Cheltenham Pageant is a four-day racing occasion held in March yearly and is seen because the premier jumps racing meet within the UK. The competition dates again to 1860 and has hosted many champion jumpers over its wealthy historical past. This yr’s competition runs from March 12 to fifteen. Final Phrase on Sports activities brings you all you could know concerning the 2024 version.
What Are The Main Races
The competition has lately elevated the variety of races to twenty-eight over the four-day interval, with 14 of them being grade 1 customary. However every day has its function race. The primary function is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a two-mile grade 1 race. Wednesday hosts one other two-mile race, the Betway Queen Mom Champion Steeple Chase. The penultimate day performs host to 2 options, RyanAir Steeple Chase and the Paddy Energy Stayers’ Hurdle.
The ultimate day is highlighted by the premier race of the competition, The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. A 3-mile and two-furlong race that has its one hundredth operating in 2024.
Who To Hold An Eye On
Embed from Getty PhotographsNot like many different festivals within the UK, Cheltenham doesn’t appeal to many worldwide ‘raiders’ aside from these crossing the Irish Sea. As a result of variety of Irish trainers bringing their horses over a rivalry has begun, now formalised within the type of the Prestbury Cup. It’s awarded to the nation with probably the most winners all through the competition. The 2023 version noticed Eire take it house with an emphatic 18-10 victory over Nice Britain. The British haven’t been in a position to take house the cup since 2015 and are heavy underdogs for this yr’s version.
Willie Mullins has been the highest coach at Cheltenham for the previous decade. He has been the main coach for eight of the final ten years. The Irishman has 94 wins over his profession at this competition and shall be trying to break the century in 2024. He additionally has three of the final 5 Gold Cup victories and has Galopin Des Champs within the function this yr, a 5/4 ($2.25 / +125) favorite. Some necessary Cheltenham day 3 ideas will assist punters make good on their wager.
Champion jockey Paul Townsend is the person everybody desires driving their horse. The Irishman has been the highest jockey for 3 of the final 4 years and has been on the prime of all of Mullins Gold Cup victories. He’s the go-to jockey for the steady, the dynamic duo might once more be the highest performers this yr.
Key Horses In The Pageant
Cheltenham Pageant exhibits off the premier jumps horses within the UK and Eire. The aforementioned Galopin Des Champs goes up in opposition to rival Fastorslow within the Gold Cup. The horses have confronted off 3 times over the past yr with the latter popping out on prime twice. The Martin Brassle-trained bay gelding is at present 5/1 ($6 / +500) and is tipped by many to cease a second straight Gold Cup victory for Galopin Des Champs.
The primary function race of the competition, the Unibet Champions Hurdle, is headlined by State Man. At present a 4/11 ($1.36 / -275) favorite, the seven-year-old gelding is part of the Mullins/Townsend combo and will don’t have any match on this race. It would look to win a race that has had 5 favourites win over the past decade.
The duo of Mullins and Townsend are additionally favoured within the Betway Queen Mom Champion Steeple Chase as they appear to win it for the third yr in a row. El Fabiolo has received in all of its six steeple chase races and punters have backed it as such. It’s one other seven-year-old gelding from the Irish steady and is priced at 8/15 ( $1.53 / -188). The horse can also be at present favoured within the RyanAir Chase at 6/4 ( $2.5 / +150).
The Paddy Energy Stayers’ Hurdle is an 18-horse race headlined by a duo from Irish coach Gordon Elliot. Teahupoo, priced at 2/1 ($3 / +200), and Irish Level, 9/2 ($5.50 / +450), lead the sector in a race that has seen a 33-1 and 50-1 winner over the past 5 years. This race is comparatively broad open and might be one to again a roughie.
