Who is going to be the top British trainer at the Cheltenham Festival?

There is a lot of anticipation ahead of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Racegoers are back in attendance for the first time since the 2020 renewal of the meeting went ahead as the true extent of the coronavirus outbreak was just beginning to be felt in the United Kingdom, and those from the host nation will feel like British racing has a massive point to prove next month after a diabolical time last year.

The Irish contingent truly embarrassed their British counterparts in 2021, winning 23 of the 28 races and leaving the hosts to pick up the scraps. Those at the fore of racing in the mainland arguably got off lightly with the Festival taking place behind closed doors, but with a record crowd set to be in attendance this year, the boisterous Brits will certainly make their discontent known if the likes of Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott are sweeping up wins with ease once again.

So, with someone needing to step up and be counted this year, let’s take a look at some of the trainers who could lead the way for British racing — even if they are very unlikely to get anywhere near those aforementioned top Irish handlers! Read on to find out more!

Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson’s dominant era at Prestbury Park may have ended a decade ago, with Mullins taking his proverbial throne at Cheltenham Racecourse, but the 71-year-old is certainly still one of Britain’s best and his horses are always worth having a punt on with your Cheltenham betting offer! He picked up just two victories last year, but his four winners in 2020 were proof that he still has what it takes. Shishkin is almost guaranteed to take Henderson’s career tally at the Festival to 71 victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but the likes of Constitution Hill, Jonbon, Epatante and Champ could ensure that the Seven Barrows handler lands a good handful of winners this year.

Paul Nicholls

Last year was nothing short of a disaster for Paul Nicholls. Another man synonymous with the Festival, having won the Leading Trainer award six times between 1999 and 2009, nobody would have expected the 59-year-old to leave Prestbury Park empty handed. But, for the first time this millennium, he did just that! It feels like Nicholls is already cutting his loses this year, with the likes of Clan Des Obeaux, Greanateen andFrodon bypassing Cheltenham, but we certainly wouldn’t back against him picking up his 47th winner this year — with Bravemansgame, Stage Star and Threeunderthrufive all serious contenders in some of the top Novices’ races, while Saint Calvados could cause an upset in the Ryanair Chase.

Dan Skelton

The Festival probably hasn’t panned out the way Dan Skelton would have imagined over the course of the last few years. When he opened his account in 2016 with his maiden win in the County Handicap Hurdle, you would have expected the 36-year-old to have racked up more than just three more victories in the last five years — especially when you consider that two of those came in the less esteemed Grade 3 County Handicap Hurdle. But there is a lot of promise in Skelton’s contingent this year, with some good entries in the Arkle (Third Time Lucki), Champion Chase (Nube Negra), Ryanair Chase (Shan Blue) and even the Gold Cup (Protektorat). He is definitely feeling confident as well.

"To have real contenders in an Arkle, a Gold Cup, a Champion Chase, a Ryanair Chase and a Mares' Hurdle, as well as a few right up there in the betting for the handicaps, is a good place to find yourself in, and it looks as though we've got a nice spread across the four days,” the trainer said. Yet to win one of the five championship races, it would be a massive step in his career if he can break that duck this year.