Cheltenham Festival 2024: Day One Preview

The world’s greatest steeplechase finally returns to Cheltenham Racecourse today for the first of four days of enthralling racing action.

Today is finally the day where the iconic and highly prestigious Cheltenham Festival returns for its 2024 renewal. As always, all four days of enthralling racing will be taking place at the historic Cheltenham Racecourse – the action begins today, and the action will come to a close on Friday, 15th March 2024.

The Cheltenham Festival is famous for its races and incredible atmosphere, but it also brings together some of horse racing’s best horses, jockeys, and trainers to compete in some of the sport’s most revered races.

Willie Mullins is currently the trainer with the most wins at this event, with 94 victories over the duration of his illustrious career in this sport. Nicky Henderson comes in second place, 21 wins behind Mullins, with what is still a very impressive total of 73 wins at the Cheltenham Festival.

Perhaps the most prestigious race of them all at this iconic event is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which will take place on the fourth and final day of this year’s Festival. Red Splash won the inaugural Gold Cup on 12th March 1924, and the jockey that day was Dick Rees. Fred Withington was Red Splash’s trainer.

Fast forward to March 2023, and it was Paul Townend who rode Galopin Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins, to victory that year, which pulled him further clear of the rest regarding victories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Golden Miller is the horse with the most wins in the Gold Cup with 5 (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936), whilst the jockey with the most wins in this specific race is Pat Taaffe on 4 in all (Arkle: 1964, 1965, 1966 & Fort Leney – 1968).

Now, we shall move on to 2024, and we will preview day one of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Seven races will take to the track at Cheltenham Racecourse, from the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (13:30) to the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (17:30).

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (13:30)

The first race to take place on the opening day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is the 2024 edition of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle early on Tuesday afternoon. The winner of this race back in 2023 was Marine Nationale, ridden by jockey Michael O’Sullivan. The runner-up was pre-race favourite Facile Vega, while Patrick Mullins’ Diverge came in third place that day.

The 12 runners making up the field for the 2024 renewal of this race are as follows: Tullyhill (Paul Townend), Mystical Power (Mark Walsh), Slade Steel (Rachael Blackmore), Firefox (Jack Kennedy), Jeriko Du Reponet (Nico de Boinville), Mistergif (Daryl Jacob), Asian Master (Thomas Costello), Tellherthename (Kielan Woods), Favour And Fortune (Tom Cannon), Gold Dancer (Danny Mullins), Supersundae (Patrick Mullins) & Kings Hill (Jack Gilligan).

My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (14:10)

Next up on Tuesday is this year’s My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase. It was the pre-race favourite Fabiolo, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by jockey Paul Townend, who won this race in 2023. Fabiolo finished ahead of stern competition from Aidan Coleman’s Jonbon and Mark Walsh’s Saint Roi, who had to settle for a second and third place finish respectively.

The 10 runners taking part in 2024 are: Gaelic Warrior (Paul Townend), Il Etait Temps (Danny Mullins), Hunters Yarn (Daryl Jacob), Quilixios (Rachael Blackmore), Found A Fifty (Jack Kennedy), JPR One (Brendan Powell), My Mate Mozzie (Keith Donoghue), Master Chewy (Tom Bellamy), Matata (Sam Twiston-Davies) and Authorised Speed (David Noonan).

Ultima Handicap Chase (14:50)

The third of Tuesday’s seven races will be the 2024 edition of the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse. In the most recent running of this particular race, in 2023, the winner that year was Corach Rambler, who was ridden to victory that day by jockey Derek Fox. James Slevin’s Fastorslow came second, with Jonjo O’Neill Jr’s Monbeg Genius rounding off the top three in third place.

