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5 leading hopes for the British at this year's Cheltenham Festival

Tue 28th Jan 2025, 11:42

East India Dock and Sam Twiston Davis winning The JCB Triumph Trial Hurdle at Cheltenham East India Dock and Sam Twiston Davis winning The JCB Triumph Trial Hurdle at Cheltenham
© Photo Healy Racing

Cheltenham Festival fever is soon going to take a firm hold as the countdown to the Cotswolds showpiece intensifies.

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival runs from Tuesday March 11th until Friday March 14th, with four days of stunning National Hunt racing in store.

The Prestbury Cup has gone to Ireland five years in a row, but with Nicky Henderson in fine fettle, Britain will be eyeing a decent chunk of winners across the 28 races.

Here are five leading British hopes for Cheltenham Festival glory in March.

Sir Gino

Henderson had a nightmare at Cheltenham in 2024, the Seven Barrows supremo finding his string running well below their best and forced to withdraw a host of star names at the eleventh hour.

Amongst them was Sir Gino, ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. He made up for lost time at Aintree and won the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal bow this term.

He was deputising there for Constitution Hill and once that stablemate got back on track in the Christmas Hurdle, it was off to jump fences for Sir Gino.

At Kempton a day later he turned on the style and gave Ballyburn a sound beating with an ultra-impressive showing that made him favourite for the Arkle.

He's unbeaten, seemingly with talent to burn and will be amongst the British bankers on a tantalising first afternoon for Henderson and Nico de Boinville.

Constitution Hill

Later on day one, the aforementioned Constitution Hill will be bidding to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he surrendered 12 months ago in being an absentee.

There were plenty of moments during a 366-day spell without a run when Henderson and owner Michael Buckley must have quietly contemplated if their star turn was going to be completely derailed.

On Boxing Day, the awesome Constitution Hill won another Christmas Hurdle and he has since followed up at Cheltenham on Trials Day.

Reigning champ State Man and fellow Willie Mullins inmate Lossiemouth could be dangers, but perhaps the mare Brighterdaysahead will be the chief threat to Constitution Hill - if such a thing exists!

The New Lion

Dan Skelton enjoyed his best ever haul at the Cheltenham Festival last March, sending out four winners and so nearly propelling himself to becoming champion trainer for the first time.

Willie Mullins had other ideas, but another strong showing in the Cotswolds could see Skelton getting that title this time around.

The New Lion has the makings of a star and is 3-3 over hurdles after winning the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas, following which he was bought by top owner JP McManus.

Recent Challow winners such as Champ, Thyme Hill, Bravemansgame, Stage Star and Hermes Allen have failed to win a Grade 1 novice at Cheltenham that same season, but connections of The New Lion are confident they have the real deal.

The Turners Novices' Hurdle over 2m5f looks a likely destination for him.

Jonbon

The only thing missing on Jonbon's impressive CV is a Cheltenham Festival win.

He's been denied here by Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and El Fabiolo in the Arkle - finishing second both times - but has twice won the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Prestbury Park.

He has won 12 of 14 starts over fences and is a model of consistency for Henderson. He won the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January, defeating two-time Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene in second spot.

Will the day two feature race be Jonbon's overdue coronation in the Cotswolds? Many people believe it will and, on form this season, he's the best two-mile chaser in Britain or Ireland.

East India Dock

Moving on to day four and the Triumph Hurdle, where Henderson has a leading contender in Lulamba, an impressive winner at Ascot on his British racecourse bow in January.

The James Owen-trained East India Dock is a rival of real substance. The son of Golden Horn was rated 90 on the Flat and has taken well to jumping.

He is three-from-three over hurdles and has won his two Cheltenham starts by a combined 28-lengths.

He impressed again on Trials Day and could take a world of beating in the four-year-old Grade 1 as he looks very professional in all that he does under regular rider Sam Twiston-Davies.

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