16:00 Cheltenham

Friday 14 March 2025

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 40.00s

Ahoy Senor⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 165| CWS

28/1

Not a fluent jumper of fences but top-class on his day. Shaped as if as good as ever when third in Old Roan at Aintree on reappearance but has pulled up on both runs since. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 362-3PP

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Banbridge^p⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 168| C

13/2

Raced mostly at shorter but there's stamina in his pedigree and he proved suited by the return to 3m when overhauling Il Est Francais in the King George at Kempton. This race asks a different question but he's good enough to ensure Galopin Des Champs doesn't have things all his own way.

Form: 19-14U1

Corbetts Cross²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: E Mullins| OR: 161| BF| C

14/1

High-class chaser who landed the National Hunt Chase at last year's Festival before a fine third to Gerri Colombe in Bowl at Aintree (25f, soft) in April. Operating a little below that level this season but will at least find this test more suitable than the 21f he ran over at Ascot last time.

Form: F13-262

Galopin Des Champs⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 177| CD

8/13

Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Only third on 2½m Punchestown reappearance but has comfortably won a pair of Grade 1s at Leopardstown since returned to 3m. Sure to take all the beating as he bids to become only the fifth three-time winner of this race.

Form: 11-2311

Gentlemansgame⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 160

40/1

Landed the 2023 Charlie Hall at Wetherby. Back to that sort of form when third of 9 to Galopin Des Champs in Savills at Leopardstown (3m) just after Christmas but below par when a well-held third in the Cotswold Chase here in January. Pulled up in this last year.

Form: 1P5-433

Inothewayurthinkin^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 160| CD

15/2

Won the Kim Muir at this meeting last year before adding a Grade 1 novice at Aintree. Has found life tougher in top open company since but he did stay on well when 7¼ lengths fourth to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup (3m) 6 weeks ago and this longer trip will play to his strengths.

Form: 911-754

Monty's Star⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 160| BF

8/1

Second to Fact To File and Spillane's Tower in Grade 1 novices here and at Punchestown last spring. Better effort this season when 7½ length fifth (Inothewayurthinkin neck ahead in fourth) to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month. Longer trip now should suit.

Form: 312-225

Royale Pagaille²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 163| BF| D

80/1

Mud lover who landed a second Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. Not so good away from testing ground when a remote sixth in the Grand National Trial there last month and he's unlikely to get his ideal conditions here this afternoon.

Form: F/1F-1P6

The Real Whacker^t⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: P Neville| OR: 159| C

28/1

Won the Brown Advisory at the 2023 Festival. Back to that sort of level when making all in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby (3m, good) in November and respectable fourth of 11 in King George since. If he's allowed to get into a good rhythm in front he might outrun big odds.

Form: 2P5-U14

Forecasts

Galopin Des Champs (8/13), Banbridge (13/2), Inothewayurthinkin (15/2), Monty's Star (8/1), Corbetts Cross (14/1), The Real Whacker (28/1), Ahoy Senor (28/1), Gentlemansgame (40/1), Royale Pagaille (80/1)

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS landed a third Irish Gold Cup last month and can cement his place among the greats by repeating that feat in chasing's blue riband event. Banbridge is a top-class chaser in his own right and December's King George hero has the potential to give the reigning champion plenty to think about with ground conditions likely to be ideal for him. Inothewayurthinkin, who was supplemented for £25,000 last weekend, can complete his Grand National preparations by staying on for third.