Every Festival is special and memorable, but this year’s horse racing extravaganza will always have its own unique place in the meeting’s great history, as it sees the 100th anniversary of its showpiece contest – the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Gold Cup is always the most prestigious race of the week and the 2024 renewal looks set to be a contest worthy of the occasion.
The market is headed by the reigning champion, Galopin Des Champs, who could gallop his way into the sport’s hall of fame by securing back-to-back wins here.
However, this year’s race has more depth to it and any of previous King George winners, Hewick and Bravemansgame, previous Festival winners Shishkin, L’Homme Presse and Monkfish, or even last season’s Grand National winner, Corach Rambler, could spoil the party.
He’ll also have to overcome his old nemesis, Fastorslow, who has beaten Galopin Des Champs twice already.
Recent news about the wellbeing of the sport’s other superstar, Constitution Hill, may rob us of a classic duel between Nick Henderson’s unbeaten seven-year-old and the crack Irish hurdler, State Man.
But if he doesn’t recover in time to take his place in the starting line-up for Tuesday blue
riband event there is still plenty to look forward to.
There should be another head-to-head battle to remember in the Champion Chase, where England and Ireland are set to do battle again, courtesy of El Fabiolo and Jonbon.
And then there are the potential superstars of the future for us to run the rule over, with the likes of Ballyburn, Tullyhill, Marine Nationale, Fact To File, Grey Dawning and Sir Gino all looking to start a Festival journey that their connections will hope may one day see them emulate Constitution Hill or Galopin Des Champs.
For now – as Prestbury Park awaits the arrival of its pilgrims – all dreams are very much alive.
