Confirmed runners and riders for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday

Galopin Des Champs will face eight rivals in Friday's feature race, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00).

The Mullins-trained star bids to join Gold Cup folklore with a third straight win in the Grade 1 showpiece, and as usual, he will be partnered by Paul Townend.

Galopin Des Champs was beaten on his return over 2m3½f in the John Durkan at Punchestown but arrives on the back of wins in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

King George VI Chase hero Banbridge is his biggest rival according to the market and was successful in the King George VI Chase at Kempton when last in action in December.

Inothewayurthinkin was a late addition to the line-up. He was supplemented for this race last week and won the Kim Muir for Gavin Cromwell at this meeting last year.

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Inothewayurthinkin's owner JP McManus will also be represented by Corbetts Cross, with Jack Kennedy set to ride him for the first time.

The Emmet Mullins-trained chaser won the National Hunt Chase at the festival last year and has been aimed at this race all season.

Rachael Blackmore rides Monty's Star, who is open to improvement for Henry de Bromhead and finished fifth behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup last time.

There are three British-trained runners in The Real Whacker, Ahoy Senor and Royale Pagaille, who need to take a big step forward from their most recent outings.

The field is completed by the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame, who is among the outsiders.

Galopin Des Champs: bids for a third straight Gold Cup winCredit: Caroline Norris

2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup final field

Ahoy Senor Derek Fox
Banbridge JJ Slevin
Corbetts Cross Jack Kennedy
Galopin Des Champs Paul Townend
Gentlemansgame Darragh O'Keeffe
Inothewayurthinkin Mark Walsh
Monty's Star Rachael Blackmore
Royale Pagaille Charlie Deutsch
The Real Whacker Brian Hughes

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00 Cheltenham, Friday)
Paddy Power: 1-2 Galopin Des Champs, 9-2 Banbridge, 7 Inothewayurthinkin, 14 Monty's Star, 16 Corbetts Cross, 40 The Real Whacker, 50 Gentlemansgame, Ahoy Senor, 66 Royale Pagaille

Cheltenham festival day four: key lines from the other races

Kopeck De Mee will run in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5.20), but connections left it late before committing to their Cheltenham Festival target.

The unexposed five-year-old, who has not raced in Britain or Ireland since he was bought by JP McManus, had surged into favouritism for both the Martin Pipe and County Hurdles following his move from France. However, it was not until seven minutes before declarations closed that trainer Willie Mullins declared him for the Martin Pipe.

The 2m4½f handicap hurdle that brings down the curtain on this year's festival will have a full line-up of 24 after the final fields for day four were revealed, with eight horses set to be balloted out.

The clash between star British juvenile hurdlers East India Dock and Lulamba was confirmed after they featured in a field of 18 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20). Grade 1 winner Hello Neighbour was also declared.

A field of 20 will go to post for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3.20), with Paul Townend declared to ride last year's Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux for Mullins. Other leading fancies The Big Westerner, Wingmen and Wendigo also stood their ground.

Last year's winner Absurde will bid for more County Hurdle (2.00) glory again, in which he will face 15 rivals.

However, Townend has chosen to ride stablemate Kargese this time, while other big guns Valgrand and McLaurey were also declared.

The Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (2.40) will have a field of nine, while the St James's Place Hunters' Chase (4.40) will have a full field of 24, with two missing out.

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