Meet El Fabiolo, the Cheltenham Festival Champion Chase favourite: ‘He’s just so good’

Jennifer Donald's avatar
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Published In Features
El Fabiolo, en-route to winning the Arkle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. He is favourite for this year's Betway Champion Chase.
.El Fabiolo, en route to winning the Arkle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. He is favourite for this year's Betway Champion Chase.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo lines up as one of the shortest-priced favourites at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March).

The seven-year-old son of Spanish Moon is unbeaten over fences and his only defeat since arriving from France in 2021 came to the all-conquering Jonbon, where he missed out by just a neck, in the Grade One Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. El Fabiolo and regular jockey Paul Townend won the Arkle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.