Key stats for Meath trained Cheltenham winners over the last five years

The last five years have seen the Irish dominate proceedings at Prestbury Park in March. Since 2020, the Irish have had 94 winners which is 16 more winners than they had between 2015 and 2019, writes Tom Gannon.

Meath-trained horses have contributed their fair share to this incredible Irish domination at Cheltenham. Over the last five years, there have been 26 Meath winners at the Cheltenham Festival with the large majority of them trained by Gordon Elliott. The Summerhill man has had 15 Cheltenham Festival winners which doesn't include the three winners in 2021 when Denise Foster was temporarily running operations at Cullentra.

Gavin Cromwell is the next most successful trainer with five winners to his name while John McConnell, Noel Meade and Tony Martin have all had one festival winner each over the past five years.

Day three at the festival, known as St Patrick's Thursday, has been by far the most successful day for Meath trainers and has accounted for 11 winners for them over the past half-decade. The first two days have had five Meath winners on each day, while Gold Cup day produced the least amount. A Meath-trained horse has only gotten his head in front at the line four times in the last five years on the day that the most prestigious contest in racing is held.

The Championship race on day three, the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle has been dominated by Meath horses over the last few years and they have won the last four renewals, Flooring Porter (2021, 2022), Sire Du Berlais (2023) and Teahupoo (2024). Gordon Elliott's reigning champion, Teahupoo is currently the 11/10 favourite to make it five in a row for the Royals in the race.

If the race had not been abandoned due to track conditions 12 months ago, Meath-trained horses may very well have been on the brink of five in a row in the Glenfarcas Cross Country chase as well. Gordon Elliott and Denise Foster have won the last three renewals of the race with Tiger Roll (2021) and Delta Work (2022, 2023). This year Gavin Cromwell's Stumptown is the 9/4 favourite for the race.

The Kim Muir Challenge Cup and the Fred Winter handicap hurdle have also had three Meath-trained winners over the last five years. Last year's Kim Muir saw Inothewayyourthinkin claim victory and rumours have been circulating that the Cromwell-trained seven-year-old might be supplemented for this year's Gold Cup. In 2023, the late Michael O'Sullivan won the Fred Winter for Gordon Elliott aboard Jazzy Matty.

In terms of odds, six of the 26 Meath winners have been favourites and the shortest-priced winner of these was Envoi Allen, who won the Turners Novice Hurdle in 2020 at odds of 4/7. Meath horses are no strangers to causing an upset at Prestbury Park either. Over the last five years, there have been four Meath winners with odds of 33/1 or bigger and Noel Meade's Jeff Kidder was priced up at 80/1 before he claimed victory in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle in 2021. The average SP of all Meath winners over the last five years comes in at just under 16/1.

Meath horses have had a good spread of winners across the various disciplines of races at the Festival. They have won eight Grade Ones over the last five years. There have been nine chase winners, 15 hurdle winners and three Cross-Country winners. Interestingly enough Meath has failed to produce a winner in the Champion Bumper since 2019 but Gordon Elliott's Kalypso'chance is fancied to go well in this year's edition.

The full list of Meath winners from 2020 - 2024.

DAY ONE

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

2021: Black Tears (Mrs Denis Foster) 11/1

Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

2023: Jazzy Matty (Gordon Elliott) 18/1

2021: Jeff Kidder (Noel Meade) 80/1

2020: Aramax (Gordon Elliott) 15/2

National Hunt Chase

2020: Ravenhill (Gordon Elliott) 12/1

DAY TWO

Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

2020: Envoi Allen (Gordon Elliott) 4/7F

Coral Cup (Grade 3)

2022: Commander Of Fleet (Gordon Elliott) 50/1

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Listed)

2023: Delta Work (Gordon Elliott) 11/10F

2022: Delta Work (Gordon Elliott) 5/2F

2021: Tiger Roll (Mrs Denis Foster) 9/2

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

2020: Chosen Mate (Gordon Elliott) 7/2F

DAY THREE

Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase (Grade 2)

2020: Samcro (Godon Elliott) 4/1

Pertemps Final (Grade 3)

2023: Good Time Jonny (AJ Martin) 9/1

2020: Sire Du Berlais (Gordon Elliott) 10/1

Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

2024: Teahupoo (Gordon Elliott) 5/4F

2023: Sire Du Berlais (Gordon Elliott) 33/1

2022: Flooring Porter (Gavin Cromwell) 4/1

2021: Flooring Porter (Gavin Cromwell) 12/1

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

2023: Seddon (John McConnell) 20/1

JRL Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Listed)

2024: Inothewayurethinkin (Gavin Cromwell) 13/8F

2021: Mount Ida (Mrs Denis Foster) 3/1F

2020: Milan Native (Gordon Elliott) 9/1

DAY FOUR

Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)

2024: Limerick Lace (Gavin Cromwell) 3/1

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

2024: Stellar Story (Gordon Elliott) 33/1

2021: Vanilier (Gavin Cromwell) 14/1

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

2024: Better Days Ahead (Gordon Elliott) 5/1