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When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025?

05 Feb | BY Betway Insider | MIN READ TIME |
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025?
Source: Alamy Stock Photo

The Gold Cup is the centrepiece of Cheltenham Festival. Discover all the scheduling details ahead of the big race, including the date, time, and runners.

As Cheltenham Festival fast-approaches, the chances are you’re penning the key dates in your diary. And where better to begin than the prize race itself! But exactly when is the Gold Cup? In this article, we’ve explored the date and time of this year’s race, as well as the ways you can watch the drama unfold and how to bet on the Gold Cup. For even more information, check out our Cheltenham Festival guide.

What is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

The Gold Cup is the highlight of Cheltenham Festival, capping off the week in style with the 3m 2½f race including a thrilling 22 jumps. Not only is it the main event of Cheltenham week, but the test of speed and stamina ranks among the most prestigious steeplechase in the racing calendar.

What date is the Gold Cup?

Not diverting from tradition, the glittering Gold Cup is once again set to take place on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival. So, mark your calendars and count down the days; get ready to witness greatness and the crowning of the latest Gold Cup champion on Friday 14 March.

Of course, the Cheltenham Gold Cup being hosted in mid-March can mean unpredictable weather, with conditions often ranging from sunshine to wind, rain, and even snow. So, if you’re in attendance, be sure to check the forecast and dress appropriately.

What time is the Gold Cup at Cheltenham?

The Cheltenham Gold Cup will take place at 4pm on Friday 14 March, between the Novices’ Hurdle Race (3.20pm) and the Festival Hunters Chase (4.40pm).

Note that this Gold Cup start time is half an hour later than the 2024 edition, and the latest billed start time of the Gold Cup in years (the race typically begins at 3.30pm but began as early as 1.30pm in 2019!). If the average winning race time – 6 minutes 53 seconds – is anything to go by, expect the Gold Cup to conclude by 4.07pm.

Where does the Gold Cup take place?

The prestigious Gold Cup takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse, on the New Course, during the annual Cheltenham Festival.

How can you watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

If you’re not lucky enough to be in attendance for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 14th March, you can instead catch the action on ITV1 – with the race billed to begin at 4pm! Many other races will also be aired on ITV, but if you’re keen to enjoy the full festival, you can enjoy coverage of all the races via a Racing TV subscription.

In anticipation of the Cheltenham Festival, we’ve also sat down with racing legends Katie Walsh, Ross O’Sullivan, Richard Hoiles and Gary O’Brien, to offer a series of preview shows – where we’ve analysed the latest Gold Cup markets and race favourites

The Gold Cup horses and jockeys at Cheltenham 2025

The Gold Cup horses and jockeys have been announced, including 2023 and 2024 champion horse and trainer duo Galopin Des Champs and Willie Mullins. While the race jockeys are yet to be finalised, Paul Townend would welcome the chance to ride with Galopin Des Champs again and claim a 5th Gold Cup victory.

Some of the horses that could feature at the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 14th March include:

  • Galopin Des Champs /

  • Banbridge /

  • Montys Star /

  • Corbetts Cross /

  • Grangeclare West /

  • L’Homme Presse /

  • Jungle Boogie /

Gold Cup expert tips

Gary O’Brien – Galopin Des Champs will rightly bring the house down should he complete the hat-trick but the kingpin of staying chasing is hardly betting material and I’d rather side with Inothewayyurthinkin / each-way. Last year’s Kim Muir winner has had a quiet campaign to date but his eye-catching fourth to the champ last time suggested he may now be ready to produce a career best.

Richard Hoiles – After all of the jumping travails of leading horses this week, coupled with the fact Galopin Des Champs / had his own disaster three years ago in novice company here, it does seem that only another capsize can stop the best chaser from joining the elite to have won three Gold Cups. He has had things his own way at Leopardstown but has succeeded in scaring away most of his opposition as a result, most notably Fact To File, who instead went for the Ryanair. He is tactically versatile and despite being a bit of a slow burn in terms of public recognition he got a tremendous reception at the Dublin Racing Festival and looks a class apart.

My view of Banbridge’s Banbridge / King George win was that it revolved every bit as much around speed as stamina as he was the only one with a sharp enough turn of foot to reel in Il Est Francais, who had rather slipped the field with the true stayers just not able to bridge the gap. As a result, it may be the supplemented Inothewayyurthinkin / who is the best each-way or betting without alternative, and if there is a more rain at any stage that will further increase his chances over Banbridge.

The Real Whacker / should ensure no easy lead for Galopin Des Champs, and that the race is run to find out Banbridge’s stamina and allow Inothewayurthinkin, who won the Kim Muir here last year, to outstay him.

The lightly raced Monty’s Star Montys Star / is the other each-way candidate, having finished second in last year’s Brown Advisory to Fact To File. He did not reappear until New Year’s Day, where he looked rusty when beaten at Tramore and was another to find the steady pace behind Galopin Des Champs in the DRF against him.

Katie Walsh – There isn’t much to say in the Gold Cup other than if Galopin Des Champs / turns up in his usual form and gets around, I can’t see him getting beaten. He was magnificent at Leopardstown last time and even seems to be improving! It’ll take a good one to stop him. I hope for racing he does win his third Gold Cup.

Ross O’Sullivan – Friday looks so competitive, but I like the fact they’ve supplemented Inothewayyurthinkin / in the Gold Cup. He must have a very solid each-way chance. He was a huge eyecatcher in the Irish Gold Cup and it looked as if he was heading for the Grand National, which he might do, but it’d not the strongest Gold Cup and he could really be in the mix.

How to bet on the Gold Cup?

At Betway, we take the complexity out of betting on the Gold Cup, so you can enjoy the full fun of the festival; whether you’re a first timer and fancy a flutter on the favourite or you’ve enjoyed many years of Cheltenham success! You can either place a race win bet on your chosen horse, or take advantage of our 1/5 each way odds, which includes a win bet and a place bet (in this case, if your horse finishes in the top 3).

With that in mind, for the latest advice from our experts, explore our betting tips for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, our complete collection of Cheltenham betting tips, or check out our full range of horse racing antepost odds.

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Betway Insider

Betway Insider

The Insider is an editorial blog for Betway, one of the best betting sites, featuring sporting insight, intelligent comment and informed betting tips for football betting and all other major sports.

Betway Insider

Betway Insider

The Insider is an editorial blog for Betway, one of the best betting sites, featuring sporting insight, intelligent comment and informed betting tips for football betting and all other major sports.