But this week’s four-day festival, which runs from Tuesday to Friday, also takes on a significant role in trying to lift the gloomy clouds that hover over jump racing in the UK. The problems are piling up for the National Hunt code, which is struggling to arrest a decline in standard.
Many issues have been cluttering the in-tray for some time, such as small field-sizes, poor (but improving) prize money, low sun ruining races, and trainers failing hopelessly to attract big-gun, deep-pocket owners, which has contributed to Irish domination of the festival.
Other issues have marred the build-up to this year’s Cheltenham, such as jockeys being asked to adapt to perfectly reasonable, new rules on the use of the whip and punters being asked to comply with intrusive affordability checks in an over-reaction to a disturbing movement, sparked by politicians, that aims to demonise the hobby of gambling.
The hope is that the festival can rise above it all, and that its annual intoxicating concoction of top-quality, competitive racing can show jump racing in its best light.
The superiority of Irish-trained horses seems certain to continue. Remember, they took 23 of the 28 races two years ago. Willie Mullins is already the most prolific handler in the history of the event, having saddled a record-breaking ten winners 12 months ago. This time, the odds are short on him adding 12 more to complete an unprecedented career century.
Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead, who has sent out the one-two in each of the last two Gold Cups, have also assembled strong teams, while the British challenge will rely heavily on champion Paul Nicholls and veteran Nicky Henderson.
But what of the horses? An array of potential superstars sit waiting in the wings, ready to add their names to the glorious Cheltenham roll of honour. Some have been here before, some are new kids on the block.
We’ve cherry-picked 15 of the most fancied and most interesting contenders as the countdown to the opening race at 1.30 pm on Tuesday begins.
Other issues have marred the build-up to this year’s Cheltenham, such as jockeys being asked to adapt to perfectly reasonable, new rules on the use of the whip and punters being asked to comply with intrusive affordability checks in an over-reaction to a disturbing movement, sparked by politicians, that aims to demonise the hobby of gambling.
![Only two horses, Golden Miller and L'Escargot, have ever landed the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so NOBLE YEATS (pictured nearside at Aintree) would bring a full house down if he achieved the feat in Friday's festival highlight (3.30). Trained by the enigmatic Emmet Mullins, nephew of Willie, the classy 8yo defied all logic by taking the National as a novice last year and has continued to improve this term.](https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE4MTFkYTMzLWRmNzQtNDQ1OC1hN2Q5LTJlNmRjNTk5ZDljZjplMmFjMzQ0Zi04ODI2LTQyNWYtOWE5Zi1kZGJkODlmOTYzODY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Gunning for Grand National/Gold Cup double
Only two horses, Golden Miller and L'Escargot, have ever landed the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so NOBLE YEATS (pictured nearside at Aintree) would bring a full house down if he achieved the feat in Friday's festival highlight (3.30). Trained by the enigmatic Emmet Mullins, nephew of Willie, the classy 8yo defied all logic by taking the National as a novice last year and has continued to improve this term. Photo: Paul Ellis/Getty Images
![There won't be a dry house in Cheltenham if the mighty mare, HONEYSUCKLE, ends her glittering career with victory in her final race, the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, on Tuesday (4.10). It's a contest she won back in 2020 before following up with two Champion Hurdle successes as part of an amazing run of 16 wins on the spin for trainer Henry De Bromhead and her inimitable history-making pilot, Rachael Blackmore.](https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc4NjhhNDU4LWIxOGQtNGVjZC1iYWJjLTkyYTFjY2E5M2E3ZDpjZDNiNTRjNy1mMzIzLTQwMWQtODkwNy1jMTVlY2ZmYmE5NDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Emotional farewell to a dual champion
There won't be a dry house in Cheltenham if the mighty mare, HONEYSUCKLE, ends her glittering career with victory in her final race, the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, on Tuesday (4.10). It's a contest she won back in 2020 before following up with two Champion Hurdle successes as part of an amazing run of 16 wins on the spin for trainer Henry De Bromhead and her inimitable history-making pilot, Rachael Blackmore. Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
![Since the days of celebrated handler Francois Doumen, The Fellow, who won the 1994 Gold Cup, and Baracouda, who landed back-to-back Stayers' Hurdle prizes in 2002 and 2003, French-trained winners at the Cheltenham Festival have become as rare as tomatoes in Tesco. But GOLD TWEET might just upset the applecart in Thursday's Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30) after winning impressively in a trial at the track in January.](https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQzMjE2NTZlLTVmMjItNGMxYi04M2Q5LTAzNGQyOTY1MmFiNzpmMzQ5YTZkOS1lYTM5LTRiYjktOTY5Yy03Y2YwNDRkYTkxZWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. French fancy could upset the applecart
Since the days of celebrated handler Francois Doumen, The Fellow, who won the 1994 Gold Cup, and Baracouda, who landed back-to-back Stayers' Hurdle prizes in 2002 and 2003, French-trained winners at the Cheltenham Festival have become as rare as tomatoes in Tesco. But GOLD TWEET might just upset the applecart in Thursday's Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30) after winning impressively in a trial at the track in January. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
![Twelve months ago, DELTA WORK was the horse that 'shot Bambi' as he slayed the legendary five-times festival winner and two-times Grand National winner Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase. But Gordon Elliott's 10yo himself went on to finish third in the Aintree spectacular and now he arrives at Cheltenham again as many people's idea of the banker of the week as he bids for a cross-country repeat.](https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYyYjIzMDAxLWJkMmUtNDk1OS04MzllLWM1ZWMyMzgwZWFiMDowMzhhZjdhZi1hMjk0LTQ2MTItYmY2My0wYmZiNDg0MjU2OTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Horse that 'shot Bambi' is now banker of week
Twelve months ago, DELTA WORK was the horse that 'shot Bambi' as he slayed the legendary five-times festival winner and two-times Grand National winner Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase. But Gordon Elliott's 10yo himself went on to finish third in the Aintree spectacular and now he arrives at Cheltenham again as many people's idea of the banker of the week as he bids for a cross-country repeat. Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images