Four weeks to go: who is favourite for each of the 28 Cheltenham Festival races?

The anticipation for the Cheltenham Festival is continuing to build and we are now just four weeks away from the beginning of the four-day extravaganza. Here we give a rundown of the favourites for the 28 races set to be held in the Cotswolds from March 15-18 . . .

Tuesday, March 15

Constitution Hill: key player in the SupremeCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30)

Constitution Hill

In what is setting up to be one of the races of the week, Constitution Hill narrowly heads the market for trainer Nicky Henderson after a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle in January, although he faces strong competition from stablemate Jonbon and the Willie Mullins-trained Dysart Dynamo and Sir Gerhard.

Odds: 2-1 generally

Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (2.10)

Edwardstone

Has proven a revelation over fences and strengthened as favourite for the Arkle after beating Third Time Lucki for the second time this season at Warwick last weekend. He is a rare example of a British-trained favourite for a Grade 1.

Odds: 2-1

Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50)

Does He Know

The picture for the festival's nine handicaps will become much clearer when entries are made (February 22) and weights are published (March 1), but for now the market for this 3m1f contest is headed by the Kim Bailey-trained Does He Know, who finished first and second in two novice chases at Cheltenham in the autumn.

Odds: 10-1

Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30)

Honeysuckle

Last year's emphatic winner looks in as good a form as ever and it would take a brave person to back against her racking up a 15th successive victory.

Odds: 1-2

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10)

Telmesomethinggirl

Won the Mares' Novices' Hurdle here last year but hasn't been in the winner's enclosure since, although there was little wrong with her third behind Royal Kahala and Heaven Help Us in a Grade 3 at Leopardstown in December.

Odds: 7-2

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50)

Gaelic Warrior

Heads the market with most firms despite not having raced in Britain or Ireland yet. After three runs over hurdles at Auteuil in France, Gaelic Warrior transferred to the care of Willie Mullins and wears the colours of prolific owner Rich Ricci.

Odds: 6-1

National Hunt Novices' Chase (5.30)

Stattler

Finished fourth after being sent off favourite for last year's Albert Bartlett and now heads the market for another festival race after making a perfect start to life over fences.

Odds: 7-2

Wednesday, March 16

Sir Gerhard: has Supreme and Ballymore optionsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.30)

Sir Gerhard

With Willie Mullins keeping his options open regarding his top two-mile novice hurdlers, the market is headed with many firms by Sir Gerhard. He and other leading fancy Dysart Dynamo have entries in this 2m5f contest and the Supreme.

Odds: 11-4

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (2.10)

Galopin Des Champs

Blew connections away with an outstanding debut over fences at Leopardstown in December and backed that up with Grade 1 success at the Dublin Racing Festival. Was a winner at the festival last year and looks a top-class staying chaser in the making.

Odds: 5-4

Coral Cup (2.50)

Unexpected Party

The Dan Skelton-trained grey jumped to the top of the betting for this 2m5f handicap hurdle after winning well at Ascot last month, and finished a close second over course and distance in November.

Odds: 12-1

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30)

Shishkin

After winning the Supreme in 2020 and Arkle in 2021, the brilliant Shishkin is odds on to complete the same Cheltenham Festival hat-trick old stablemate Altior achieved from 2016-18. To do so, he will have to once again overcome the challenge of Energumene in a highly anticipated Clarence House Chase rematch.

Odds: 4-5

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (4.10)

Tiger Roll

A fourth win in this race for Tiger Roll would undoubtedly be the most popular of the week, although many bookmakers are struggling to separate the dual Grand National hero and JP McManus's French recruit Prengarde.

Odds: 4-1

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4.50)

Gentleman De Mee

After finishing behind highly touted stablemates Ferny Hollow and Haut En Couleurs earlier in the season, Gentleman De Mee advertised his own qualities with a runaway success at Thurles last week, although caution is advised over his chance here with trainer Willie Mullins commenting afterwards that he may skip the festival.

