There are few sporting events that garner as much attention annually than the Cheltenham Festival.
The four-day spectacle is held annually in March and has the same importance to UK racing enthusiasts as the Kentucky Derby has for USA fans. The event receives visitors from across the globe attending to see the best jumps horses in training compete for success in some of the most prestigious races.
Irish trainers have dominated many of the championship races in recent seasons, but British success is often also achieved. There have been some sensational training performances by those based in Scotland throughout history, but who are some of the most famous Scottish-trained winners to land victory at the Festival?
Corach Rambler
The most recent Scottish success at the Festival was achieved in 2023, as Corach Rambler landed success in the Ultima Handicap Chase for the second straight year. The ten-year-old would follow up that success with an even more famous victory at Aintree after finishing two lengths clear of the field to land the Grand National.
Corach Rambler’s excellent record at the Festival saw him power up the Cheltenham hill last year, holding off Fastorslow to win by a neck after cutting through the field. The Lucinda Russell-trained runner will once again target success at the Festival in 2024, as connections have teased that he could be set to run in the prestigious G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup before returning to Aintree in a bid to win a second straight Grand National.
Voy Por Ustedes
For many years, the main Scottish challenge was formed from the yard of Alan King. The Scot enjoyed great success at the Cheltenham Festival, recording 16 wins overall in some of the most prestigious races. However, one of his most successful runners at Cheltenham came in the form of Voy Por Ustedes.
The runner would be a high-class operator over the bigger obstacles at Cheltenham, and scored in one of the most prestigious novice chases at the Festival in the form of the G1 Arkle in 2006. His record at Cheltenham was staggering, as he always come alive when travelling up the famous hill. There was further evidence of that when landing the G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2007, finishing over a length clear of Dempsey.
However, that would be his last major win at the Festival, as he was unable to follow up in the same Grade 1 in the following season when finishing 19 lengths behind Master Minded. A last effort at the Festival came up in trip in 2011 when with Nicky Henderson, but he could only finish fifth in the G1 Ryanair.
Katchit
Scottish success in the G1 Champion Hurdle has been few and far between throughout history, with King’s only success in the championship race coming with Katchit in 2008. The small runner would start his career on the flat, before progressing to become a fine hurdler in 2006.
As a novice, he landed victory in the Ryman Hurdle and Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. His first season over the smaller obstacles ended in a major success at Cheltenham after coming out on top in the competitive G1 Triumph Hurdle. Katchit achieved further success in his second season over hurdles, landing the Kingwell Hurdle before competing in the Champion Hurdle.
His victory in the 2008 Championship race remains a famous success, as he became the first horse since Kribensis to win the Champion Hurdle in the following season after landing Triumph Hurdle success. However, injuries after his Festival success curtailed his career, and he wasn’t able to gain another victory.
Edwardstone
King has found victories at the Festival harder to come by in recent years following the success achieved by the Irish raiders. However, one of his biggest wins in recent history was achieved at the 2022 Festival, as Edwardstone finally fulfilled his potential by securing success in the G1 Arkle.
The ten-year-old hasn’t been able to hit the same heights since landing that Grade One victory, having claimed just one success in his last five appearances. King will once again have high hopes for his stable star coming into this year’s Festival, and there is every chance that he could return to the two-mile distance and compete in the G1 Champion Chase.
He was well beaten by Irish superstar Energumene in the race in 2023, and that will make him a distinct outsider this year. The current betting is dominated by El Fabiolo for Willie Mullins and Jonbon for Nicky Henderson, but this talented ten-year-old can trouble the very best when he is at his peak level. At very worst, connections will be hoping that Edwardstone could run into a place, and capture a sizable purse. But, it appears as though he lacks the quality to stand up against the very best in the division over two miles, and he made little impression up in trip at Kempton when outstayed by Banbridge.
