The most hotly anticipated four days of racing are upon us.
Racing fans have been looking forward to it all year, and here’s to hoping some magic and historical moments are created. Ahead of the festivities, here’s my rundown of my top five fancies for the Cheltenham Festival 2024.
All prices are correct as of 3pm, March 7th
5. Galopin Des Champs
- Cheltenham Gold Cup - Friday, March 15th
Galopin Des Champ is pick number five because he’s an obvious favourite and the reasons for backing him are hardly rocket science.
He’s the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, and his 23-length victory over Gerri Colombe at Leopardstown in December demonstrated he’s as dominant as ever. I can’t wait to see him and really hope it’s an imperious performance.
4. Galvin
- Cross Country Chase - Wednesday, March 13th
I’m hoping that Galvin can follow in the footsteps of Tiger Roll in winning the Cross Country and then the Grand National.
Galvin ran a fantastic second to Delta Work in this race last year. He’s seemed to need the time to come back since falling in the first in the 2023 Grand National and has been back to the Cheltenham Cross Country course twice since (in November and December).
In his last race, he was staying on in promising fashion, and Gordon Elliot has since been bullish about his chances in the 2024 Grand National. The stable have to be hoping for another good performance in this race.
3. Billaway
- Hunters’ Chase - Friday, March 15th
Billaway has run in the Hunters’ Chase every year since 2020 and his form figures show 221U. At 12 years old he’s not getting any younger but he’s had a light campaign and on his seasonal return at Naas he finished like a train from 20 lengths adrift to only lose the race by a head.
That race showed that Billaway is all heart and hasn’t lost any of his fighting spirit. It’d be great to see a veteran winner of the race and having followed him every year I have to stick with him again.
I’m sure it’ll be a typically close finish and I’ll need either a cup of tea or a cold glass of wine to soothe the vocal cords after.
2. Paisley Park (Each-Way)
- Stayers’ Hurdle - Thursday, March 14th
I make no secret of my love for Paisley Park but that’s not without reason. Paisley Park always runs his race.
This season, he’s been in close finish after close finish, and at odds of around 16/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, he’s a fantastic price to get into the places.
He’s shown he can go toe to toe with younger legs at Ascot (against Crambo). I’m sure he’ll give a great performance back at the scene of his greatest triumphs.
1. Banbridge
- Ryanair Chase - Thursday, March 14th
Banbridge has impressed me since he won the Martin Pipe Conditional at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022.
I’ve followed him and was there to cheer him on when he won at Cheltenham again at the 2022 November meeting. He’s been relatively lightly campaigned and missed the Festival last year.
His recent performance beating Pic D’ohry at Kempton looks even better considering how Pic D’ohry went and boosted the form at Ascot next time out. I’ve always been keen on the chances of Banbridge, and with Allaho out of the mix I think he has the Ryanair Chase at his mercy.
Since the withdrawal of Allaho the price for Banbridge has shortened but I think he’s still got great odds to win.
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