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Cheltenham Gold Cup results LIVE: Inothewayurthinkin claims victory as horse suffers fatal injury

Paul Townend and Galopin des Champs were denied a historic hat-trick in the Gold Cup, as Inothewayurthinkin claimed glory in the race of the week at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival

Michael Jones
at Cheltenham Racecourse
,Sam Turner
Friday 14 March 2025 17:52 GMT
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Cheltenham Gold Cup preview from The Independent's racing correspondent Sam Turner

Galopin Des Champs was denied a historic third successive Cheltenham Gold Cup as Inothewayurthinkin triumphed in the race of the week.

With history on the line, Galopin Des Champs, Paul Townend and Willie Mullins were denied by a sensational ride as jockey Mark Walsh marshalled the Gavin Patrick Cromwell-trained seven-year-old to an emphatic win.

“I'm dancing inside,” said Walsh. “I can't believe it. He jumped well, just missed the ditch. Paul [Townend on Galopin Des Champs] was on my outside and early on, he missed a few fences and I just thought he wasn't happy. This boy [Inothewayurthinkin] has had to grow up over the last year. Gavin Cromwell is a genius having him spot on for today. I'm delighted.”

On a day of upsets with plenty of other fascinating contests, the 100/1 shot Poniros pulled off the biggest shock of the week by winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle in the opening race of the day, while the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle saw another Mullins-Townend triumph with Jasmin De Vaux taking victory.

Follow all the news, including previews, expert tips, free bet offers and the latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds from the final day of the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:

2.40: Paddy Power Mares’ Chase odds

Ok, attention turns to the next race of the day - the Paddy Power Mares.’ chase. A Grade 2 race, over 2 miles and 4½ furlongs with 17 fences.

Willie Mullins has the favourite in this one with Mark Walsh aboard Dinoblue. Here are the odds (via Oddschecker) as they stand - just the nine runners

  • Dinoblue 8/5
  • Allegorie De Vassy 4/1
  • Limerick Lace 9/2
  • Brides Hill 9/2
  • Shecouldbeanything 12/1
  • Royale Margaux 33/1
  • Mayhem Mya 50/1
  • Fontaine Collonges 50/1
  • Je Tai Porte 100/1
Luke Baker14 March 2025 14:37

Cheltenham CEO Guy Lavender, speaking about this year's festival

He told Radio 5 Live: “It's been amazing. It's been epic racing with some enjoyable, good crowds. It's been a festival in its truest sense. I've loved it, it's been my first festival in charge. I came from Lord's cricket ground so it's different but loving it so far and we hope we can cap it with a brilliant day today.

"I was pretty chilled out the fortnight before. The day before, the enormity of it sunk in. I walked the course the morning of the Tuesday and you start to get the sense of it's coming. It's a massive racecourse but the team come in and we delivered really well. It was a difficult festival last year, everyone acknowledged it and we've made a number of improvements. We're really smashing it out of the park so far this year.

"Start with the racing, we made some changes to the races to see it more competitive. There haven't been a lot of short-priced favourites winning everything. We've got 7,000 cars on hard standing, people can take more drinks to watch the racing.

"There are a lot of discounted tickets for other meetings. The festival is the festival. They come here and they have a great time even if they are not hardcore racing fans. It's vibrant and an iconic sporting event."

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:30

Paul Townend reacts to Kargese win

Here he is speaking to ITV Racing:

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:24

Can Mullins break his own record?

The most wins Willie Mullins has had at any Cheltenham Festival is 10, in 2022.

The prolific Irish trainer picked up nine last year and is currently sitting on eight for 2025 after wins for Poniros and Kargese.

With Galopin Des Champs the heavy favourite to win the Gold Cup, he could equal last year’s tally or even surpass it.

He’s got horses running in each of the last five races.

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:22

'She has the heart of a lion'

Jockey Paul Townend told ITV why he wanted to ride Kargese today.

He said: “She was keen today. She has the heart of a lion.

“I was in front sooner than I wanted but that helped me and she was able to get a breath of air which helped her at the last."

(REUTERS)
Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:19

Owner Kenny Alexander reacts to Kargese win

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "She was second last year and she ran against Sir Gino, troubled him. It's a tough race and she won as we hoped she would. I couldn't believe it. Phenomenal.

"This was the one I was quite confident but you can't be confident in that race. Paul is a champion jockey, incredible."

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:16

Gold Cup Day winners and full results

1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m1f | 8 hurdles | New Course

Winner: Poniros (100/1), 2) Lulamba (11/4), 3) East India Dock (5/4F)

2.00: BetMGM County Hurdle (Grade 3) Race conditions: £98,370 (2024) | 2m1f| 8 hurdles | New Course

Winner: Kargese (3/1F), 2) Ndaawi (25/1), 3) Absurde (5/1)

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:10

Kargese wins the County Hurdle

That was an eighth winner of the festival for Willie Mullins.

It’s also Paul Townend’s third winner after the two horses he won on during the opening day.

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:09

2.00 - County Handicap Hurdle

Kargese wins the Couty Handicap Hurdle!

The 3/1 favourite edges out the rest and takes the victory.

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:06

2.00 - County Handicap Hurdle

Here comes Kargese, the favourite leaps over the last into first place and will race up the hill against Ndaawi!

Mike Jones14 March 2025 14:05

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