Cheltenham Favourites 2024: The Names to Watch at Next Year’s Festival

When is the Cheltenham Festival 2024?

The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is scheduled for March 12 – 15. It is the number-one jump racing event in UK and Irish horseracing, potentially world racing. It also acts as a bellwether for the other high-profile jumps races throughout the season. 

The main contenders for the biggest races at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

With four days of mesmerising jump racing, the Cheltenham Festival attracts the finest National Hunt thoroughbreds and jockeys throughout the week. If you’re someone who prefers betting on the biggest races of each daily card, we’ve shone the spotlight on the likely favourites at Cheltenham 2024: 

The Champion Hurdle

Constitution Hill is already a heavy odds-on favourite to land the 2024 Champion Hurdle. Priced at 4/11*, Constitution Hill landed this race at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and is being heavily tipped to make it back-to-back victories if entered. Historically speaking, it could be one for punters to oppose, given that pre-race favourites in the Champion Hurdle only win 50% of the time.  

Nevertheless, this is a beast of a horse. A lot is resting on the fitness and form of rivals, Impaire Et Passe and State Man; otherwise, this race could be a procession for Constitution Hill. The six-year-old remains unbeaten across his five races, four of which have been raced at Grade 1 level. 

The Queen Mother Champion Chase

There’s been some price movement in the ante-post markets for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. El Fabiolo has already been backed in from 6/4* into even money, while Jonbon’s odds have also shortened considerably from 9/2* to 5/2*. Jonbon showed what he was capable of in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase, jumping solidly and pulling well clear of the likes of Edwardstone, Nube and Editeur De Gite to win comfortably. 

El Fabiolo’s odds have crashed in due to the likely absence of last season’s winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Energumene, whose hind leg injury is expected to keep him out of action for the festival. 

This is the feature race of the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. It’s actually the most prestigious National Hunt chase in horse racing over the shortest distance, two miles (3,219 metres). 

Ryanair Steeple Chase

The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase open to thoroughbreds aged five and above. The two-mile, four-and-a-half-furling race is staged over 17 fences, and the ante-post odds suggest it’s likely to be a highly competitive contest. 

Nine-year-old Allaho, trained by Nicky Henderson, is the current 3/1* favourite to win in 2024. Allaho has a solid record of eight wins in 13 races over fences. Allaho’s most recent run saw him win an uncompetitive three-horse race at Clonmel, making it five consecutive wins. He won the Ryanair Steeple Chase at the 2022 festival. 

The second favourite, Stage Star, has been backed in from 6/1* to 4/1* in the ante-post market. The seven-year-old Paul Nicholls-trained charge has won five in seven races over fences. His impressive performance in a two-mile, four-furlong race at the November Meeting at Cheltenham demonstrates how comfortable he feels around the iconic Cheltenham course. 

Stayers’ Hurdle

Looking at the ante-post market for the Stayers’ Hurdle, Theleme is attracting significant attention from punters. The French thoroughbred has recently been backed in from 8/1* to 5/1*. 

French-trained horses have indeed fared well in the Stayers’ Hurdle before, and Theleme looks to be shaping up nicely. The six-year-old won a solid Grade 3 race at Auteuil in October, leading to its ante-post odds being cut. 

The second favourite, Teahupoo, has also seen plenty of betting activity, with odds slashed from 10/1* to 6/1*. Teahupoo was the big favourite in the 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle but eventually finished third to 33/1* outsider Sire Du Berlais.  

At the other end of the spectrum, Gaelic Warrior’s ante-post odds have drifted significantly from 5/1* to 14/1* after trainer Willie Mullins suggested he may take him down the Novices’ Chase route at next year’s festival instead. 

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Galopin Des Champs is, unsurprisingly, the leading contender for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He’s established as the 5/2* favourite, with punters backing him to make a bold bid for back-to-back Gold Cup successes. Gerri Colombe is currently the second favourite, having seen their odds backed into 4/1* from 5/1*. 

Fastorslow’s stunning performance to win at Punchestown’s John Durkan has made him the joint-second favourite with Gerri Colombe at 5/1*. The shock winner of the Punchestown Gold Cup intriguingly defeated Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan, which has set the cat among the pigeons. 

Explore our ante-post betting markets for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

If you want to get ahead of the curve, research and head to the ante-post markets for Cheltenham Festival 2024 at Parimatch. We offer ante-post odds across all the biggest races in what many view as the unofficial ‘World Cup of Jumps Racing’. 

Betting with Parimatch for the first time? It’s easy to create an account and get started. We’ll verify your account as quickly as possible so you can find value positions on Cheltenham contenders for 2024. 

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*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.