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[/b]As the 2024 Cheltenham Festival rapidly approaches, anticipation mounts among racing enthusiasts eager to witness Britain’s potential triumphs in the meeting’s biggest contests.
Yet, against the backdrop of recent editions, where Ireland has asserted its dominance, the battle for the sought-after Prestbury Cup has worryingly veered dramatically one-sided.
2021 was a particularly damming year for the hosts. Ireland romped to a 23-5 win at the behind-closed-doors Cheltenham Festival, while successive 18-10 wins have followed for the visitors.
In this analysis, we delve into Britain’s most promising contenders at the 2024 Festival — assessing their chances in their respective races.

[b]Constitution Hill – Champion Hurdle

While Constitution Hill’s participation at the Cheltenham Festival is uncertain at the time of writing, as the Seven Barrows star has a lung infection, Nicky Henderson hasn’t been ruled out a full recovery just yet.
There is still hope that the unbeaten seven-year-old will make it back to fitness before the opening day of the meeting on March 12, and he will be well-backed in the Champion Hurdle 2024 odds if that is the case.
State Man will likely be Constitution Hill’s biggest rival in the field, but he beat the Willie Mullins-trained hurdler comfortably in last year’s Champion Hurdle and should be capable of repeating that form despite this less-than-ideal build-up.

Sir Gino – Triumph Hurdle

Sir Gino looks like another great chance for Henderson to add to his impressive tally of 73 Cheltenham Festival winners, as the four-year-old is odds on to win the Triumph Hurdle.
Sir Gino won a three-year-old hurdle at Auteuil in France last April before being bought by esteemed owner Jessica Donnelly and joining Henderson in October.
He has progressed well under the veteran trainer, winning a Juvenile Hurdle by 14 lengths on debut at Kempton in December before landing the Grade 2 Finesse Juvenile Hurdle by 10 lengths at Cheltenham in January.
That makes him the one to beat in the Triumph, and he will be well-backed by those using their Cheltenham sign up offers wisely.

Ginny’s Destiny – Turners Novices’ Chase

Paul Nicholls ended his Cheltenham Festival drought with two winners last year, and he’ll be keen to add his record of 48 victories this March.
Ginny’s Destiny appears to be the 14-time British jump racing Champion Trainer’s leading charge, coming in as the 11/4 favourite for the Turners Novices’ Chase.
The eight-year-old joined Nicholls in October and has only raced at Cheltenham this season, winning his last three in a row.
The Turners Novices’ Chase is a big step up in class, but Ginny’s Destiny has plenty of experience over course and distance to take that in his stride.

Stage Star – Ryanair Chase

One of Nicholls’ 2023 Cheltenham Festival winners, Stage Star landed the 61-year-old trainer his first Turners Novices’ Chase success in commanding fashion.
The eight-year-old won his reappearance back at Prestbury Park in November, returning to form with a victory in the Gold Cup Handicap Chase, but was pulled up by Harry Cobden when last seen in the New Year’s Day Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Nicholls said Stage Star was stiff post-race, and going into a contest like the Ryanair Chase on the back of that is a cause for concern. However, he remains the third favourite for the day three Grade 1.