The Cheltenham Festival is almost here, with 28 races across four days, which promises to be as good as ever despite a few minor issues here and there.
While there’s plenty to look at, the four main championship races at the meeting will get the most attention, rightfully so.
The Champion Hurdle kicks us off on Tuesday, followed by the Champion Chase on Wednesday, Stayers Hurdle on Thursday and finally, the centrepiece of the entire week, the Gold Cup, on Friday.
Here’s a look at what four horses will win these races.
Champion Hurdle
A fascinating clash on paper, 2023 winner Constitution Hill, 2024 winner State Man, and the new up-and-comer, Brighterdaysahead.
It should serve up a thrilling treat on the opening day, but in terms of a winner, as long as Constitution Hill is fit and well, he wins for me, there’s no point talking about anything else.
Brighterdaysahead can get close, with the 7lb allowance, but even when you factor that in, she’d be a good Champion Hurdle winner, no better.
State Man was a good Champion Hurdle winner last year, but this year, he’s regressed quite a bit.
As for Constitution Hill, everything he’s done suggests he’s a great of the game. He was a great winner in 2023, and I think 2025 is the year he cements his position as one of the best in the division ever.
I don’t think there’s anything in the novice division screaming their claims to be a Champion Hurdler either, so I’d happily back Constitution Hill to double up and come back to win in 2026.
Champion Chase
We start with two boring picks, as I’m with the favourite in the next before we get a bit more adventurous.
Jonbon is the pick for the Champion Chase. I think compared to everything else in this field, he’s got another level, and not only that, but I think he comes here on the back of his best-ever season over fences.
Talk of him not enjoying Cheltenham is digging really deep to try and find any excuse to go against him. The fact is that he’s rock solid, having a better season than ever before, and I think he makes it two from two for Nicky Henderson in the big races.
Stayers Hurdle
I’m not actually a Nicky Henderson fan, which makes pick three tough to put out there, but I’m sticking with him for the Stayers Hurdle, where I think Lucky Place is a huge price.
It would be huge for anyone to win the first three Championship races, but my money will be on Henderson to do it.
Lucky Place isn’t your typical three-mile slogger, but I think the pace will be fairly even here, the better ground will help, so this won’t be its usual stamina test.
I was very impressed with his win at Ascot earlier this season, backed that up with another good run, and in a race that’s far more open than the betting suggests, I think he goes really close.
Gold Cup
It’s a real case of head and heart clashing here. My head tells me to just back Galopin Des Champs and stop overcomplicating things.
But I can’t stop going back to Banbridge, an old favourite of mine, winner of the King George, and a horse who is a real danger. I think he’s an each way bet to nothing essentially here, as I can’t see two that run him out of the places behind the favourite.
As soon as Paul Townend got off him at Kempton, he said he’d stay the Gold Cup trip, and while he also said it wouldn’t bring out more improvement, I don’t think he needs to improve to get involved.
I’d love to see Galopin Des Champs win a third. He’s another I would happily back to come back and win again next season, too. But from a betting perspective, I think there’s way more value in going with Banbridge to use his class and speed to try and outgun the field, quickening away before the stayers get a chance to use their stamina.
Cheltenham Championship Race Picks
- Constitution Hill Win – Champion Hurdle
- Jonbon Win – Champion Chase
- Lucky Place EW – Stayers Hurdle
- Banbridge EW – Gold Cup