The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing, where the best horses, trainers, and jockeys battle it out for glory. However, not every favourite delivers, and this year’s Festival had its fair share of major disappointments. As punters scanned the horse racing odds, some of the most anticipated runners failed to live up to expectations. While attention now turns to Aintree, where the question remains: who will win the Grand National?
Constitution Hill – Champion Hurdle
Horse racing fans and pundits alike were buzzing to see the indomitable Constitution Hill return for the Champion Hurdle after illness ruled him out last year.
A highly anticipated clash with the talented mare Brighterdaysahead made for an exciting contest. However, drama ensued when Nicky Henderson’s stable star clipped the fourth-last hurdle and crashed out.
Brighterdaysahead, meanwhile, struggled with the famous Cheltenham undulations, and State Man fell at the last when five lengths clear. In the end, it was Golden Ace who capitalised, pulling off a shock victory at 25/1.
Majborough – Arkle
With Sir Gino ruled out, Willie Mullins’ Majborough was widely expected to dominate the Arkle. Sent off as a heavy 1/2 odds-on favourite, the JP McManus-owned star looked primed for an easy victory.
However, a couple of costly jumping errors—including a near-fall two out under Mark Walsh—saw him scramble to a close third rather than the emphatic win most anticipated — Jango Baie taking the spoils.
Given his ability, Majborough should have justified the hype, leaving punters frustrated.
Jonbon – Queen Mother Champion Chase
Following Majborough’s Arkle disappointment, McManus would have been desperate for Jonbon to end his woes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase—another race the Irish billionaire is yet to win despite boasting over 80 Festival winners.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan. A slow start left him on the back foot, and further jumping errors throughout the race sealed his fate. Despite staying on for second, he finished a distant runner-up behind Marine Nationale.
With 17 career wins and multiple Graded victories, Jonbon remains a top-class horse, but his lack of a Cheltenham Festival triumph continues to prevent him from being considered one of the greats.
Ballyburn – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
One of the standout performers at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, Ballyburn was widely expected to replicate his dominant win in last year’s Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle when stepping up to fences in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
However, the Mullins-trained star pulled hard in the early stages, made crucial jumping mistakes, and ultimately faded to finish fifth. Instead, his unheralded 20/1 stablemate Lecky Watson stole the show, adding to the woes of Ballyburn’s backers.
Galopin Des Champs – Gold Cup
Ironically completing a hat-trick for Mullins on this list, Galopin Des Champs fell short in his bid for a historic third successive Gold Cup. Despite hitting the front late on, he had no answer to the charge of Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin.
The seven-year-old surged past him before the last fence and powered home, leaving the defending champion trailing in his wake. The defeat ended hopes of a legendary hat-trick, capping off a frustrating Festival for punters who had placed their faith in one of the sport’s modern greats.
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The 2025 Cheltenham Festival delivered plenty of drama, but for many racing fans and bettors, these high-profile disappointments left a sour taste. As the dust settles, the focus now shifts to the next big event on the racing calendar—Aintree’s Grand National.