Welsh-Trained Horses Set to Feature at 2024 Cheltenham Festival

The leading National Hunt trainers will be hoping for success at the Cheltenham Festival in March, as the meeting can often be the difference between a good and bad season in the sport.

Here is a look at some of the Welsh-based trainers who are set to feature at the meeting and what their leading prospects are.

Christian Williams

Welshman Christian Williams will be targeting the Ultima Handicap Chase and Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Festival this year. Kitty’s Light, a chaser who has had a lot of success for him, is 25/1 in the latest Cheltenham 2024 odds for the latter.

Williams will be fully aware of how strong the Irish challengers will be at the meeting this year. Willie Mullins is the 1/6 favourite in the Cheltenham top trainer odds,, while Gordon Elliott is second best in that market at 5/1. Both men are set to travel across with a strong team of horses.

Potters Corner becomes first Welsh trained horse to win Welsh Grand National since 1965 https://t.co/hrPulsA1MV pic.twitter.com/UslhdcpRYz

— ITV Wales News (@ITVWales) December 27, 2019

The former jockey has established a reputation as being one of the best trainers of staying chasers in the UK and Ireland. He has won the Welsh Grand National, Scottish Grand National, and Eider Chase over the last few years. A victory at the Cheltenham Festival would be one of the best achievements of his career so far.

Sam Thomas

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas knows all about success at the Cheltenham Festival in the biggest races. He partnered Denman to triumph in the Blue Riband event of the meeting in 2008.

Thomas now has a horse racing training licence and is based in South Glamorgan. One of his best chances of having a winner at the meeting this year comes with Iwilldoit. The hurdler will feature in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle. He booked his place in that race by finishing second in a qualifier at Aintree earlier in the campaign.

Stolen Silver is another horse that Thomas will be expecting a big run from at the Festival. He was victorious in the Native River Handicap Chase at Chepstow back in October. The nine-year-old has entries in the Ultima Handicap Chase, Kim Muir Challenge Cup, and Plate Handicap Chase.

Peter Bowen

Pembrokeshire-based trainer Peter Bowen has won some of the biggest races in the sport, including the Lancashire Chase, Scottish Grand National, and Grand Sefton Chase. He is the father of Sean Bowen and James Bowen, two of the most successful jockeys in the saddle today.

That is some ride from @Sean_Bowen_! Pistol Whipped is mugged by Francky Du Berlais who comes from way back to win for @Peter_Bowen_ at @UttoxeterRaces pic.twitter.com/Yxqv9pV1LR

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 30, 2021

Francky Du Berlais has already featured twice at Cheltenham around the Cross Country Course this season He finished second of 13 runners on his latest appearance there behind Latenightpass. The 11-year-old could be set to take on the likes of Minella Indo and Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase on day two of the Festival.

Bowen may also consider giving his Grand National entry Mac Tottie one more run before Aintree. The Ultima Handicap Chase is often used by trainers for their leading Grand National runners.

Hopefully, it can be a big week for the Welsh trainers at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. There is sure to be a strong contingent of racing fans making the trip to Prestbury Park from Wales.