Five Horses Which Could Light Up The 2016 Cheltenham Festival

Five Horses Which Could Light Up The 2016 Cheltenham Festival: The Cheltenham Festival is always one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar in England as it brings together the best jump horses from around the world, attracting large audiences from across the globe.

In 2015, there were a number of star performers, including Douvan, in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Un De Sceaux in the Arkle, and Coneygree’s victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Here are five horses which could grab the headlines at the 2016 meeting:

Min – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

In the very first race of the meeting, trainer Willie Mullins will be looking to continue his domination of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. If Min can win the Festival opener, it will be the fourth consecutive year that Mullins has been successful.

Since making his debut back in the UK and Ireland back in December, Min has run twice and scored comfortably on both occasions.

The five-year-old could be the latest horse from the Mullins yard to be a superstar. He is as of 12th February at odds of 13-8 to win the Supreme in the Paddy Power Cheltenham odds for the Festival.

Yanworth – Neptune

Novices’ Hurdle In the Cheltenham Festival Trials back in January, one horse stood out more than anything else and it was Yanworth in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. Alan King’s horse travelled so strongly approaching the last and then cleared away from his rivals to win by seven lengths.

Since finishing fourth in the Champion Bumper, the novice hurdler has won all four of his starts and goes into the meeting as one of King’s best chances of finding a winner.

Un De Sceaux – Queen

Mother Champion Chase Un De Sceaux made his debut at the Festival in 2015 and was arguably the most impressive winner of the week, given the way he ran his opponents into submission in the Arkle with his front-running display.

Mullins’ eight-year-old is so exciting to watch due to his style of running, every now and then he will make a mistake which will cost him a race, as it did when he fell at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Un De Sceaux could light up the meeting again on day two as long as he does not hit one of the fences on his way round Prestbury Park.

Thistlecrack – World Hurdle

With victories in three of the big 3m races this season, Thistlecrack has firmly establish himself as the horse to beat in the World Hurdle at the Festival.

Thistlecrack won the Cleeve Hurdle, the latest trial for the World Hurdle, in January by 12 lengths and could be the new superstar in this 3m hurdle division.

Don Cossack – Cheltenham Gold Cup

Don Cossack firmly established himself as a key contender for the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup when scoring in the Punchestown Gold Cup back in April. Since then he has won three of his four starts, with the only blip on his record coming when falling in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The exciting Irish horse could help give Ireland more success in the blue riband event at the Festival this year.