Ireland stormed to the Prestbury Cup at Cheltenham Festival last season, dominating their British counterparts with relative ease over the course of the week. The 23-5 scoreline in favour of the Irish was the most one-sided result in the history of the competition between the two countries since it began in 2014. Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead played a significant role in Ireland’s success, combining 12 victories between them, while Denise Foster and Gavin Cromwell also notched multiple wins during the week.
Nicky Henderson was the only trainer from the United Kingdom to notch more than one crown courtesy of Shishkin in the Arkle Chase and Chantry House in the Browns Advisory Novices’ Chase. As a result of the discrepancy in quality, Ireland is backed in the Cheltenham Festival tips at 1/20 to win the cup for the third year in a row. It is not a surprise as other than Henderson and perhaps a rare victory for Philip Hobbs, Alan King, Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls it will be curious to see where British yards can pick up victories over their counterparts.
Constitution Hill wins the Tolworth Novice's Hurdle
The first two races could set the tone as British-based trainers are favoured over Mullins, De Bromhead and Elliott for once. Henderson has two elite charges in the form of Constitution Hill and Jonbon to face off against Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo out of Mullins’ yard. It will be a fascinating battle, but if Constitution Hill can live up to his billing as the race favourite then there could be hope for a tighter race in the Prestbury Cup in the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
King’s Edwardstone has been outstanding in England over the course of the 2021/22 National Hunt season and recently triumphed in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase. Mullins will send Blue Lord and Haut En Couleurs into the contest, who have both performed well in races in Ireland, with the former triumphing in the Irish Arkle Chase. Elliott will send the impressive Riviere D'etel, who finished second in the Irish Arkle Chase, into the contest, and it will be an enthralling battle to see which system and which horse comes out on top. It is a big race for King and Edwardstone.
The Champion Hurdle is expected to remain in Irish hands with Honeysuckle appearing to be the dominant horse once more, although competition could come from Appreciate It from Mullins’ yard. Henderson’s Epatante won the race in 2020 with a fine performance, but was off the pace last term. It would take a special effort for the French thoroughbred to bounce back.
Nicholls could come to the fore in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle with his intriguing charge Stage Star, although he will have plenty of Irish horses for company. It would be a surprise to see him triumph, especially if Mullins commits Dysart Dynamo away from the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Bravemansgame might have had a chance in the Browns Advisory Novices’ Chase, but Mullins arguably has his best horse from his yard in the contest with Galopin Des Champs.
Shishkin faces a challenge in the Champion Chase, but Henderson will have high hopes that he can fend off Energumene for the crown and the second time in two races. Philip Hobbs could come into the fore on day three if Sporting John and Thyme Hill can perform in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle respectively.
Skelton will have to take centre stage in the Gold Cup with his charge Protektorat. Ireland have A Plus Tard and Minella Indo from De Bromhead’s yard as he seeks a second-straight win in the top event. Elliott will place Galvin into the fray, while Mullins has two-time winner Al Boum Photo. Protektorat will have to put in the performance of a lifetime to beat out the Irish-trained horses, and even that might not be enough. It highlights the challenge of all the trainers across the week who are aiming to prevent enough landslide of victories for the Emerald Isle.
