The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner, which means excitement is building for horse racing fans for what is the biggest week of the year in National Hunt racing.
Here is a look at the big four Championship races at the meeting, and who is likely to come out on top in each of them this year.
Galopin Des Champs – Cheltenham Gold Cup
Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, is the 5/4 favourite in the Cheltenham betting for the Blue Riband event of the week. He is bidding to become just the third horse since the turn of the century to defend their crown in this race, with Best Mate and Al Boum Photo the only other two horses to do so.
THAT WAS SENSATIONAL!!! 🚀 😍
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) February 4, 2023
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS wins the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup under @PTownend. 🏆 🐎
#ITVRacing | @LeopardstownRC |@WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/sPEPASi5j4
Ever since his triumph in the Irish Gold Cup in February, Willie Mullins’ runner has been one of the popular Cheltenham Festival tips for the meeting. He was far too strong for Fastorslow at Leopardstown in his best run of the campaign so far.
Galopin Des Champs can add his name into the Cheltenham history books and prove himself to be one of the best chasers of his generation.
Noble Yeats – Stayers’ Hurdle
It can’t have happened often in history that a former Grand National winner is set to compete in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. However, that is the case this year, as 2022 Aintree hero Noble Yeats is in the day three feature.
Emmet Mullins’ runner showed his class at Cheltenham earlier in the season, landing the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle. In what looks a wide-open Stayers’ Hurdle, he can win another major race in the UK, before returning to Aintree in April.
Jonbon – Queen Mother Champion Chase
On paper, the Queen Mother Champion Chase appears to be a match-up between El Fabiolo and Jonbon. The former won that battle 12 months ago when he prevailed in the Arkle Trophy Challenge.
Jonbon is a much better chaser now and this race could be run to suit him. Expect Nicky Henderson’s runner to be staying on strongly at the back end of this 2m contest to pick off his rivals one by one.
State Man – Champion Hurdle
BREAKING: Constitution Hill is officially ruled out of this year's Cheltenham Festival, @sevenbarrows has confirmed! pic.twitter.com/W5oHqRyIMt
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 4, 2024
The whole outlook of this year’s Champion Hurdle changed when Constitution Hill was ruled out of the contest. It means last year’s runner-up State Man is now the favourite and the horse they all must beat in the premier 2m hurdles race.
Unfortunately for his connections, State Man was no match for the superstar Constitution Hill last March in the Championship contest, but he was a long way clear of the rest of the field. Since then, he has won four consecutive Grade One races, including in the Irish Champion Hurdle on his latest start.
Mullins has a lot of talent in his stable, but this horse could be the best of the lot. He can land a first Champion Hurdle crown on day one of the meeting.
Enjoy all the action across the four days of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. Let’s hope it is another thrilling meeting at Prestbury Park.
