The Cheltenham Festival is the ‘Mecca’ of the sport, just as the Barbury International fixture defines the foremost quality of the racing merchandise between the flags. Cheltenham is the one place every disciple of jump racing and betting must visit at least once in their lifetime, an unbelievable four days of racing action which transcends anything the likes of Royal Ascot can offer.
You see, whereas the summertime shindig which is Royal Ascot is conceived as a good day out and a chance to dress-up and drink champagne, the average Cheltenham festival racegoer is a hardcore racing fan and gambler with a true interest in every aspect of horse racing.
Until 2005 the Cheltenham Festival was a three day affair but the addition of a fourth day of action has not diluted the experience. Rather, it has served to add to the spectacle and popularity of the Festival. At the same time the rise to prominence of Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott has seen ‘Cheltenham’ be a straight scrap for dominance with the visiting team being the most winning most nation in both 2017 and 2018.
Last year Irish-trained runners claimed 17 of the 28 races at the fabled gathering and in 2017, with what was conceived to be a massive turn-up, the score-line was 19-9 in favour of Ireland. Tails are up across the Irish Sea that the Irish dominance will continue.
2019 Cheltenham Betting Odds
The Cheltenham betting odds on which nation will win the most races in 2019, an accolade which is now described as the ‘Prestbury Cup’, suggest Ireland will win the most races for the third consecutive year, despite the best efforts of the UK’s leading trainers, like Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, and king of Barbury, Alan King.
At odds of 7/4 the UK’s chance of claiming the most races this March equate to around 35 per cent. The outcome of the Championship races is probably of more importance to most and the latest Cheltenham betting odds show these races are wide open. In the Unibet Champion Hurdle the home trained defending champion Buveur D’Air may be 2/1 favourite but the Irish-trained runner, Apple’s Jade rates a serious threat priced 9/4.
At 4/9 another defending champion, Altior, is most people’s idea of a Cheltenham banker and he is trained in nearby Lambourn by Nicky Henderson. Paisley Park is the favourite in the Stayers Hurdle for Emma Lavelle who trains next door to Barbury in Wiltshire and the biggie, the highlight of the Festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, has the Irish-trained Presenting Percy at the head of the betting (at 7/2). But he is followed by the domestically-trained runners Clan Des Obeaux and defending champion Native River (6/1), trained by Colin Tizzard. Time was when the Tizzard family was cutting its teeth in the racing game in West Country Point-to-Point meetings, but look at them now – right at the top of their game. But Pointing can take great pride that so many horses emerging into the top flight started their careers between the flags, either in Ireland or in Britain.
Action Packed Cash Cow
Regardless of who claims the showcase races or which nation wins the more contests, the Cheltenham Festival remains the most novel of the world’s racing festivals and the action is not restricted to the action on the racecourse.
This veritable celebration of National Hunt racing is predicted to see over £2.5 million withdrawn from local ATMs (cash-points). That’s what a projected 270,000 people passing through the Cheltenham turnstiles will do for you! Those racegoers will eat no less than three tons of smoked salmon and drink a quarter of a million pints of Guinness! Combined fanatical 2019 Festival racegoers will bring over £150 million to the local economy. And cider consumption is destined to rise now Magners have put their weight behind the week's feature event.
But Jump racing remains the biggest winner with the entire National Hunt season seemingly revolving about just four days action in the spring. And amongst the humble die-hards of the Point-to-Point community who frequent Barbury as spectators and participants, sending a runner to Cheltenham remains one for the bucket list, and a winner the ultimate but often elusive dream.
Growing in stature year on year, Cheltenham Festival 2019 may still be an unwritten story but it is sure to have a happy ending for at least 28 of the 400 or so competitors.
The Cheltenham Festival is the ‘Mecca’ of the sport, just as the Barbury International fixture defines the foremost quality of the racing merchandise between the flags. Cheltenham is the one place every disciple of jump racing and betting must visit at least once in their lifetime, an unbelievable four days of racing action which transcends anything the likes of Royal Ascot can offer.
You see, whereas the summertime shindig which is Royal Ascot is conceived as a good day out and a chance to dress-up and drink champagne, the average Cheltenham festival racegoer is a hardcore racing fan and gambler with a true interest in every aspect of horse racing.
Until 2005 the Cheltenham Festival was a three day affair but the addition of a fourth day of action has not diluted the experience. Rather, it has served to add to the spectacle and popularity of the Festival. At the same time the rise to prominence of Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott has seen ‘Cheltenham’ be a straight scrap for dominance with the visiting team being the most winning most nation in both 2017 and 2018.
Last year Irish-trained runners claimed 17 of the 28 races at the fabled gathering and in 2017, with what was conceived to be a massive turn-up, the score-line was 19-9 in favour of Ireland. Tails are up across the Irish Sea that the Irish dominance will continue.
2019 Cheltenham Betting Odds
The Cheltenham betting odds on which nation will win the most races in 2019, an accolade which is now described as the ‘Prestbury Cup’, suggest Ireland will win the most races for the third consecutive year, despite the best efforts of the UK’s leading trainers, like Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, and king of Barbury, Alan King.
At odds of 7/4 the UK’s chance of claiming the most races this March equate to around 35 per cent. The outcome of the Championship races is probably of more importance to most and the latest Cheltenham betting odds show these races are wide open. In the Unibet Champion Hurdle the home trained defending champion Buveur D’Air may be 2/1 favourite but the Irish-trained runner, Apple’s Jade rates a serious threat priced 9/4.
At 4/9 another defending champion, Altior, is most people’s idea of a Cheltenham banker and he is trained in nearby Lambourn by Nicky Henderson. Paisley Park is the favourite in the Stayers Hurdle for Emma Lavelle who trains next door to Barbury in Wiltshire and the biggie, the highlight of the Festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, has the Irish-trained Presenting Percy at the head of the betting (at 7/2). But he is followed by the domestically-trained runners Clan Des Obeaux and defending champion Native River (6/1), trained by Colin Tizzard. Time was when the Tizzard family was cutting its teeth in the racing game in West Country Point-to-Point meetings, but look at them now – right at the top of their game. But Pointing can take great pride that so many horses emerging into the top flight started their careers between the flags, either in Ireland or in Britain.
Action Packed Cash Cow
Regardless of who claims the showcase races or which nation wins the more contests, the Cheltenham Festival remains the most novel of the world’s racing festivals and the action is not restricted to the action on the racecourse.
This veritable celebration of National Hunt racing is predicted to see over £2.5 million withdrawn from local ATMs (cash-points). That’s what a projected 270,000 people passing through the Cheltenham turnstiles will do for you! Those racegoers will eat no less than three tons of smoked salmon and drink a quarter of a million pints of Guinness! Combined fanatical 2019 Festival racegoers will bring over £150 million to the local economy. And cider consumption is destined to rise now Magners have put their weight behind the week's feature event.
But Jump racing remains the biggest winner with the entire National Hunt season seemingly revolving about just four days action in the spring. And amongst the humble die-hards of the Point-to-Point community who frequent Barbury as spectators and participants, sending a runner to Cheltenham remains one for the bucket list, and a winner the ultimate but often elusive dream.
Growing in stature year on year, Cheltenham Festival 2019 may still be an unwritten story but it is sure to have a happy ending for at least 28 of the 400 or so competitors.
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