Over time, a significant rivalry has developed between the British-trained runners at the Cheltenham Festival and those who have travelled from Ireland to participate.
It is readily comprehensible why this friendly rivalry began. The Cheltenham Festival stands out as the most significant event in the jump racing season, hosting prestigious races like the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle. Trainers and jockeys treat these two events as the World Cup of horse racing, and winning them is a top priority.
In 2014, a formal tournament called ‘The Prestbury Cup’ was launched to commemorate this rivalry, including trainers and riders from both nations.
Continue reading to get all the essential details about the Prestbury Cup, including the key contenders and the betting odds for this year’s British-Irish horse racing rivalry.
The Prestbury Cup Explained
The Prestbury Cup is a yearly event held at the Cheltenham Festival that determines the victor in the contest between trainers and riders from Ireland and Britain. The country with the most wins has received the award annually since 2014.
The Cheltenham Festival is home to twenty-eight races. This means that the Prestbury Cup is often awarded to the nation that achieves 15 victories first. It is conceivable to win the Prestbury Cup with a record of less than 15 wins, however, since trainers and jockeys from various countries do participate at Cheltenham.
During this special event, the Prestbury Cup is traditionally presented to one of the country’s most prominent trainers once one of the two nations has crossed the mystical 15-win mark.
Prestbury Cup History
Since 2014, the Prestbury Cup has been awarded on ten occasions, and Ireland has dominated, with seven winning years to their name. Britain has won just two, alongside a tied event in 2019.
Prestbury Cup Results: 2014-2023
Ireland United Kingdom
2023 18 10
2022 18 10
2021 23 5
2019 14 14
2018 17 11
2017 19 9
2016 15 13
2015 13 14
2014 12 15
Prestbury Cup Odds 2024
Having secured the Prestbury Cup with one day remaining in 2023, Ireland triumphed home with a booming 18-10 score. On that note, how intense is the betting fever for 2024?
Disregarding the win market odds provided by betting firms would be prudent since Ireland is now the 1/10 favourite with the best Cheltenham betting offers. For Ireland to fail to win the Cup in 2024, an almost unimaginable series of outcomes would be required.
Willie Mullins is 1/6 to continue his reign as best festival trainer in 2024, continuing a streak that spans five seasons, but it’s hardly surprising when you consider that he has ten ante-post favourites.
Also, bad news for the home team expecting to turn the tide this year, as the bookmakers’ Prestbury Cup handicap odds aren’t pretty. With 1/2 odds of covering a 9.5 line, Team Ireland is widely believed to have at least 10 more wins than the British.
● Ireland to Win the Prestbury Cup 2024 – [1/10]
● Tie – [10/1]
● Great Britain to Win the Prestbury Cup 2024 – [12/1]
Prestbury Cup 2024: Ones to Watch
The betting markets will likely shift in the days leading up to the opening day of the renowned Cheltenham Festival, but at the moment, only two UK horses are projected to win any of the 28 races held over the course of the four days.
This week’s revelation that home favourite Constitution Hill has been pulled and won’t be defending his Champion Hurdle championship on the first day of the meeting narrowed the UK down to only two horses that bookmakers predict will win all week.
Focus on Irish Trainers
Ireland won 23 races in 2021, while Team GB amassed only five victories. This year has the potential to be much worse, and the host team will need quite a few upsets against the odds to improve from the drubbings they’ve received in recent years.
Willie Mullins, the preeminent Irish trainer, will likely have more victors under his belt alone than the entire British contingent, as the English racing season may be particularly discouraging due to its precipitous decline.
Punters ought to focus on the Irish horses, as the UK’s current supply will likely continue to see no major alterations for some time.
It will not be simple for prominent trainers based in the United Kingdom, such as Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, and Dan Skelton, to retain a portion of the prize money for GB, and a closer examination of the wagers for each race reveals that it will be surprising if the host team can surpass 2021’s numbers when only five victors failed to receive training in Ireland.
Cheltenham Day Four: Friday Could Be Team GB’s Best Day
Friday, March 15, 2024
Last year, Britain had four winners on the final day, and they are expected to begin this year’s day four with a victory from the prospective superstar, Sir Gino, who is very likely to win the Triumph Hurdle by a significant margin.
Dan Skelton has consistently represented Britain in the County Hurdle, emerging victorious four times since 2016. His horse, L’Eau Du Sud, can potentially reverse the Betfair Hurdle outcome against Iberico Lord, another British contender.
Albert Bartlett’s outcome is uncertain, as is the Martin Pipe Hurdle. However, it is quite certain that Ireland will emerge victorious in both the Mares’ Chase and the Hunters’ Chase.
As for the granddaddy, The Gold Cup? This likely goes to Galopin Des Champs. Is he definite? Not at all. But is he a frontrunner? By a significant margin.
Not all is lost for Great Britain; there’s a good chance the home team could secure 5-8 victories across the four days, as betting favourites are not guaranteed. The likes of Iroko, Grey Dawning, Ginny’s Destiny, Crambo, Langer’s Dan, and State Man boast great chances of success for Team GB. Still, when the dust clears, it will be another success for Ireland, as bettors should certainly begin their handicapping with the Irish-trained horses on offer.
