Inothewayurthinkin put Galopin Des Champs’ chances of winning a third consecutive Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup to an end when taking the feature race on day four of the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Gavin Cromwell, owner JP McManus and jockey Mark Walsh.
Supplemented for the race by his owner, the seven-year-old by Walk In The Park who last won when taking the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree last April, challenged Galopin Des Champs at the final fence and powered up the hill to win.
“It’s brilliant – it’s something you dream of when you’re a kid wanting to be a jockey, so it’s a dream come true,” said Mark. “I had a great trip round. They went a proper good gallop; I had a lovely position.
“Paul Townend was on the outside on Galopin Des Champs and I noticed early on he wasn’t happy – I noticed by his body language that he wasn’t just happy with how Galopin Des Champs was jumping, so I thought that if I had a clear round I could have a little squeak.
“My lad just carried me there. Gavin has done a savage job with him, and Keith Donoghue has done a brilliant job with him at home too – he’s done all the work on him, so I’m just lucky to be able to ride him.”
Inothewayurthinkin went off as third favourite at odds of 13/2 and Gavin admitted that he thought he had “a chance of being a Gold Cup horse”.
“Galopin Des Champs is a dual Gold Cup winner, but we were coming here to try and win the race – we weren’t coming to pick up the pieces and get place money. We thought we’d have a good chance if everything was right.
“To have a runner in the Gold Cup is fantastic, but to win it is unbelievable – I’m so grateful to JP and Noreen [JP’s wife] for sending horses like this to me. I’m just delighted to be able to repay them by winning the Gold Cup.”
Gavin was a farrier for more than 20 years before getting into training racehorses.
“Eventually I had to give up the farrier job when the training got busier. It’s well publicised I was Gordon Elliott’s farrier and I shod Don Cossack [who won the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup in 2016].”
8/13 favourite Galopin Des Champs finished a gallant second for trainer Willie Mullins, jockey Paul Townend and owner Audrey Turley.
“Everything seemed to be a bit of an effort,” said Paul. “He came half alive the top of the hill the last time and I was hoping it would be game on from there – and it was.
“He’s run a blinder, he’s finished second, he’s gone down on his sword. It’s disappointing to get beaten, but he’s back, he’s fine and gave [people] something to shout about for a long time.”
Asked whether the ground was a bit faster than Galopin Des Champs would like, Paul said: “That’s the first thing I was thinking going round, that this [the ground] is livelier than he appreciates. But no excuses – he wasn’t good enough on the day, but he is still our favourite.”
Mouse Morris, trainer of the third Gentlemansgame – who went off at 40/1 – and was ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe and is owned by Robcour, said: “He ran his heart out and jumped super. He just lacks a gear, but he will stay all day. He is as honest as the day comes.”
In a sad post-script to this race, Corbetts Cross, trained by Emmet Mullins, was fatally injured when falling at the second last.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase, run over 3 miles 2.5 furlongs with 22 fences, that is held on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is the most prestigious race at the Festival, which runs from Tuesday-Friday, and a massive highlight of the National Hunt season. The Gold Cup, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, got underway at 4pm on Friday 14 March. Here’s everything you need to know about the big race, from this year’s runners and riders, and how to watch, to what prize money the winner took home.
Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, who also won this race in 2023, was favourite to repeat that success yet again for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend. Banbridge was second favourite for jockey J J Slevin and trainer Joseph O’Brien, while fellow Irish raider, Inothewayyurthinkin, was third favourite for jockey Mark Walsh and trainer Gavin Cromwell.
When was the 2025 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The race got underway at 4pm on Friday 14 March.
What was the prize money for winning?
The winner of the 2025 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase took home £363,999 making it the most valuable jumps race in Britain and Ireland after the Grand National.
Who were the runners in the 2025 race?
