The Racehorse Trainers Local to Swindon Targeting the 2019 Cheltenham Festival

Swindon is just a stone's throw from the North Downs and a key part of that rural community is the horse racing hub of Lambourn.

"Altior trained by Nicky Henderson is one of the star attractions of the Cheltenham Festival" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06

Racehorse trainers for both jumps and the flat use its famous gallops to bring the animals in their charge along. One of the biggest horse racing events of the British sporting year, the Cheltenham Festival, will soon be upon us and many trainers based in and around the area have intended runners at the big meeting. Which racehorse handlers local to Swindon are targeting Cheltenham and why?

Nicky Henderson

By far the most high-profile and largest jumps stable in Lambourn is that of reigning British champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson. An institution of National Hunt horse racing, he has a deep and talented squad for the Festival.

From highly promising novice hurdlers such as Angels Breath, Champ and Epatante, to established stars of the sport like Buveur D'Air and Altior, Henderson has a very strong hand to play come Cheltenham. He is well set-up to have a strong first two days of the meeting with more leading fancies than any other British trainer.

Many Henderson horses are among the 2019 Cheltenham tips given by experts on Betting.Betfair. Champ, Ok Corral and Santini - the latter duo go in staying novice chases over four and three miles respectively - are particularly well-regarded for their Festival races.

Emma Lavelle

It's not just the Henderson show at Cheltenham, however, as Marlborough-based trainer Emma Lavelle saddles the hot Stayers' Hurdle favourite, Paisley Park. This rapidly-improving horse has relished tests of endurance over the smaller obstacles and his chances of Festival glory are now much enhanced by the absences of leading Irish staying types.

"Cheltenham Racecourse" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06

Paisley Park has broken new ground for his connections - providing a first Grade 1 success for handler Lavelle and regular jockey Aidan Coleman. As he's already proven himself the best of British stayers this year, winning the Long Walk at Ascot and Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance, he looks set to be another victorious Swindon local.

Warren Greatrex

Only Lambourn handler Warren Greatrex prevented an Irish clean sweep of the Cheltenham races on St Patrick's Thursday last year. While Grade 1 staying chase winner La Bague Au Roi doesn't go to the Festival in favour of other end-of-season targets, his yard will have some less illustrious horses involved.

Greatrex looks to have a few capable of going well at Cheltenham in some of the handicaps. These include Western Ryder, who holds an entry in the County Hurdle on Gold Cup day, and Theatre Territory for the Kim Muir Handicap Chase. The latter is a very likeable mare that - although still a maiden over fences - has run several solid races at the course for amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen.

Harry Whittington

On the very edge of the North Downs is the village of Sparsholt where Harry Whittington trains his horses. Two very promising sorts from his stable could be on their way to the Festival with recent Kelso Grade 2 winner Rouge Vif entered in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle which gets the meeting underway.

Saint Calvados has always been highly-regarded by Whittington and he's one horse that connections must decide whether to take on Altior with again or not. A step up in distance to the Ryanair Chase is his alternative options at Cheltenham, but that could be a very competitive race at this meeting.