Cheltenham Countdown: Can the Favourite Handle the Hill?

As the Cheltenham Festival edges ever closer, the focus is sharpening on this year’s leading contenders — and none more so than the ante-post favourite. Backed heavily since the turn of the year, the market leader has shown class and consistency in abundance, but Cheltenham presents a different kind of challenge. The famous uphill finish has found out many a good horse, and punters are asking the familiar question: will the favourite’s engine last all the way to the line?

So far, all the evidence suggests the talent is there. A string of dominant performances on flatter tracks has underlined both speed and jumping fluency, while connections have hinted that a stamina test may actually bring out further improvement. However, Cheltenham’s undulations are notoriously unforgiving. Horses can travel like winners turning for home only to empty halfway up that final climb, leaving weary legs to tell the story. It’s the hill that separates the good from the great.

Trainer and jockey alike have expressed quiet confidence, pointing to the horse’s strong work at home and a pedigree that suggests stamina in spades. Yet the Festival’s atmosphere, the relentless gallop, and the stiff finish make for a crucible that no simulation can replicate. The team will be hoping for good ground and a smooth passage, knowing that tactical positioning before the turn for home can make all the difference once gravity starts to bite.

With just days to go, anticipation is mounting. The favourite has done everything right so far, but Cheltenham’s hill has humbled champions before. Come race day, all eyes will be on whether class and preparation can conquer one of the toughest finishes in racing — or whether the hill will once again have the final say.