St James’ Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
After that shock result in the Gold Cup, next up is the St James’ Place Festival Challenge Cup, another incredible result was in store as 28/1 Wonderwall went against all the odds to win for Sam Curling who takes home the £24,445 prize pool.
Second favourite Its On The Line did everything it could to fight back in it’s green and yellow colours, however Wonderwall kept it’s head up to win the penultimate race of the Cheltenham Festival.
Favourite Angels Dawn sat in the middle of the pack throughout the race for trainer Sam Curling but tailed off towards the end. Curling ‘can’t look back in anger’ after Wonderwall ‘rolled with it’ up the Cheltenham straight.
8/1 shot Shearer led the pack from the start but as they went round the final straight, his stamina clearly ran out for Paul Nicholls.
Speaking to ITV after the race, jockey Rob James said: “It is unbelievable, I thought I was going too well and maybe went a little bit too soon but luckily we were just able to hold on.
“For the amateur racers it is the biggest race so I was delighted to get the win and get my name on it, I can’t thank Sam [Curling] and the owners enough – they’ve done a wonderful job. It is just top class.”
Boodles Gold Cup
Heartbreak for Galopin Des Champs who is unable to win the Gold Cup for a third successive year, as Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin cruises to victory.
“I am speechless. Listen, we have had great faith in this horse and a big thank you to JP (Mcmanus) for letting us supplement him. He (Inothewayurthinkin) has been developing for a long time. In the Gold Cup he’s been getting closer all the time, he was beaten 7 lengths the last time by Galopin De Champs.
“To be a Gold Cup winning trainer is unbelievable, we’ve had a good week, a winner earlier on, a few seconds and a couple thirds, so to top it off with this is unbelievable.”
Jockey Mark Walsh sat behind and saved up what seemed to be bundles of energy for the last few jumps, in which Inothewayurthinkin stormed through and past the favourite, all the way to the finish line.
Walsh to ITV Racing: “I’m dancing inside, brilliant I can’t believe it. It was a nice gallop he jumped well in the race. Paul (Townend) was on the outside and I had a few looks at him. He missed a few jumps and I could see that he wasn’t happy and I was happy to see that.
“He (Inothewayurthinkin) has had to do some growing up in the last year, what he has gone on to do is brilliant. Gavin Cromwell is a genius. “
Ahoy Senor fell with six fences left and nearly tripped Galopin Des Champs who recovered well but eventually lost to Inothewayurthinkin by five lengths who now looks forward to the Grand National.
On the penultimate fence, Cromwell’s Corbetts Cross who was in third place also fell which allowed Gentlemen’s Game to take third place.
Sadly, after that fall, Corbetts Cross passed away. Condolences to Emmet Mullins, Jack Kennedy and all involved in the care of Corbetts Cross.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Jasmin De Vaux takes the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle followed by The Big Westerner in second with Derryhasson Paddy in third.
Jasmin De Vaux, ridden by Paul Townend, had the Big Westerner, staying with him over the final hurdle, but Jasmin de Vaux opened up his legs on the final stretch and proved to have too much pace for Big Westerner.
Townend to ITV Racing: “This lad (Jasmin De Vaux) takes a little bit of warming up, but he showed how much of a classy individual he is. He did well here last year. A lot of it was just confidence.”
Wingmen and Derryhasson Paddy both led with three hurdles to go as the pack behind followed them nice and closely.
Trainer Willie Mullins takes home the prize money of £84,405 and claims his fourth win of the day, but he would swap out any of them out if he could make it five from five and win the big one next.
The GOLD CUP is the next one at 16:00, where Galopin Des Champs is looking to make History with three consective wins, being only the fourth one to do it and the first horse since 2004.
Townend made it clear that his attention has already turned to the biggest race of the year.
“Every winner here is special, but we will keep this short and sweet and we will get onto the next one.”
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase
Mark Walsh ran favourite Dinoblue to victory to give Willie Mullins his third winner of the day in race three.
Allegorie De Vassy, also trained by Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend led until the 18th furlong where she was overtaken by the winner.
