Once a competitive battlefield between the home team and the squadron of Irish raiders, the Cheltenham Festival has become increasingly one-sided in recent years. Riding a wave of Willie Mullins dominance, supported by Gordon Elliott, Henry De Bromhead, and others, the Irish regularly turn Cheltenham Festival into a four-day green-tinged party.
Not since 2015 has Britain claimed the Prestbury Cup (awarded to the nation with the most winners at the meeting), with the only slight interruption to the Irish dominance coming at the 2019 edition, which finished in a tie. Since 2016, Ireland has registered 159 Cheltenham Festival winners, compared to 91 for Great Britain.
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, the betting markets offer little encouragement that the green tide will turn this year, with a host of Irish-trained favourites on each of the four days. However, the British trainers won’t go down without a fight. To wrest the Prestbury Cup from the clutches of the Irish looks like a tall order, but if the hosts are to close the gap, they will likely need to hit the target with most or all of the following stars.
Unibet Champion Hurdle: Constitution Hill
The headline act on an opening day littered with stars is this unbeaten eight-year-old from the yard of Nicky Henderson, who bids for a third Cheltenham Festival success. Kicking off with a scarcely believable 22-length annihilation of the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle field, Constitution Hill returned to slam State Man by nine lengths in the 2023 Champion Hurdle.
Illness robbed him of his chance to defend his crown in 2024, but recent wins in the Christmas Hurdle and the International Hurdle suggest he may be coming back to his best at just the right time. The flying mare Brighterdaysahead adds significantly to the opening day feature, but Constitution Hill remains king of the two-mile hurdle division until proven otherwise.
Turners Novices’ Hurdle: The New Lion
Thanks to three wins for Willie Mullins, two for Gordon Elliott, and one apiece for Martin Brassil and Henry De Bromhead, the Irish have swept the past seven editions of the opening event on Day 2. Dan Skelton, meanwhile, has never won it or any of the other Grade 1 Novice Hurdle contests at the meeting.
However, the market suggests that Skelton may break his duck and end the Irish winning streak with the supremely talented The New Lion. Recently snapped up by JP McManus, this son of Kayf Tara is a perfect four-from-four in his career, including an effortless Grade 1 success in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle last time out. Final Demand, from the yard of Willie Mullins, brings a similarly impressive record to the table – setting up what promises to be one of the most fascinating head-to-head clashes of the meeting.
Queen Mother Champion Chase: Jonbon
Despite boasting an official rating of 171 and nine Grade 1 wins, Jonbon possibly doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Perhaps the main reason for that is his lack of success at the biggest meeting of the year. Second to Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme and runner-up to El Fabiolo in the 2023 Arkle, could he make it third time lucky in 2025?
If Jonbon is to break his Cheltenham Festival duck, he will surely never have a better chance. Arriving on a five-race winning streak, those victories include a revenge verdict over El Fabiolo in the Celebration Chase and the beating of dual Champion Chase winner Energumene in the Clarence House Chase by just shy of seven lengths. The Irish quartet of Marine Nationale, Gaelic Warrior, Solness, and Energumene will have Jonbon in their sights, but on 2025 form, Nicky Henderson’s market leader is the one they all have to beat.
Triumph Hurdle: East India Dock & Lulamba
The top four in the market for the 2025 Triumph Hurdle are yet to taste defeat over obstacles, teeing up a mouthwatering edition of the opening contest on the final day. Topping the bill is the ex-flat performer East India Dock from the up-and-coming James Owen operation. Taking to hurdles like a duck to water with a win in a Juvenile event at Wincanton, the son of Golden Horn has shown a liking for Cheltenham with back-to-back wins in Grade 2 trials for this race. With those victories coming by a combined 28 lengths, he arrives at the main event riding the crest of a wave.
As impressive as East India Dock has been, he faces a formidable opponent in the shape of the ex-French performer Lulamba. With only a Class 3 win to his name, this Mrs J Donnelly-owned gelding hasn’t achieved anything like as much at the track. However, it was hard not to be impressed by that victory at Ascot, and his trainer, Nicky Henderson, is the most successful trainer in Triumph Hurdle history, with seven previous wins.
Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase: Jagwar
Long held in high regard by the training duo of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, Jagwar has taken a little while to deliver on the hype. However, such has been his progress in 2024/25 that he now heads the betting for not one but two Cheltenham Festival contests. Whilst a shot at the Trustatrader Plate remains an option, this new handicap on Day 3 looks like the more likely target.
Three from four in the current campaign, the son of Karaktar posted a career-best effort on his first Cheltenham outing in January. He’s up seven pounds for that win over the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase course and distance but looks to be reaching a peak at just the right time. Also sporting the green and gold of JP McManus, he is another strong challenger for the most successful owner in Cheltenham Festival history.