Tag Archives: Cheltenham Festival

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Horse Racing Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle – National Hunt Racing

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The Cheltenham Festival is a meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National in Aintree. The event brings in more than £20M through ticket sales, hospitality, sponsorship and other income, and there is some £4.3M in prize money on offer, the most of any jump festival in the world. Meanwhile, the four-day event is also estimated to bring in £100M to the wider Gloucestershire economy.

The 28-race steeplechase event is run by the Jockey Club and culminates in the Gold Cup day on Friday. The Festival ran from Tuesday, March 14 to Friday, March 17, 2017.

On Tuesday, March 14, Buveur D’Air, ridden by Noel Fehily, won the 2017 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, the Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. “It’s fantastic. To win one was great; to win two is special,” said Fehily, whose first Champion Hurdle win came on Rock On Ruby in 2012.

The race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 meters), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling and is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Cheltenham Champion HurdleThe Champion Hurdle is the most prestigious hurdling event in the National Hunt calendar. Its list of winners features many of the most highly acclaimed hurdlers in the sport’s history, and several of these, such as National Spirit, Istabraq, Hatton’s Grace, Persian War and Lanzarote, have had races named in their honor.

Sizing John, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Jessica Harrington, powered home to win the revered Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 17.

The Timico Gold Cup is one of the most significant Jump races in the season, and nothing can rival the Cheltenham roar as the horses charge up the famous hill.

National Hunt racing – Sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom

National Hunt racing is the official name given to that form of the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is divided into two major distinct branches: hurdles and steeplechases. Alongside these there are “bumpers”, which are National Hunt flat races. In a hurdles race, the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles; in a steeplechase the horses jump over a variety of obstacles that can include plain fences, water jump or an open ditch. In the UK the biggest National Hunt events of the year are generally considered to be the Grand National at Aintree and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jump racing is most popular in Britain, Ireland and France. In Ireland the sport receives much higher attendances than flat racing, while in England it is more balanced, but the different seasons (there is little top-class flat racing in Britain from November through March) mean that most fans of the sport can enjoy both forms of racing.

The Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, sometimes referred to as the French Champion Hurdle, is a Group 1 hurdle race in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 5,100 meters (about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs) on Sundays at the Galop, March 26, 2017.

The NAAS Kilcock Novice Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt novice chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 meters) and during the race there are 13 fences to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place March 26, 2017.

Aintree Grand NationalNational Hunt horses are often bred for jumping, while others are former flat horses. National Hunt horses do not have to be Thoroughbreds: many French-bred jumpers are Selle Français or AQPS.  Many horses begin their racing careers in amateur Point-to-Pointing where they compete over steeplechase races of 3 miles.

The two main highlights of the National Hunt calendar are the Cheltenham Festival meeting and the Grand National meeting.

The Cheltenham Festival is held at Cheltenham Racecourse over four days in the second week of March. It features eleven grade one races, culminating in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the best and most prestigious Chase race in the world, on the Friday. The Grand National meeting, held at Aintree over three days every April, is the next major racing event to be held. Many of the best horses come to these festivals, which are watched by a huge television audience worldwide. Hundreds of millions of pounds are gambled on these festivals.

Community/Charity, Racing

Fun & Fashion at the Cheltenham Festival

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Horse racing and eventing fans benefit from something very few other sports can truthfully claim: there is no real off-season. However, while there are professional racing events that happen during the winter, the next couple of months will bring about at a slight decline in the interest that is paid to the sport. This means that the next big events on the horse racing schedule will start to occur in the spring. Among these, the Cheltenham Festival in England is in many ways a starting point for the year to come.

For starters, the Cheltenham Festival is one of the best celebrations in racing because of its length and the balanced quality of its race day schedules. At many similar events (such as the Grand National a month later in Aintree), everything is a sideshow compared to the main event on the final day. Yet, while Cheltenham does have its own Gold Cup event, it is also designed in such a way that each day has a main event, which helps to keep the action engaging throughout. This sort of scheduling over a four-day period makes for one of the most unique and enjoyable events on the world racing calendar.

It also makes for a very busy, and thus entertaining, betting scene. Any major horse racing festival will be alive with betting activity, but with four full days of racing and four “main events,” so to speak, Cheltenham can thrill even casual fans who want to place a few light bets here and there. Beyond a chance at winning money, race betting also offers a good excuse to learn a little bit about the various competitors and odds. It’s a little early right now to be seeing much more than straight betting odds for the Cheltenham races, but in the coming months you’ll be able to view Cheltenham tips here to get a feel for the various horses expected to do well. Then, if you feel so inclined, you can be ready to make a bet or two if you attend the races (or simply track them from abroad).

Perhaps even more than the general festivity of a four-day event or the excitement brought on by a busy betting scene, it’s the fashion of the race-goers that gives Cheltenham its flavour. As is the case with many major races, spectators take the opportunity to have some fun. They try out different outfits while experimenting with gaudy and amusing, but somehow stylish, looks that are popularly associated with horse racing culture. But on Ladies Day at Cheltenham (the second day of the festival), race day fashion is taken to a whole new level. You can click here for a beautiful look at some of the photos and styles that stood out from 2014’s Ladies Day, but here are a few general tips for fashion at the festival based on past years.

