It’s been a bumpy few months for organisers of the Cheltenham Festival (12th-15th March), which is Britain’s premier event for national hunt racing. For a start, there was the recent outbreak of equine flu, which briefly threatened the preparations of trainers with just a few weeks to go. And then, there was the criticisms of horses’ welfare, which also seems to have been resolved.
In sum, the Festival looks like it has dusted itself off and is ready to go. Below, we have picked some of the more interesting aspects to look out for:
Ladies’ Day Fashion
Cheltenham doesn’t have the same level of focus on frocks and finery as, for example, Royal Ascot. However, it is the first big racing festival of the year in the UK, so it’s a good chance to see some of the daring fashions for the new season, and, yes, including the faux pas.
The Weather
It’s all very well having beautiful dresswear, but what if the weather acts up? The March weather can be inclement, even in the gentle climate of the south of England. It also impacts the action on the course too, as seen with last year’s almost frozen ground. If the sun shines, it could be a better atmosphere off the track and better racing on it.
The Gold Cup
It’s all about the racing, of course. And, they don’t get much bigger than the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This could change, so check out the latest Cheltenham odds 2019 for updates, but at the moment three horses are leading the markets: Presenting Percy (7/2), Clan Des Obeaux (9/2) and last year’s winner, Native River (6/1, all odds from Betfair). It looks like it could be a vintage race in 2019.
The History Maker
It’s often difficult to realise that you are watching true greatness in action, with perhaps only the end of a career being the time when fans reflect on a horse’s place among the pantheon of greats. However, Altior, who is the 4/11 hot-favourite for the Champion Chase, really looks like a modern great. He has won his last 17 races, and he remains unbeaten for almost the last four years under Nicky Henderson’s tutelage. He has a chance to win his fourth race at the Festival, putting him on a par with the likes of the almost-mythical Arkle.
A Girl Taking on the Big Boys
Mares winning big races is not uncommon in horse racing, but there is a really nice feel to this year’s Champion Hurdle, as Apple’s Jade, undoubtedly the best mare in the business, takes on the two-time winner Buveur D’Air. Both horses are given odds of 2/1 by Betfair, and it’s a situation that also has pundits split. Can Apple’s Jade emulate Annie Power by taking on the boys in one of the biggest races? Most certainly.
The Veterans
Thistlecrack, Faugheen and a handful of others are approaching the age where they are deemed too old to seriously compete at the very top of these races. However, Faugheen, in particular, has a knack of confounding critics and those who write him off. He won the Irish version of the Stayers’ Hurdle just last April. He is 12/1 with William Hill win that race at Cheltenham this year. Faugheen has the potential to have one more brilliant run at the festival where he is loved the most.
