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5 ante-post favourites who can win at the Cheltenham Festival

Tue 28th Jan 2025, 09:23

Punchestown 22 11 24 Ballyburn and Paul Townend win the Conway Piling Beginners Steeplechase Punchestown 22 11 24 Ballyburn and Paul Townend win the Conway Piling Beginners Steeplechase
© Photo Healy Racing

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the jumps season and the Cotswolds extravaganza is looming large on the horizon once more.

Ahead of the most important four days in the National Hunt campaign, we've picked out five ante-post favourites that can justify their billing at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Sir Gino

Unbeaten and seemingly with the world at his feet, Sir Gino will be a warm order in the Arkle on day one.

He started the season by winning the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November, standing in for stablemate Constitution Hill, before graduating to novice chasing once his Seven Barrows neighbour was back in business.

The manner in which Sir Gino won the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas was hugely impressive, leaving the high-class Ballyburn toiling in his wake.

He jumped both boldly and with assurance and a repeat in the Arkle will make him extremely tough to beat as Nicky Henderson seeks a record-extending eighth win in the two-mile Grade 1.

Jonbon

Henderson and stable jockey Nico de Boinville can complete a double in the two-milers over fences by winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Jonbon on day two.

He has been an incredibly reliable servant, with 17 wins and three runner-up finishes in his 20-race career.

His two Festival starts saw him denied by Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and El Fabiolo in the Arkle before missing out last year as the Henderson team were under a cloud in terms of their well-being.

Jonbon has looked better than ever this season, including when slamming two-time Champion Chase winner Energumene at Ascot in January, and his big moment at the Cheltenham Festival looks to be on now.

Ballyburn

Ballyburn was made to look rather ordinary by Sir Gino at Kempton but it will surely prove wise not to read too much into that.

Dropping back to two miles was questionable for the Willie Mullins inmate in any scenario, but in particular around Kempton, where the emphasis is on speed. It was asking too much when confronted with a rival that had just won an open Grade 1 over the minimum trip.

Stamina is going to be key for Ballyburn in time, it seems, and three miles in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase could be right up his street. He was all the rage for the 2m5f Grade 1 Novices' Hurdle here last season and obliged punters and he may do something similar again.

Teahupoo

The Stayers' Hurdle can once more go to Teahupoo for Gordon Elliott. He won this well from Flooring Porter last year and followed up in a Grade 1 at Punchestown.

He was denied behind Lossiemouth on his seasonal bow in the Hatton's Grade at Fairyhouse in December, but that was over two-and-a-half-miles.

The return to three miles for a horse that loves to be fresh looks optimal now and he can land back-to-back wins in this Cotswolds showpiece.

Galopin Des Champs

Not since Best Mate in 2004 has any horse won three successive Cheltenham Gold Cups but Galopin Des Champs looks firmly on course to emulate Henrietta Knight's charge and join the true greats.

He beat off Bravemansgame in 2023 and then Gerri Colombe when defending the crown last year.

He was beaten in the John Durkan at Punchestown on his seasonal return but that can be attributed to the inadequate trip and the fact he rarely has looked at his best going around the Kildare circuit.

He sparkled in winning another Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and Willie Mullins' star is going to take all the beating when he defends the Blue Riband on Friday, March 14th.

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