Cheltenham Festival Horses

• Each of the four days of the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by either one or two Championship races, which consist of the Champion Hurdle (Tuesday), the Queen Mother Champion Chase (Wednesday), the Stayers' Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase (Thursday), before culminating in the headline race of the entire week, Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
• Steve Chambers looks at Saturday's Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham and picks out three horses that can sparkle at Prestbury Park and enhance their Cheltenham Festival claims. Saint Calvados - Cotswold Chase - 14:25.

At the 2019 festival there were three horse deaths, leading to another BHA review. The number and type of races at the Cheltenham Festival has changed dramatically over the years of its existence. In particular, it has grown from a two-day meeting to a four-day meeting. In 2019, there were 28 races as follows.

Cheltenham is just eight weeks away and we’ve gone Non-Runner Money Back in the lead-up to the Festival. Which means, there is value to be had – and at no cost to you as your stake will be returned if your selection misses the race.

Here’s five runners that you should hear plenty more about at Cheltenham 2021.

NATIONAL HUNT CHASE – ROYAL PAGAILLE

ROYAL PAGAILLE is progressing nicely this season over fences and has a nice profile to contest the National Hunt Chase for trainer Venetia Williams and owner Susannah Ricci. The Williams team has waited several years for more success at the Festival, with Carrickboy there last winner in the Byrne Group Plate in 2013. Three of the previous six-winners of this race were aged seven and this seven-year-old heads towards the Festival following success at Haydock and Kempton so far this season.

His victory at Kempton over Christmas was an eye-catching performance, having been put asleep out the back with an early mistake to boot, before travelling sweetly into the race and winning easily under Charlie Deutsch. The form of that race was recently boosted with Double Shuffle winning at Kempton and the Peter Marsh Chase back at Haydock is his next target. Royal Pagaille looks some value as one of the leading English challengers for the National Hunt Chase alongside Next Destination and Welsh National winner Secret Reprieve.

CHELTENHAM CHASE – MONKFISH

MONKFISH has done nothing wrong so far this season, winning both races over fences in stylish fashion at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown. He went away close home to win his Grade 1 over Christmas from Latest Exhibition and he’ll once again enjoy the uphill finish when returning to Cheltenham in March. The Albert Bartlett winner was always made for fences following his point-to-point win at Stowlin and he also looks a long team contender for the 2022 Gold Cup.

However, Willie Mullins and the Ricci family will take one race at a time and having already shown his ability to fight hard in a close finish and produce more when required, he’s the horse to beat. Envoi Allen will most likely contest the Marsh Chase for Gordon Elliott with Latest Exhibition, Shan Blue and former stable-mate, Next Destination looking his biggest rivals right now.

CHAMPION CHASE – CHACUN POUR SOI

Willie Mullins has never won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and despite the favourite only winning two of the previous six-renewals, CHACUN POUR SOI clearly stands out against his ante-post rivals. His Grade 1 novice victory over Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown in 2019 put him on the map before landing the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown last February. Having missed the Festival last year, he beat very little on his return at Cork in early December before getting the better of Notebook and Put The Kettle On at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He showed more spark on that occasion and really attacked his fences in a very smart victory under Paul Townend. He might be a short-price now and we’ll likely see more back in Foxrock at the Dublin Racing Festival, but he’s the horse to beat with defending champion Politologue and recent Kempton winner Nube Negra the main opposition.

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CHAMPION BUMPER – SIR GERHARD

I stay with action on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival and move away from a Rich Ricci owned runner to focus on SIR GERHARD for the Cheveley Park team in the Champion Bumper. Having managed to win the last two renewals with Envoi Allen and Ferny Hollow it would be nice for the Cheveley Park team to continue the winning sequence following the recent passing of owner, David Thompson. The son of Jeremy has the best form at present following his impressive 12-length victory at Down Royal on his rules debut in October and his listed victory at Navan before Christmas.

