The race is truly on for victory at Cheltenham

We’ve beaten them in the rugby and now for the racing.

To be clear, there’s no question over whether Irish horses or British horses will win the majority of the 28 races at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Ireland won 20-8 last year and in fact, have never been outscored by the home team since the racing schedule was extended to 28 races in 2016.

There is talk of a British revival this year and, looking at the ante-post betting at the end of February, the Brits have 10 favourites so they should manage to close the gap a little bit.

However, real punters are not patriotic. It doesn’t matter if Gavin Cromwell or Oliver Cromwell trains the horse carrying their money – a winner is a winner.

In the Irish Farm Centre, just a few yards from the Irish Country Living offices, the team at The Irish Field have been obsessing over Cheltenham for months now. So let’s see if we can mark your card with a few good-priced tips.

Wendigo 10/1

Tuesday 10 March, 3.20pm: Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase

Trained in England by former British soldier Jamie Snowden, Wendigo is a French-bred horse who started his racing career in Irish point-to-points, but he will go down as a British winner if he clicks at Cheltenham.

He finished fifth in a Grade 1 hurdle race here last year, staying on well at the finish. Wendigo has since taken well to jumping fences and connections are strongly considering running him in a handicap on Tuesday rather than in another Grade 1 race on Wednesday.

Don’t worry if his jockey Gavin Sheehan is pushing and shoving with two or three fences to go – Wendigo has bottomless stamina and will keep fighting all the way to the line.

Indeevar Bleu 14/1

Wednesday 11 March, 2.40pm: Cup Handicap Hurdle

Another horse with multinational connections. As the names suggests, Indeevar Bleu was born in France but spent his early years in Ireland where he was traded twice before joining English trainer Olly Murphy in Stratford-upon-Avon. And his jockey Sean Bowen is Welsh! Since undergoing a breathing operation in early 2025 Indeevar Bleu has shown much improved form.

He won easily at Aintree over Christmas and has been deliberately rested by connections ever since, with this race in mind.

Keep Him Company

Wednesday 11 March, 5.20pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Ever since the Galway Races last summer trainer Gordon Elliott has been enjoying a fantastic run of success and, as the big spring festivals loom, it shows no signs of stopping.

He has been particularly successful in bumper races, saddling the first three home in the valuable bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on 2 February.

All three of those are entered for this race but Elliott has also entered the unbeaten Keep Him Company, whose form looks best of the lot. He’s another French-bred horse, by the way.

In D’Or 14/1

Thursday 12 March, 5.20pm: Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase

Okay, I admit I have a thing for the French! This lad also goes down as English-trained even though his trainer Fergal O’Brien is from Limerick. In D’Or has only run twice for O’Brien, having been previously owned and ridden by businessman David Maxwell, who won three races on him.

This race is also confined to amateur riders so it’s good to know In D’Or is a safe conveyance. His form is very solid and he looks assured of a place at least. If the trainer’s daughter Fern gets the leg up on In D’Or it could be one of the best stories of the week, should they be successful.

The Jukebox Man 11/2

Friday 13 March, 4pm: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

It’s been eight years since the British last won the Gold Cup. In that time Willie Mullins has won it four times, Henry de Bromhead twice and last year it was Gavin Cromwell’s turn with Inothewayurthinking. But the home team has two of the favourites this year in The Jukebox Man (Ben Pauling) and Jango Baie (Nicky Henderson).

There was just inches between the pair when they finished first and fourth respectively in the King George VI Chase at Kempton at Christmas. In between them were the Irish pair Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior, and all four reoppose here.

You can make a good case for any of them but The Jukebox Man is the only one of them still unbeaten over fences. Ground conditions won’t make any difference to him and he has a great record at Cheltenham too.

Bonus tip

If you or a friend are lucky enough to be heading to Cheltenham next week, don’t forget your passport. Since 25 February, every Aer Lingus passenger travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Britain must present either a valid passport or an Irish passport card.

All other forms of photo identification – including driving licences, bus passes and work or student ID cards – will cease to be accepted.