Things have been much better in Australia with races such as The Melbourne Cup still going strong, but fans of National Hunt racing are set for a day to remember when the tape goes up on the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and Champion Day.
Champion Day heralds the start of a long-week festival that will combine Grade 1 events with some of the most competitive handicaps; there is no doubting it provides an outstanding day out for any jumps racing fan.
The action gets underway with the SKY Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade 1a dash up Cheltenham’s punishing hill which represents an ideal opening event for four days of the finest jumps racing in Europe.
This race is just to lay the foundation of aggression and drama that we are about to see in next four more days out there, with a pack busting on high spirits and all set for another level madness.
Next on the card is that of Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase which also involves novice chasers over a distance just shy of 2 miles and annually pits some future stars against one another.
Not just in terms of seeing competitors display their abilities to jump and race well over such large fences, but because this is a real test -not only as we expect from the Grand National course at Cheltenham.
Ultima disabilities Chase (Disabilities) – A gruelling Premier for experienced staying chasers with festival glory on their minds.
There seems little doubt this will be a race fought right up to the line with some of the top stayer disabilities performers lining out and I expect Alberto not least amongst those who are going all-out over that tough-held rep.
That said, the Champion Hurdle is some day. A Grade 1 race, it is considered by many to be the leading two-mile hurdle event in the National Hunt calendar and brings together some top class hurdlers.
The epitome of speed over hurdles, the nimble Champion Hurdle has seen champions like legendary Istabraq and his electric heir Buveur d’Air.
Constitution Hill, who stormed home in last year’s renewal to claim the first of what looks likely to be many wins at next month’ʹs Festival, is a red-hot 1/5 favourite for Champion Hurdle odds 2024.
They never looked back as the Mares Hurdle (5): Grade 1 was packed with quality National Hunt mares.
This series of talent-packed face-offs are a thrilling testament to skill and resolve – set against the festival backdrop, it’s girls racing for glory on track.
Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth — She would be an intriguing runner given she holds entries in both the Mares’ Hurdle and Champion Hurdle.
Boodles Juvenile disabilities Hurdle -Darren HughesThe Boodles Juvenile Hurdle is one of the more competitive races at this year’s Cheltenham Festival and a Premier disabilities for juveniles, wherein success could provide some decent prize money en-route to the Triumph should that be in connections plans.
A preview of the champions in waiting, some future stars are nurtured through this race process.
The day finishes with the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase, a Grade 2 event that shines the spotlight on amateur riders and their horses.
It is just Mullins’ favourite in the horse racing odds, with Embassy Gardens backed to give that man a hat trick of wins in National Hunt Chases.
In front of the famous Cheltenham grandstands, this band of merry and dedicated horsemen (and women) battle it out for the top spot in a race that just churns up tradition along with camaraderie.
Ladbrokes have some fantastic information on the Cheltenham Festival and are experts in everything associated with horse racing so it worth checking out as a new punter or an experienced fan of jumps!
It is a day that will be remembered, etchored in time with champions crowned, dreams achieved and legends mapped.
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