Dan Skelton is leading Britain's trainers' championship and has had seven of his 11 Cheltenham Festival winners since 2023
Nicky Henderson has 75 Cheltenham Festival winners, second only to Willie Mullins
There were eight British-trained winners at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is the jewel in the crown of the National Hunt season as the best British-based jumpers take on their counterparts from Ireland in a series of championship races that define the season.
The balance of power sits with Ireland currently, though all things in sport tend to be cyclical and no doubt the wheel will turn in the future.
The home team will be keen to do battle come the spring and here's an early season look at five British horses that may shine at Cheltenham in March, with an acca paying 75,593/1 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Old Park Star – Supreme Novices' Hurdle @ 10/1
Nicky Henderson first won the Supreme in 1986 and four decades on, the Seven Barrows supremo could have a major contender for the Festival curtain raiser in Old Park Star.
The likes of Altior, Shishkin and Constitution Hill have bagged this race for Henderson in more recent times and Old Park Star looked like something beyond the ordinary in his December success at Cheltenham under a motionless Nico de Boinville.
Lulamba – Arkle Novices' Chase @ 7/4
Beaten only once over hurdles, when second in the Triumph here last season, Lulamba looks like becoming a real star over fences for Henderson.
He has won his first two, at Exeter in November and then in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on Tingle Creek Day.
Owners Joe & Marie Donnelly look to have another sublime talent and Henderson has won the Arkle a record eight times so he knows exactly what is needed.
No Drama This End – Turners Novices' Hurdle @ 6/1
Paul Nicholls has been very positive in his comments about No Drama This End and the Walk In The Park gelding is 2-2 over hurdles, turning the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown into a procession.
The Ditcheat handler has made favourable comparisons to the great Denman and Newbury's Challow Hurdle – a race The Tank won in 2005 – is seemingly his festive target on December 29.
Kabral Du Mathan – Stayers' Hurdle @ 16/1
Kabral Du Mathan was a stable-switcher in the summer, leaving Nicholls to join Dan Skelton, the former Ditcheat assistant now seeking to become champion trainer.
This promising son of Pastorius cruised to victory at Haydock in November upped in trip and the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day has been identified as a stepping stone towards the Stayers' Hurdle in March.
The Jukebox Man – Gold Cup @ 20/1
Ben Pauling has a possible star on his hands for owner Harry Redknapp with The Jukebox Man.
He was a Grade 1-winning novice at Kempton on Boxing Day last year and he's headed back there for the King George on Friday as a major contender.
A big run there and he could emerge as the leading British-based contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He remains unbeaten over fences and has plenty more to offer.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
