Gaultstats - Cheltenham 2025
The Only Trends You'll Need
'You know the drill. Take advantage of Bryan's obsession, then you do something good for a worthy cause. Can't recommend this enough.' Rory Delargy
Gaultstats 2025 will be my final edition. It's been fun, thanks, but it's time for someone else.
https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/BryanGault
Due to personal circumstances, I had originally thought of asking for donations for the British Heart Foundation. My thanks to those who have already given. But due to the tragic events surrounding Michael O'Sullivan, I am now asking for donations to the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. We sometimes forget the daily risks these young men and women take for our entertainment. From what I've seen and read, Michael was a wonderful lad. My heart goes out to his family and friends. He definitely was a fine jockey and a stats breaker by winning the Grade 1 Supreme when still claiming 5lb. Not quickly forgotten as he then fulfilled Momentum Theory by taking the Boodles on Jazzy Matty that Tuesday in 2023. Two great rides. I feel privileged to have been present. The idonate link is above and below. Please be generous. All credit/debit cards taken. Nothing goes to me or Gstats.
https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/BryanGaultAll qualifying handicap runs for the open handicaps to be completed by Sunday 23rd February. Hurdle runs outside GB and IRE count.
Check your own bookie/Oddschecker for nrnb terms. This year more are offering ordinary antepost books.
'....it's insane, the depth...I love this treasure trove of numbers...' Ross Brierley - In The Know.
'Bryan puts in a great shift with the site every year for excellent causes. I’ve been using away at it.. and, as ever, it’s very good.' - Tony Keenan
'Lots of interesting stuff on Gaultstats...certainly things I didn't know.' - Matt Tombs
'A shining galaxy of race by race stats..each hand-tooled..packed with more nuggets than a KFC warehouse in a chicken glut.' - surfnturfRP
'Shamefully my first time donating despite your site being possibly my most viewed. A great cause, and to the first of many donations in the future' - Robert on justgiving page.
'Bryan, you do amazing stuff, I wait every year for your wisdom...Great cause..thanks.' - Colm
WHY TRENDS AT CHELTENHAM?
'If (we) could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us.' - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The higher the grade of race, the more likely that horses will repeat or improve on their last run. No higher grade than here. And since all concerned are doing their damnest to win, trends can emerge of those most likely (or not) to succeed.
Using Gaultstats
The Jockey Club have made some changes to the Festival in 2025. Matt Tombs, for one, believes that these may not be significant in the overall picture. I'm not sure. Please, caveat emptor. 14 of the 28 races could be affected by the changes. They may make differences when assessing the wonderful pieces of information enclosed within this site.
Site rules. If you are a regular, you should know them by now.
1. The beauty of any stat lies solely in the eye of the beholder. This means that you, the reader, decide what is relevant. If it has happened ten Festivals in a row, you might decide it's not going to happen this time. Fine. There is no rule book that demands how one should interpret Cheltenham Festival Trends. T'is your money and I won't get offended. I'm not shoehorning anything to push you towards any particular horse.
2. All will pass. It is only a matter of when. Festival Big Beast Trends get shot down most years. Be prepared for that. What do you mean, Langer Dan wins back to back Coral Cups? That can't happen. 3m G1 Novice Chase winner comes straight from bumpers? I'm sorry, no, no. The Bula stat, who was Bula, laughed Constitution Hill in 2023. First Supreme/Champion Hurdle double since 1971. But as one disappears, other 'rock solid' stats will take their place. Challow winner to take Turners? Five yr olds don't win Stayers?
Horses identified in italics are being aimed to contest the race about which you are reading. As the countdown continues effort will be made to update races with confirmed runners and how they might fit in (or out).
The General Trends page will cover information and musings that don't really refer to any specific race. This includes jockeys, trainers, how W Mullins is no respecter of Cheltenham stats, stats on Pricewise, course winners, Gault's Momentum Theory, Fate of the Favourites et al. I did succeed in making this a little shorter in 2024. I hope that trend to continue. Click on the links and share the concerns of family and friends as to how I spend six weeks at the start of every year. There's a quiz and other stuff. 'Which Bookmaker?' can cause the odd irritation to Twitter bookmaker reps but you won't get the same anywhere else that needs sponsorship to survive.It's my site and my decision not to have any ads. There's no app but should you wish, you can put a shortcut on your phone/PC. The Honours Boards should scroll from left to right on the phone version. I'm not happy that the phone version is not as tidy as the PC but my 'Happiness' tech people tell me there is little they can do.
By 11am each Festival day my selections for that day will be at the top of this page. Feel free to disagree.
Feedback positive and constructive welcomed at https://twitter.com/gaultstats or email bgault01@gmail.com. Reasonable theories will be researched. As I am old fashioned, I still don't consider the Punchestown or Galway Festivals as being 'this season.' A big continued thank you to Ashleigh Watson at ash@coppersquareni.com for her work, without which, this wouldn't be here. And to John, for his excellent voluntary proofreading.
Good luck. I hope this tool brings you success and profit, please don't forget to give. And let's not take it too seriously. It is meant to be fun.
As ever, a labour of love,
Bryan