Odds: 10-1

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30)

Facile Vega

Was the star of the Dublin Racing Festival for many after cruising through the Grade 2 bumper in effortless fashion. He is in a strong position to become Willie Mullins' 12th winner of this race.

Odds: Evens

Thursday, March 17

Bob Olinger: has continued his winning run over fencesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Turners Novices' Chase (1.30)

Bob Olinger

Broke out as a star of jump racing when delivering an electric performance in last year's Ballymore, and he has continued in the same vein with two victories from two starts over fences.

Odds: 11-10

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (2.10)

Sporting John

A hugely competitive market, in which the Philip Hobbs-trained Sporting John just shades favouritism at a shortest-price 6-1 with Paddy Power. He booked his place in this race with victory in a qualifier in Warwick, but does also have the option of the Stayers' Hurdle.

Odds: 8-1

Ryanair Chase (2.50)

Allaho

One of the bankers of the week for many, Allaho is a dominant figure at this intermediate 2m5f distance. Beat a host of Ireland’s best chasers at Punchestown in December and warmed up for his Ryanair defence with an easy win at Thurles in January.

Odds: 11-10

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30)

Flooring Porter

The Stayers' Hurdle market has been a fluctuating beast all season and the latest to ascend to the head of the betting is last year's winner Flooring Porter. He has not won since but was an unlucky second to Klassical Dream at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Odds: 3-1

The Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (4.10)

Celebre D'Allen

Has been in the form of his life at the age of ten for trainer Philip Hobbs this season, winning twice over hurdles in December before returning to chasing with a win at Warwick on Saturday, which could leave him well placed for this 2m4½f contest.

Odds: 8-1

Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle (4.50)

Allegorie De Vassy

Another emerging star for the reinvigorated Rich Ricci, this five-year-old mare has won both of her Irish starts in good style, including a Grade 3 last time, and is part of a strong group of representatives for Willie Mullins.

Odds: 7-2

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30)

Frontal Assault

Only lost out by half a length in a competitive beginners chase at Fairyhouse last month when looking a like a further step up in trip would benefit, so it's no surprise to see this Gigginstown-owned seven-year-old heading the market for this thorough stamina test.

Odds: 6-1

Friday, March 18

Vauban: staked his Triumph claims at the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30)

Vauban

He is just about edging favouritism for the season's premier race for juveniles after beating previous market leader Fil Dor at Leopardstown. He could face an intriguing rematch with his Punchestown conqueror Pied Piper.

Odds: 9-4

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (2.10)

Echoes In Rain

Another vastly competitive market that will become clearer in the weeks ahead, but for now it's another Willie Mullins-trained favourite as Echoes In Rain – considered a Champion Hurdle hope at the beginning of the season – leads the way for this fast and furious event.

Odds: 10-1

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50)

Ginto

This Grade 1 winner heads a market utterly dominated by Irish-trained horses, although his trainer Gordon Elliott hinted in his Cheltenham Festival stable tour that the Ballymore could be a more likely destination, which could clear the way for Dublin Racing Festival one-two Minella Crooner and Minella Cocooner.

Odds: 9-2

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30)

A Plus Tard

Second in the race last year, A Plus Tard has been heavily fancied to go one better since a 22-length Betfair Chase demolition showed him at his best. Was narrowly denied by Galvin at Leopardstown last time but looks the one to beat for last year’s winning trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Odds: 3-1

St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase (4.10)

Billaway

Has finished runner-up in this race for the last two years despite being sent off favourite both times, and could bid to make it third time lucky after returning to form with victory at Naas on Saturday.

Odds: 7-2

Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (4.50)

Concertista

Is 2-2 over fences after being sent novice chasing this season for trainer Willie Mullins, having being narrowly denied by Black Tears when an odds-on favourite for last year's Mares' Hurdle.

Odds: 11-4

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5.30)

Langer Dan

Finished nine lengths ahead of the third in this race last year, but had the misfortune of bumping into Galopin Des Champs at the same time. This race has been on trainer Dan Skelton's radar again for a while.

Odds: 8-1

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