There are plenty of sporting mega-events to look forward to in 2024. This summer, there is Euro 2024 and the Copa America, while the Olympic Games will also return in Paris. Also, there is the small matter of the first ever undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion being crowned, as Tyson Fury battles it out with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Horse racing also has plenty to provide to this year’s sporting carnival, with events such as the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, and the Epsom Derby all on the horizon. Curious about the dates of these showcase races? Wait no longer.
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day event showcasing top-tier horse racing, scheduled to run from Tuesday, March 12th to Friday, March 15th at Cheltenham Racecourse. Leading websites providing both Cheltenham and Grand National free bets from popular bookmakers, are tipping Ballyburn as the 13/8 favourite for the opening race, while contenders like Mystical Power and Firefox will need peak performances to outshine him.
The previous year’s Gold Cup Day proved to be an exciting event, with underdog Galopin Des Champs pulling off an unexpected victory at 33/1. This year, the focus will once more be on the French horse, who is now the top pick to defend the title and close out the festival on March 15th.
Apart from the Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle stands out as a major event with a competitive field. Constitution Hill, the current title holder, is the clear favourite and is heavily backed by bettors. However, he is thought to be enduring some difficulties as of late and his victory may not be as much of a cakewalk as the experts are predicting.
Grand National
Scheduled next on the horse racing calendar is the Grand National, an esteemed event renowned for its demanding track and unforeseeable results. The showdown takes place on April 13th at Aintree, where the reigning champion Corach Rambler looks to defend his crown.
Last year marked only the second time in the past dozen years that the favourite emerged triumphant. He will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Red Rum and Tiger Roll by winning back-to-back races.
The Derby
The Epsom Derby, one of the most historic flat races globally, takes place annually on the first Saturday of June at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Although last year’s victor, Auguste Rodin, will not be defending the title, a fresh group of promising three-year-old horses are ready to leave their mark.
City of Troy is the early frontrunner with odds of 5/2, while other strong contenders like Henry Longfellow and Ancient Wisdom are also vying for victory.