Cheltenham Festival: Prestbury Cup Odds & Preview

As the 2020 Cheltenham Festival upon us, it’s time for many of us to start placing our bets and hoping for success across the best four days in the racing year. Whilst many will be looking at the races and trying to work out who wins those big fielded handicaps, there are also many other markets for punters to indulge in.

Since competitive horse racing began, Ireland and Great Britain have been the world leaders in the sport and battled against each other for decades. Now, for what will be its sixth year in action, the Prestbury Cup will see the two nations battle it out for horse racing glory.

The Presbury Cup runs from the first race of the four-day festival until either country has 14 winners or more. Then, either Ireland or Great Britain are handed the Prestbury Cup during the 28 races of the festival. Here, we take a look at the Cheltenham odds and the Cheltenham festival Prestbury Cup odds for the upcoming festival.

Sky Bet are taking no chances on Ireland retaining the famous Prestbury Cup, making them 4/7 shots to do so. It’s not difficult to see why, with the wealth of talent coming over from across the sea, it could be a very successful festival for Ireland.

In Benie Des Dieux and Tiger Roll, they have two of the shortest-priced horses at the meeting whilst much is expected of hot novice Envoi Allen. They also dominate the Arkle Chase, with the front three in the betting all Irish based and Al Boum Photo, Kemboy and Delta Work are all leading Irish hopes for the Gold Cup, the weeks biggest race.

Irish trainers Gordon Elliot and Willie Mullins have shared the prize of top trainer at the festival in the last seven years and there talented squads are sure to bring home success, alongside Henry De Bronhead, who travels with an extremely exciting set of horses and should see success.

All the money seems to be for Ireland, with Sky Bet going 15/8 for British success whilst the tie, which won in 2019, is available at 6/1. British hopes amongst many big races may be few and far between however will have live chances in a lot of the handicaps. Paisley Park in the Stayers Hurdle is the shortest price of the week whilst Santini and Clan des Obeaux will carry main British hopes in the Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson certainly holds a lot of the aces when it comes to the British trainers and he’ll be hoping Shiskin and Epatante can give him the dream start on day one, with the pair favourites for the Supreme and Champion Hurdle whilst Champ will be hoping for RSA success.

Sky Bet have also expanded and given customers a chance to predict just how many winners will be trained across the sea. The Irish managed 11 last year, which may have been below par but if you fancy them to get even fewer this year, then you can back 10 or less at 16/1 with Sky Bet.

Last year however was a rare off year for Ireland. The 2015 and 2016 Festivals saw the Irish saddle 13 winners, but they really hit the boil in 2017, notching a record 19 wins and followed that up with 17 in 2018.

If you think Ireland could break the record again this year, you can back 20 or more winners at 8/1 with Sky Bet, whilst you can get 5/2 for 17 to 19 Irish winners and the shortest price is 7/4, available for 14 to 16 Irish trained winners.

The 2020 Cheltenham Festival certainly looks like it could be dominated by the Irish.