The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most important events on the global horse racing calendar. Held in the middle of March each year, the four days of competition features a host of group one renewals, many of which have been on the circuit for decades.
The festival attracts the top horses, jockeys and trainers, and each race is significant. The minor group events provide a vital testing ground for emerging talent, around a challenging set of jumps.
It is, however, the Group Ones that provide the most interest, and if your time is limited, here are the Cheltenham Festival races that you cannot miss.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is undoubtedly the highlight of the four days. First run in 1924, serious racegoers consider this to be better than the Grand National in establishing the talent of horse and jockey combined.
For the wider general public, the Gold Cup is the third-most valuable event in the betting industry, behind the National and the Epsom Derby. Sportsbooks publish Cheltenham odds for the Gold Cup for much of the year, and it’s interesting to follow the markets, to see which horses are most likely to add their names to an illustrious list.
Some of the best jumpers in the sport have put their names on the trophy, and the list includes greats such as Arkle, L’Escargot, Desert Orchid, Best Mate and Kauto Star. It’s the event that every racegoer wants to see and while there are other top renewals at Cheltenham, nothing can match the prestige of the Gold Cup.
Champion Hurdle
The Gold Cup brings the curtain down on the Cheltenham Festival, while the Champion Hurdle marks the start of the four days. Traditionally held on the opening day each year, this is another major Group One race, and it’s been on the calendar since 1927.
Held over two miles of the course, this is another stiff test for horse and jockey. Qualification is for four-year-olds and above and many trainers use the Champion Hurdle to assess whether their horses have the ability to compete in the Gold Cup.
The Champion Hurdle has seen some notable winners, and five horses have won on three occasions. The most recent of these was Istabraq who completed the three-peat in 2000.
Other significant races on the Tuesday card include the Arkle Challenge Trophy and the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Wednesday is the second day of the Cheltenham Festival and, traditionally, it’s also Ladies’ Day. It’s therefore fitting that the biggest event on the card is named after one of horse racing’s biggest supporters.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a more recent addition to the schedule, having been first run in 1959. Not only is it the feature race of the day, it’s also seen as the most important minimum distance event on the National Hunt calendar.
Only one horse, Badsworth Boy between 1983 and 1985, has won the race on three occasions. In more recent times, Altior was a back-to-back winner in 2018 and 2019.
While the Queen Mother Champion Chase is the outstanding renewal from Wednesday’s card, there’s plenty more top-class action. The Champion Bumper and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle also attract great interest among racegoers.
Stayers Hurdle
Thursday at Cheltenham Festival offers no fewer than three Group One races on a packed card. Each is a great spectacle in its own right, but serious racegoers view the Stayers Hurdle as the most important.
This is the leading long distance event for National Hunt horses, and it takes place around two miles and seven furlongs of the Cheltenham Course. First run back in 1912, the Stayers Hurdle was dominated in recent years by Big Buck’s. Ridden by Paul Nicholls, this remarkable horse won the race for four years in a row between 2009 and 2012.
Alongside the Stayers Hurdle, an important card on day three of the Festival also includes the prestigious Ryanair Chase.
Moving into Friday and while the Gold Cup is the natural focal point, there are other must-see races on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. The first event of the day is the Group One Triumph Hurdle which has been a part of proceedings since 1939.
The dominant jockey in recent years has been Barry Geraghty who rode five Triumph Hurdle winners between 2003 and 2016. The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is another important race taking place on the final day of the Festival.
All four days of the Cheltenham Festival have packed cards and there will always be something to enjoy. These are the biggest races, but many will stay tuned for every event on the schedule.
Even those who don’t regularly watch racing will tune in to watch. The Festival also provides a gateway to a great sporting summer and it’s not to be missed.
