A third Gold Cup is polished, shiny and ready for Galopin Des Champs to collect

HISTORY. That’s what the final day of Cheltenham 2025 is all about.

A beautiful third Gold Cup is polished, shiny and ready for GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (4.00) to come and collect.

GettyChappers is banking on these scenes from 2024 being repeated on Friday when Galopin Des Champs goes for his third Gold Cup[/caption]

Golden Miller managed to win five Gold Cups — the summit of jumps racing — in the 1930s, while Cottage Rake, Arkle and, more recently, Best Mate banged in three.

Galopin Des Champs is on the hat-trick for the Willie Mullins — the reigning champion trainer of Britain and Ireland — and it’s hard to anticipate anything other than victory.

Stamina is Galopin’s forte and he should simply outstay his rivals with his class and ability. Another for Mullins and Paul Townend.

Mullins has said he is the best chaser he has ever trained. So don’t even try to find one to beat him. The rest are playing for places.

And the horse I think might slip into the frame at a big price is Corbetts Cross for Jack Kennedy but we don’t have to have a bet in the race on days like this.

We should simply sit back and enjoy the creme de la creme of the chasing game.

And, boy, what a reception awaits Townend, Mullins and Galopin Des Champs return to the winners’ enclosure. I can’t wait.

Cheltenham 2025 – all you need

Best betting offers and sign up deals from our partners
Cheltenham live blog – don’t miss a second of the action
Templegate’s complete race by race guide

The final day of the Festival gets under way with the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle.

East India Dock brings in the Flat experience, but LULAMBA (1.20) might just be in a different league for Nicky Henderson.

The French import looked top class on British debut at Ascot and can go on to much better things — even though the form of that took a knock when runner-up Mondo Man was beaten at Kempton.

The County Hurdle is over the 2m1f speed test and ABSURDE (2.00) has surely been laid out for this.

He won it last year and has the ability to repeat the dose off 8lb higher in the handicap.

The better ground will suit more this time and, for that reason, he might just outclass the field. Another for Mullins.

The Mares’ Chase looks very competitive and getting 5lb I’ll stick with ALLEGORIE DE VASSY (2.40) for Mullins and Rich Ricci.

She was beaten by re-opposing Dinoblue last time and is worse off here at the weights, but I felt the small field didn’t suit and a stronger gallop here will be right up her alley.

JET BLUE (3.20) goes for the stamina-sapping Albert Bartlett and, although he has a little to find on ratings on some of these, the French raider was impressive at the track last time.

I think he’ll be hard to keep out the frame for the David Cottin yard and James Reveley.

Stamina is his strong suit and some of these might just struggle to get home.

The Hunter Chase, the Gold Cup for amateurs, follows the big one itself and ITS ON THE LINE (4.40) is my fancy.

He was second in this last year to Sine Nomine and I’d be hopeful he can go one better this time around for Emmet Mullins.

Derek O’Connor needs to time his winning run just right as the horse is a bit of a thinker, but he was also second in 2023 and likes this place. He deserves to win a big one.

The end comes with the Martin Pipe Hurdle and it’s hard to get away from the well-named NO ORDINARY JOE (5.20).

He was second to Iroko in 2023 off a mark of 139 and he gets in this time off one-pound lower.

He’s not easy to predict but has each-way claims for Nicky Henderson with Freddie Gingell on top.

That’s it for another year, people. Let’s just hope Galopin Des Champs wins — and then we see him back here on this day in 2026!