TEMPLEGATE approaches the last day of Cheltenham with a hopeful outlook, aiming to wrap up the week on a high note, despite a challenging period for bettors.
The main event of the day is the Gold Cup, which is set to begin at 4pm.
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2025 LIVE: THE LATEST INSIGHT AND RESULTS FROM THE GREATEST RACE MEETING
Galopin Des Champs, the remarkable horse trained by Willie Mullins, is aiming for a glorious hat-trick in the highlight race.
To place your bets on any Templegate selections below, simply click on their respective odds.
LULAMBA (1.20 Cheltenham, best bet)
This horse showcased dominance in a large field during his debut in France, catching the eye of top connections who subsequently transferred him to Nicky Henderson, acclaimed for his successful record in this event. His first UK outing at Ascot was impressive, exhibiting remarkable speed to defeat a notable contender comfortably. Although East India Dock presents a significant challenge, Lulamba has ample potential for growth and appears poised for Triumph level competition.
BRIDES HILL (2.40 Cheltenham, next best)
She ended her last season with an impressive 21-length victory in this category at Punchestown. Gavin Cromwell has carefully managed her progress this season, with only two outings to date. In her last race at Huntingdon, she finished in second place without being pushed hard. Her best runs have been over this distance on yielding ground, and today she finally has the chance to exhibit her true capabilities.
ANGELS DAWN (4.40 Cheltenham, triple bet)
She aims for redemption after a disappointing performance last year in this event, where she was a contender for at least a podium finish before falling at the second-last fence. Recently, she has shown excellent form in Irish point-to-point races leading up to this event, and her 7lb mares’ weight allowance could be crucial.
Templegate’s Race-by-Race Analysis for Day Four at Cheltenham
1.20 JCB Triumph Hurdle
LULAMBA is on track to secure Nicky Henderson his record-breaking eighth Triumph Hurdle title.
He delivered a stellar performance at Ascot, with more to give. East India Dock clocked a fast time and is the primary challenger alongside Hello Neighbour, who is likely to take third place.
Here’s my assessment of the entries and ratings for each horse out of five stars:
BLUE LEMONS 3 stars
SHARP Lemons. A competent performer on the Flat who transitioned smoothly to hurdling with a dazzling debut win at Gowran. Demonstrated remarkable speed and is a strong each-way prospect.
CHARLUS 2
CHAR is burnt. Showed some ability on the Flat in France, including a second-place finish in a Listed event. Cost nearly £300,000 and looked promising when winning on hurdles debut at Naas but requires substantial improvement.
EAST INDIA DOCK 4
EAST is a beast. Previously won at this venue and recorded an impressive time in the Trial for this race in January. Jumps well and possesses great speed. While his previous 11 Flat runs could be concerning, he appears to meet the needed standards for this race and has proven he can handle Cheltenham’s challenges.
GIBBS ISLAND 3
ISLAND is no fantasy. Impressive on the Flat, winning both his hurdles easily, especially last time out at Haydock. Likes this distance and trainer Tom Lacey is currently in good form. Needs considerable improvement to win but is a reliable outsider.
HELLO NEIGHBOUR 3
SAY Hello. Already a Grade 1 and 2 winner and had a comfortable ride at Leopardstown last month. Enjoys this distance and thrives on good ground. He may fall short of the top two but is the best option for each-way odds behind them.
LARZAC 2
ZAC attack. Recently transferred to Willie Mullins after being acquired by JP McManus following a promising debut at Auteuil in October. This may seem slightly ambitious for his second outing unless market support indicates otherwise.
LULAMBA 5
LAMB will chop ’em. Dominated a large field in his debut in France and quickly piqued the interest of notable connections who handed him over to Nicky Henderson, known for his successes in this race. His British debut at Ascot was striking; he showcased impressive speed to win decisively against a strong opponent. Despite the challenge posed by East India Dock, he has plenty of room for growth and certainly looks prepared for the Triumph level of racing.
MARCHE D’ALIGRE 1
PROTEST Marche. Started as a Flat runner in France with minimal promise. While he won on his UK debut for Jamie Snowden, he showed little in a Chepstow Grade 2 at Christmas, followed by a lackluster performance at Haydock recently. Needs to show more.
MONDO MAN 2
MAN hunt. The strongest Flat competitor here, registering a fifth in last year’s French Derby. He struggled to match Lulamba on hurdles debut for the Moores at Ascot and pulled too hard, finishing third in the Adonis at Kempton. A first-time hood may help, but improvement is required after that performance.
PAPPANO 1
PAP snap. A Flat handicap winner for John Gosden, now with Willie Mullins for £200,000. A tough task on his hurdles debut, but watch the market for insights.
PONIROS 2
ONE to Pon-der. Acquired by astute Brighton owner Tony Bloom for £200,000 despite modest Flat form. Keep an eye on the betting for clues prior to his hurdles debut.
TOO BOSSY FOR US 1
BOSSY told off. An average Flat handicapper purchased for £330,000, a son of Golden Horn out of a High Chaparral mare making his debut for Willie Mullins. The market will provide the best guidance.
