Cheltenham Festival 2023 – Britain’s Best Hopes
Horse racing trainers are putting their equine superstars through their final paces as the Cheltenham Festival appears on the horizon. Along with trainers and horses, the sport’s best jockeys and leading owners are also preparing themselves for what promises to be another week of top-class jump racing action in the Cotswolds.
Trainers, jockeys, and owners, of the best horses in the business will be hoping to secure a coveted Cheltenham Festival win for themselves, but there is also the pride of representing their respective nations across the four days.
Britain and Ireland go to war in March of each year, where the two nations try to secure the most race victories, with the winners taking home not just the bragging rights, but also the Prestbury Cup.
Britain’s 3 Main Hopes in 2023
With Ireland having dominated the Prestbury Cup in recent years, fans of the home team are yearning for a year in which the British battalion bounces back to form.
The Irish have a strong team to go to war with again in 2023, but for the first time in some years, British trainers have a talented bunch of their own that have the ability to take on the foreign raiders.
Of course, there are a few ways that you can join team Britain yourself.
Why not make your way to the track to cheer on your nation’s best horses close-up? Cheering on your favourite British horses from the stands is exhilarating and it can be even more exciting if that horse wins and you have had a bet on it.
There is also a way for British fans to get even closer to the racing action by becoming an owner or part owner of a horse that may someday represent their nation. Racing syndicates have become a popular way for like-minded fans to get together to own a racehorse. They can cost a fraction of the price of sole ownership, whilst still giving the opportunity to enjoy the same behind-the-scenes experiences.
Below we look at some of Team Britain’s horses, trainers, and owners, that will be carrying the nation’s hopes on their shoulders.
Constitution Hill (Champion Hurdle)
Owned by Michael Buckley, and trained by the legendary, Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill is the new superstar of jump racing and represents Britain’s best hope of a winner. The unbeaten hurdler has been breathtaking in his career to date and is only going to get better.
Barring a drastic turn of events in the Champion Hurdle, last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner should get Britain off to a flying start on day one of the meeting.
Jonbon (Arkle Chase)
Another inmate of Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows stable, Jonbon is another strong fancy for the home team on day one at Cheltenham. Owned by the legendary owner, JP McManus, Jonbon was runner-up to Constitution Hill 12 months ago and has made good strides this season as a novice chaser.
A below-par effort last time has seen him drift in the betting markets, but he is Britain’s best novice chaser at the moment and should do his connections proud.
Shiskin (Ryanair Chase)
Yet another horse representing Nicky Henderson, Shiskin has catapulted himself back into the Cheltenham picture with his rejuvenation in the Ascot Chase last time. He was once the best two-mile chaser in the game but lost his way since his poor performance at the festival 12 months ago.
The decision to send him racing over a longer trip last time saw him return to his best, and he now represents one of Britain’s big hopes for 2023.
These three horses are likely to be the pride of Britain come festival time, but with 25 other races up for decision across the week, there need to be a lot more top performances from the nation’s top horses for the Prestbury Cup to be wrestled back from Irish arms.
