Cheltenham Time

Bet Responsibly. GamblingCare.ie. 18+

Caption to go in her to go in here to go in heree

cheltenham time

We have been treated to thrillers on the track at Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival last month so far. But the Cheltenham Festival is the biggest and best week of all. And with that in mind, LiveScore Bet is offering Money Back on All Losers on a select race each day at the Festival. (T&Cs and deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GamblingCare.ie. 18+) And that should provide fans with an exciting way to get involved in the action – be it at home or at the course itself.

On the penultimate day of the festival, sparks should fly in the Stayers' Hurdle and Teahupoo looks as if he will be the one to beat. The Gordon Elliott-trained horse won this renewal of the race last year and will be hoping to do the same again. However, Home By The Lee — who came close to reeling in Teahupoo last year — will compete in this one and is in good form having already won at Navan and Leopardstown this season. Bob Olinger may also be worth an each-way punt, given his pedigree. The Henry De Bromhead ace has come second in each of his last two outings, having been edged out by Home By The Lee on both occasions.

The Ryanair Chase, another highlight of the festival, will likely see Fact To File enter as favourite — even if the Willie Mullins-trained horse has not won in his last two outings. But the eight-year-old was a winner at the festival last year and claimed victory at Punchestown this season. However, with the field still to be decided in full, Il Est Francais or Found A Fifty could emerge from the pack as genuine challengers. Il Est Francais came second in the King George Chase on St Stephen’s Day at Kempton but had struggled in his native France in November. Meanwhile, Found A Fifty will be looking to dust off his cobwebs after pulling up at Christmas in Leopardstown. The eight-year-old came second in the Arkle at Cheltenham last year.

As if there was not enough action to set pulses racing on the first day of the festival, the Queen Mother Champion Chase should fill any such voids on day two. Jonbon will likely head into this as the favourite but will be kept honest by Gaelic Warrior, Marine Nationale, El Fabiolo and Solness — should they all take to the track. However, it will be hard to halt Jonbon’s charge seeing as the Nicky Henderson-trained star has won each of his five last races. Gaelic Warrior has a point to prove, though, having flattered to deceive since winning at the festival last year. He came third in the Dublin Chase last month – finishing behind eventual winner Solness, with Marine Nationale in second. But if there is a track where he can find his form again, this could be the one. Do not rule the Warrior out of this one should Jonbon have an off day.

will jonbon be jovial?

Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Steven Cargill/Sportsfile

As the season comes draws to a close, there's still plenty to play for

It's almost time for racing's biggest festival and that means one thing: the drama is going to be off the charts

Adobe Stock

Day one of the festival sees an exciting renewal of the Arkle Chase, with Majborough the early favourite. The JP McManus-owned five-year-old has won comfortably on each of his trips, at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, this season. His win at Leopardstown was his most impressive as he won the Irish Arkle by nine lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival. But he will be provided with a stern test of his credentials by Ballyburn and L’eau du Sud. Ballyburn was also a winner at Leopardstown last month and was victorious at Punchestown this season. He was also a winner in the Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year. L’eau du Sud has impressed across the Irish Sea too, and will be England’s best hope of winning this race — having won at Stratford, Sandown, Cheltenham and Warwick already this term.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

everyone's a winner

Arkle Chase

Just the facts

Ryanair Chase

time for teahupoo

Stayers' Hurdle

Ipswich Town v Liverpool

hyhy yhhy yh hyhy yhhy yhhy

Bet Responsibly. GamblingCare.ie. 18+

Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

David Fitgerald/Sportsfile

Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Having come mighty close to lifting the Premier League last season, Arsenal are once again chasing down Manchester City in the pursuit of glory. But they are just as likely to fall short, with Pep Guardiola’s four-in-a-row contenders in ominous form. City are unbeaten at home this season in the league, and have not lost since being defeated by Aston Villa away in December. And with a home tie against West Ham – who have nothing but pride to play for – they are all but set to lift another trophy. Arsenal host Everton at the same time and will be praying that there is a shock on the cards in Manchester, as unlikely as it sounds.

The Champion Hurdle will hopefully see the return of Constitution Hill to the Cheltenham track after the Nicky Henderson horse missed out on it last year. The superstar has looked imperious in all of his outings, and his connections will be hoping for the same here, having won this race in 2023. But should he fail to fire — or miss out on the action — Lossiemouth, State Man or Brighterdaysahead could be among the few to capitalise. State Man won at the Dublin Racing Festival last month — in the Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown — but only after Lossiemouth fell. Brighterdaysahead has not appeared since Christmas, but has won each of his three outings this season. Having never lost in ten outings, it will be hard to stop Constitution Hill winning again, however.

a hill to conquer

As mentioned, reigning champion Galopin Des Champs is the red-hot favourite for this one. Galopin was beaten on his season debut this term at Punchestown but roared back to destroy Fact to File - the one who beat him in Kildare - by seven and a half lengths at Christmas in Leopardstown. He then backed it up at the Dublin Racing Festival last month on the same track. Who knows, maybe Cheltenham could result in a change of fortunes but even that is unlucky given his past record in the Gold Cup across the Irish Sea. Another Irish Gold Cup and Cheltenham Gold Cup double for the Willie Mullins trained superstar looks all but inevitable.

hyh hyyh yhyh hyhyyh hyhy hy

Galopin Des Champs

hyh hyyh yhyh hyhyyh hyhy hy

Galopin Des Champs

Fact to File is the last to beat superstar Galopin Des Champs and he may be thrown into the mix here to do it all again. But with Galopin in such good form, it remains to be seen if Fact to File will renew his rivalry with him or be thrown into the mix for the Ryanair Chase earlier on in the week. However, should he get the nod to line out in the big race of the week, we will likely be the biggest threat to Galopin’s reign as champion. But the longer Gold Cup track is something he will have to negotiate.

hyh hyyh yhyh hyhyyh hyhy hy

fact to file

Banbridge heads into the Festival as one of the contenders but will need to improve on his showing last year. The JP O’Brien trained star came ninth in the Ryanair Chase but is a recent winner of the King George at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day. The longer track seemed to have suited him and he will doubtless be hoping for a similar outcome this time. He could be worth a go as an each-way shout.

hyh hyyh yhyh hyhyyh hyhy hy

banbridge

Seb Daly/Sportsfile

IT’S almost time for Cheltenham and that means one thing – the drama is going to be off the charts. We have been treated to thrillers on the track at Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival last month so far. But the Cheltenham Festival is the biggest and best week of all. To celebrate, LiveScore Bet is offering a Money Back on All Losers guarantee on all the races this week. (T&Cs and deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GamblingCare.ie. 18+) And that should provide fans with an exciting way to get involved in the action – be it at home or at the course itself.

Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Champion Hurdle

Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

*New Members: Max Free Bet up to €10, must register 04/03 - 14/03/2025. 1st cash bet placed in 48hrs of selected race (main market, ex antepost & specials). Win part e/w bet. Free Bet: use in 7 days on sports. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly, GamblingCare.ie. 18+

NEW MEMBER OFFER

EVERY DAY AT CHELTENHAM ON A SELECTED RACE

NEW MEMBER OFFER

EVERY DAY AT CHELTENHAM ON A SELECTED RACE