The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the horse racing calendar and one of the jewels in the crown of British sport. Every March, the world's finest horses, jockeys and trainers all descend upon the Gloucestershire course to battle it out for victory and the huge prestige and prize money that comes with it.
But when the finest horses on the face of the earth are competing, it's only natural that the biggest races of the four-day Festival will have a short-priced favourite that punters have lumped on. And 2024 is no different.
Throughout the course of the week, there are plenty of heavily-backed horses that have left an impression on the baying public. Betting platforms such as Oddschecker, which compares odds and Cheltenham free bets, have no fewer than six horses that are currently odds-on for victory.
While we won't be highlighting all of them, here are our four horses that are heavily favoured, one for each day of the action. Will you be eyeing one of these up, or will you take an underdog instead?
Champion Hurdle - Constitution Hill (1/3)
The rise of Constitution Hill has been nothing short of meteoric. Trained by Nicky Henderson, this bay gelding has smashed records and left his opponents in the dust. For various reasons, the horse's season has consisted of just one Grade 1 outing, but the manner of his win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton makes his 1/3 odds look practically generous, believe it or not. Indeed, the question may is less about whether if he will triumph in the Champion Hurdle, but by how much.
Last year, Constitution Hill was heavily favoured just as he is this year and, with Nico de Boinville on board, he romped to victory by a mighty nine lengths.
Even experts can sometimes rely on intuition, but in Constitution Hill's case, the numbers simply don't lie. The prevailing wisdom here isn't to bet on the horse's victory, but rather to consider supplementary bets, such as the margin of victory or a forecast with the second-placed horse.
For astute bettors, the challenge lies in finding the right angle. Should you trust the echo chamber, or listen for whispers of an upset? Last year's runner-up State Man is expected to vie for the victory once again, but whether he's found a way to narrow that nine-length gap over the course of the last year remains to be seen.
Champion Chase - El Fabiolo (1/2)
The odds for the Champion Chase favour this French-bred chestnut, and for good reason. A blend of speed and stamina, El Fabiolo has taken to Cheltenham's undulating course as though it were a straight, his powerful stride eating up the distance. His 1/2 odds don't come as a surprise to anyone who has watched him dance around Prestbury Park.
Champion Chase's recent history has been thrillingly unpredictable, with favourites often faltering under the pressure. El Fabiolo's main challengers come with tales of their own, so it would be unwise to discount the likes of Jonbon and Dinoblue, who have a habit of performing at their very best when the pressure is on.
Ryanair Chase - Banbridge (3/1)
Banbridge has been quietly building momentum in the run-up to Cheltenham, with the public largely singing the horse's praises. At 3/1, the odds represent a more tantalising prospect for bettors seeking a combination of safe bets and promising returns.
The Ryanair Chase is notorious for turning upsets into surprises, and with Banbridge leading a field brimming with talent, it might be worth considering long shots for an outside chance. Not for victory, per se, but for places — landing a winning bet here could significantly swell your coffers.
The Ryanair Chase's 2-mile-5-furlong length requires a different strategy from the relative sprints and marathons of other Festival races. Banbridge's style might resonate with the track, but don't dismiss the impact that a change in weather could have on the race dynamics.
Gold Cup - Galopin Des Champs (Evs)
Galopin Des Champs is in the enviable position of being the even-money favourite, and it's not by happenstance. The class, consistency, and outright ability that the horse showed in his two wins at Leopardstown this season points to a formidable charge up Cheltenham's notorious hill.
He heads into the Gold Cup as the reigning champion after landing the odds as a slightly less fancied 7/5 favourite last year, and this year he heads into the big race looking to rubberstamp his market support.
The Gold Cup often serves dramatic narratives — heroic comebacks from injuries or second chances after disappointments. The field is rich with fairy tales and sob stories, and while Galopin Des Champs appears unfazed by these, they add a layer of excitement and unpredictability that cannot be ignored when formulating your bets.