Top British Cheltenham Festival Contenders to Watch
British hopes will once again be in sharp focus when the Cheltenham Festival arrives, as home-trained runners look to challenge Ireland’s current dominance in National Hunt racing. Although Irish stables have held the upper hand in recent years, the British contingent showed signs of resurgence in 2025 with eight Festival winners. With the balance of power in racing often shifting over time, there is growing optimism that British trainers can close the gap in the seasons ahead. Dan Skelton, currently leading the British trainers’ championship, has enjoyed a remarkable spell at Cheltenham, with seven of his 11 Festival victories coming since 2023. Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson remains one of the meeting’s most successful figures, having saddled 75 winners, second only to Willie Mullins. As the new season unfolds, several British-trained horses are already shaping up as serious contenders for Cheltenham in […]