Cheltenham Festival Preview 2023
CHELTENHAM - AN IRISH SWEEP OR WILL HENDERSON’S HEROES FLY THE FLAG? With the best four days of the National Hunt racing calendar ahead of us, we have a look at the various horses we should put our houses on.
This year, it is generally agreed that the Gold Cup has one of the most competitive and quality fields for some years. In addition, many of the other races on this year’s card offer exciting starting lines. There is no doubt that the Irish contingent headed by Willie Mullins will have a good chance of taking home The Prestbury Cup.
Willie’s record at the Cheltenham Festival is second to none, his 88 winners being 16 more than that of his closest rival, Nicky Henderson at 72 winners. Mullins’ tally includes four victories in the Champion Hurdle; two each in the Gold Cup and Stayers’ Hurdle, and one Champion Chase win with Energumene last year.
At the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Mullins sent out a record 10 winners and he will be hoping to achieve a similar feat with some exciting horses in his stable this year.
Facile Vega (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup) and Energumene (Champion Chase) are just three of the Mullins horses that everyone is looking forward to seeing at the Festival.
Closer to home, Paul Nicholls is one of most successful British National Hunt trainers ever, having been crowned champion trainer 13 times – second only to Martin Pipe’s 15 titles.
He made his mark at The Cheltenham Festival, when he saddled the winners of the Champion Chase, Arkle Challenge Trophy and Gold Cup.
Nicholls has had 46 winners at The Festival in the past 24 years including four in the Gold Cup, three in consecutive years, and six in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. This places him on the all-time list behind Willie Mullins (88) and Nicky Henderson (72).
In 2023, he has strong contenders in the opening race on the first day, with Tahmuras in the Supreme Novices Hurdle; Threeunderfive in the Ultima Handicap Chase; Hermes Allen in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle; Greaneteen in the Champion Chase and Bravemans Game in the Gold Cup.
Nicky Henderson comes to The Festival with a stunning group of horses and may well make a major contribution to Great Britain’s attempt to secure The Prestbury Cup.
On the first day of the meeting, Nicky saddles Jonbon in the Arkle. In the talented hands of Cotswold jockey, Nico de Boinville, the exceptional, Constitution Hill meets State Man in the Champion Hurdle. Attacca will line up against Nicholls’s Hermes Allen in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle on the second day. The talented Shishkin, under Nico, will go in the Ryan Air Chase on Wednesday and Epatante runs in the Mares Novices Hurdle.
Nico de Boinville and Constitution Hill
Call Me Lord, Captain Morgs and Steal A March are among five of Henderson’s possible contenders for the Pertemps Final on Thursday. How wonderful it would be for His Majesty King Charles to have a winner in the year of his Coronation!
If you bet your house on a horse, you may end up in a hovel, or if the horse comes in, a castle!!
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