Galopin Des Champs was denied a third straight Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival after a stunning ride from Mark Walsh aboard Inothewayurthinkin.
Ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, Galopin Des Champs was seeking to become only the fifth horse to win the marquee race on three separate occasions.
But the 1/2 favourite was denied down the home stretch as the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin surged home to take the crown at 15/2.
Earlier on Friday, there were more shocks in the JCB Triumph Hurdles as 100/1 outsider Poniros stormed to an unlikely victory.
Willie Mullins’ remarkable Cheltenham week continued with the Irish trainer picking up wins in the first four races of Friday’s action, but he was denied in the Gold Cup as he eyed a spot in the history books.
Relive all the action with Metro’s live blog below:
Galopin Des Champs is beaten! Paul Townend had the favourite in a great position with two hurdles to go but it was a superb ride from Mark Walsh and in the end Inothewayurthinkin had far too much in the tank.
A stunned silence from the crowds inside Cheltenham as Willie Mullins is denied a famous hat-trick.
And with that, we’ll draw to a close our coverage of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
It’s been a week full of shocks, particularly in the feature races, but it’s also provided us with some wonderful winners and some emotional storylines.
Thanks for following along with us! Until next time…
And it’s more dominance for Ireland in the Prestbury Cup as they win all seven races on Gold Cup Day to secure a 20-8 victory over Great Britain.
Perhaps no surprise to see who comes out on top in these awards.
Ten wins for Willie Mullins – equalling his best-ever performance at Cheltenham – sees the Irishman take home top trainer. Gavin Cromwell, Henry De Bromhead and Nicky Henderson the only others to record more than one victory.
And top jockey goes to Paul Townend with four wins. Mark Walsh also had four wins, but it’s Townend who takes it based on countback of second places.
Right, so that is that for another year at the Cheltenham Festival. Let’s take a quick look back at the winners from today’s action.
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Winner: Poniros (100/1)
2.00: BetMGM County Hurdle (Grade 3)
Winner: Kargese (3/1F)
2.40: Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
Winner: Dinoblue (6/4F)
3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Winner: Jasmin De Vaux (6/1)
4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Winner: Inothewayurthinkin (15/2)
4.40: St James’s Place Hunter Chase (Listed)
Winner: Wonderwall (28/1)
5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Winner: Wodhooh (9/2)
‘We’ve had a tough week. To finish the week off by winning the Martin Pipe, he is my hero, I thank all my staff, they stood by me.’
1- Wodhooh (Danny Gilligan/Gordon Elliott) – 9/2
2 – Act Of Authority (Lewis Saunders/Olly Murphy) – 28/1
3 – Raglan Road (Gavin Brouder/Henry De Bromhead) – 25/1
4 – Taponthego (Mike O’Connor/Henry De Bromhead) – 8/1
And just look what it means to Wodhooh’s trainer Gordon Elliott who has had a tough week and is reduced to tears as he finally secures a winner at the last.
A cracking race to end us off, but Wodhooh just had enough in the tank to repell the charge by Act Of Authority on the far side and secure the win.
A clean sweep for the Irish on Gold Cup Day as Gordon Elliott finally has a winner. 9/2 Wodhooh storms through a crowded pack and maintains the speed down the closing stretch to take the win and maintain their unbeaten streak in superb style.
They take th eturn towards home and East India Express. No Ordinary Joe is picking up as well. Wodhooh now charging into the lead towards the final jump.
Just two more to go and Nurse Susan still has the lead. East India Express moves into second. Kopeck De Mee, the favourite, in fifth. It’s so tight.
Nurse Susan comes back a bit to the field over flight number seven. Kopeck De Mee is by the inside rail in third.
Past the enclosures they go and back out for the final circuit. Nurse Susan has a lead of a length and a half with No Questions Asked, East India Express and Kopeck De Mee all closely behind.
Nurse Susan takes the lead as Kopeck De Mee is now back in fourth. Still incredibly packed at this early stage.
Kopeck De Mee flew over the first jump but it was a slight mistake from the favourite who drops back into second.
And we’re underway for the final race of this year’s Festival.
And for the last time as well, here’s who Ruby Walsh fancies.
9/4 – Kopeck De Mee
Kopeck De Mee is better than a 136 horse but it’s hard to know how good he actually is! All of his form in France has been on soft ground though. The question is how much better than a mark of 136 does he need to be to win this race. He has a great mentality and he’ll be an easy ride. I’m not going to go against him.
Walsh was speaking to Paddy Power.
And sadly, it’s the last race of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Let’s go out with a bang, shall we?
Here are the odds:
*Odds provided by Betway (subject to change)
‘Unbelievable. I thought I was going too well, I probably got to the lead a bit too soon but we held on annd the line came just in time.
‘It’s the one race as an amateur that you always want to win and try get your name on it. I can’t thank Sam [Curling, the trainer]toand the owners and the team enough for the wonderful job they’ve done with this lad. It’s just top class.’
1 – Wonderwall (Rob James/Sam Curling) – 28/1
2 – Its On The Line (Derek O’Connor/Emmet Mullins) – 4/1
3 – Willitgoahead (J L Scallan/Gordon Elliott) – 13/2
A great travel in the closing stages and it’s a 28/1 winner for Wonderwell who pips On The Line with a superb charge to the finish.
A great ride from Rob James to hold on and land a win in the penultimate race of the Festival.
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