As is fitting for the biggest festival in National Hunt racing, the horses take centre stage at the Cheltenham Festival.

The battle between Ireland and Britain in the background. However, as the scales swing decisively in Ireland’s favour, the competition is getting more attention this year. In 2021, the Irish destroyed the British, claiming the Prestbury Cup with nine races to spare. It might not be as one-sided this March, but there’s nothing to suggest the trophy won’t return to Ireland in 2022. Here’s why.

Strength in depth

The Cheltenham 2022 odds for the Prestbury Cup quote Ireland as the 1/10 odds-on favourite, and it’s mainly down to the strength in the depth of the travelling parties. When you analyse the races, the vast majority are not only dominated by Irish runners, but they are the clear favourites, which is highlighted by the Cheltenham racing tips for this year’s edition of the festival.

Let’s consider the Gold Cup seeing as it’s the blue riband event everyone wants to win. Five of the top six horses in the betting are Irish-trained, including A Plus Tard (10/3), Galvin (9/2) and Minella Indo (6/1). Al Boum Photo is quoted at 8/1 and in with an good chance of winning a third Gold Cup.

In comparison, the Champion Chase and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle are the only big events where the betting is headed by British-trained horses. To be fair, Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin seems unbeatable in the Champion Chase but, after that, there’s not much quality on the home team.

New blood

On top of the experienced horses that are proven winners, new blood is pumping more life into Irish horse racing. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the British as, apart from Jonbon, Constitution Hill and L’Homme Presse, the leading home-trained contenders look a bit exposed at the top level. Santini in the Gold Cup is a prime example.

Irish favourites are being challenged by Irish pretenders, which cements the nation’s supremacy at the top of the jumps racing scene. For instance, Dysart Dynamo may even start favourite for the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – ahead of the British-trained pair of Jonbon and Constitution Hill- following his brilliant performance in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in January.

Also prominent in the Supreme betting is Dysart Dynamo’s stable companion Sir Gerhard. He was one of Rachael Blackmore's winners at last year’s Festival, helping her to win the Top Jockey title. Rather ominously for the British, Sir Gerhard is not even a definite runner in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as his trainer Willie Mullins has a couple of other options for that race.

Quality trainers and jockeys

Speaking of Mullins, he’s another in a long line of world-class Irish trainers. The Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer market has Mullins as the 1/2 favourite, with Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead close behind at 7/2 and 5/1, respectively.

It’s not hard to see why

because Mullins has because Mullins has 10 favourite or joint-favourites for the Festival at time of writing.

Who tends to ride these horses? Paul Townend has first pick for Willie Mullins, Rachael Blackmore rides most of the de Bromhead-trained horses, and Davy Russell and Jack Kennedy share the mounts for Gordon Elliott. It is highly likely one of these four will win the Top Jockey competition for the week.

British racing fans can take solace in the fact that Nicky Henderson’s runners are in good form this season, and, as a result, the legendary trainer is 8/1 for the trainers’ title. However, the shortest-priced British-based jockeys for the leading rider title are Harry Skelton and Harry Cobden at 50/1.

The bookies don’t normally get it wrong and, in this case, 1/10 for Ireland to retain the Prestbury Cup is bang on the money.