Cheltenham Competition 2024: 4 British-Educated Horses to Observe

Picture by Carine06 from UK – Champion Hurdle, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37285214

The Cheltenham Competition has been dominated by Irish trainers in recent times and that development appears set to proceed when the 2024 assembly is staged.

A fast take a look at the Cheltenham betting markets for subsequent 12 months’s high races highlights how tough will probably be for British handlers to get into the winners’ enclosure.

Irish-trained horses dominate many of the ante-post markets, significantly in every of the Grade 1 occasions throughout the four-day assembly.

Nevertheless, there are a number of British-trained horses who’ve a real likelihood of rising victorious in March. Listed below are 4 we imagine can get the job executed.

Structure Hill – Arkle Novices’ Chase

The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Structure Hill has loads of choices open to him subsequent season together with embarking on a profession over greater obstacles.

Some pundits have steered he could possibly be aimed on the Gold Cup, however coach Nicky Henderson will in all probability resist the temptation to move down that route.

His most probably goal is the Arkle Novices’ Chase, though the Champion Chase could possibly be an alternate if he scares away the opposition at novice stage.

Whichever race he results in on the Competition, Structure Hill will probably be a banker wager to get a winner on the board for British trainers.

Jonbon – Ryanair Chase

Henderson may add one other winner to his tally within the Ryanair Chase, along with his Jonbon more likely to take a step up in journey subsequent season.

The massive-money buy has completed second within the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Novices’ Chase within the final two years and appears to be a Competition winner in-waiting.

He ended final season with two Grade 1 victories over two miles at Aintree and Sandown, however now appears able to run over an extended distance.

The Ryanair Chase is the pure goal for the horse and he could possibly be robust to beat if he participates within the race in March.

Love Envoi – Mares’ Hurdle

Irish trainers have dominated the Mares’ Hurdle because it was first run in 2008, profitable the race on 13 of the 16 events it has been staged.

Henry De Bromhead’s Honeysuckle was accountable for two of these victories (2020 & 2023), however her retirement has left the mares’ ranks missing a famous person.

Love Envoi could possibly be the one to beat having given Honeysuckle a run for her cash on this 12 months’s race for coach Harry Fry.

The horse clearly likes Cheltenham after profitable the 2022 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and appears a very good wager to be extraordinarily aggressive subsequent 12 months.

Shishkin – Gold Cup

We return to the Henderson secure for our last advice, with Shishkin fancied to emerge as a powerful contender within the Gold Cup.

The horse has already run twice on the Competition, however a poor run within the 2022 Champion Chase left connections scratching their heads.

He bounced again to complete second on this 12 months’s Ryanair Chase, and adopted up with a victory over 3m1f within the Aintree Bowl Chase.

Shishkin has been crying out to be run over an extended journey and needs to be a vigorous contender for the Gold Cup when March comes round.