Cheltenham Festival Favourites Tips

Cheltenham Festival Favourites Tips - photo by Kate Tann

As the roar of the Cheltenham crowd draws near, racing enthusiasts and punters alike are always eagerly anticipating the Cheltenham Festival.

Let's explore what happened in the 2023 renewal.

With 28 thrilling races spread across four action-packed days, the 2023 renewal event promised to be as unpredictable and exhilarating as ever. Let's dive into some of the most anticipated races and hear from the experts on their top picks.

If you are going to bet on Cheltenham Festival 2025, we suggest that you read on to find out how to pick the best bets for next year!

 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

This event is traditionally one of the most competitive out of the whole four-day event and it is rare for a favourite to come out on top. What this means as a punter is that picking the underdog could serve you well in this particular race.

Run over two miles over the Champion Hurdle Course, it is open to beginners aged four years and up. Our tip is to look out for a fresh, young whippersnapper with an experienced jockey and owner, but not the one that is pipped to finish first. Remember, this is a race of surprises.

 Trainer Willie Mullins, who has won this race seven times, offers his insights: "In the Supreme, you're looking for a horse with raw talent and the ability to handle the electric atmosphere. It's not always about previous form."

One to watch this year is "Facile Vega," trained by Mullins himself. However, jockey Ruby Walsh cautions, "Don't always follow the favorite in this one. I've seen plenty of longshots triumph over the years."

Pundit Tom Segal adds, "Keep an eye on 'Tahmuras' from the Paul Nicholls yard. He's shown promise and could be this year's dark horse."

As it turned out the favourite came 2nd and it was won by a higher priced horse with an outsider at 25/1 in 3rd place

1st Marine Nationale 9/2
2nd Facile Vega 9/4F
3rd Diverge 25/1

More Cheltenham Festival Favourites Tips

National Hunt Chase: Endurance and Amateur Skill

This race is run over an impressive four miles and is a Class B race. Horses aged five or over are welcome to participate but the jockeys must be amateurs. It is in fact the oldest race at the Festival and is notorious due to its length and the fact it is difficult to predict the favourite.

The fact that it involves novice riders and horses means that it can be difficult to predict a winner based on previous form. One must go with their gut instinct and this is a great opportunity to put your money on a random choice.

This grueling four-mile race is a true test of stamina for both horse and rider. Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who won this race in 2011, shares, "It's all about pacing in the National Hunt Chase. The horse that's still running strong at the end often takes it."

Trainer Gordon Elliott, known for his success in this race, comments, "We're excited about 'Galvin' this year. He's got the stamina and the right temperament for this challenging course."

Owner Rich Ricci adds a note of caution: "With amateur riders, anything can happen. It's what makes this race so thrilling – and sometimes heartbreaking."

This was won by Willie Mullins horse Gaillard Du Mensil and ridden by PW Mullins who although registered as an amateur rides a lot of Willie Mullins horses and in the past 5 seasons has earned over 3.5 million euros.

1st Gaillard Du Mensil 10/11F
2nd Chemical Energy 8/1
3rd Mister Coffey 11/1

The Queen Mother Champion Chase: Speed and Spectacle

A Grade 1, Class A race, this is run over two miles and a horse must be five years or over in order to compete. Often, this race has less entrants than other races during the event but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t one to watch.

This race is famous for giving some of the most exciting and knuckle biting results in the history of The Festival and our tip is to put your money on a horse that has previously won the Arkle Trophy.

This two-mile sprint is often considered the most exciting race of the Festival. Legendary jockey AP McCoy reminisces, "Winning the Champion Chase on Sprinter Sacre in 2013 was one of the highlights of my career. The atmosphere is electric."

This year, all eyes are on "Energumene," trained by Willie Mullins. Pundit Lydia Hislop notes, "If Energumene can reproduce his Ascot form, he'll be hard to beat. But watch out for 'Edwardstone' – he could spring a surprise."

Trainer Nicky Henderson, who has won this race six times, adds, "The Champion Chase requires a special kind of horse – one with speed, jumping ability, and the courage to battle up that famous Cheltenham hill."

As it turned out Lydia Hyslop was correct in saying Energumene would be hard to beat, as he won by 10 lengths.

1st Energumene 6/5F
2nd Captain Guinness 12/1
3rd Greenteen 25/1

Cheltenham - Home of the Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Cheltenham Gold Cup: The Crown Jewel

This is by far the number one race of the whole event, the race that the crowds come to see, and the race with the most Cheltenham free bets put on it over the entire four days.

At three miles long, and for horses aged five and up, the prize money for the winner will be over half a million pounds.

Whilst the outcome of this race does remain impossible to predict, the performance of runners up can give a good indication as to who might race to glory in the Grand National- something worth bearing in mind whilst you watch.

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