The 23 horse field for the 2024 Ultima Handicap Chase is as follows: Chianti Classico (David Bass), Meetingofthewaters (Mark Walsh), Trelawne (Harry Cobden), The Goffer (Jack Kennedy), Stumptown (Keith Donoghue), Weveallbeencaught (Sam Twiston-Davies), Monbeg Genius (Jonjo O’Neill Jr), Eklat De Rire (Rachael Blackmore), Victtorino (Charlie Deutsch), Famous Bridge (Sean Quinlan), Eldorado Allen (Freddie Gingell), Lord Du Mesnil (Gavin Sheehan), Twig (Beau Morgan), Excello (Nico de Boinville), Gevrey (Sam Ewing), Kitty’s Light (Jack Tudor), Chambard (Lucy Turner), Busselton (James Slevin), Highland Hunter (Paddy Brennan), Minella Crooner (Jordan Gainford), Run Wild Fred (Danny Gilligan), Found On (Sean Bowen) and Risk And Roll (Tabitha Worsley).

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (15:30)

The race that follows the Ultima Handicap Chase as the fourth race on the opening day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is the 2024 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy. Last year’s winner, in 2023, was pre-race favourite Constitution Hill, and it was a race that saw Nico de Boinville secure a spectacular victory. Paul Townend’s State Man and Davy Russell’s Zanahiyr were second and third, respectively.

Now, in 2024, the field will be made up of 8 runners, and the horses involved are: State Man (Paul Townend), Irish Point (Jack Kennedy), Iberico Lord (Nico de Boinville), Nemean Lion (Richard Patrick), Zarak The Brave (Daryl Jacob), Luccia (James Bowen), Not So Sleepy (Sean Bowen) and Colonel Mustard (James Slevin).

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (16:10)

The third to last race on day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is set to be the latest running of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle. The winner in 2023 was Honeysuckle, who was ridden to a simply spectacular victory by jockey Rachael Blackmore. Jonathan Burke’s Love Envoi and Davy Russell’s Queens Brook came second and third place.

There are a total of 11 runners taking part this year. The horses in this field are: Lossiemouth (Paul Townend), Ashroe Diamond (Patrick Mullins), Love Envoi (Jonathan Burke), Echoes In Rain (Brian Hayes), Gala Marceau (Danny Mullins), Lantry Lady (Jack Kennedy), Marie’s Rock (Nico de Boinville), Telmesomethinggirl (Rachael Blackmore), You Wear It Well (Gavin Sheehan), Hispanic Moon (Darragh O’Keefe) and Theatre Glory (James Bowen).

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16:50)

The penultimate race on Day One of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be the latest running of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Jazzy Matty, ridden by Michael O’Sullivan and trained by Gordon Elliott, won the 2023 edition of this race ahead of stern competition from Philip Byrnes’ Byker and Luke Dempsey’s Risk Belle, who filled the other two spots in the top three that year.

The 22 runner field will be as follows: Milan Tino (Jonjo O’Neill Jr), Liari (Harry Cobden), Lark In The Mornin (James Slevin), Ndaawi (Jack Kennedy), Batman Girac (Daryl Jacob), Eagle Fang (Phillip Enright), Latin Verse (Harry Reed), Nara (Mark Walsh), Ose Partir (Ricky Doyle), Bright Legend (Daniel King), Palamon (Sean Flanagan), Karia Des Blaises (Sean O’Keeffe), Miss Manzor (Danny Mullins), An Bradan Feasa (Tom Bellamy) Roaring Legend (Sean Bowen), Harsh (Conor Stone-Walsh), Mordor (Danny Gilligan), Les Loyautes (Sam Twiston-Davies), Pigeon House (Keith Donoghue), Teorie (Paddy Brennan), Balboa (Micheal Nolan) & Eagles Reign (Tom Harney).

Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (17:30)

The seventh and final race to take place on Day One of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is this year’s running and renewal of the  Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase. The winner of the most recent running of this race back in March 2023 was the pre-race favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil, ridden by Patrick Mullins and trained by Willie Mullins. James Codd’s Chemical Energy came in second place, while Derek O’Connor’s Mister Coffey came in third.

Seven horses are making up the runners in this race, with the field as follows: Embassy Gardens (Patrick Mullins), Corbetts Cross (Derek O’Connor), Apple Away (Barry O’Neill), Mr Vango (Gina Andrews), Salvador Ziggy (Rob James), Kilbeg King (William Biddick) & Henry’s Friend (Jack Andrews).

Excitement and anticipation are growing rapidly ahead of the start of the racing at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, which gets underway at 13:30 on the afternoon of Tuesday, 12th March 2024.

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