WILLY DE HOUELLE 2
WILLY won’t. Defeated by four lengths by Hello Neighbour at Leopardstown, he seemed to respond better when held up. Competing in a handicap might have suited him better.
LADY VEGA ALLEN 3
ALLEN key. Paul Townend’s choice from the Mullins team after a close third behind Hello Neighbour last time. She struggled with the slow pace and is likely to benefit from a more genuine pace today. She can improve and has solid each-way claims with more place opportunities from bookmakers.
LUMIERE DU LARGE 2
LARGE one. Triumphed in his Flat debut in France and showed promise as a runner-up over hurdles for the first time in Pau. Has since moved to Mullins but seems to be down the pecking order based on jockey bookings.
OPEC 1
PEC wreck. Secured a Listed victory at Newbury in November yet has since faced severe defeats.
PLACE DE LA NATION 2
IN his Place. Displayed notable novice tendencies as a runner-up at Fairyhouse on debut for Willie Mullins. There’s substantial room for improvement needed.
SAINTE LUCIE 2
SAINTE a sinner. Exhibited potential with a victory at Punchestown in December but struggled in a Grade 1 last time, making support difficult.
2.00 William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
For this race, I select HANSARD. He previously competed at Grade 1 level as a juvenile for the Moores, winning a noteworthy handicap at Newbury last season before taking a significant break.
Following a slow return to form, he achieved a superb third place behind the 1-2 of the Champion Hurdle, Golden Ace and Burdett Road, in the Kingwell at Wincanton last time, positioning him nicely for this race.
This distance is ideal for him, and he should be a contender.
Last year’s winner Absurde faces an 8lb weight increase this time but performed strongly in the Melbourne Cup at the same level, demonstrating his quality.
However, it’s notable that Paul Townend has chosen to ride stablemate Kargese.
Kargese was runner-up in last year’s Triumph Hurdle and achieved Grade 1 success at Punchestown.
She almost clinched victory at Ascot on her return and hasn’t been overly harshly treated by the handicapper.
Emmet Mullins presents a formidable contender in McLaurey, who recently secured victory in a large field on his handicap debut at Leopardstown.
Although he’s been raised significantly by 16lb today, he appears to be on an upward trend.
Ndaawi finished last in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in his latest outing. Prior to that, he was second in the Galway Hurdle, which should have prepared him well for this challenge.
Valgrand claimed a Grade 2 victory by 17 lengths here in October and has been specifically prepared for this by the Skeltons.
2.40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
BRIDES HILL wrapped up last season with a remarkable 21-length triumph in this grade at Punchestown.
She has been meticulously prepared by Gavin Cromwell this season, having made only two starts thus far.
Her last race at Huntingdon saw her finish second with minimal effort.
Her best performances have occurred over this distance when the ground is yielding, and today she can finally display her full capacity.
Dinoblue should have won this race last year, narrowly missing out by three-quarters of a length after launching her challenge too late.
She has opted to stay at two miles and recently won a Listed contest at Naas despite making a mistake last time out. Expectations are high for her once more.
Allegorie De Vassy was her runner-up last time and is also a contender.
She suffered a six-length defeat in this event last year and may mirror a similar outcome this time around.
Last year’s champion Limerick Lace has had a rough time with her three runs since and finished 25 lengths behind Allegorie De Vassy on New Year’s Day.
She didn’t seem mentally prepared, and we hope the break has been beneficial.
There’s a notable gap in form to the other participants, with Shecouldbeanything yet to establish a mark at this level.
She has potential at this distance but must elevate her performance to vie for placings.
Fontaine Collonges appears to have lost her form and requires considerably more give in the ground.
Royale Margaux returned well to hurdles with a decisive win at Warwick but generally performs less effectively in chasing.
Mayhem Mya and Je T’Ai Porte look outclassed, particularly the latter, who fell in a modest handicap at Listowel when last seen in September.
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
JASMIN DE VAUX captured the Champion Bumper title here last year and is poised for another successful return.
He began his hurdling career with a significant win against 24 rivals at Navan in December.
Since that victory, he has faced stiffer competition at Grade 1 level but looks set to shine at this extended three-mile distance.
Notably, Paul Townend has chosen him from the Willie Mullins yard.
Wingmen outperformed the selection at Leopardstown last month, maintaining strong pace over 2m6f.
He should handle the extra distance with ease.
The Big Westerner has only raced twice but kicked off with a modest victory at Punchestown in November.
She significantly improved her form by winning a Grade 2 at Limerick on Boxing Day while covering a distance close to this one.
Her 7lb mares’ allowance will be beneficial and could be critical.
Wendingo secured a solid second-place finish behind The New Lion in the Challow, and based on his recent win at Wetherby, he’ll be a formidable presence if he can manage the added half-mile.
The French contender Jet Blue showed promise in a Grade 2 here in December, overcoming a couple of errors and demonstrating resilience to finish strong.
That race was over this trip, and he’s among the few contenders without doubts regarding stamina.
Fishery Lane made substantial progress with a nine-length success at Fairyhouse recently.
Having finished fifth in the Champion Bumper, he aligns well with Cheltenham, providing an each-way option.
