Racing Ahead: Previewing the Top Contenders and Dark Horses of Cheltenham Festival 2024

As the winter chill thaws and the first buds of spring appear, so too does the palpable excitement for the Cheltenham Festival, a pinnacle of British horse racing.

Seasoned bettors and casual fans are already scrambling to find the best day 1 Cheltenham tips to witness thoroughbreds leaping towards glory – and their cash sum quickly growing. 

Speaking of betting tips, we’ve collated some of the top contenders and dark horses of the festival this year, so you know which noble steeds are worth keeping an eye on for obtaining certain victory…

Watch Out for These Big Names…

For some horses, Cheltenham Festival is the chance to enter accompanied with fanfare, their names echoing through the stands. These stallions, in particular, havea certain history of excellence and are usually trained by infamous industry luminaries. 

• Galopin Des Champs is a previous Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and a bookie’s favourite for the biggest race of the week.• Another two rivals for the biggest race are Fastorslow and Hewick – both solid choices for casting bets.• Constitution Hill is also a good option if the horse stays in hurdles; if Nicky Henderson decides to switch to chasing, we recommend wagering on Marine Nationale for the title of Champion Hurdle.

…But Don’t Discount the Underdogs

Hidden among the firm favourites are the underdogs, or those horses who might just be able to surprise you. These are the horses who either come from smaller stables with lesser-known trainers, or who are making a comeback after a previous race went a little haywire. If there’s one thing underdogs have, it’s a point to prove.

• After Corbetts Cross crashed through the final hurdle in the 2023 Albert Bartlett race, many thought he was done for. But in the 2024 Cheltenham season, he’s back with a vengeance – and determined to seek revenge on the bookmakers in March.

Look for Emerging Stars

Big names and underdogs aside, it’s also worth keeping an eye out for any emerging stars of this Cheltenham season. Even without the prestigious track records of the big names before them, for their trainers and jockeys, there’s the hope that Cheltenham 2024 could be the horse’s most important chapter yet.

• Trained by Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins, Ballyburn has already caught the attention of horse racing betting sites for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. • With a great start to her racing career at Sligo, bookies have marked Aurora Vega as a bet with good odds. This might be down to her impeccable lineage as the prodigal daughter of Walk In The Park and Quevega.• Lossiemouth is a favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle; however, if she takes on the Champion Hurdle instead, we think Love Envoi is a great bet for excelling in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Race Schedule: Cheltenham Festival 2024

Whether it is the roar of the crowds, the thundering of hooves or the cacophony of cheers as the horses cross the finish line, this carnival of British horse racing is a celebration that brings together both the devoted and the curious. However, with four days of racing to look forward to, just where do you start? We’ve broken down what’s happening over the four days of Cheltenham 2024.

Day 1: Champion Day

Champion Day opens Cheltenham Festival; day one is a great opportunity to see both reigning and future champions compete against each other for the ultimate glory. The seven races you can enjoy on day one are:

• Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race• Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase• Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race• Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase• • Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy• National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

Day 2: Festival Wednesday

Day two of Cheltenham Festival is traditionally known as Ladies’ Day. You can enjoy the following races on Wednesday of the festival: 

• Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase• Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle• Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase• Weatherbys Champion Bumper• Coral Cup Hurdle• Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase• Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase

Day 3: St Patrick’s Thursday

The strong Irish presence of Cheltenham is felt the most on day three of the festival: St Patrick’s Thursday. The full list of races on this day includes:

• Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle• Pertemps Network Final• Turners Novices’ Chase• Ryanair Chase• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup• Jack de Bromhead Mares Novices’ Hurdle• Magners Plate

Day 4: Gold Cup Day

Closing day at Cheltenham Festival is known as Gold Cup Day. Attendees or viewers at home can enjoy these races that typically mark a spectacular end to a spectacular week of racing:

• McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle• JCB Triumph Hurdle• Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup• Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle• Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase• St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup

Strategies for the Horse Betting Enthusiast

There’s no surefire formula when it comes to betting, however, there are certain strategies that can tilt the scales in your favour. These include:

• Keeping an eye on the latest training updates• Looking at track conditions• Reading expert analyses • Diversifying your bets• Wagering responsibly 

All in all, remember that Cheltenham is a marathon, and not a sprint. In other words, a well-thought-out betting strategy is the ideal solution for ensuring you enjoy every hurdle and ditch throughout the four-day event.

Final Word

When it comes to horse betting, it’s worth spreading your wagers across the top contenders likely to uphold their fantastic legacies, the underdogs hiding in the background who might just run into the foreground of the race, and of course, the emerging stars who might just make this year’s races their own. Let’s raise our glasses of champagne to the races ahead – and may the best horse win!