was a much more dominant display than the four-length margin suggested, but the atmosphere at Leopardstown only showcases the love that all jumps fans have for one of the greatest of all-time. A third straight Gold Cup at Cheltenham and a place among the greats looks likely in March.

Kopek Des Bordes

Aside from Galopin Des Champs, the performance of the weekend in Dublin goes to Kopek Des Bordes. The Mullins five-year-old has been pummelled in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle betting following a stunning display in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle.

Paul Townend didn’t even break a sweat on the aspiring champion over the two-mile distance, and he easily drew clear of the field to beat Karniquet by a 13-length margin. His back form already looks strong enough on paper after beating subsequent winner Kawaboomga on hurdles debut on Boxing Day.

He can be found as an odds-on shot for the opening race of the Festival now, while he has drifted to an almost double figure price for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. We could see something special in the Supreme this year.

Sir Gino

Nicky Henderson could have a very successful opening day at the Festival in 2025, as another of his stable stars has been cut in the betting for the Arkle following the Dublin Racing Festival.

Majborough was regarded as Sir Gino’s most likely danger, but the Mullins runner never looked to jump nearly as good as a two-miler should. Sir Gino has already proven his class over both obstacles this season, winning the G1 Fighting Fifth on seasonal reappearance in the absence of Constitution Hill, before hammering subsequent winner at the DRF Ballyburn by an extending seven-length margin in the G1 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.

Nothing seems to be on his level following that Grade One on chase debut, and Henderson could be set to double up on Day One of the Festival this year.

Jonbon

Another Henderson runner that likely would have been smiling from his box after watching his closest rivals in the betting in action at the Dublin Racing Festival was Jonbon.

Solness doubled up in Grade One company in Ireland after beating Marine Nationale by two lengths, with the disappointing Gaelic Warrior further back in third in the G1 Dublin Chase. Jonbon beat Solness by a staggering 25 lengths in the G1 Tingle Creek in December, and while questions are being posed of the most likely dangers, the Henderson runner is just looking better and better.

Jonbon enjoyed an excellent final prep run before the Champion Chase in late January, beating the talented Energumene by six lengths in the G1 Clarence House. Any Cheltenham hoodoo that has been questioned when it comes to Jonbon could be answered this year, as the J P McManus runner looks set to finally land the big prize that has eluded him to this point.