Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025

Gerri Colombe

A surprise to start this most backed list, as GERRI COLOMBE (beaten 3 ½ lengths by Galopin Des Champs on Friday) has been the most popular ante-post selection for next year's Cheltenham Festival through oddschecker since the final set of declarations were made for this year's races last week.

This is most likely owing to a best price of 20/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025 on bet365 (shortest 10/1) despite pushing Willie Mullins’ stable star in Friday’s flagship race. Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old has accounted for nearly 40% of the bets at the time of writing.

Ryanair Chase 2025

Gaelic Warrior

The second most backed horse for Cheltenham 2025 is GAELIC WARRIOR, who raced clear of Found A Fifty to win the Arkle Chase last Tuesday.

The betting is split on his race of choice for next year’s Festival. 75% of his backers are for the Ryanair Chase (8/1 favourite on Sky Bet), with 25% taking him in a likely battle with El Fabiolo (pulled up last week) for the 2025 Champion Chase.

Champion Hurdle 2025

Ballyburn

Third on the list and a second for Mullins is BALLYBURN after his 13-length win in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle last Wednesday. The betting is even more divided for Ballyburn, whose backers are spread across four races for Cheltenham 2025. 

40% are for the Champion Hurdle (10/1 best price), 23% for the Arkle Chase, 20% for the Turners Novices’ Chase and 17% for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2025

William Munny

The fourth most backed and the only one who didn't run at this year's Festival is WILLIAM MUNNY, a six-year-old talked up by trainer Barry Connell as “the best bumper horse in Ireland” after a five-length win at Naas in February.

Should he show up well in the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Bumper next month, he will be shortened significantly from a current best price of 25/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on bet365 (shortest 14/1). He has taken 37% of the bets on the race.

Galopin Des Champs

And finally, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS does sneak on to our most backed list after successfully defending his Cheltenham Gold Cup title on Friday afternoon.

Bidding for a hat-trick, Mullins' eight-year-old has attracted 36% of the bets on the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025, for which he is a best price 3/1 on William Hill. Only Brown Advisory winner Fact To File (4/1) is shorter than 10/1 at best prices for next year's blue riband event.