The Cheltenham Festival is a major horse racing event annually in the United Kingdom. It is held over four days in March and is regarded as the most prestigious National Hunt racing calendar event. The festival features several high-profile races, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most prestigious race of the festival.
Racing enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming Cheltenham Festival 2024, scheduled from Tuesday, March 14, to Friday, March 17. There is a considerable amount of excitement building around the event. This year’s hot favourites are lining up for another exciting event. Let’s take a look at the top contenders for Cheltenham Festival 2024.
1. Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill, the superstar horse trained by Nicky Henderson, is a force to be reckoned with and is causing fear among other horses’ trainers. Many consider him the top pick for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, and it’s no wonder why. He is undefeated in five starts and dominated the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s festival, winning by an impressive 22 lengths.
Constitution Hill has also won two Grade One races this season, leaving no competition in his wake. Even if the talented Honeysuckle performs at her best, she will need help to keep up with Constitution Hill, even with a 7lb advantage. Although he can sometimes take his hurdles lightly, his record has few flaws, and many believe he could become one of the best horses ever.
As one of the most significant sporting events in the United Kingdom, there is plenty of excitement for bettors at the festival. With the event around the corner, it is an ideal time to pick your favourite Cheltenham 2024 runners. There are various betting options for the thrilling races at the Cheltenham Festival, allowing you to place most of your bets.
2. Facile Vega
Facile Vega, a horse trained by Willie Mullins, is one of the top contenders for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He is highly regarded in the racing community, with an unbeaten record and six wins in his career so far.
One of Facile Vega’s most notable victories came in the Grade One Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, which he won by defeating his stablemate Il Etait Temps at Leopardstown last Christmas. This win cemented his status as a top contender for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.
However, despite his impressive record, there are still some concerns about Facile Vega’s performance in the upcoming race. During the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, he did not perform as well as many had hoped, and his jumping during critical stages of the race left something to be desired. In order to excel in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he will need to improve in this area.
Facile Vega is a horse to watch at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, and many racing fans will be keeping a close eye on his performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. If he can improve his jumping during critical stages, he could be a strong contender for the win.
3. Energumene
Source: sportinglife.com
Energumene is the reigning champion of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and after an impressive victory in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December, he is the horse to beat in the upcoming race. Despite Shishkin’s underperformance last year, Energumene’s win was still a top-class performance under the confident ride of jockey Paul Townend.
Going into the 2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase, Energumene will face some new challengers, including Edwardstone and stablemate Blue Lord, who finished first and third respectively in last year’s Sporting Life Arkle Chase. While these horses are certainly not to be underestimated, Energumene has proven himself in the past and deserves to be considered among the top contenders.
Energumene’s impressive form has made him a popular pick among racing fans and experts alike, and many are predicting that he will defend his title in style. However, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is always a competitive race, and anything can happen on the day.
One potential factor to consider is the ground conditions on race day. Energumene has shown that he can perform well on soft ground, but if the going is heavy, it could potentially level the playing field and give other horses a better chance of winning.
4. Galopin Des Champs
Galopin Des Champs, a talented horse trained by Willie Mullins, is expected to be the favourite for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup due to his strong performance this season. He won the Irish Gold Cup with ease, solidifying his position as a top contender for the event. With five wins from six chase starts, Galopin Des Champs is undoubtedly one of the most impressive horses on the circuit.
Despite his impressive record, some may have concerns about Galopin Des Champs due to his mishap at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, where he was in the lead but fell at the final fence in the Turners Novices’ Chase. However, this should not detract from his overall abilities, and he has shown that he is more than capable of competing at the highest level.
With his impressive form and pedigree, Galopin Des Champs is expected to be a popular pick among bettors and racing fans alike. While there may be some competition from other top contenders such as Al Boum Photo and A Plus Tard, Galopin Des Champs is a deserving favourite for the Gold Cup and will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with on race day.
Summary
The 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be an exciting event, and four horses will stand out as top contenders in their respective races. Facile Vega is a highly regarded horse and likely a key Supreme Novices’ Hurdle player. Constitution Hill has been considered a favourite for a long time by bettors.
Energumene is the reigning champion of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and will face new challengers but is still favoured to win. Finally, Galopin Des Champs is the likely favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Surprises can happen in horse racing, but these four horses are strong contenders and worth watching closely during the festival.
