Three outsiders to consider ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
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The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the National Hunt season, where racing’s biggest names battle for glory in front of packed grandstands at Prestbury Park, and millions watch from the comfort of their homes.
While the favourites often dominate the headlines, the Festival has a rich history of surprise results and longshot heroes defying the odds. As we edge closer to the 2025 edition, savvy punters will be on the lookout for value Cheltenham bets that could shake things up.
In this article, we’ll highlight three intriguing outsiders who may have slipped under the radar but possess the potential to spring a surprise at Prestbury Park. Whether it’s an unexposed novice, a horse with strong Festival form at a big price, or a dark horse showing improvement this season, these contenders could be worth a second look before the tapes go up in March.
Protektorat – Ryanair Chase
Protektorat’s victory in last year’s Ryanair Chase was a crowning moment at the Cheltenham Festival for the formidable trainer-jockey partnership of Dan and Harry Skelton, as it marked their first victory in one of the meeting’s five Championship races.
A 17/2 outsider in what was deemed a wide-open renewal of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, Protektorat disputed the lead with the pre-race favourite, Envoi Allen, at the last fence but kept on well up the hill and won by four lengths from his Willie Mullins-trained rival.
The 10-year-old is often the type who improves the more he races, and he’s proven that again this season—landing the valuable Fleur De Lys by a commanding 23 lengths at Windsor on his third start of the campaign.
The bookies subsequently slashed Protektorat to 10/1 to retain his Festival Trophy in March, making him the seventh favourite, but a repeat of what we saw at Windsor is bound to be enough for him to go close back at Cheltenham.
Lucky Place – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle currently looks like it’s Teahupoos to lose, at least according to the ante-post betting markets—where the defending champion is as short as 11/10 to win the Grade 1 contest for a second year running.
At that price, however, it might be worth looking for some value—and that could come from Lucky Place. The Nicky Henderson-trained horse has shown drastic improvement so far this season and is now 14/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
The six-year-old picked up a second career win on his seasonal reappearance, staying on to land the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle, and followed up in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. The Stayers’ Hurdle testing three-mile trip presents a new challenge, but Lucky Place could stand every chance if the distance suits.
Kopek Des Bordes – ?
Based on what we’ve seen thus far this season, it’s hard to argue against Salvator Mundi and The New Lion being the favourites for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, respectively.
However, these are quality races, and you can’t help but wonder, will something better emerge between now and the Festival in March? One horse with plenty of potential is Kopek Des Bordes, who already made an impressive start for Mullins.
The five-year-old probably didn’t win as convincingly as many would have liked on his hurdle debut at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, but he should come on from that in the upcoming Ireland Novice Hurdle. That could be a potential indicator of this horse’s chances in the Supreme (14/1) or the Turners (10/1).
