The thunder of hooves, the roar of the crowd, the heart-pounding drama – the jumps racing season is back! And it all begins in earnest at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting this Friday and Saturday. For National Hunt racing fans, the road to the Cheltenham Festival in March starts here.
Irish Dominance Looms Large
But as a new season dawns, the narrative is a familiar one – the Irish look poised to dominate once again. Last season saw Irish trainers claim the top four spots in the British trainers’ championship, led by the legendary Willie Mullins finally capturing his first British title to go with his 18 at home.
Mullins’ historic achievement cast a long shadow over his British rivals. His £6.5 million in British prize money alone exceeded the domestic haul of any home trainer. As one racing executive put it, “the biggest threat to Irish jumps racing is the demise of British jumps racing.” The competitive imbalance has reached a tipping point.
Can the British Bounce Back?
Leading the British resistance is Dan Skelton, who came agonizingly close to dethroning Mullins in the spring. The up-and-coming trainer is the early favorite to claim the championship this season. But he’ll have his work cut out for him against the Irish juggernaut, even with promising contenders like Grey Dawning.
Other British hopes include the evergreen Paul Nicholls, chasing a record-equaling 15th trainers’ title, and Nicky Henderson, eager to rebound from a disappointing Cheltenham Festival. Nicholls’ Regent’s Stroll and Il Est Francais and Henderson’s £1.4 million purchase Palladium lead their respective battalions.
Mullins on the March
But Mullins shows no signs of resting on his laurels. In an ominous sign for his rivals, the Closutton handler has already unleashed a string of early season winners around Britain – not his usual approach. Per reports, Mullins seems intent on defending his British crown.
With the likes of Gold Cup favorite Galopin Des Champs and a typically endless supply of talent in reserve, who’s to say he won’t? At a best-priced 7-4, many a punter will fancy Mullins to make it two in a row. It may take a concerted effort from the home team to stop him.
The Return of Constitution Hill
Of course, the horse everyone wants to see is Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten hurdling superstar has been on the sidelines since his sole outing last term in the Fighting Fifth in November. An aborted trip to Newcastle and a virus robbed him of the chance to defend his Champion Hurdle crown.
But the word is Constitution Hill is back working well and on course to return to Newcastle at the end of November. Rarely does a jumps horse capture the public’s imagination quite like this prodigious talent. His appearances may be carefully spaced, but racing fans will relish every chance to see him in action.
Jonbon Leads the Challengers
Constitution Hill’s stablemate Jonbon elevated himself to the top tier of two mile hurdlers with two Grade 1 wins in the spring. With the ‘Constitution bug’ having run through Seven Barrows in March, Jonbon will aim to keep the ball rolling for the Henderson battalions. A clash with his vaunted rival would be the stuff of dreams.
A Season to Savor
So which storylines will define the months ahead? Will it be the Irish extending their imperial phase, or can the British mount a concerted fightback? Might a superstar emerge to rival Constitution Hill’s box office appeal? Will a new crop of novice chasers rise to fill the shoes of the established guard?
Time will tell, but one thing is certain – the 2024-25 National Hunt season won’t lack for intrigue. The glorious uncertainty of jumps racing has returned. Strap in and enjoy the ride – it begins in the Cotswolds on Friday. The road back to Cheltenham starts here.
Mullins’ historic achievement cast a long shadow over his British rivals. His £6.5 million in British prize money alone exceeded the domestic haul of any home trainer. As one racing executive put it, “the biggest threat to Irish jumps racing is the demise of British jumps racing.” The competitive imbalance has reached a tipping point.
Can the British Bounce Back?
Leading the British resistance is Dan Skelton, who came agonizingly close to dethroning Mullins in the spring. The up-and-coming trainer is the early favorite to claim the championship this season. But he’ll have his work cut out for him against the Irish juggernaut, even with promising contenders like Grey Dawning.
Other British hopes include the evergreen Paul Nicholls, chasing a record-equaling 15th trainers’ title, and Nicky Henderson, eager to rebound from a disappointing Cheltenham Festival. Nicholls’ Regent’s Stroll and Il Est Francais and Henderson’s £1.4 million purchase Palladium lead their respective battalions.
Mullins on the March
But Mullins shows no signs of resting on his laurels. In an ominous sign for his rivals, the Closutton handler has already unleashed a string of early season winners around Britain – not his usual approach. Per reports, Mullins seems intent on defending his British crown.
With the likes of Gold Cup favorite Galopin Des Champs and a typically endless supply of talent in reserve, who’s to say he won’t? At a best-priced 7-4, many a punter will fancy Mullins to make it two in a row. It may take a concerted effort from the home team to stop him.
The Return of Constitution Hill
Of course, the horse everyone wants to see is Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten hurdling superstar has been on the sidelines since his sole outing last term in the Fighting Fifth in November. An aborted trip to Newcastle and a virus robbed him of the chance to defend his Champion Hurdle crown.
But the word is Constitution Hill is back working well and on course to return to Newcastle at the end of November. Rarely does a jumps horse capture the public’s imagination quite like this prodigious talent. His appearances may be carefully spaced, but racing fans will relish every chance to see him in action.
Jonbon Leads the Challengers
Constitution Hill’s stablemate Jonbon elevated himself to the top tier of two mile hurdlers with two Grade 1 wins in the spring. With the ‘Constitution bug’ having run through Seven Barrows in March, Jonbon will aim to keep the ball rolling for the Henderson battalions. A clash with his vaunted rival would be the stuff of dreams.
A Season to Savor
So which storylines will define the months ahead? Will it be the Irish extending their imperial phase, or can the British mount a concerted fightback? Might a superstar emerge to rival Constitution Hill’s box office appeal? Will a new crop of novice chasers rise to fill the shoes of the established guard?
Time will tell, but one thing is certain – the 2024-25 National Hunt season won’t lack for intrigue. The glorious uncertainty of jumps racing has returned. Strap in and enjoy the ride – it begins in the Cotswolds on Friday. The road back to Cheltenham starts here.
