As we gear-up for the top horse racing action at Prestbury Park, many fans will be looking back to 12 months ago and reminding themselves how many Irish winners were there at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival?
We Saw 18 Irish Winners at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023
In addtion to the 28 individual horses that win each of the Cheltenham Festival races, each year there is an added sub-plot competition between the Irish and British-trained runners, with the winners battling it out for the Prestbury Cup.
With there being an even number of races, there is a chance of a tie, just like in 2019 when Great Britain and Ireland fired in 14 winners each. With the only fly in the ‘tie’ ointment if there is ever a French-trained winner, but that doesn’t look likely in 2024.
However, that draw in 2019 is the only thing the GB trainers can cling to in recent Prestbury Cup history, with the Irish winning all the other years from 2016, including 12 months ago – when we saw 18 Irish winners at the Cheltenham Festival 2023.
This means from the 28 Cheltenham Festival races in 2023, the Irish won 64% of them.
The last outright Great Britain Prestbury Cup win was in 2015, with 14 winners.
Irish Winners At Cheltenham 2023 (18)
Ireland trainers won 18 of the 28 Cheltenham races in 2023.
Including four of the five main races – Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Gold Cup.
- Marine Nationale (Supreme Novices)
- El Fabiolo (Arkle)
- Honeysuckle (Mares Hurdle)
- Jazzy Matty (Boodles)
- Gaillard Du Mesnil (NH Chase)
- Impaire Et Passe (Ballymore)
- Energumene (Champion Chase)
- Delta Work (Cross Country)
- Maskada (Grand Annual)
- A Dream To Share (Champion Bumper)
- Good Time Johnny (Pertemps)
- Envoi Allen (Ryanair Chase)
- Sire Du Berlais (Stayers’ Hurdle)
- Seddon (Plate)
- Angels Dawn (Kim Muir)
- Lossiemouth (Triumph)
- Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup)
- Impervious (Mares’ Chase)
WATCH: ALL 18 Irish Winners at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
The 18 Irish Cheltenham winners in 2023 came from 15 different owners and nine seperate trainers.
RELATED: Gordon Elliott Reveals His BEST Cheltenham Festival 2024 Chance
The Irish Expected To Dominate Again In 2024
There also seems to be NO light at the end of the tunnel for the GB handlers, with Ireland as short as 1/10 with the best UK horse racing betting sites to grab the most Cheltenham Festival winners in 2024.
This is also backed up with Willie Mullins dominating the Dublin Racing Festival in February. Yes, there were only a handful of UK runners, but the Closutton man still won ALL the Grade 1 races at the meeting.
In fact, the bookies are so certain Ireland will have the most 2024 winners, some have even created a Prestbury Cup handicap betting market to make it more interesting.
Prestbury Cup Odds
- Ireland 1/4
- Tie 12/1
- Great Britain 10/1
Prestbury Cup Handicap Betting
- Ireland Winners (-10.5) 11/10
- Great Britain Winners (+10.5) 4/6
Note: Odds are subject to change.
Ireland Recorded Most Ever Cheltenham Festival Winners In 2021
Back in 2021 the Irish dominace peaked with an incredible 23 winners from the 28 races. With Great Britain only managing five Cheltenham Festival successes in 2021.
That means the Irish won a massive 82% of the Cheltenham Festival races that year.
Prestbury Cup Winners
- 2023 – Ireland (18 wins)
- 2022 – Ireland (18 wins)
- 2021 – Ireland (23 wins)
- 2020 – Ireland (17 wins)
- 2019 – Tie (14 wins each)
- 2018 – Ireland (17 wins)
- 2017 – Ireland (19 wins)
- 2016 – Ireland (15 wins)
- 2015 (27 races) – Great Britain (13 wins)
- 2014 (27 races) – Great Britain (12 wins)
RELATED: Ruby Walsh Reveals Each-Way Cheltenham Gold Cup Tip Against Galopin Des Champs
Cheltenham Festival – Irish-trained Winners (Since 2005)
2023 (18 Irish Winners):
Marine Nationale , El Fabiolo, Honeysuckle, Jazzy Matty, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Impaire Et Passe, Energumene, Delta Work, Maskada, A Dream To Share, Good Time Johnny, Envoi Allen, Sire Du Berlais, Seddon, Angels Dawn, Lossiemouth , Galopin Des Champs, Impervious
2022 (18 Irish Winners):
Honeysuckle, Brazil, Stattler, Sir Gerhard, Commander Of Fleet, Energumene, Delta Work, Facile Vega, Bob Olinger, Allaho, Flooring Porter, Vauban, State Man, The Nice Guy, A Plus Tard, Billaway, Elimay, Banbridge
2021 (23 Irish Winners):
Appreciate It, Honeysuckle, Black Tears, Jeff Kidder, Galvin, Bob Olinger, Monkfish, Heaven Help, Put The Kettle On, Tiger Roll, Sir Gerhard, Mrs Milner, Allaho, Flooring Porter, The Shunter, Telmesomethinggirl, Mount Ida, Quilixios, Belfast Banter, Vanillier, Minella Indo, Colreevy, Galopin Des Champs.
2020 (17 Irish Winners):
Put The Kettle On, Honeysuckle, Ravenhill, Envoi Allen, Aramax, Ferny Hollow, Samcro, Sire Du Berlais, Min, Concertista, Milan Native, Burning Victory, Saint Roi, Monkfish, Al Boum Photo, It Came To Pass, Chosen Mate,
2019 (14 Irish Winners):
Klassical Dream, Duc Des Genievres, Espoir D’Allen, A Plus Tard, City Island, Tiger Roll, Band Of Outlaws, Envoi Allen, Sire Du Berlais, Eglantine Du Seuil, Any Second Now, Minella Indo, Al Boum Photo, Early Doors
2018 (17 Irish Winners):
Footpad, Benie Des Dieux, Rathvinden, Samcro, Presenting Percy, Bleu Berry, Tiger Roll, Veneer Of Charm, Relegate, Shattered Love, Delta Work, Balko Des Flos, Penhill, The Storyteller, Laurina, Farclas, Blow By Blow
2017 (19 Irish Winners):
Labaik, Apple’s Jade, Tiger Roll, Tully East, Supasundae, Special Tiara, Cause Of Causes, Fayonagh, Yorkhill, Presenting Percy, Un de Sceaux, Nichols Canyon, Road To Respect, Let’s Dance, Arctic Fire, Penhill, Sizing John, Champagne Classic, Rock The World
2016 (15 Irish Winners):
Ivanovich Gorbatov, Don Cossack, On The Fringe, Black Hercules, Mall Dini, Vautour, Empire Of Dirt, Limini, Cause of Causes, Yorkhill, Diamond King, Josies Order, Douvan, Annie Power, Vroum Vroum Mag,
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