With the biggest horse racing jumps meeting looming, we take a look at the Cheltenham Festival favourites 2024 and the runners that are currently heading the betting for ALL 28 races.
Cheltenham Festival Favourites 2024: The Market Leaders For ALL 28 Races
See below as we highlight the 28 horses that are currently the Cheltenham Festival favourites 2024 over the meeting and ALL of the 28 races.
Many of these market leaders will also been given the infamous ‘Cheltenham Festival Bankers‘ tag as punters look to perm up these big fancies in doubles, trebles and accas across the week.
You can also bet on these Cheltenham favourites with the best UK horse racing betting sites, plus see here which of the leading bookies are offering Non Runner, No Bet on ALL the races. Meaning if your horse doesn’t make the race, you’ll get your stake refunded.
Note: All Cheltenham Festival favourites are subject to change
Cheltenham Festival Favourites: Tuesday 12th March 2024
1.30: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: BALLYBURN
Impressed at the Dublin Racing Festival last time and will be hoping to get favourite backers off to a flyer. Also the market leader for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle as connections ponder their preference.
2.10: Arkle Novices’ Chase: MARINE NATIONALE
Last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner. Bubble burst in the Irish Arkle last time in Leopardstown, be remains the favourite here. Needs to bounce back.
2.50: Ultima Handicap Chase: STUMPTOWN
Runner up in the Kim Muir at the Festival 12 months ago and won impressively at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
3.30: Champion Hurdle: CONSTITUTION HILL
Star hurdler and last year’s easy winner of this race (watch below). Will take on State Man again, but heads here unbeaten 8-from-8 over the sticks and will one of the big Festival bankers.
4.10: Mares’ Hurdle: LOSSIEMOUTH
Another of the huge Cheltenham bankers and winner of the Triumph Hurdle last season here. Many felt she could have taken on Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, but connections expected to opt for this easier race.
4.50: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: LARK IN THE MORNIN
Ex-flat winner that is trained by Joseph O’Brien, yet to win over hurdles but handicap debut here and has improved with each outing so far.
5.30: National Hunt Chase: EMBASSY GARDENS
Pulled up in the Albert Bartlett last year but shaping up to be a better chaser. Heads to the Festival 2-from-2 over fences, with most recent run an easy 10-length win at Naas.
WATCH: Constitution Hill Winning The 2023 Champion Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival Favourites: Wednesday 13th March 2024
1.30: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle: BALLYBURN
Top prospect in the making for Willie Mullins after impressing in the DRF last time out. Likely to head for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle though on day one (also favourite there). If so, would then make Slade Steel the market leader here.
2.10: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase: FACT TO FILE
Runner-up in the Champion Bumper last season. Has bypassed hurdling and gone straight over fences – winning two from three. The last was an impressive win in the Ladbrokes Novices Chase the DRF, slamming Gaelic Warrior. Also high up the betting for the Turners’ Novices Chase (day 3).
2.50: Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle): SA MAJESTE
Prominent in the betting for the Martin Pipe – the final race on day four – as well. This JP McManus-owned 6 year-old impressed on unsuitable heavy ground at Limerick last time and is rumoured to be admired by his Closutton handler.
3.30: Queen Mother Champion Chase: EL FABIOLO
The big day two banker, who won the Arkle Novices’ Chase last season here. Now 6-from-6 over fences with the latest success an easy 8 1/2 length win over the useful mare Dinoblue.
4.10: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase: MINELLA INDO
2021 Gold Cup winner that has a top Festival record having also won the 2019 Albert Barlett. Switch to the Cross Country in his old age but took to the course well in December (4th) with a big weight and will now race off level weights. Will take on the winner of this race for the last two years – Delta Work (watch below).
4.50: Grand Annual Handicap Chase: MY MATE MOZZIE
Second in the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase on Boxing Day at Leopardstown to Found A Fifty. Also impressed at Cheltenham when winning at their October meeting. Switch to handicap company here and could be the class act in the field.
5.30: Champion Bumper: JALON D’OUDAIRIES
Top Gordon Elliott prospect, who has won all three starts. Owned by Gigginstown House Stud and was last seen beating Redemption Day by 2 3/4 lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas. Elliott has won this race twice since 2017.
