Horse Racing: Cheltenham Festival, Grand National & Royal Ascot

Horse racing fans are in for a treat over the next few months, with the calendar packed with a host of major meetings over jumps and on the flat.

National Hunt racing dominates proceedings over the next few weeks as the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National Festival take centre stage.

Flat racing fans do not have too long to wait for their favourite code to dominate the headlines, with Royal Ascot undoubtedly the highlight of the summer months.

Read on as we look at some of the biggest upcoming races, starting with one that could establish one of the biggest superstars ever seen in racing.

Constitution Hill – Champion Hurdle

Constitution Hill produced a stunning performance in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, putting a high-class field to the sword in a one-sided romp.

The Nicky Henderson-trained horse dominates the Cheltenham betting for the 2023 Champion Hurdle, and it will be a major shock if he is beaten.

Constitution Hill has won Grade 1 events with contemptuous ease at Newcastle and Kempton this term to highlight his Cheltenham credentials.

The six-year-old has been touted as having the potential to be the greatest hurdler ever to grace the sport – the Festival will tell us much about whether the hype is justified.

Galopin Des Champs – Cheltenham Gold Cup

Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins had a long wait to get his hands on the Cheltenham Gold Cup before his Al Boum Photo won the race back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.

Mullins heads into this year’s Festival with an excellent chance of adding to his tally, with Galopin Des Champs the short-priced favourite to get the job done.

The horse fell at the final fence when miles clear in last season’s Turners Novices Chase and has since won three Grade 1 events in Ireland.

The seven-year-old will not find things easy against A Plus Tard, but will be among the most popular horse racing tips to defeat the reigning champion at Cheltenham.

Delta Work – Grand National

Delta Work won the Cross Country Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival before running a gallant third in the Grand National at Aintree.

The Gordon Elliott-trained horse is on course to attempt the double again this year and it would be a brave move to back against him achieving the feat.

Delta Work won on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown before running excellent races in defeat at Cheltenham and Navan.

The five-time Grade 1 winner is a very talented performer, and he looks primed to run massive races at both major spring jumps meetings.

Artorius – Diamond Jubilee Stakes

Group 1 winner Artorius will return to Royal Ascot in June, aiming to improve on his third-place finish in last year’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

The Australian-trained sprinter ran an excellent race in 2022, finishing a neck and half a length behind Naval Crown and Creative Force.

He was unlucky last year, with jockey Jamie Spencer guilty of positioning the horse too far back before finishing with a flourish in the final furlong.

With that experience under his belt and the prospect of a different pilot in the saddle, Artorius is fancied to make amends in this year’s renewal.