The Cheltenham Festival for 2024 has kicked off with the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Over four days and 28 races including 14 Grade One contests the festival offers well over €5m in prize money. Irish trained horses have dominated recent years with 2022 and 2023 seeing them win 18 of the 28 prizes.
This year, Irish entries outnumber British ones for the first time. The Racing Post reported that Irish trained horses will start as favorites in at least 12 of the 14 Grade One contests. The festival marks a century of Gold Cups attracting thousands of Irish attendees and contributing significantly to the local economy.
The dominance of Irish horses raises questions about British racing with calls for changes to field sizes and the race calendar. Despite the current Irish success, some believe it is cyclical and British trainers will likely raise their game in the future. The festival’s economic impact and cultural significance make it a mainstay in the Irish sporting calendar.
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