Cheltenham, United Kingdom. British trainers Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson will challenge Ireland’s leading runners as the Cheltenham Festival opens on Tuesday, with horses including The New Lion and Lulamba competing for a share of a five-million-pound prize pot.
Festival scale and economic impact
The four-day meeting is expected to attract around 200,000 racegoers and is estimated to be worth 274 million pounds to the local economy, boosting restaurants, hotels and pubs.
It is also horse racing’s biggest betting week of the year, with bookmaker William Hill predicting 450 million pounds will be wagered across Britain. Guinness will be sold at a price reduced by 30 pence.
Irish dominance and British context
Organisers and participants will focus on whether this year’s crop of jumps horses can match Ireland’s strength at the festival.
British jump racing last dominated nearly two decades ago when Somerset-based Paul Nicholls, with horses including dual Gold Cup winner Kauto Star and 18-times consecutive hurdle winner Big Buck’s, led a successful period before momentum shifted to Ireland.
Since then, Willie Mullins has dominated the festival with 113 winners and has taken the leading trainer title 12 times. His stable is backed by owners including former Barclays executive Rich Ricci and businessman J.P. McManus.
Key Irish contenders
Mullins’ selection for the Gold Cup is Gaelic Warrior, expected to start favourite in Friday’s feature race, which owner Susannah Ricci has not yet won. Majborough is the favourite for Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
British challengers and opening-day focus
Skelton and Ben Pauling are among a newer group of trainers seeking to end Irish dominance. They will take on Mullins in the 625,000-pound Gold Cup with Grey Dawning and The Jukebox Man, the King George VI Chase winner owned by Harry Redknapp.
The opening race on Tuesday, the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, will see Mullins’ Mighty Park race against Henderson’s Old Park Star, described as a three-time winning 2/1 favourite.
Henderson has said a win on Tuesday would be a significant boost for his Seven Barrows yard after Constitution Hill and Sir Gino were sidelined. He also runs Lulamba in the Arkle Novices’ Chase and Jango Baie in the Gold Cup.
Which horse or trainer will you be watching most closely as the Cheltenham Festival begins?