Photo by Carine06 from UK – Champion Hurdle, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37285214
The Cheltenham Festival has been dominated by Irish trainers in recent years and that trend looks set to continue when the 2024 meeting is staged.
A quick look at the Cheltenham betting markets for next year’s top races highlights how difficult it will be for British handlers to get into the winners’ enclosure.
Irish-trained horses dominate most of the ante-post markets, particularly in each of the Grade 1 events across the four-day meeting.
However, there are several British-trained horses who have a genuine chance of emerging victorious in March. Here are four we believe can get the job done.
Constitution Hill – Arkle Novices’ Chase
The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill has plenty of options open to him next season including embarking on a career over bigger obstacles.
Some pundits have suggested he could be aimed at the Gold Cup, but trainer Nicky Henderson will probably resist the temptation to head down that route.
His most likely target is the Arkle Novices’ Chase, although the Champion Chase could be an alternative if he scares away the opposition at novice level.
Whichever race he ends up in at the Festival, Constitution Hill will be a banker bet to get a winner on the board for British trainers.
Jonbon – Ryanair Chase
Henderson could add another winner to his tally in the Ryanair Chase, with his Jonbon likely to take a step up in trip next season.
The big-money purchase has finished second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Novices’ Chase in the last two years and looks to be a Festival winner in-waiting.
He ended last season with two Grade 1 victories over two miles at Aintree and Sandown, but now looks ready to run over a longer distance.
The Ryanair Chase is the natural target for the horse and he could be tough to beat if he participates in the race in March.
Love Envoi – Mares’ Hurdle
Irish trainers have dominated the Mares’ Hurdle since it was first run in 2008, winning the race on 13 of the 16 occasions it has been staged.
Henry De Bromhead’s Honeysuckle was responsible for two of those victories (2020 & 2023), but her retirement has left the mares’ ranks lacking a superstar.
Love Envoi could be the one to beat having given Honeysuckle a run for her money in this year’s race for trainer Harry Fry.
The horse clearly likes Cheltenham after winning the 2022 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and looks a good bet to be extremely competitive next year.
Shishkin – Gold Cup
We return to the Henderson stable for our final recommendation, with Shishkin fancied to emerge as a strong contender in the Gold Cup.
The horse has already run twice at the Festival, but a poor run in the 2022 Champion Chase left connections scratching their heads.
He bounced back to finish second in this year’s Ryanair Chase, and followed up with a victory over 3m1f in the Aintree Bowl Chase.
Shishkin has been crying out to be run over a longer trip and should be a lively contender for the Gold Cup when March comes around.