The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest week of the year in National Hunt racing as it attracts the best runners from each division in the sport. Here is a look at the top 10 horses competing at the meeting.
10. Minella Indo
BREAKING: Minella Indo wins the Gold Cup at the #CheltenhamFestival
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 19, 2021
Former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo has been entered to run in this year’s Cross Country Chase where he is the 7/4 favourite in today’s racing betting. The Irish horse is now 11 years old but if he produces anything close to his best, he may take some beating in the most unique race at the meeting.
9. Fact To File
Willie Mullins’ chaser Fact To File has a huge future over fences. He won the Grade One Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, and he looks set to be one of the leading novices at the Cheltenham Festival this year.
8. Lossiemouth
International Hurdle winner Lossiemouth could line up in the Champion Hurdle on day one of the meeting, but her connections are opting for the Mares’ Hurdle instead. She is the leading mare in the sport.
7. Shishkin
The leading British raider in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup field is Shishkin. He was once a dominant force in the 2m division but is now looking to prove himself over 3m and beyond. A Gold Cup success will do just that.
6. Ballyburn
Irish novice hurdler Ballyburn has an entry in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle. It is unclear which of those two races he will line up in, but based on what he has achieved so far this season, he will be a warm favourite for both contests.
5. Fastorslow
Martin Brassil’s stable star Fastorslow has had wins in the Punchestown Gold Cup and John Durkan Memorial Chase over the last 12 months. He beat Galopin Des Champs in both of those races. He is a major player in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
4. State Man
State Man wins the @Chanelle_Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle!
An almighty effort from Honeysuckle but there is to be no fourth straight win in this race as @PTownend delivers on the favourite 💪#DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/MrqSuEj9Ql
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) February 5, 2023
With 10 wins from 13 starts over hurdles, State Man has one of the most impressive records in training. The dual Irish Champion Hurdle winner finished second in the 2023 Champion Hurdle. His connections will be hoping he can go one place better this year.
3. El Fabiolo
Unbeaten chaser El Fabiolo won the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival last year. He is now the favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Mullins’ runner heads into the meeting on the back of a Dublin Chase triumph.
2. Galopin Des Champs
A second Cheltenham Gold Cup success will help Galopin Des Champs join some of the greats of the sport. Last year’s winner of the Blue Riband event in the sport showed how dominant he can be in the Irish Gold Cup. He is the hot favourite to defend his crown at the Cheltenham Festival.
1. Constitution Hill
Last year’s Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill is the biggest name in jumps racing. He has already established himself as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time. By the time his career ends, he could well be the best of them all.
This year’s Cheltenham Festival takes place between 12-15 March and there are 28 races at the meeting.
