Cheltenham Festival Odds: Prestbury Cup 2024 Preview
The often-maligned Prestbury Cup pits Great Britain against Ireland in a battle to train the most winners at the Cheltenham Festival. Launched in 2014, Ireland have dominated the contest in recent years, with 2019’s 14-14 tie the only time the cup hasn’t travelled back over the Irish Sea since 2015.
In 2023, Ireland had the Prestbury Cup wrapped up with a day to spare, eventually coming home by a resounding 18-10 scoreline. So, what sort of betting heat is the 2024 edition?
We may as well skip over betting sites win market odds, where Ireland are 1/10 favourites. It would take an almost unbelievable set of results for Ireland not to lift the cup this time around.
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Willie Mullins has been top festival trainer in each of the last five seasons and is 1/6 to maintain that dominance in 2024. That’s hardly a surprise when you consider that he is responsible for at least 10 ante-post favourites.
Bookies Prestbury Cup handicap markets also make for grim reading for the hosts. Team Ireland is just 1/2 to cover a 9.5 line, which means the layers think they will have at least ten more winners than the Brits.
So, how likely is that? Let’s look at how Prestbury Cup scoring might go on each of the four days.
Tuesday
It probably isn’t going to start well for the Brits. Willie Mullins is responsible for the top three in ante-post betting lists for the Supreme and there is no suggestion yet that any of Ballyburn, Tully Hill and Mystical Star won’t be turning up for the gig.
The Irish normally win the Arkle so the big question on day one is, can State Man serve it up to the mighty Constitution Hill? There are plenty that think he can, but the Champion Hurdle is surely the one opening-day banker for the home team.
Lossiemouth is odds-on for the Mares’ Hurdle, while Embassy Gardens and Corbetts Cross dominate betting for the National Hunt Chase. The Brits normally win the Ultima, indeed the last ten winners were all trained at home, which should ensure they at least double their tally for the day.
Given Gordon Elliott nearly always pitches in with at least one handicap winner during the week, it’s easy enough to see him hitting at least five winners.
Whilst that sort of total wouldn’t have troubled Mullins in 2022, it certainly would have in 2019 and 2021, so if Elliott’s fancied horses can strike, he might be able to make a fist of the top trainer battle, for all that it remains a tough task against the might of the Mullins battalions.
Day 1 Prediction: GB 2, Ireland 5
Wednesday
On paper at least, Wednesday looks the most likely day for an Irish clean sweep. Langer Dan’s Coral Cup success for the Skelton’s was the only British-trained winner on this day last year and ante-post lists point strongly in the direction of a similar tale this time around.
Fact To File (Brown Advisory) and El Fabiolo (Champion Chase) will be considered Irish bankers, while Ballyburn will likely join that merry band if going for the Baring Bingham rather than Tuesday’s Supreme.
The Cross Country Chase looks booked for Ireland, as does the Champion Bumper, which has gone to Ireland in each of the last seven years.
Day 2 Prediction: GB 3, Ireland 11
Thursday
Ginny’s Destiny, Iroko and Grey Dawning make up a pretty formidable home team in the opening Turners Novices’ Chase but from that point on, Thursday looks like another day where the Irish could dominate.
They’ve won the Pertemps in seven of the last eight years while either Banbridge or Envoi Allen will probably win the Ryanair unless ground conditions are terrible.
Only Crambo can stop Ireland winning the feature Stayers’ Hurdle and the Irish have strong hands in the other two handicaps. This isn’t looking great for the Brits.
Day 3 Prediction: GB 5, Ireland 16
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Friday
Britain had four winners on the final day last year and they will surely get the day off to a winning start with the potential superstar that is Sir Gino, who should win the Triumph Hurdle by daylight.
Dan Skelton has been flying the flag for the Brits in the County Hurdle, winning it four times since 2016, and his L’Eau Du Sud might just have enough upside to turn Betfair Hurdle form around with Iberico Lord, another Brit.
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A wide-open looking Albert Bartlett could go either way, as could the Martin Pipe Hurdle, but Ireland will surely win the Mares’ Chase and the Hunters Chase.
The Gold Cup? Well, that’s all about reigning champ Galopin Des Champs. Is he a certainty? No. Is he the most likely winner? By a distance.
Day 4 Prediction: GB 8, Ireland 20
Prestbury Cup 2024 Verdict
It looks good for the Irish, doesn’t it?
Whether there is any value in betting apps Prestbury Cup prices is a moot point but our spin through the four days suggests that the hosts might struggle to cover that +9.5 line, for all that it looked a meaty line at first glance.
It’s just 1/2 that Ireland have 10+ more winners than the Brits, but that looks likely unless, of course, we get some shock results.
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