Ireland purple sizzling favourites to raise racing’s Ryder Cup for document tenth time
EXCLUSIVE:Trainers from Great Britain and Ireland battle it out annually to see who can bag the most winners in the 28 races at the four day Cheltenham Festival
Willie Mullins leads Irish charge for racing’s Ryder Cup(Image: PA)
Fans are praying for an outbreak of Brit-clop fever at Cheltenham – after bookies made Ireland red hot favourites to lift racing’s ‘Ryder Cup’ for a record 10th time.
Trainers from Great Britain and Ireland battle it out annually to see who can school most winners in the 28 races at the four-day festival.
It mirrors in intensity golf’s Europe v USA bi-annual fight for the Ryder Cup.
At Cheltenham the winning country lifts the Prestbury Cup – named after the nearest village to the racecourse and containing a chunk of its hallowed turf.
And almost every year since the trophy was introduced in 2014 it has been lifted by Ireland amid a sea of celebratory Guinness.
Britain has not won since 2015 – and five years ago suffered a 23-5 pasting.
This year the Brits were hoping to make history thanks a string of top horses including Old Park Star in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Lulamba in the Arkle, The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle and legendary football boss Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man in the Gold Cup.
But bookmakers still do not fancy a home win – and made Ireland 1-8 odds-on favourite to claim victory once more.
Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins is 1-4 odds-on to be Cheltenham’s No1 for the eighth time in a row.
He is only 6-1 to have 10 or more winners over the four days of the festival.
Willie, who boasts 113 Cheltenham winners in his career, is running fancied Kopek Des Bordes in the Arkle, Majborough in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Bambino Fever in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Dinoblue in the Mares’ Chase.
Every one is likely to start favourite.
He also plans to run top names like Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior.
Other top Irish hopes include Brighterdaysahead and Teahupoo.
Alex Apati, from Ladbrokes, said: “The Brits have well and truly got their work cut out this week if the latest odds are anything to go by.
“It looks set to be another festival of complete Irish domination.”
Lee Phelps, of William Hill, said: “We’re expecting another strong hand to be played over the four days by Willie Mullins.
“Seven winners at 9-4 is a popular bet.”
The battle to be the Cheltenham’s top jockey promises to be much closer with Paul Townend (11-10), Mark Walsh (7-4) and Jack Kennedy (9-2) the frontrunners.
