Galopin Des Champs has become the center of attention in the lead-up to the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup. His potential to win this famous race for the third year in a row has sparked keen interest among racing enthusiasts.
His rise from modest beginnings to back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup victories is proof of his natural ability, bold jumping, and strong spirit.
Over the past few seasons, he has earned admiration from both experts and casual fans alike, thanks to a racing style that blends grace and power in equal measure.
Few horses can match his record at the highest level, and his growing list of achievements suggests he is well on his way to becoming a true legend of the sport.
Yet there’s a deeper story here: a drop in entries for the upcoming race and a growing belief that other trainers might be rerouting their horses.
Fewer Entries in 2025: A Sign of Caution?
An interesting detail of the 2025 Gold Cup is the smaller pool of declared runners. While the official numbers won’t be confirmed until closer to the big day, early reports suggest several leading trainers have directed their horses elsewhere, favouring races that might offer a more realistic chance of victory.
Many in the racing community wonder if this is down to the dominating presence of Galopin Des Champs, with some pointing to shifting Cheltenham betting patterns as further evidence of his influence.
A drop in entries can result from many factors: training issues, horses suited to different distances, or even unforeseen events during the season.
Still, some experts suspect that the strength shown by Galopin Des Champs in his last two Gold Cup wins, along with his other significant victories, has prompted some trainers to avoid taking him on directly.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the crowning event of the festival, but many trainers are strategising around their horses’ best chances. If they feel that facing Galopin Des Champs at his best is an uphill battle, they may opt for a different target.
That said, there were 27 entries in 2023 when Galopin Des Champs was a relative unknown. That number dipped to 20 in 2024 when he was bidding for his second win. And now, with a third consecutive win on the table in 2025, only 19 were entered, though that number has already dropped to 15 still in contention.
Incidentally, the Champion Chase received its highest number of entries in the last four years, with 26 declaring their interest at the outset. Coincidence?
Will He Complete the Hat-Trick?
Predicting the outcome of any race in horse racing is risky, especially one as grueling as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The track’s uphill finish is known for exposing the slightest weakness.
With so many fences to jump, a single mistake can dash a favorite’s hopes. Even so, Galopin Des Champs stands out for his blend of speed, jumping ability, and resilience.
If he lines up in peak shape, and nothing so far indicates that he won’t, it will take a standout performance from another horse to defeat him.
What about possible challengers? The following two potential runners in the betting markets – Banbridge and Fact To File – have options elsewhere at the Festival.
If they get withdrawn, then the next best challenger could be Monty’s Star or Corbetts Cross, neither of which, at least on paper, suggest they would pose any real problems for Willie Mullins’ stable star.
There’s a chance that a dark horse may show sudden improvement and threaten the champion. But given Galopin Des Champs’ track record, the confidence placed in him is understandable.
A Potentially Historic Moment
We so rarely get to watch history being made in front of our eyes that the idea of witnessing another three-time winner in the Cheltenham Gold Cup has gotten everybody talking about the 2025 Gold Cup.
We saw it with Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020 and before that, back in 2007, 2008, and 2009, when Kauto Star and Denman went toe-to-toe over three Gold Cup races.
This time around, it is Galopin Des Champs who carries the hopes of Willie Mullins, his owners, and anyone who values skill at the highest level of the sport.
Yet, we also appreciate how tough it is to sustain this level. A brief lapse in form, a minor health setback, or an off day could ruin the dream. That’s part of the drama of the sport: nothing is certain until the horses cross the finish line.
If Galopin Des Champs does win, he will claim a place beside Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle, and Best Mate. His feat would remind us that these special champions rarely emerge. If he falls short, it would be a reminder of how difficult this race can be.
A Look at the Rare Triple Winners
Horses that have claimed three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup victories hold a special place in racing history. Only a few names appear on this list.
The first was Golden Miller, who not only managed three but actually won five in a row between 1932 and 1936. This legendary horse set a standard of excellence that has rarely been matched.
Next came Cottage Rake, trained by Vincent O’Brien, who took the Gold Cup in 1948, 1949, and 1950.
Then, in the 1960s, Arkle enthralled the racing world with wins in 1964, 1965, and 1966. His feats turned him into a symbol of both talent and heart.
It would be decades before another horse achieved this triple success, and that was Best Mate, who managed it in 2002, 2003, and 2004 under the guidance of trainer Henrietta Knight.
These champions share a few common traits. Each had natural ability over fences, a strong competitive drive, and trainers who carefully chose targets that suited their talents.
Above all, they had the good fortune to remain fit through each successive season. Even one minor setback can end the dream, making the triple Gold Cup an extremely tough goal.
Willie Mullins: Champion Trainer
Willie Mullins has been at the forefront of National Hunt racing for decades. Early in his career, he made his name with top-class hurdlers and a consistent pipeline of younger talents.
He has become the leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival on eleven occasions, with Gordon Elliott the last to unseat him in 2018.
Yet, for many years, the Gold Cup was the one major race that eluded him. He had numerous close calls, but victory slipped away time and again.
That changed in 2019 when he trained Al Boum Photo to Gold Cup success. Mullins followed up in 2020 with the same horse, ending any doubt over his ability to win the sport’s biggest prize.
Mullins is known for his steady approach. He focuses on bringing horses along gradually, often giving them a measured number of prep runs. This tactic has worked perfectly with Galopin Des Champs.
He spotted the horse’s potential early and gave him the right environment to flourish. Now, the horse carries not just the hopes of his connections but also the attention of fans who love seeing a star performer at Cheltenham.
Conclusion
The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup will attract the attention of racing fans everywhere. Galopin Des Champs is on the brink of a record that few horses have achieved.
There’s a smaller field this year, possibly due to the aura surrounding this star chaser, but Willie Mullins, with his steady hand, will do all he can to guide his stable star to another famous victory.
What happens on the day remains to be seen. Racing is a sport that can shock and amaze. Still, Galopin Des Champs has the profile of a champion. His past two wins and his continued strong performances point toward another day of triumph.
History beckons, and the stage is set for a thrilling chapter in the story of one of the most respected races in the calendar. If he pulls it off, it will be a moment that stays with racing fans for many years to come.
