A resounding 23-5 win for the Irish in last year’s Prestbury Cup certainly emphasised the gulf between the two nations in recent Festival history, with Britain recording their lowest total whilst Ireland recorded their highest ever haul. Our expert editor has delved into the entries and picked out those runners who could be Britain’s best chance of success.
Constitution Hill – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The British runners could get off to a quick start at this year’s Festival and despite this year’s Supreme looking ultra-competitive compared to recent editions, CONSTITUTION HILL could be up to the task and follow in the footsteps of Altior and Shishkin in providing trainer Nicky Henderson with another Supreme Hurdle winner.
The Michael Buckley owned five-year-old burst onto the Supreme scene with a taking opening effort at Sandown, scoring by 14l under Nico de Boinville before returning to the same course and distance and turning the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle into a procession, keeping on strongly in heavy conditions after a foot perfect round of jumping.
Like most in this contest, Constitution Hill is open to plenty of improvement and whist the Irish runners are of obvious interest, Nicky Henderson’s charge has displayed a raw ability that can’t be matched and it could be 1-0 to the home team after the opening curtain-raiser.
Edwardstone – Arkle Challenge Trophy
Trainer Alan King landed the Arkle in back to back seasons with Voy Por Ustedes and My Way de Solzen and looks to have another leading chance this year with EDWARDSTONE, who has quickly established himself as one of the best two-mile novice chasers seen this campaign.
The eight-year-old was brought down on chasing debut when still holding a clear chance but since that slight hiccup, Edwardstone has strode clear to four victories over the larger obstacles including an authoritative success in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December before completing back to back Grade 2 victories at Kempton in the Wayward Lad and a comfortable success at Warwick in the Kingmaker.
Alan King’s charge has plenty of boxes ticked as the ante post favourite, he jumps superbly, he travels supremely well and looks very much like the one they all have to beat in the second race on day 1.
Bravemansgame – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
We could be set for a mouthwatering contest between Galopin Des Champs and BRAVEMANSGAME and although the Willie Mullins runner has looked top-class in his opening two chase starts, there is still a question marl surrounding his participation in this particular contest at this stage and Paul Nicholls’ charge will certainly be no pushover.
After stylishly opening his account over fences at Newton Abbot on seasonal return, Bravemansgame landed a graduation chase at Haydock before coming head to head with former rival, and exciting novice Ahoy Senor in the Kauto Star on Boxing Day and readily brushed aside Lucinda Russell’s charge with a superb round of jumping.
Paul Nicholls’ star novice maintained his unbeaten record over the larger obstacles last month at Newbury when lining up in his first start in handicap company, giving weight and a comfortable beating to his three toiling rivals.
The seven-year-old has always been considered a top-class chasing prospect even when racing over hurdles and has yet to put a foot wrong since attention has switched to fences. No matter who he happens to come up against at the Festival, Bravemansgame is one of the stronger chances for Britain during the week and connections will be confident that he can land the prize.
Shishkin – Queen Mother Champion Chase
Clarence House pair Energumene and SHISHKIN will do battle once more after treating race fans to a titanic tussle at Ascot back in January.
Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten star chaser will be heading into Cheltenham in search of a third win at the Festival after previously landing the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Arkle in consecutive seasons. Shishkin was foot perfect last year when landing the second of those Festival triumphs and after getting the better of Willie Mullins’ Energumene earlier year, a Festival hat-trick is very much on the cards.
The pair will no doubt be neck and neck as they climb the hill, but with course experience and the beating of Willie Mullins’ charge, the 2022 Champion Chase is very much Shishkin’s race to lose.
Thyme Hill – Stayers Hurdle
The Stayers Hurdle appears to be wide open this year with several runners lining up for the Thursday feature with something to prove in some shape or form. One of those is certainly THYME HILL who certainly raised a few eyebrows when getting readily overturned on seasonal reappearance at Auteuil last November.
However, Philip Hobbs’ Grade 1 winner very much hinted at a welcome return to form when keeping on well in determined fashion behind Champ in the Long Walk Hurdle just before Christmas.
Connections have since decided to keep him fresh with this contest in mind and appears to have been laid out for the Thursday feature. Philip Hobbs’ smart stayer has previous Festival form and went down as an unlucky fourth for team Britain in the 2020 Albert Bartlett when encountering a wall of horses in the closing stages, finishing behind the likes of Monkfish, Latest Exhibition and Fury Road in the process.
Thyme Hill should come into this contest fresher than most and out of the few British contenders, the eight-year-old is the most likely to give his running and would be a big winner for team Britain if coming home in front.
Hillcrest – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Henry Daly has held no secrets in how high he regards HILLCREST, referring to the imposing seven-year-old novice as the “best he has ever trained”.
And from what we’ve seen on the course it’s easy to see why given how impressive Hillcrest has been this season for connections. Henry Daly’s charge has recorded four wins from five starts over hurdles including at Listed and Grade 2 level around Cheltenham and Haydock. Despite unseating on penultimate start around Prestbury Park, the seven-year-old was hampered by a faller and a line can be drawn through that particular effort.
Hillcrest looks a future star chaser in the making and whilst his best days may lie ahead over the larger obstacles in time, Henry Daly’s enormous and exciting novice looks to have all the right credentials to land the Albert Bartlett at this year’s Festival with no question marks surrounding track, course, distance and more importantly, ability.