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The Cheltenham Gold Cup. It’s one of the biggest events of the horse racing year, and the event is something that fans from across the racing scene look forward to optimistically. Given this, there’s a huge amount of chatter and buzz starting to form with the Festival just a matter of weeks away, now; and, align the same line of thought, many punters and fans are also beginning to think about their own favourites to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Of the contenders, of course, there’s a clear pick of the herd - Galopin des Champs - however, questions still arise as to whether or not Willie Mullins will be able to pull it off. WIth this in mind, today, we’re looking at whether Mullins is likely able to deliver once again for Cheltenham 2025 or if this year’s race is looking bright for another trainer instead.

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Who Has Willie Mullins Backed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

As the most celebrated Cheltenham trainer, it’s perhaps no surprise that Mullins’ horses are so widely loved among Cheltenham fans, and Galopin des Champs is no exception to this. As a dual Gold Cup winner, Galopin des Champs certainly has the form and experience to pull off a third win for this year; however, will Mullins really be able to deliver again, or are fans hoping for too much?

Galopin des Champs’ Recent Form and Odds

Having come first out of 9 and 10 in both of his two recent runs at Leopardstown on the 28th December and 1st February, respectively, it’s easy to see why bookies are so excited to see Galopin des Champs at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. And the’s the favourite by a long shot, too; indeed, odds are currently sitting at ½, ½, and 8/15 with Bet365, Ladbrokes, and BetVictor, respectively. Given this, and with the second being Banbridge at odds of around 7/1 on average across the different bookies, it’s safe to say that Galopin des Champs is strongly favoured to come in first once more.

Mullins’ Concerns

While Galopin des Champs’ recent form certainly gives bettors a lot of hope, one thing that’s important to keep in mind is that Willie Mullins himself isn’t quite as confident in the horse as one might hope.

Indeed, the renowned trainer has already admitted that he would have wanted a a little more prep time before the Gold Cup, ideally; while this isn’t necessarily a sure sign that the horse doesn’t have it in him to win, it certainly raises a slight concern. Nevertheless, Mullins has also recently claimed that Galopin des Champs is the best racehorse he’s ever changed. So, it’s hard to tell what to take from this overall.

Final Thoughts

Galopin des Champs is an incredible racehorse - there’s no doubt of that. However, only time will tell when it comes to the Gold Cup, and while he’s the strong favourite, there’s always the potential for another horse to scrape the win. So, no doubt, fans will be watching on the edge of their seats to see what happens.