What Is The Best Cheltenham Festival Race For Irish Winners?

With just weeks to go till the tapes go up on another Cheltenham Festival much of the talk will again be – how many Irish winners at Cheltenham will there be in 2025?

The raiders from the Emerald Isle have sent out exactly 18 winners in each of the last three Festivals and with many more Irish Cheltenham bankers running in 2025 it will be a brave person that backs against them firing in a similar number.

But just which races have been the best ones for Irish winners at Cheltenham in the last ten years?

Best Race For Irish Winners at Cheltenham Is The Turners Novices’ Hurdle

With the Irish holding a commanding 26-7 lead over Great Britain in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, not to mention a certain Willie Mullins having 13 winners in the race himself – many horse racing fans would point to this Cheltenham race as being the best for the Irish.

Yes, it’s not far away, with 80% of winners for Ireland in the Champion Bumper in the last 10 years.

However, there is still one race with a slightly better return for the Irish.

Step forward the Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Baring Bingham), which is the opening contest on day two (Wednesday), as Ireland have won a massive NINE of the last 10.

Only the Ben Pauling-trained Willoughby Court in 2017 as prevented this race from being an Irish winners Cheltenham clean sweep since 2015.

Turners Novices’ Hurdle Winners (Last 10 Years)

2024 – Ballyburn (Willie Mullins) 🇮🇪
2023 – Impaire Et Passe (Willie Mullins) 🇮🇪
2022 – Sir Gerhard (Willie Mullins) 🇮🇪
2021 – Bob Olinger (Henry de Bromhead) 🇮🇪
2020 – Envoi Allen (Gordon Elliot) 🇮🇪
2019 – City Island (Martin Brassil) 🇮🇪
2018 – Samcro (Gordon Elliott) 🇮🇪
2017 – Willoughby Court (Ben Pauling) 🇬🇧
2016 – Yorkhill (Willie Mullins) 🇮🇪
2015 – Windsor Park (Dermot Weld) 🇮🇪

The Irish Have Won 61% Of The Last 269 Cheltenham Festival Races

We’ve also looked at each Cheltenham Festival race over the last ten years to see which races they do best in.

The Irish Cheltenham winners are also operating at a solid 60% strike-rate over days one, two and four – with their 63% on day three their best return.

While overall, from the 269 Festival races covered – the Irish-trained horses have won a staggering 163 (61%).

Race-by-Race Irish Cheltenham Winners Record (Last 10 Years)

Tues 11th March 2025

1:20 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 6/10
2:00 Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase – 7/10
2:40 Ultima Handicap Chase Premier Handicap – 0/10
3:20 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – 8/10
4:00 Champion Hurdle – 6/10
4:40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 7/10
5:20 National Hunt Chase – 8/10

Irish Strike-Rate Day One: 60%

Weds 12th March 2025

1:20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle – 9/10
2:00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 4/10
2:40 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle – 5/10
3:20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – 8/10
4:00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase – 5/10
4:40 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase – 3/10
5:20 Weatherbys Champion Bumper – 8/10

Irish Strike-Rate Day Two: 60%

Thurs 13th March 2025

1:20 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – 6/9
2:00 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – N/A
2:40 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle – 7/10
3:20 Ryanair Chase – 7/10
4:00 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – 6/10
4:40 TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase – 5/10
5:20 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase – 6/10

Irish Strike-Rate Day Three: 63%

Fri 14th March 2025

1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle – 7/10
2:00 County Hurdle Premier Handicap – 6/10
2:40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – 4/4
3:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 7/10
4:00 Cheltenham Gold Cup – 8/10
4:40 St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase – 3/10
5:20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – 7/10

Irish Strike-Rate Day Four: 60%

However – Be Wary Of Irish Cheltenham Runners In The Ultima Handicap Chase

Yes, Ireland have top records in pretty much all of the Cheltenham Festival races.

But there is one contest the Irish have a shocking record in – the Ultima Handicap Chase, which is race three on day one.

This is backed up with Ireland only having won the Ultima Handicap Chase twice since 1967.

These wins came with the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire in 2006 and Youlneverwalkalone for Christy Roche in 2003.

Irish Cheltenham Winners vs Great Britain Since 2014

The number of Irish Cheltenham winners against those from Great Britain-trainers is also acknowledged in the Prestbury Cup.

Since this competition started in 2014, the Irish have dominated – winning eight, with just two GB wins (1 tie).

With 28 Festival races these days – this means it’s the first country to get to the magic 15 winners mark.

While with Ireland firing in 18 winners in each of the last three Cheltenham Festivals, it’s no shock to see them long odds-on with the best horse racing betting sites to land the 2025 Prestbury Cup again.

Year	Winner	Irish Wins	British Wins
2024	Ireland 🇮🇪	18	9
2023	Ireland 🇮🇪	18	10
2022	Ireland 🇮🇪	18	10
2021	Ireland 🇮🇪	23	5
2020	Ireland 🇮🇪	17	10
2019	Tie	14	14
2018	Ireland 🇮🇪	17	11
2017	Ireland 🇮🇪	19	9
2016	Ireland 🇮🇪	15	13
2015	Great Britain 🇬🇧	13	14
2014	Great Britain 🇬🇧	12	15

ALL The 18 Irish-Trained Winners at The Cheltenham Festival In 2024

Day One: Slade Steel (Supreme), Gaelic Warrior (Arkle), State Man (Champion Hurdle), Lossiemouth (Mares’ Hurdle), Lark In The Mornin (Fred Winter), Corbetts Cross (NH Chase).
Day Two: Ballyburn (Turners), Fact To File (Brown Advisory), Captain Guinness (Champion Chase), Jasmin De Vaux (Champion Bumper)
Day Three: Teahupoo (Stayers’ Hurdle), Inothewayurthinkin (Kim Muir),
Day Four: Majborough (Triumph), Absurde (County Hurdle), Stellar Story (Albert Bartlett), Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup), Limerick Lace (Mares’ Chase), Better Days Ahead (Martin Pipe)