  • There Are No Colour Restrictions – Sometimes people dress for the season when it comes to colour, but at Cheltenham that won’t be necessary. To begin with, the event takes place in mid-March, placing it almost between seasons anyway. Besides that, spectators in the past have come in all manner of colours, some electing to take a rustic approach and others bursting with the bright colours of summer. The idea is expression.
  • Oversized Hats Are Still Key – Oversized hats are often associated with horse racing culture, and nothing has changed in this regard. If there’s one thing you do to prepare for Cheltenham fashion, you may want to make it about selecting the perfect hat for the occasion!
  • Wear Florals & Feathers – Mind you, this doesn’t mean floral and feather patterns; it means literally wear flowers and feathers! Whether it’s a feathered ornament on your oversized hat, a brooch that resembles a flower, or even some manner of corsage, this is a popular way to accessorize for the festival.
  • Consider Fur Linings – One dilemma that spectators sometimes face at Cheltenham is wanting to go with light, bright clothing but needing to dress for cooler weather. This may change year to year, but one way around the problem is to look for accessories, light jackets, or even scarves with fur linings. It’s simply a nice, fashionable, and noticeable way to stay warm without changing your whole outfit as if you were dressing for winter.

Follow those tips and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the festival!

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

Take Advantage of Top Tips Ahead of the Cheltenham Festival

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The build-up to the Cheltenham Festival is a special time of year for horse racing fans.  The wet tracks of the winter are a thing of the past and the sport’s premier jumpers are gearing up for the biggest meeting of all.  To really get the most out of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, check out the form of some of the top runners.

The William Hill Champion Hurdle provides the first feature race of the meeting.  Last year Noel Fehily rode Rock on Ruby to victory and the horse will be back to retain his title.  However, Nicky Henderson will be hoping to put a spanner in the works with his two horses, Darlan and Grandouet.  However, keep an eye out for Don McCain’s horse Cinders and Ashes.  Although not widely fancied, there is plenty of potential in this horse, especially on the relatively good ground of Cheltenham.

Ladies’ Day is all about fashion, style, and of course some excellent Cheltenham betting at the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Most people think that Sprinter Sacre already has this one in the bag.  However, don’t be so sure.  Prestbury Park will provide a particularly difficult test of stamina and character and Rainbow and Sizing Europe will be poised to take advantage of any chink in Sprinter Sacre’s armour.

Of course, the festival ends with the crescendo of the Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious titles in the sport.  Champion jockey AP McCoy rode Synchronised to victory last year, under the tutelage of trainer Jonjo O’Neill.  This year, the pundits have put Bob’s Worth in the driving seat.  However, the Hennessy Gold Cup winner will come under pressure from previous winner of this race Long Run and keep an eye out for Jewson winner Sir Des Champs.

*Featured/Spotlights, Racing

From Bench to Track – Irish Solicitor to Take On the UK’s Largest Racing Festival

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An inspiring tale of dogged determination and a passion for horses hit the press this week, as the tale of Dublin-based solicitor Grainne Loughnane (27) emerged. The amateur jockey has been invited to partake in the auspicious St. Patrick’s Day Derby at the Cheltenham Festival – the UK’s premier annual racing event.

Working full-time in a solicitor’s office during the week and finding the time to make the grade as a potential champion jockey is no mean feat, but her hard work and dedication the sport she so clearly loves has certainly paid off. Grainne told Irish newspaper the Herald: “It will be competitive, because everybody dreams of having the winner at Cheltenham.”

She’ll be one of four Irish riders in the famous 1.5 mile race, but notably, the only amateur, and the only full-time legal practitioner!

Continue reading From Bench to Track – Irish Solicitor to Take On the UK’s Largest Racing Festival →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Racing

Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, England

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Mild sunny weather welcomed the return of enthusiastic crowds to Prestbury Park with the promise of 4 days of top quality National Hunt racing and the pinnacle of the racing year – the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

The first day of the Cheltenham festival hit punters pockets hard with surprise results when 5 favourites failed to win. Champion jockey Tony McCoy’s joy was evident when winning the feature race, the Champion Hurdle, on Binocular. Up until last week it was unclear if the Nicky Henderson trained gelding would run because of recent injury. This French bred six year old, who finished 3rd in 2009, was always travelling sweetly and took command between the last two hurdles to win comfortably giving his popular Irish owner, J. P. McManus, his 22nd festival success.

CheltenhamP3160013But much of the festival focus remains on Friday’s eagerly anticipated Gold Cup which will see a clash for the 3rd time of super equine heroes, Kauto Star and Denman. The Paul Nicholls trained duo have captured the hearts of the nation and Kauto Star’s bid to win this three and a quarter mile chase would secure a place in the history books with former champions Arkle, Best Mate, Golden Miller and Cottage Rake.

By LYNN LAWSON    16th March ‘10

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