The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is the highlight of the National Hunt season in the United Kingdom and this year’s edition promises to be one for the ages.
The annual battle between UK runners and their counterparts from Ireland always generates massive interest in the betting industry on both sides of the Irish Sea.
With that in mind, we look at the schedule for each day before previewing the four standout races at the prestigious meeting.
Day 1 – Champion Day – Tuesday, March 12
- 30 pm – The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
- 50 pm – The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap)
- 30 pm – The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
- 50 pm – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
- 30 pm – The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2)
The undisputed highlight on the opening day is the two-mile Champion Hurdle, which features the biggest superstar in National Hunt racing right now.
Constitution Hill was a superb winner of the race last year, swatting aside top Irish hope State Man with contemptuous ease.
The Nicky Henderson-horse is odds on to defend his title, although he must overcome some recent setbacks if he is to achieve the feat.
The seven-year-old missed his intended prep run at Cheltenham Trials Day last month following a poor scope, but should be at his best on the big day.
State Man will likely be his nearest challenger once again, but it is tough to imagine anything other than a Constitution Hill victory in this race.
Day 2 – Style Wednesday – Wednesday, March 13
- 30 pm – The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
- 50 pm – The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap)
- 30 pm – The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase
- 50 pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap)
- 30 pm – The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins has a plethora of fancied runners at this year’s meeting and one of his best chances of a winner is El Fabiolo on the second day.
The horse was an impressive winner of the Arkle Novices’ Chase last season and has subsequently rattled off another three easy victories.
El Fabiolo is a banker bet for Cheltenham punters this year, particularly after main market rival Jonbon was defeated on his most recent outing.
The betting sites in Ireland have taken no chances, cutting El Fabiolo into odds of 2/5 to record his eighth consecutive victory for the Mullins stable.
Edwardstone could be the value each-way bet following his recent facile win at Newbury, but he is unlikely to prevent El Fabiolo from winning the race.
Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 14
- 30 pm – The Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Listed) (Premier Handicap)
- 50 pm – The Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
- 30 pm – The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The TrustATrader Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap)
- 50 pm – The Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
- 30 pm – The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Sponsored by The JRL Group) Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145)
The Stayers’ Hurdle on the third day has a more open look to it, with several horses holding a genuine chance of winning the three-mile event.
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has an extremely strong hand in the race, with Teahupoo and Irish Point heading the ante-post market.
Teahupoo finished third in this race last year, but has been well backed to go two better this time around following an excellent win on his seasonal reappearance.
However, Irish Point has shown massive improvement this season and his latest victory at Leopardstown was particularly eye-catching.
Odds of 9/2 to win the Stayers’ Hurdle look tempting given the manner of that performance and the six-year-old should be tough to beat at Cheltenham.
Day 4 – Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 15
- 30 pm – The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
- 50 pm – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
- 30 pm – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
- 10 pm – The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase
- 50 pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2)
- 30 pm – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145)
The headline race on the final day is the Cheltenham Gold Cup – an event which Irish trainers have dominated in recent years.
Colin Tizzard was the last UK-based trainer to win the race with Native River in 2018, with Mullins (3) and Henry De Bromhead (2) clinching the prize since then.
Mullins looks a good bet to add to his tally in March, with 2023 winner Galopin Des Champs the 11/10 favourite to defend his crown.
The manner of his two recent victories at Leopardstown demonstrated that Galopin Des Champs is still the best staying chaser in the UK and Ireland.
The eight-year-old could be odds on by the time the race gets underway and is strongly fancied to deliver another winning return to punters.
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