CNBNews

The eyes of the world will be on Cheltenham Racecourse between March 12-15 - the biggest week of the year in Jumps racing. The best National Hunt horses compete in 28 races across the four days of the meeting.

Here is a look at some of the big storylines to look out for across the week for those tuning into the meeting.

Galopin Des Champs Set to Defend His Crown

Irish horse Galopin Des Champs went into last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup with a huge reputation, and he lived up to it with an excellent performance, scoring by nine lengths. He is the -120 favorite in the  Cheltenham Festival betting odds to defend his title.

Willie Mullins’ runner is one of the leading Cheltenham Festival tips for this year’s meeting, and many pundits believe he can could be one of the best chasers of his generation. A second Gold Cup will help him do that.

Galopin Des Champs is incredible in the Irish Gold Cup! pic.twitter.com/ZqlYZsBwWD

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 3, 2024

This season, the nine-year-old has been victorious in two of the biggest Grade One chases in Ireland, the Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase. He'll be ridden by Paul Townend once again in the Cheltenham Festival feature, and he looks the one to be beat.

Another Big Run Expected from Constitution Hill

Unbeaten star Constitution Hill will get the opportunity to showcase his ability once again in the Champion Hurdle. The British hurdler won the Championship race in 2023, establishing himself as “a horse of a generation”.

Nicky Henderson’s runner has featured once this season, winning the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. He was set to run in the International Hurdle, but had an unsatisfactory scope just before the race and had to withdraw.

The seven-year-old is bidding to become the fourth horse in the last 20 years to defend their crown in the day one contest at the Cheltenham Festival. He has an official rating of 175, and a big performance could see him take a step closer to matching the likes of Persian War and Istabraq.

Big Names in Cross Country Field

One of the most fascinating races of the week at this year’s Cheltenham Festival is the Cross Country Chase. It is set to include a field of big names, with former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, defending champion Delta Work, and former Grand National winner Noble Yeats.

💪 Delta Work wins back-to-back Glenfarclas Cross Country Chases!

Another gritty performance at @CheltenhamRaces #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/638o3C7eXr

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2023

In recent years, the race has been dominated by Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. He has won five of the last seven renewals, and has a strong hand once again. The Irishman will saddle Conflated, Delta Work, and Galvin.

The Cross Country Chase is the most unique race of the week at the prestigious meeting. It takes place on the Cross Country Course, which cuts across the main racecourse. Some of the obstacles the runners must jump include bushes, banks, and logs. 

Winners of the Cross Country Chase often go on to feature in the Grand National at Aintree a month later. The last horse to win this race and then score in the world’s most famous steeplechase was Tiger Roll in 2019.

Declarations for each race at this year’s Cheltenham Festival will be announced 48 hours before they are scheduled to run.