Why have the Irish dominated the last decade at the Cheltenham Festival?

The Irish have dominated the last decade at the Cheltenham Festival. Irish trainers have won more festival races than their British counterparts in three of the past four seasons. The number of runners travelling from Ireland has increased in the recent years. It would have been profitable to back every Irish-trained contender at 2017 and 2018 Chelteham Festivals.

There were 129 winners at the Cheltenham Festival in the last decade. There were also 19 most winners in one festival in 2017 and 51 most Irish-trained runners in a single day in 2015 and 2018.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are the most successful trainers at the Cheltenham Festival. They are responsible for 75 of the 129 Irish-trained Chelteham winners in the last decade. Henry de Bromhead is next best on 7 winners. The Queen Mother Champion Chase and Triumph Hurdle are two of Mullin's top-level races that he has not won. The first handicap of Chelterham is the only one not to be won by Irish trainers in last ten years.

The Irish have dominated the last decade at the Cheltenham Festival. The Irish won 24 handicap hurdles in the past decade compared to 15 handicaps. Of the 39 handicapped winners in last ten years, 21 have come in past four years.

Since the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, there have been 78 Irish-trained winners. 60 of them had their last run before the festival at one of six tracks: Leopardstown, Navan, Punchestown (7), Naas (6), Cheltensham (5), and Fairyhouse ( 5). Four of the seven runners who had last training at Punchesstown finished second or third before winning at Cheltsham. Annie Power, Diamond King and Douvan won their training before Cheltonham at the other track.

The Irish have dominated the last decade at the Cheltenham Festival. This year's betting markets favour the British. 16 of the 28 ante-post favourites are trained in Britain. 11 ante post favourites come from Ireland. The Gold Cup is too close to call. You can bet via the Racing Post mobile app/website.