Three Devon-based Trainers and Jockeys who are hoping to Upset the Odds at the Cheltenham Festival

Although the hugely popular Cheltenham Festival has been dominated by a handful of trainers in recent years, the majority of which are typically based in either Somerset or Ireland, Devon will be represented at Prestbury Park in 2024 with three stables set to send at least one runner to Gloucestershire for the “the Olympics of Jumps Racing” in mid-March.

David Pipe

David Pipe is no stranger to the Cheltenham Festival and has previously enjoyed Grade 1 success here. Dynaste’s success in the 2014 Ryanair capped off a superb four days for the Nicholashayne-based handler who also saddled Byrne Group Plate winner Ballynagour on the same day.

Although his last success at the festival came back in 2017 with Un Temps Pour Tout’s triumph in the Ultima Handicap Chase, he looks on course to send a couple of runners to Prestbury Park in 2024.

With the majority of the UK’s best horse racing betting sites having now priced up all 28 festival races, punters can now begin their betting preparations ahead of the four-day extravaganza. Pipe’s two representatives have both been priced up at around 100/1, however, the Cheltenham Festival does have the habit of throwing up one or two surprises and both Jamiaco and Phantomofthepoints cannot be completely dismissed.

The latter is yet to taste victory, however, the six-year old put in an impressive performance at Ayr in a maiden hurdle back in December and has plenty of potential. Jamaico is a bit of an unknown quantity having yet to make an appearance in the UK, but has looked sharp enough in France having sealed victory at Auteuil in the Prix Al Capone II Chase back in June for trainer Emmanuel Clayeux. Pipe has an impressive record with importing runners from France and he will be hoping that his latest recruit can follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. Warthog may have pulled up at the festival in 2019, however, the French-bred chaser was successful at the track six months later when narrowly triumphing in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

Jane Williams

When it comes to National Hunt racing, Jane Williams is a fairly unfamiliar name, however, the George Nympton-based trainer is an astute operator whose small string of runners are always in excellent shape.

Her Culverhill Farm yard is operating at an impressive 15% in hurdle races this season and a respectable 13% over the larger obstacles.

Although she is yet to train a Cheltenham Festival winner, she has enjoyed success in a number of listed races including the Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot back in 2021.

Williams tends to purchase yearlings and two-year-olds, so she often aims her runners at National Hunt flat races and she is hoping that her 25/1 shot Kel Du Large can make an impression in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper which takes place on the second day of the festival.

The four-year old will be looking to preserve a perfect record of two wins in two appearances and already has a Cheltenham victory under its belt having hacked up in the Family Fun “Junior” National Hunt flat race and didn’t appear to be negatively affected by the heavy going at Prestbury Park.

Bryony Frost

Bryony Frost has become a familiar figure at the Cheltenham Festival and will be remembered for partnering Frodon to success in the 2019 Ryanair Chase. She also picked up a winner on board Pacha Du Polder in the 2017 St. James’ Palace Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunter’s Chase.

Although Paul Nicholls isn’t as prolific at Prestbury Park these days, he is still likely to send a strong contingent to the track in March. Stay Away Fay is a household name in the jumps game and will be looking to bounce back having failed to justify favouritism in January’s Cotswold Chase here. Hermes Allen, Captain Teague, Teeshan, Liari, Stage Star, Greanteen and Kalif du Barlais are also representing the Somerset-based handler, although Harry Cobden is likely to get first choice of his rides in mid-March.

Frost, twice winner of the Devon and Cornwall Jockey Championship, hasn’t been as prolific of late having struggled to ride winners in 2024, yet she is operating at 17% overall in Handicap Chases this season and can boast total earnings of over £2.5K.