The Cheltenham Festival, jump racing's premier event, begins Tuesday with British trainers Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson challenging Irish dominance. Approximately 200,000 racegoers are expected over four days, significantly boosting the local economy and making it racing's biggest betting week. For participants, the focus is on the horses and whether this year's British contenders can rival the Irish.
Irish trainer Willie Mullins has historically dominated, with his team securing numerous wins and leading trainer titles. Backed by prominent owners, Mullins' squad remains formidable, featuring top contenders like Gaelic Warrior for the Gold Cup and Majborough for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. However, a new wave of British talent, including Skelton and Ben Pauling, aims to challenge this reign. Skelton will field Grey Dawning and The Jukebox Man in the Gold Cup, while Henderson enters Lulamba and Jango Baie.
The opening Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle sets the stage, with Mullins' Mighty Park facing Henderson's highly fancied Old Park Star. Henderson is keen to secure an early win to set a strong tone for the week, especially with key horses Constitution Hill and Sir Gino sidelined. The Champion Hurdle will see a clash between Mullins' Lossiemouth and Skelton's The New Lion.
Skelton, while optimistic about British chances, acknowledges Mullins is likely to retain the top trainer title. Ireland has consistently won the Prestbury Cup, awarded for most winners, in recent years. This year's festival also highlights broader issues for British racing, including governance concerns and reduced sponsorship from gaming companies due to higher taxes. Festival organizers are working to boost attendance by lowering Guinness prices and reintroducing Ladies Day, noting that overall racecourse attendance in Britain exceeded 5 million last year.