Irish-trained horses have dominated the Cheltenham Festival in recent times – they won 18 of the 28 races in 2023 – and are long odds-on to win their annual Prestbury Park battle with the Brits again in 2024.
However, there are still a few (not many) Cheltenham races that Ireland have struggled to win over the years – meaning you might want to tread carefully when siding with the Emerald Isle runners in these contests.
We Saw 18 Irish-Trained Cheltenham Festival Winners In 2023
Ireland have won the Prestbury Cup – the competition between the Irish and British-trained runners at the Cheltenham Festival – for the last four seasons. The last time GB lifted the trophy was in 2015 (but they did share the spoils in 2019).
12 months ago, it as more of the same as the Irish fired in a massive 18 winners. Which means they won 64% of the 28 Cheltenham Festival races that year and this was exactly the same haul as their 2022 winning tally.
While in 2021 the Irish remarkably had 23 of the 28 races (82%) – so, with that, Ireland will again be a warm order in the 2024 Prestbury Cup market with the best UK horse racing betting sites.
However, despite their dominance, which is led by Willie Mullins and his 94 Festival winners over the years, there are still a tiny selection of races the Irish DON’T do that well in.
2024 Cheltenham Festival Races the Irish Have Poor Records In
We highlight the Cheltenham races that the Irish have struggled in recent times.
Tuesday 12th March 2024
2.50 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
- The Irish have won just 2 of the last 55 runnings (since 1967)
- Irish-trained runners are 0-38 in the last 17 runnings
The Ultima Handicap Chase, which is run on the opening day and has been won for the last two years by Corach Rambler (watch below), has been a graveyard race for the Irish over the years.
Rambler, of course, also went onto win the Aintree Grand National the following month to rub further salt in the Irish wounds and he’s one of just eleven 2024 Cheltenham Festival runners that have 2+ wins at the meeting to their name.
Over the years, the Irish have won just two of the last 55 runnings of the Ultima. This run dates back to 1967 and in the last 17 renewals have had 38 horses beaten.
Of course, they came close in 2023 with Fastorslow running a neck second, while their two winners since 1967 were Dun Doire (2006) and Youlneverwalkalone (2003) for owner JP McManus.
This year they will be trying to stop the rot with the likes of Meetingofthewaters – a recent JP McManus purchase – plus The Goffer, who was 4th in the race 12 months ago. Both figure high up in the market with the best new betting UK sites.
Thursday 16th March 2023
4.10 – Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f 166y
- The Irish have only sent out 5 winners since 1983 (HOWEVER – these did all come in the last 7 years)
The Plate Handicap Chase was first run in 1951 and it had been a race the Irish had a dire record in. Between 1982 and 2015, they didn’t have a single winner.
However, the Colm Murphy-trained Empire Of Dirt ended this drought in 2016 and this was quickly followed by wins for Noel Meade’s Road To Respect (2017) and Gordon Elliott’s The Storyteller (2018) in the next few years.
Add to those more Irish successes in 2021 The Shunter (Emmet Mullins) and 12 months ago in 2023 with Seddon (John McConnell) (watch below) – meaning this contest has certainly taken a turn for better for the Irish, but it still gets a mention with just the five winners since 1983.
This is also a Cheltenham race Willie Mullins is yet to win – there are seven Festival races in total the Closutton handler is yet to land.
The Irish could have the Gavin Cromwell Letsbeclearaboutit as one of their main hopes in 2024.
5.30 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase 3m 2f
- Just 6 Irish winners in last 40 years (but have won 6 of the last 10)
With only 6 Irish winners of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir since 1983, this is another race the Irish have not had the best of records in.
However, just like the Plate, it does seem they’ve bucked up their ideas here.
Why? Well, it’s worth noting that these six successes have all came since 2014. With that in mind a small word of caution here but it’s still an interesting Cheltenham Festival trend, but one the Irish seem to be working hard at trying to reverse.
Angels Dawn won the race for them again in 2023 and could be back for more in 2024.
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