In recent times the Cheltenham Festival has been dominated by horses and trainers from Ireland. Powerhouse trainers like Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott bring over a huge stable of stars and there is a fear that they could dominate every big race.
For top British trainers such as Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson, the challenge of trying to beat the very best Irish horses certainly isn’t the easiest, but is a challenge that is relished.
With this year’s festival slowly looming into view, read on as we reveal some of the best British runners that will look to halt the Irish challenge and could end up playing a major role across the card.
Constitution Hill
Despite the presence of several brilliant Irish horses, it could be argued that the best horse competing at this year’s festival is British.
Ever since hacking up on debut, Constitution Hill has looked a horse for the ages and he certainly hasn’t disappointed.
Yet to be beaten, he has enjoyed tremendous success at Cheltenham, winning both the Supreme Novices Hurdle and Champion Hurdle in style.
Although a recent fitness scare is concerning, he remains firmly on track to defend his Champion Hurdle crown. With class in abundance he is the overwhelming favourite with all of the major horse racing betting sites and will take all of the beating.
Efficient with his jumping and with a devastating turn of foot, for many he will be the banker of the week.
Jonbon
Wednesday’s showpiece is the Champion Chase where the Willie Mullins trained El Fabiolo will start as the favourite in the betting. However, there is significant British interest in the shape of Jonbon.
Trained by Nicky Henderson, he has won seven of his eight career starts, with his only defeat coming against El Fabiolo at last year’s festival.
Despite that defeat, he looks to be getting better with age and his victory in the 2023 Tingle Creek should class him as a real challenger. If El Fabiolo fails to fire, look for Jonbon to pick up the pieces.
Langer Dan
Whereas most of the championship races look like they could be set for even more Irish dominance, British trainers will hope that the handicaps can provide them with some winners.
One of the most competitive handicaps looks set to be the Coral Cup.
A hurdle race, which will see a loaded field head down to post, Langer Dan is likely to lead the betting.
Trained by Dan Skelton, his entire year revolves around Cheltenham and he was a good winner of this contest last year and would have won the race in 2022 had he not been bought down near the closing stages.
He will represent Skelton’s best chance of the week and despite some poor runs this season should be viewed as a serious contender.
L’Homme Presse
Irish trained horses have won the last five editions of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and with defending champion Galopin Des Champs back to defend his crown, there is every chance that Britain’s most prestigious jump race could be making its way back across the Irish Sea once more.
British trainers will hope to end Ireland’s recent winning streak and set to lead the British challenge is the Venetia Williams trained L’Homme Presse.
A winner of seven of his nine career starts, injury prevented him from racing at all in 2023, but now free from the niggles that have plagued his promising career he looks back to his best.
Having had his first start for well over a year in the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase, he stayed on well and will hope to build on that effort by the time the Cheltenham Gold Cup swings around.
A winner of the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices Chase, he clearly has a liking for Cheltenham and could be a solid outside contender for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory.
Bravemansgame
Once hailed as the next big British hope, things haven’t quite gone to plan for Bravemansgame and Paul Nicholls.
Yet to win at the Cheltenham Festival, he finished second in last year’s Gold Cup but was some way behind eventual winner Galopin Des Champs.
Without a victory in any of his last five starts, he usually finds just one too good. That was perfectly summed up when he finished second in 2023 King George to Hewick.
A supremely talented horse, he has the capability to go one place better in this year’s Gold Cup but will need to produce a lifetime best performance in order to claim racings top prize.