WATCH: Delta Work Winning The 2023 Cross Country Chase
Cheltenham Festival Favourites: Thursday 14th March 2024
1.30: Turners Novices’ Chase: FACT TO FILE
Also the market leader for the Brown Advisory, but could end up here. Two from three over fences and put in his best run yet last time when showing a good turn-of-foot to beat Gaelic Warrior in a match at Leopardstown.
2.10: Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle: ICARE ALLEN
Down the field in the Coral Cup last year and last win now came back in 2022. Qualified for this with a find third at Aintree back in November and this Willie Mullins 6 year-old has been kept fresh since – maybe to protect his mark – we’ll see.
2.50: Ryanair Chase: BANBRIDGE
Ran down Pic D’Orhy at Kempton in January and has a fine Cheltenham record. He’s yet to lost at Prestbury Park from two runs and took the Martin Pipe Hurdle here in 2022. Will be a popular day three pick for many.
3.30: Stayers’ Hurdle: TEAHUPOO
Was third in this race 12 months ago – beaten just 3/4 of a length (watch below). Has returned this season lightly-raced but impressed to win his only start, when seeing off the useful Impaire Et Passe in the Hatton’s Grace in December.
4.10: Paddy Power Plate (Handicap Chase): HEART WOOD
Lightly-raced chaser that has only had four run and is yet to finish out of the first two over the bigger obstacles. Easy 14-length winner at Leopardstown at the DRF for Rachael Blackmore and despite going up in the ratings looks the sort to have more to come.
4.50: Mares Novices’ Hurdle: JADE DE GRUGY
Yet another promising Willie Mullins mare in the making that will come here 2-from-2 over fences. The last of those wins came in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse in January – beating A Penny A Hundred by 6 1/2 lengths.
5.30: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Handicap Chase): GOOD TIME JONNY
Nice winner of the Pertemps Hurdle at the Festival last season, but yet to get off the mark over fences (5 runs). Last seen running down the field at the DRF to Heart Wood but could be more at home over this longer trip.
WATCH: Sire Du Berlais Winning The 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival Favourites: Friday 15th March 2024
1.30: Triumph Hurdle: SIR GINO
Expected to get favourite backers off to a day four flyer. This Nicky Henderson-trained 4 year-old looks an exciting prospect in the making and that was backed up by taking the Triumph Trial here back in January by an easy 10 lengths. Former top jockey Ruby Walsh feels the horse could go to the very top. Will be looking to give Hendo an 8th win in the race.
2.10: County Hurdle (Handicap): IBERICO LORD
Got back to winning ways with a top win in the Betfair Hurdle in February and is now 3-from-7 over hurdles. Also won the Greatwood Hurdle here at the November Meeting, but the key to him seems to be softer ground – we’ll have to see if he gets it.
2.50: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: HIGH CLASS HERO
Will come to the Festival 4-from-4 over hurdle and is yet another exciting prospect for the Willie Mullins yard. Last seen winning easily at Thurles in January and Mullins has won this race three times since 2017.
3.30: Cheltenham Gold Cup: GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
Needs little introduction as the current Gold Cup winner (watch below). Flopped a few times since his win in this last year but has bounced back in great style – winning the Savills Chase over Christmas and his second Irish Gold Cup last time. Galopin Des Champs will be looking to give Willie Mullins a fourth Gold Cup since 2019 and repeat Al Boum Photos back-to-back back success in 2019 and 2020.
4.10: Foxhunters Chase: FERNS LOCK
Has age on side for a Hunter Chase at just 7 and the bookies feel he’s the one to beat after winning four of his six starts to date. The most recent was a facile 8-length win at Thurles in a Hunters’ Chase in January and has been ridden by the experienced Barry O’Neill.
4.50: Mares’ Chase: DINOBLUE
– Ran into the classy El Fabiolo last time out in the Dublin Chase – beaten 8 1/2 lengths – but that was still a respectable run and back racing against her own sex will very much be the one to beat here. Willie Mullins has won two of the last three runnings, while owner JP McManus has also won the last two renewals.
5.30: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle: SA MAJESTE
Also prominent in the betting for the Coral Cup, so we’ll have to see where he goes. No secret that Willie Mullins likes this horse, having beaten the 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats at Limerick last time on heavy ground that wouldn’t have been totally suitable.
WATCH: Galopin Des Champs Winning The 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup
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