Will GB or Ireland win new Prestbury Cup at the Cheltenham Festival?

The countdown is on for this year’s Cheltenham Festival (11-14 March). And this year the annual rivalry between Great Britain and Ireland is to be formally recognised.

For the first time, the newly commissioned Prestbury Cup will be awarded to the country that trains the most winners. The leading trainer from the winning country at the Festival will collect the trophy.

The competition between the 2 countries is always fierce, but it peaked last year when the Emerald Isle won a record 14 out of the 27 races.

So who will be triumphant this year? Here are a few of the major contenders from both sides of the Irish Sea for the championship races — the Champion Hurdle, World Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup.

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Cheltenham Festival championship contenders

Stan James Champion Hurdle (11 March, 3.20pm):

Ireland’s 19-time Grade 1 winner Hurricane Fly v Britain’s young pretenders The New One and My Tent Or Yours.

Can The New One add the Champion Hurdle to his Festival tally?

BetVictor Champion Chase (12 March, 3.20pm):

Britain’s Sire De Grugy takes on leading Irish hope Arvika Ligeonniere.

Ladbrokes World Hurdle (13 March, 3.20pm):

Will the Irish lady Annie Power prevent British star Big Buck’s from regaining the crown he has already held 4 times?

Can Big Buck’s win his 5th World Hurdle?

Betfred Gold Cup (14 March, 3.20pm):

The British pair Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti could hold the edge over Ireland’s number one hope Last Instalment.

How to watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV

Cheltenham Festival is live on Channel 4, 11-14 March with coverage starting 8am daily followed by afternoon racing live from 12:35pm.

H&H reader offer: Bet on the Cheltenham Festival with Paddy Power and receive up to £250 in free bets for all new customers!

Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on dogs of all shapes and sizes. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs, one a street dog from Gambia who was abandoned at three weeks old. Now, her constant companion, whether by her feet at her desk or walking cross-country courses, is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.