Horse: Galopin Des Champs | Jockey: Paul Townend | Owner: Mrs Audrey Turley
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Banbridge | JJ Slevin | Owner: R A Bartlett
Joseph O’Brien
Inothewayyurthinkin | Mark Walsh | Owner: J P McManus
Gavin Cromwell
Monty’s Star | Rachael Blackmore | Owner: Barry Maloney
Henry De Bromhead
Corbetts Cross | Jack Kennedy | Owner: J P McManus
Emmet Mullins
The Real Whacker | Sam Twiston-Davies | Owner: Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price
Patrick Neville
Ahoy Senor | Derek Fox | Owner: Mrs C Wymer & Pjs Russell
Lucinda Russell
Gentlemans Game | Darragh O’Keeffe | Owner: Robcour
M F Morris
Royale Pagaille | Charlie Deutsch | Owner: Mrs S Ricci
Venetia Williams
What were the betting odds for this year’s runners?
The following odds are correct at the time of publishing pre-race and may vary between bookmakers.
Galopin Des Champs: 4/7
Banbridge: 5/1
Inothewayyurthinkin: 7/1
Monty’s Star: 11/1
Corbetts Cross: 20/1
The Real Whacker: 40/1
Ahoy Senor: 50/1
Gentlemans Game: 66/1
Royale Pagaille: 80/1
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Recent winners
2024: Galopin Des Champs – read race report
2023: Galopin Des Champs – read race report
2022: A Plus Tard – read race report
2021: Minella Indo – read the race report
2020: Al Boum Photo – read the race report
2019: Al Boum Photo – read the race report
2018: Native River – read the race report
2017: Sizing John – read the race report
2016: Don Cossack – read the race report
2015: Coneygree – read the race report
2014: Lord Windermere – read the race report
2013: Bobs Worth – read the race report
2012: Synchronised – read the race report
2011: Long Run – read the race report
Winning-most trainer, horse, jockey and owner
The all-time leading Cheltenham Gold Cup trainer is Tom Dreaper, who won it a total of five times, thanks to Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964-66) and Fort Leney (1968). The all-time most successful horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is Golden Miller, who won it a total of five times across five consecutive years – 1932 to 1936. The top all-time Cheltenham Gold Cup jockey is Pat Taaffe, who won a total of four times – three times on Arkle (1964-66) and one on Fort Leney (1968). And the leading Cheltenham Gold Cup owner, Dorothy Paget won it seven times – five times with Golden Miller (1932-36), as well as with Roman Hackle (1940) and Mont Tremblant (1952).
Most successful previous winners
Golden Miller: won five consecutive Gold Cups from 1932 to 1936 and in 1934 became the only horse ever to win the Aintree Grand National and the Gold Cup in the same season.
Cottage Rake: won three consecutive Gold Cups from 1948-1950.
Arkle: won three consecutive Gold Cups in 1963-1965.
Best Mate: won the Gold Cup three times in 2002-2004, the first three-timer since Arkle.
About the Gold Cup trophy
A new Gold Cup is cast every year for the winner of this race each year. The trophy is worth approximately £10,000 and made of 10 ounces of gold. In 2010, a Gold Cup won in 1988 was stolen by thieves from racehorse owner Raymond Mould. Mr Mould won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Charter Party, ridden by Richard Dunwoody and trained by David Nicholson.
The history of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The first horse race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup was a flat race run over three miles during a three-day meeting in 1819 and won by a horse called Spectre. The race was run on a course on Cleeve Hill, which overlooks the current Cheltenham racecourse site. The races on Cleeve Hill became popular over the next decade and then interest diminished as steeplechasing became popular.
On 12 March 1924 the Gold Cup was first run as a chase race at Prestbury Park. The winner was a horse called Splash and he took home prize money of £685.
It was not until some years later that the Cheltenham Festival and the Gold Cup became the prestigious events that they are today.
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You may also be interested in:
Galopin Des Champs: everything you need to know about this two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup victor
How to watch Cheltenham Festival 2025 live streams and TV coverage: your armchair viewing guide
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