Two of the big names missing at this year’s Cheltenham Festival

There’s no doubting that avid and casual National Hunt racing fans circle the Cheltenham Festival on their calendar every year. Although the Grand National is considered the ‘race the world stops to watch’, many consider the talent that exists at Cheltenham’s renewal in March to be far deeper.

With a star-studded line up of entries all but confirmed for next month, of which includes the likes of all-time great mare Honeysuckle, rising star Constitution Hill and Irish Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs – this year’s Festival won’t be short on world-class thoroughbreds.

While the aforementioned horses ensure racing fans can look forward to a blockbuster meeting at Prestbury Park yet again, as is the case with any racing event, there will be some big names missing.

Therefore, with that in mind, read on as we dissect two of the most notable thoroughbreds who will not be at Cheltenham in 2023, both of which are due to injury.

L’Homme Presse

The first major withdrawal from this year’s Festival was the Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse, after connections confirmed the eight-year-old would no longer be taking part in the Gold Cup due to issues identified after a veterinary investigation.

It’s a huge blow for Williams, whose thoroughbred was on an extremely strong run of form that included six victories in his eight starts over fences. Last season was a breakout campaign for the French-bred horse, with him reigning supreme in two prominent Grade 1 fixtures, the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

Additionally, he began this season impressively, finishing first past the post in a premier handicap at Newcastle, before looking good in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park until unseating jockey Charlie Deutsch at the final fence.

As a result of L’Homme Presse being ruled out, Facile Vega, Marine Nationale and Il Etait Temps have all firmed in the betting lines, with them garnering odds of 3/1, 4/1 and 9/2 respectively.

Allaho

Another big exclusion from the Festival this year, the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho was withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase due to abdominal bleeding. While the news may not have too great an effect on Mullins’ chances of winning the Leading Trainer award for a fifth consecutive year – fans are being robbed of potential history being made by Allaho not taking part in the Ryanair Chase.

There hasn’t been a horse to win the two-mile and four-furlong affair on three occasions since its inception in 2005, and given the French-bred Allaho won the renewal in 2021 and 2022 respectively, a triumph on March 16 would’ve put the eight-year-old in a company of his own.

And he was tipped to do so, as he was the short-priced favourite with those who bet on the ante-post markets before the news of his injury broke – and it’s easy to see why. He’s coming off the back of four straight successes dating back to December of 2021, where he secured wins at Punchestown (x2), Thurles and Cheltenham (Ryanair Chase).

His triumphs at Thurles, Cheltenham and his most recent outing at Punchestown were particularly impressive, with him winning by an average margin of nearly 13-and-a-half-lengths. Unfortunately for Allaho fans, they will have to wait at least another year before the gelding can separate himself from Albertas Run, who also achieved two Ryanair Chase victories in 2005 and 2006.