What can we learn from Cheltenham’s past performances?

The biggest week in horse racing is almost upon us, as the best jumps horses in the world descend onto the Cotswolds and the Cheltenham Festival.

The feature of the week will once again be the Gold Cup, which is the biggest race of any National Hunt season.

It is one of the biggest betting weeks of the year in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with bettors often looking for different angles to ensure that they stand the best chance of claiming substantial returns throughout the week. You can check the free past performances of these and other races here: https://www.twinspires.com/freepps

So, what can we learn from Cheltenham Festivals of recent years when it comes to the biggest races of the week?

Irish Dominance In Biggest Races

Last year was certainly one to forget for the British trainers, as the Irish came over and took many of the big prizes.

There isn’t much evidence to suggest that history won’t repeat itself once again this year, with a number of Irish-raiders having already come over and taken huge graded victories over the British-trained horses. Last year was the most successful ever for Irish trainers, as they won 23 of the 28 races at the Festival.

The evidence for more Irish dominance this year is clear for all to see in the current betting markets, as 21 races have an ante-post favourite trained by the Irish. Furthermore, only two British-trained horses are current favourites for Grade 1s at the Festival this year.

Shishkin is currently the favourite to repeat his victory over Energumene in the Champion Chase, while Constitution Hill remains a narrow favourite in the battle to win the hotly-contested Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to kick off the Festival.

Gold Cup Success

Last year, Cheltenham’s showpiece event was a clean sweep for the Irish trainers, as the first four home, including winner Minella Indo, were all trained outside of Britain. Recent history would also highlight that success in the feature race for Ireland’s best trainers is nothing new.

The last three winners have all been Irish-trained, including two-time winner Al Boum Photo. In fact, the only British winner in the showpiece event in the last six years came in the form of Native River in 2018 for trainer Colin Tizzard.

Those holding out for a British-trained winner in the Gold Cup this year may be very disappointed. The market is currently headed by A Plus Tard for Henry De Bromhead, with Galvin, Minella Indo and Al Boum Photo all prominent towards the top of the betting too.

The shortest priced British hopeful is currently Protektorat for Dan Skelton. However, seven of the top eight selections in the betting are Irish-trained, with the best-priced after Protektorat behind Chantry House at 14/1.

Best British Chance Of Success

Recent form at Cheltenham and throughout the season could point us towards one star that looks likely to claim a victory on home soil. Shishkin is for many the British banker of the week.

He is incredibly strong at the top of the betting for trainer Nicky Henderson, and can be found as short as 4/7. The eight-year-old has a perfect record over fences, and is unbeaten since falling at Newbury in December 2019.

He has already beaten his main contender for the Champion Chase this year, as he came out on top with a one length victory over Energumene in the Clarence House. Cheltenham form is a huge bonus for Shishkin, and this is by all meaning of the word, a home game.

The star is a perfect 2-0 at the course, winning over fences last year when giving Britain a rare success in the Arkle. That dominance looks set to continue no matter who may stand in his way.