Are you searching for the most up to date information on the most successful trainers in the history of the Cheltenham Festival at Prestbury Park? Hold onto your horses and look no further, because our BettingTop10 writers and team have researched all the details you need to look up on the top trainers to grace the Cheltenham turf – past and present. Read on for more information and see which trainers you will need to follow in order to become successful.
Top Trainers at the Cheltenham Festival
Willie Mullins
This man needs no introduction as he is the leading trainer for the last five Cheltenham Festivals. Willie Mullins always brings over an unbelievable team of horses that are the envy of every trainer in Britain and Ireland. Even though there are 28 races at the festival every year, he will typically have a strong chance in at least half of those races which is unbelievable.
Gordon Elliott
The master of Cullentra House Stables is the second biggest trainer in Ireland but he is still a long way off having Mullins' firepower. However, Elliott is nearly always good for a winner or two at the festival and he usually has a couple of nice chances in the big handicaps. Another race he farms is the Cross Country Chase, a contest he is usually worth backing in.
Nicky Henderson
The man who has to fly the flag for the British public is Nicky Henderson, who might not have the same amount of festival chances he would have had one time, but he still has some very strong chances these days. He has won or shared the leading trainer award nine times. In the modern era, he trains arguably the best hurdler we have ever seen in Constitution Hill.
Henry de Bromhead
Henry de Bromhead is a top class hander and he is the trainer who holds the record as being the only trainer in history to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup all in the same year, which was in 2021. A Plus Tard gave him another Gold Cup in 2022, and he has a nice string of horses to go to battle with these days. Never underestimate Henry.
Paul Nicholls
The real glory days might be long gone for Paul Nicholls when we think back to the likes of Master Minded, Kauto Star and Denman, but a leading trainer here six times in the past, he still warrants a lot of respect. His glory years here were from 2006 to 2009, but he is building a strong team gradually every season now and it might not be too long before he's back in the big time. He does particularly well with staying chasers.
The Top Cheltenham Festival Jockeys
The week of the Cheltenham Festival is the most important of the entire season for jump jockeys in Britain and Ireland who are offered the opportunity to compete. The Cheltenham Festival is the most prestigious event of the season each year. In order to be recognised as one of the best riders around, they need a win at Cheltenham on their CV. Below, we delve into some of the best Cheltenham Festival jockeys around at the moment, and pick out some jockeys who may be worth following.
Paul Townend
Given he rides for Willie Mullins, it may come as no shock that Mullins’ retained rider is the first man on our list. He lost out to the amazing Rachael Blackmore at the festival in 2021, but has since claimed the award twice and will always have a very strong book of rides as long as he rides for Mullins. Given the increasingly uncompetitive nature of the festival these days, he will have a ride on a lot of short favourites.
Nico de Boinville
Nico de Boinville is the main rider for Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows and although he won't have the same amount of big chances as Townend, he will have a couple of strong chances as he always does. When you get the chance to ride horses as good as Altior, Constitution Hill, Sir Gino, and more, Nico is always good for a winner or two throughout the week and he is the rider who flies the flag for the British hopes of the week.
Jack Kennedy
Paul Townend might be the leading jockey but there's no doubt that the best jockey in Britain and Ireland at present is Jack Kennedy. It's hard to believe he is still so young but this man has it all in the saddle. He is set to have the best of Gordon Elliott’s runners at the festival, and Kennedy will be eager to get plenty of winners after missing the 2023 festival due to suffering a broken leg. Elliott has many chances each year and Jack could be well worth following as he's bound to have some winners.
Rachael Blackmore
The first female leading jockey ever at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, the lady who has rewritten all of the history books is the amazing Rachael Blackmore. She rode six winners at the 2021 festival and she is well known for her partnership with the incredible mare Honeysuckle. As we already touched on, she will have some very good rides for Henry de Bromhead and she may pick up a few other spares too.
Danny Mullins
If you are looking for a jockey who might ride a winner at a big price, then Danny Mullins might be your man. The nephew of top Irish trainer Willie Mullins is second choice jockey at the yard after Paul Townend, but he is going to get plenty of good rides at the festival each year given Willie will often have multiple runners in races. He was amazing when he rode Flooring Porter to victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle twice and is worth watching.