Nativehill demonstrated a 16-length winning margin when scoring his maiden over hurdles at Huntingdon recently.
While still somewhat inexperienced, he wasn’t slowing down over 2m4f and should appreciate the longer distance.
Ballow Boy faced only two challengers to overcome when winning a Grade 3 at Clonmel last time, but he showed good staying ability and should advance on his fifth hurdle run.
Flicker Of Hope has been active of late, placing third in a competitive handicap at Leopardstown after impressive successes at Galway and Navan. Although this poses a tougher challenge, he may enhance his performance.
4.00 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is on track to join the ranks of legendary horses like Best Mate and Arkle with three Gold Cup victories.
Willie Mullins’ champion is unmatched and has already bested most of today’s competitors.
Banbridge would need to produce the performance of his life to challenge the champion, and he should secure a second-place finish, just ahead of the steady Monty’s Star.
Here’s my analysis of the entrants and ratings out of five stars:
AHOY SENOR 1 star
AHOY there. Fell in this race two years ago and has struggled this season. Though he is a Grade 1 winner, his frequent errors make him hard to support, despite his trainer’s good form.
BANBRIDGE 4
BAN-tastic. Finished strongly to win against Il Est Francais in the King George after a solid three-mile run. Although I’m somewhat skeptical about his stamina, he possesses immense class and exceptional jumping ability. Good to soft ground is essential for him to win at any distance.
CORBETTS CROSS 2
CROSS off. Victorious in last year’s National Hunt Chase, he is expected to have the stamina for this track. He finished a strong second in the Ascot Chase at a shorter distance last time and would favor softer ground.
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS 5
GALOPIN into the history books. Amongst the elite chasers of the 21st century, he has effortlessly clinched his two Gold Cups. He appears to be in peak form this season and can operate on any surface. It would be surprising if he were to lose after a week filled with surprises.
GENTLEMANSGAME 1
GAME over. Pulled up in this race last year and shows little sign of improved performance this time around.
INOTHEWAYURTHINKKIN 3
WAY to go. Strongly tipped for the Grand National due to his endurance; he was just starting to gain momentum at the end of the Irish Gold Cup last time. Not quick enough to win, but could salvage place money and cover the £25,000 supplementary fee for connections.
MONTY’S STAR 3
STAR quality. Nearly rated at four stars since he thrives at this distance and has repeatedly stayed close behind Galopin this season. He is another who could secure a top finishing position.
ROYALE PAGAILLE 2
PAG not my bag. Finished fifth and sixth in this event and won a Grade 1 at Haydock in heavy conditions earlier this season. While he enjoys the course and stays well, he does so at his own pace.
THE REAL WHACKER 2
UN-Real. A winner of the 2023 Brown Advisory and typically performs well here. Finished a distant fourth in the King George last time; while he should manage this trip, he is unlikely to compete at the highest level.
4.40 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
ANGELS DAWN aims to reclaim her glory after a disappointment in last year’s race.
That event was her last under Rules, where she was on track for at least a podium finish before stumbling at the second-last fence.
Since then, she has excelled in Irish point-to-point racing leading up to this race, and her 7lb allowance could be crucial.
Shearer has a winning course record, and trainer Paul Nicholls has secured this title four times over the past 20 years.
He displayed strong staying power while winning at Taunton and works well with the trainer’s daughter, Olive.
Its On The Line retains the skilled Derek O’Connor, who rode him last year when he fell just short in this event.
He subsequently secured victories in the Foxhunter at Aintree and Punchestown.
He’s been a runner-up in the last two editions, but at eight years of age, he should be competitive again.
Willitgoahead consistently wins in pointing and has moved to Gordon Elliott after his January victory at Thurles.
He’s exceptionally durable and has a solid chance for a placing.
Fairly Famous has clinched two smaller scale hunter chases on this course, and familiarity will serve him well.
He’s fit from pointing and could deliver a strong performance at decent odds.
Ryehill overcame a notable blunder and achieved an impressive victory at Naas last month.
He finished fourth in the Championship at Punchestown last season, and reproducing that form would give him a reasonable chance again.
Allmankind has competed at higher levels in hurdling but has won both his point-to-points, indicating he could be a factor in this race.
5.20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
MINELLA SIXO was performing well at Haydock last time until a clumsy fall three out.
He returns with the same mark here and was already showing strong form in Graded races earlier this season.
This distance suits him well, and trainer Gordon Elliott is successful in this race.
Kopeck De Mee is an enigma for Willie Mullins and JP McManus.
It’s uncertain how much added weight he should carry, having raced in France, but it’s substantial!
He was a comfortable Listed winner at Auteuil last time out in May. The potential issue is that all his form has come on holding ground, so quicker conditions remain uncertain.
Wodhooh won impressively in a competitive handicap here in December, and that form has proven resilient. Despite an 11lb increase, she could pose a challenge.
Act Of Authority has gained multiple victories this season and presents a challenge for this distance, as does Park Of Kings, who made an impression at Leopardstown last time and should manage the distance well.
No Ordinary Joe is one to watch following his strong fourth at Warwick.
Templegate’s Tips
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