The famous Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner and excitement has been building for the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar. The world’s best horses, jockeys and trainers, will go head-to-head during the four-day spectacular, which begins on Tuesday 11th March and runs till Friday 14th March.
Champion Day opens the festival, followed by the elegance of Style Wednesday or Ladies Day. Thursday brings the famously electric atmosphere of St Patrick’s Day, while the iconic Gold Cup Day brings the festival to a close.
As always, the event will be a sell-out, with over 275,000 race goers expected to pack into the course to watch the action unfold over the course of the four days. Whether it’s the famous Cheltenham Roar, thrilling races, or electric atmosphere, there is nothing quite like Cheltenham.
FAMOUS CHELTENHAM WINS
Norton's Coin (1990)
There is perhaps no greater shock in Cheltenham history, than Norton’s Coin victory in the Gold Cup. The 100-1 shot ridden Graham McCourt and trained by a Welsh dairy farmer who only trained jumpers as a hobby, beat the country’s most popular chaser and defending champion, Desert Orchid.
Incredibly, trainer Sirrell Griffiths had wanted to enter the horse for the handicap chase, but when he discovered he’d missed the deadline, he was forced to enter him in the Gold Cup instead. No only did Norton’s Coin go on to win by three-quarters-of-a-length over Toby Tobias, with Desert Orchid another four lengths behind in third, but he also broke course record.
Dawn Run (1986)
The Irish mare Dawn Run became part of Cheltenham folklore by becoming the first and only horse to ever win both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Her 1986 historic double saw celebrations unlike any other, with spectators spilling onto the track in delight.
Despite trailing two out, she dug deep to catch Wayward Lad on a thrilling run in. She is one of only four mares to have won the Gold Cup and remains the last mare to have achieved the feat.
Best Mate’s Hat-Trick (2004)
Best Mate famously never fell at a fence or hurdle, making him hugely popular with race fans. After two consecutive Gold Cup triumphs he arrived at Cheltenham seeking an historic treble. Ridden by Jim Culloty and trained by Henrietta Knight, Best Mate held off Harbour Pilot by half a length to win.
His third successive Gold Cup victory saw him became the fourth horse to win the Gold Cup three times or more, and he was the first triple-winner since the legendary Arkle achieved the feat way back in the mid-1960s.
The races to look forward to
While every race at the Cheltenham Festival is full of excitement, thrills, and unique stories, there are four stand out races every year. They are:
- Day One: Champion Hurdle.
- Day Two: Queen Mother Champion Chase.
- Day Three: Stayers’ Hurdle.
- Day Four: Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Champion Hurdle
Day one of the festival sees all eyes turn to the Champion Hurdle. The third Grade 1 race on Tuesday’s card, this is the Championship race for two-mile hurdlers and is recognised as the highest-quality race of its type anywhere in the world.
This years runners include 2023 winner Constitution Hill, plus 2024 champion State Man. However, one of the favourites according to the latest Cheltenham odds, is Lossiemouth. The six-year-old mare is trained by Willie Mullins and with mares taking four out of the last nine championships, she is definitely one to consider. With such a quality field, the Champion Hurdle 2025 promises to go to the wire.
Gold Cup
The final day of the festival is all about the Gold Cup. Run over 3 miles 2½ furlongs and 22 fences, this is the most prestigious race of the British and Irish jump racing season, and the showpiece of the Cheltenham Festival. The total prize-fund for the race is £625,000, with an impressive £351,687 awarded to the victor.
The steeplechase is open to horses aged five years and over and is the most prestigious of all National Hunt events. Former winners include legendary names such as Arkle, Miill House, Best Mate, Golden Miller, Kauto Star, and Denman.
Last year’s Willie Mullins trained winner, Galopin Des Champs, is the hot favourite once again, and the nine-year-old will be attempting to win the race for the third time in a row – a feat not achieved since Best Mate in 2004. However, he won’t have it all his own way, with other leading contenders including:
Fact To File (Trainer: Willie Mullins)
Won well at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, and defeated stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown, so the quality is there. While some may question his stamina, the horse has won over three miles, proving that the distance is not an issue. Of all the contenders to Galopin’s crown, Fact To File looks the most likely.
Banbridge (Trainer: Jospeh O’Brien)
Victory in the King George saw Banbridge finally realising the potential that many have always known was there. The big test at Cheltenham will be proving he has the stamina to get up the hill at the speed required to win a Gold Cup.
While this looks like being a close race, one thing is guaranteed; as they head down the final furlong, the Cheltenham roar will be deafening.