In mid-March every year, the world of racing comes to a standstill for the Cheltenham Festival, one of the biggest meetings in the sport’s calendar. Usually, spectators flock from all over the UK, Ireland and around the world to witness four days of outstanding racing action, but sadly, this year it looks certain that the event will be held behind closed doors due to safety concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. 

But despite that we’re still in line for an action-packed Cheltenham Festival, and although the atmosphere might not be quite the same as usual, all the big races will be played out for the masses watching on their TVs at home, and everyone will be eagerly perusing the Cheltenham odds. 

And while spectators will be missing, it’s still a huge occasion for jockeys and trainers, the latter of which will be hoping the hard work they’ve put in over the last year or so will yield success in the Festival’s biggest races. For some trainers, good results at Cheltenham is an expectation rather than a hope, and the top dogs of the sport will all be gearing up to challenge for the accolade of top trainer at the Festival.

Last year it was Willie Mullins who enjoyed that honour, with seven winners including four on the final day of the Festival. Read on, as we run through the main contenders who’ll be looking to bag multiple winners at Cheltenham 2021.

Willie Mullins

Irishman Mullins will once again be hoping to do his utmost at Cheltenham, after last year’s remarkable Gold Cup Day saw him land four winners including the Gold Cup itself, where Al Boum Photo reigned supreme for the second year running. The question on everyone’s lips is whether Al Boum Photo can make it three Gold Cup wins in a row and emulate Best Mate’s achievement of the early 2000s. 

Mullins didn’t record a winner until the final race of day two last year, so you can bet that this year he’ll be hoping to get off to a stronger start and lay an early claim on that top trainer title. 

Paul Nicholls

By his own exceptionally high standards, Paul Nicholls’ return of just one winner at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival was hugely disappointing. This year’s Festival offers the chance for Nicholls to make amends and get himself back in the mix alongside his fellow elite trainers in terms of Cheltenham victories. 

Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson enjoyed a decent Cheltenham Festival last year, recording four wins and adding to his unimpeachable reputation as one of the sport’s best trainers. One of the highlights was a victory for Champ in the Novices’ Chase, and now the same horse is being touted as a possible contender for the Gold Cup this year, and if he were to pull it off it would be a third Gold Cup for Henderson. 

Henderson is always in form when it comes to the horse racing results, so can his horses produce their very best at Cheltenham?

Gordon Elliott

Having been narrowly pipped by Mullins in the top trainer standings last year, Gordon Elliott will be hoping to do even better this year. Although he also recorded seven winners, Mullins’ superior number of placings landed him the honour. But while Mullins was always likely to record plenty of winners, Elliott’s good form was slightly less a certainty, making his 2020 Festival one to remember, and who’s to say this year’s meeting won’t be even more memorable?