He made it look easy when winning at Navan, seeing off a good horse in Letsbeclearaboutit, who was unbeaten following two victories at Tipperary and Punchestown. Willie Mullins will be looking for his tenth career victory in the race and has good contenders with Kilcruit, Ramillies, Brandy Love and many others. However, Sir Gerhard stands out here and to me has a similar profile to Envoi Allen in also looking capable of progressing longer-term over both hurdles and fences over many years ahead.

TRIUMPH HURDLE – ZANAHIYR

Gordon Elliott has several leading contenders in the ante-post market for the Triumph Hurdle with unbeaten stars Duffle Coat, Quilixios and race favourite, ZANAHIYR. Noel and Valerie Moran are great supporters of Irish Racing and continue to invest heavily in the sport and it would be fantastic to see them rewarded with a Grade 1 winner at the Festival. He sets the standard to date following his somewhat surprise opening win over hurdles at Ballinrobe, before following up at Fairyhouse and landing the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown.

He’s seen off everything put before him so far and remains progressive to suggest he’s open to further improvement and the horse to beat. Elsewhere, fellow unbeaten stable-mates, Duffle Coat and Quilixios have not been seen in some time, while French Aseel was seriously impressive when winning a juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown for Ellmarie Holden. Youmdor is another contender despite his fall at Fairyhouse and hopefully he’ll return next month to give the McNeill family and Willie Mullins more information before they make any decision regarding Cheltenham.

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The arrival of March is normally an exciting time for Gordon Elliott, a month where he routinely showcases his training brilliance at the Cheltenham Festival.

Whether he gets the chance to add to his 32 Festival winners at Cheltenham 2021 is now in the hands of the racing authorities after Elliott admitted a picture of him sitting on a dead horse was genuine.

The horrific picture is hugely damaging for the sport’s image and is likely to have devastating consequences for Elliott that extend well beyond this year’s Festival.

But, as things stand, nine of the favourites or co-favourites for the 28 races down for decision between March 16 and 19 are stabled at Elliott’s County Meath base.

Cheltenham Festival Horseshoe Bay

Among them are some of the highest-profile horses in National Hunt racing and the threat to their participation in the Cotswolds is now very real. Here’s 11 who could miss out.

Escaria Ten: Second to Eklat De Rire at Naas last time out, the seven-year-old is the clear favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase, the opening handicap at the Festival.

Quilixios: While more likely to take on stablemate Zanahiyr in the Triumph Hurdle on Gold Cup day, the Grade One-winning four-year-old also has the option of Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, on day one.

Galvin: Last seen completing a four-timer when winning at Cheltenham in October, the talented seven-year-old has been put away for the National Hunt Chase.

Cheltenham Festival Horses 2021

Grand Roi: Last seen chasing home Bachasson in a Naas Grade Three, the five-year-old heads the market for the Coral Cup, a race Elliott has won twice before.

Tiger Roll:

A four-time Festival winner, the dual National hero has struggled since his second Aintree success but would still have a chance in the Glenfarclas Chase.

Sir Gerhard: Unbeaten in two starts for Elliott, the son of Jeremy looked likely to go off favourite in the Champion Bumper until the Willie Mullins-trained Kilcruit usurped him at the head of the market with a visually stunning display at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Cheltenham Festival Horses Running Today

Envoi Allen: A dual Festival winner, the unbeaten seven-year-old might just be the most talented horse Elliott has ever trained. The most recent of his five Grade One wins came at Fairyhouse in November and he has long been viewed as banker material for the Marsh Novices’ Chase.

The Bosses Oscar: Victorious at Thurles first time out this season, the six-year-old has since found one too good in two subsequent outings but still co-shares favouritism for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Cheltenham Festival Horses Names

Farclas: Though he has yet to win this season, the 2018 Triumph Hurdle winner has run some eye-catching races in defeat, efforts that have propelled him to the summit of the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase market.

Zanahiyr: Unbeaten in three starts for Elliott, the son of Nathaniel has long looked the one to beat in the Triumph Hurdle. He could be a superstar.

Grand Paradis:

Elliott always likes to target Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, a race named in honour of his mentor, and Grand Paradis looks this year’s chosen one after a dominant victory in a Thurles Grade Three last time out.