Which contest will be the race of the Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival is now so close we can almost touch it, with just a week left before the 'greatest show on turf' gets underway.

The countdown is nearly over, and the races are starting to take their final shape. There are so many quality contests scheduled, but which race will be the race of the Festival?

We assess a trio of possible contenders for that vaunted honour!

Champion Hurdle

With the news confirmed that Brighterdaysahead goes for this race instead of the Mares' event earlier on day one, it now has the platform it deserves and can be labelled the best Champion Hurdle in some time.

Reigning champion State Man is something of an afterthought following a troubled season in Ireland, while Lossiemouth has also fluffed her lines and has to bounce back, literally, after a crushing fall at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Constitution Hill, the outstanding winner of this race in 2023, remains unbeaten and could truly confirm his superstar status if he beats an on-song Brighterdaysahead, given the mare's stellar Christmas success in Ireland.

It looks set to be everything a Champion Hurdle promises, with lively outsiders like Golden Ace, Burdett Road and Winter Fog in the mix, too.

Turners Novices' Hurdle

A good Anglo-Irish betting battle always sets pulses racing, and that is what could materialise in the day two opener with Final Demand and The New Lion as the headline acts.

Final Demand was very good at the Dublin Racing Festival and has stamina confirmed as his trainer, Willie Mullins, bids to win this race for a fourth successive time.

The New Lion is Britain's star novice hurdler, remains unbeaten, and was very impressive in taking the Challow at Newbury in December when we saw him last.

However, the last 20 winners of the Challow to run as novices' at this meeting have failed to win, including the likes of Denman. Can Dan Skelton's challenger buck that trend?

Ryanair Chase

Certainly not a happy point for the traditionalists, but once more, this intermediate Grade 1 chase looks to be boasting a more competitive outlook than its senior peers at varying distances.

Jonbon is odds-on for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Galopin Des Champs is nigh-on impossible to oppose in the Gold Cup.

Fact To File has seemingly seen enough of Galopin Des Champs' backside and will swerve another dust down to come here instead.

Il Est Francais brings with him the promise of a helter-skelter tempo in front that will demand from his rivals a fairly relentless pace from flag fall.

Last year's winner Protektorat was in cracking form at Windsor in January for the Skelton team, and history tells us that repeat Ryanair winners are fairly commonplace. It should all come together to make the Ryanair a contender for the race of the meeting.

Verdict

It's been a winter of wondering and now we have the first part of the puzzle completed.

Would Constitution Hill return as good as he was before? Would Brighterdaysahead go for the Champion Hurdle or the Mares' Hurdle? Would the likes of State Man and Lossiemouth get here in one piece?

They are a high-quality quartet and their presence makes the Champion Hurdle a real mouthwatering proposition.

This is what the Cheltenham Festival is meant to be — the best of the best taking each other on. The Champion Hurdle has an all-star cast and it has the potential to light up the meeting.

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