As Dinoblue raced away, Allegorie De Vassy unfortunately fell at the last as the favourite finished the race unchallenged.
Brides Hill, ridden by Keith Donoghue, finished second in the race ahead of Shecouldbeanything who finished in third with a price of 12/1.
Dinoblue won £73,151 for owner JP McManus, running a brilliant race as the punters hit back.
Mark Walsh spoke to ITV Racing on Dinoblue fourth time lucky at the festival “it’s her fourth time at the festival, just leave her and got her head it front today”.
8 year old Dinoblue is one of Walsh’s favourites “she’s a great little mare, if you can get a few more like her, you’ll be doing alright”.
Mullins three from three today, and he spoke to ITV: “She ran a great day race last year, and it didn’t work out for her and todya it worked out for her, it’s a good story for her”
“She was jumping too big, it would’ve preferred a bit of company upfront with her, I didn’t think she would be challenging going down the last” Mullins spoke on Allegorie De Vass race and fall.
Next up is the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 15:20, with The Big Westerner and trainer Henry De Bromhead as the favourites.
William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
The second race of the day came thick and fast, the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle at 14.00.
Willie Mullins goes 2/2 on Gold Cup Day after Kargese wins the £61,897 that was up for grabs in the eight hurdle race.
Freddie Gordon on Our Champ and Freddie Mitchell on Spirit d’Aunou set the pace at the start of the race, running at 30 miles per-hour with the rest of the bunch settling in behind.
Favourite Kargese and Jack Kennedy on Ndaawi pushed their way past the pace setters round the famous final Cheltenham corner which led to a flush of horses doing the same.
Jockey Paul Townend in light blue and white pushed the winner all the way through despite efforts from 5/1 shot Absurde and 20/1 Ndaawi hanging right on the tail of Kargese up and over the last hurdle.
🇬🇧 Great Britain – 8
— Coral (@Coral) March 14, 2025
🐐 Willie Mullins – 8
Same story… different year 🤔
pic.twitter.com/dyWhi9W8Js
He said to ITV Racing: “She has the heart of a lion, we got to the front a little bit sooner than we wanted to but once we had gotten there she had a breath for air which meant she could repel what was coming from behind.
“I am certainly hoping for a bit of good luck today [when he rides Galopin’ Des Champs in the Gold Cup] but Galopin’ has proved that he can do it before so lets see if we can go and do it again”.
JCB Triumph Hurdle
JCB Triumph Hurdle gets us underway for Gold Cup Day as 100/1 Poniros takes the shock top spot followed in by Lulamba with the odds-on favourite East India Dock came through in third.
East India Dock jumped the last well, but Poniros came flying through at the end to take it on the finish line.
Poniros came from nowhere, overtaking Lulamba and East India Dock on the final stretch, Jockey Jonjo O’Neill spoke to ITV Racing just after pushing the winner over the finish line.
“I was actually supposed to be in Doncaster today, but I heard that Willie (Mullins) was looking for a jockey. He actually told me to stay in Doncaster but the way this week is going I had to come here to ride.
“What a place, it is his (Poniros) first ever public appearances over hurdles in public and what a place to do it.”
Lady Vega Allen led with three hurdles to go, closely followed by favourite East India Dock.
East India Dock moved to the lead as they headed to the last hurdle followed lullbama.
The 18-horse field finished with the all runners finishing getting the final day off to a start no one expected.
Willie Mullins took home £84,405 in the first race of the day, it won’t be the biggest prize money that owner Mullins has earned, but it would be one that one wouldn’t have thought he would get at the start of the festival.
“I think he (Poniros) is going to be a good sire over jumps, and you are asking if Tony Bloom backed it. If he did it was not on my advice.
“We were hoping he would run well and be a good horse for next year, but I didn’t expect any more than a nice run. We had a lot of horses in the race and they all came here with the same plan, I couldn’t believe it when I saw him flying through the middle of the field.”
The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle is the next race off at 14:00, with duo Paul Townend and Willie Mullins looking to pick up their first win of the day with Kargese as they prepare for the main event with Galopin Des Champs.
Stay tuned for all the updates on the races with the live blog here.
