The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest horse racing festivals on the planet year-on-year it rakes in millions of viewers and attracts the most impressive jump racing horses to compete.
The annual Cheltenham event has received huge recent exposure in the United States since Fox Sports purchased the broadcast rights in 2022. In their debut year of covering the festival around 55 million American homes tuned in to the action.
Cheltenham is one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the United Kingdom and its interest has spread all over the globe over the past few decades. Fans in England, across the Atlantic, and beyond will be excited to watch how the major narratives play out come March.
Will Constitution Hill recover in time?
Constitution Hill is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses in the world and is seen as the favorite for the opening day Champion Hurdle as a result.
The horse is a 4/9 favorite in Cheltenham Festival odds and it will be led by one of the leading candidates in the Cheltenham Festival top jockey odds in +1400 priced Nico de Boinville.
???? Per @sam__morgan, Nicky Henderson on CONSTITUTION HILL after his Kempton gallop.
— Road To Cheltenham (@RoadCheltenham) February 27, 2024
"If he’s not clean in a week’s time he isn’t going to get there in another week."
???? Hope he recovers - the Cheltenham Festival is about the best taking on the best.pic.twitter.com/o6qZOa6ZWe
However, there is one major stumbling block to Constitution Hill's potential landslide success. It will have to overcome illness in the run-up to the race if it is to be at its best to secure victory.
The horse has already missed several events since Christmas and now will face a battle against time to be fit for one of the greatest festivals on earth. It would be a huge shame for the sport's worldwide following if one of British racing's biggest stars is not on show for the first major event of the year.
Could Galopin Des Champs win the Gold Cup again?
Alongside Constitution Hill, Galopin Des Champs is another horse that has proven itself to a worldwide audience over the past few years.
The French horse most notably won the Gold Cup last year and could join an exclusive group of horses through history with back-to-back success in 2024.
Trainer Willie Mullins' prized asset is a significant +100 favorite to do just that and there is little doubt surrounding the quality that the horse will deliver in Cheltenham's headline race. The question is whether any other contenders could match its raw power and speed this year.
2️⃣1️⃣ Days until Galopin Des Champs Gold Cup is coming home again
— Dawn Leadon-Bolger (@Dawnesme) February 23, 2024
????????????#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/4G8xv5eYHY
Fastorslow is the standout horse when it comes to potential competition for Galopin Des Champs offered at +450 and he did manage to get the better of his rival in 2o23
The Punchestown Gold Cup in April last year saw Fastorslow finish first in the newly crowned Cheltenham Gold Cup winner's following race.
The horse will have to be at its absolute peak if it is to stand a chance against one of the most talented horses in the history of jump racing. It is the only horse that genuinely has the potential to go head-to-head with Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 Gold Cup and that is impressive in itself.
Constitution Hill and Galopin Des Champs are arguably the two most well-known names worldwide when it comes to British horse racing and they will likely produce the biggest headlines at Cheltenham.
The former simply needs to return to fitness in time for the event and from there victory would be incredibly likely. The latter faces stronger relative competition but should also be expected to deliver victory in front of the horse racing world.
