The Cheltenham Festival is the centrepiece in the National Hunt season, with four special days in March framing the calendar for the best jumpers in the lands. In recent times, Irish domination has become one of the themes of The Festival at Cheltenham. The raiding party had 18 winners in , compared to nine for British-based runners.
Since , Ireland has enjoyed more Festival winners than Britain in eight of the nine years,with one tie. Here, we're looking at five Irish contenders that could be under the radar going to the Cotswolds. Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Suede, the French import was pitched into the Supreme Novices' Hurdle off the back of a wide-margin Limerick maiden success last season, finishing fifth in the Cheltenham curtain-raiser.
He ran well in two further outings over timber and has made a successful chasing debut at Fairyhouse 2m1f, soft in January, defeating his better fancied stablemates Tullyhill and Asian Master. He's completely unexposed and connections demonstrated last March they won't be afraid to have a go at a big prize despite a lack of experience.
Gordon Elliott is another Irish handler with strength in numbers ensuring some of his contingent will go unchecked for a time. Relieved Of Duties runs in Robcour silks and bagged a Cork maiden hurdle 2m, yielding in December by a wide margin. Relieved Of Duties was right in the mix going between the final two flights but the winner had a turn of foot he simply couldn't match.
He's 11 years young now, of course, but began the season by winning the Grade 1 Champion Chase over three miles at Down Royal for a second time. He unseated in the King George when possibly starting to toil but Kempton probably isn't his track. He just about saw out three miles in that Down Royal race but the intermediate trip at Cheltenham is optimal for this strong traveller.
