Trainers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival

Top Cheltenham Festival odds

Year after year the top stables regularly send out the winners at the Cheltenham Festival and it is common knowledge that each of them will be battling for the right to end up in the winner’s enclosure once more. Some trainers are often referred to as ‘course specialists’ at Prestbury and will go all out in their efforts to become Top Festival Trainer. But who will prevail come March? Here, we take a look at the very best of those with runners in the festival programme.

Paul Nicholls

A dominant force over the jumps, Paul Nicholls is regarded as one of the most successful National Hunt trainers of his time and it’s easy to see why. Four Gold Cups and three Queen Mother Chase’s appear very nicely at the head of his racing CV and one can be sure he’ll be going for gold again in 2011. Trainer of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Bucks and Master Minded; there are very few trainers that can boast this yard talent and all four will be gunning for major honours. Often pairing up with master jockey Ruby Walsh, the duo have had great success in the last decade since Nicholls’ breakthrough at Cheltenham with See More Business in the 1999 running of the Gold Cup. His Somerset-based stable has been firing on all cylinders of late in preparation for March and he sets the benchmark for the festival’s top trainer but can he land the spoils?

Nicky Henderson

Three winners at last year’s festival were enough for Berkshire-based trainer Nicky Henderson to claim the 2010 Top Trainer award. Henderson currently holds the record for the most wins in Cheltenham Festival history still active in racing but will he continue to lead the way after the four-day period in March? The former amateur jockey has an excellent record at the meeting training three Champion Hurdle winners and one Queen Mother Chase victor. And twelve months ago his star performer was Bincoular in the Champion Hurdle and one can be sure he will again give it a good shot in the latest renewal. One will regularly see Henderson sending out horses for owner JP McManus and stable jockey Barry Geraghty will be given the task of navigating his many runners.

Willie Mullins

This Irishman’s hot property for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is arguably the hat-trick seeking David Nicholson Mares hurdler, Quevega. One of Ireland’s most successful jumps’ trainers, Mullins has had a glowing impact across the water here in Britain and all his runners must be monitored closely. He is the son of legendary trainer Paddy Mullins and will be striving to emulate his success with a few more Cheltenham winners in March. He will also have the services of a certain Ruby Walsh at his disposal and under the tutelage of the Irishman, they can have a huge impact from day one of the festival.

Jonjo O’Neill

Building on his success as a Champion National Hunt jockey twice, Jonjo O’Neill has made huge strides during his career as racehorse trainer. His Gloucestershire stable is based just down the road from Cheltenham after JP McManus signed the Irishman on as his leading trainer. His success to date at Cheltenham has been fairly limited, with his only notable win coming in the 2008 RSA Chase event with Albertas Run. With the services of Tony McCoy in the saddle every runner O’Neill sends to Cheltenham must hold every chance of success. Their green and gold hooped colours make his runners and riders easy to identify so certainly one to follow closely.

Philip Hobbs

A fearful, respectable record at Cheltenham’s premiere meeting, Philip Hobbs has tasted Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle triumphs whilst taking a number of the support races on the four-day card. His horses often perform admirably in the trail races before the festival as past results show his success in the Tingle Creek amongst others. Those who take in these races will have a good idea as to where Hobbs’ horses are before the showdown and one should be more knowledgeable of his chances. Richard Johnson is his stable jockey and the pair have a decent strike rate at Prestbury and expect it to continue.

Nigel Twiston-Davies

A long-serving trainer who has over four decades of experience gained his greatest success in last year’s Gold Cup with Imperial Commander. This victory really put the Twiston-Davies’ name in Cheltenham folklore and he will be aiming to follow up his success twelve months ago with a good Cheltenham Festival. Paddy Brennan is often in charge of riding his many runners, although his son Sam looks an up and coming star of the future after an impressive start to the jumps season. Expect the yard to pick up a winner or two, with a watchful eye on the progress of Imperial Commander.

Best of the rest…

Not for one moment should one take the aforementioned trainers as just those who can bag the winners. There are a notable number of other trainers who have previously hit form in time for Cheltenham. Alan King is one of those who has won the Arkle, Queen Mother and Champion Hurdle in previous years and one should not rule out further progress in 2011. Another of those that relishes the March showdown is David Pipe, who will be targeting many races including the one named after his father, David, on the final day. He often enters a number of runners with stable jockey Tom Scudamore often saddling the potent force. Noel Meade is the last to take a look at. The seven-time Irish Champion Trainer normally has a few big race entries and will be looking to score on the biggest of stages. An experienced trainer, who has been sending horses to Cheltenham for an age, will be in with a good chance of claiming a few big cash prizes.

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