The Cheltenham Gold Cup has become the showpiece of the Cheltenham Festival and is the fourth race of final day. It wasn’t however, always held in such high regard. Initially a flat race over three miles, it wasn’t till over a hundred years later that the race was run over fences, and for a prize [...]
The RSA Chase, formerly known as the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, has seen a few shock results along the way. The third race on day two of the Festival, winners of the race include Minnehoma, Florida Pearl, Looks Like Trouble, Albertas Run and of course Denman, but surprisingly, only a few have gone on to [...]
The Champion Bumper, the only flat race at the Festival, is the finale of day two. Not only does it attract some of the main jockeys from the Flat, but some of the most exciting young horses in training. Despite only having a seventeen year history, it has seen winners like Florida Pearl, Monsignor, Cousin [...]
The RyanAir Chase, a partial replacement for the Cathcart, is the third race on the thrid day of the Festival. Initial fears the race would detract from the Queen Mother and Gold Cup fields have been dispelled, as the RyanAir Chase has been a complete success. It has shown in its five year existence to [...]
The Neptune Novices’ Hurdle is the second race on day two of the Festival. The role of honour has included a host of bright young stars, including triple Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq, Champion Hurdle third French Holly, the awesome Monsignor, and more recently the highly regarded Fiveforthree. Open to novices 4yo and upwards, run over [...]
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a championship race run over two-miles for five-year-old chasers and above at Grade 1 level. The total prize fund for this race stands at around £320,000. The race itself is the feature on the second day of the Festival (Wednesday) and is always filled with high quality entrants. Traditionally [...]
The Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase is the second race on the opening day of the Festival and is considered the Champion Chase for novices. Generally fields for the Arkle are smaller than most Festival races but that doesn’t stop it from being a very real test for novices, who must run, travel and jump faster [...]
The Champion Hurdle is the main attraction on the opening day of the Festival. With a roll of honour containing the likes of Persian War, Sea Pigeon, Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca, it is of no surprise the best hurdlers are targeted at tasting success in this race. Open to 4yo’s and upwards, run [...]
The Triumph Hurdle is a race run for four-year-old novices run over a total distance of two miles and one furlong. The race is run on the final day of the Festival and opens the Gold Cup day of The Festival. With this race being for four-year-olds only, it has often pointed to inexperience to [...]
The World Hurdle is regarded as the feature race of Day 3 of the Festival. Some top quality horses have won this race in years gone by and non more so than Inglis Drever who passed away in 2009. Big Bucks was the latest horse to add his name to the roll of honour and [...]