Early Odds and Predictions on The Championship Races at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival

The countdown is already on for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. The meeting at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham is the biggest week of the year in jumps racing, with over 200,000 spectators set to return across the four days next year.

Here is an early look at the four Championship races and who could come out on top in them in 2023.

Constitution Hill (Champion Hurdle) The race many horse racing fans are looking forward to the most at the Cheltenham Festival next year is the Champion Hurdle. It is going to be fascinating to see Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Constitution Hill step out of novice company.

Nicky Henderson’s runner broke the 2m hurdles record at Cheltenham in his victory in the opening race of the meeting. He beat a strong field with relative ease, indicating he could be a once-in-a-generation horse.

Betting for the 2023 Champion Hurdle has already opened up, with Constitution Hill, Honeysuckle, Vauban, and Sir Gerhard all receiving quotes for the feature race on day one. If all four of those horses line up, it could be one of the best renewals in history.

Constitution Hill is the 2/1 favourite on horse racing betting sites such as bet365. They have ante-post betting available on a number of the major races at the Festival in 2023, as well as markets for other major events such as the Grand National. New customers can take advantage of a welcome bonus that can be used in a variety of different sports available on the site including horse racing.

Shishkin (Queen Mother Champion Chase)

Shishkin’s bid to win a first Queen Mother Champion Chase came to a crashing end when he was pulled up early into the 2022 race. Heavy rain prior to the contest meant conditions fell against the former Arkle winner.

Although the Champion Chase was disappointing, it shouldn’t overshadow what has been a fantastic season for the horse. He was successful in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton back in December, beating Greaneteen by 10 lengths. The Seven Barrows runner then won the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot, finishing ahead of Energumene.

Shishkin is set for one final appearance this season in the Celebration Chase at Sandown. He will then be given a deserved rest over the summer. Expect to see him return to action next season where he will be fresh and ready for the campaign ahead. Connections can receive compensation in the day two Championship race when they return next year.

Flooring Porter (Stayers’ Hurdle)

After back-to-back wins in the Stayers’ Hurdle, Flooring Porter will be bidding to complete a hat-trick in the 3m hurdles contest in 2023. The way he has dominated the race from the front of the field in the last two renewals suggests he will take all the beating again.

The Irish horse seems to come alive at Cheltenham. It is a racecourse that suits him, particularly the uphill finish at the end of the race. His connections will be doing everything they can to get their horse back in peak physical shape for his next title defence.

A third Stayers’ Hurdle win will put Flooring Porter alongside the likes of Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s, two of the greatest horses to have ever won the day three feature at the Festival.

Galopin Des Champs (Cheltenham Gold Cup)

The most talented novice not to win at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival was Galopin Des Champs. He suffered a fall at the final fence in the Turners’ Novices’ Chase when he was in full control of the race.

Willie Mullins’ chaser will be a big player in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next season. His jumping is sure to improve, especially with another summer for him to school over fences at home.

The way he travelled throughout the Turners’ Novices’ Chase was very impressive. He put Bob Olinger under serious pressure, at a pace he could not handle. If he does the same in the Gold Cup next year, many of his rivals will not be able to keep up with him.

A Galopin Des Champs vs A Plus Tard contest would be a fascinating dual at the Festival next year. The former is a horse who has not stopped improving, and it may be his time to shine in the Blue Riband event in the sport of horse racing.

All four of the above horses can be backed now in singles or as a part of a multiple bet. Hopefully, they can ensure the 2023 Cheltenham Festival is a meeting to remember.