Cheltenham Festival 2025: Guide and Preview

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Cheltenham Festival 2025: Guide and Preview

Overview of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival

• Dates: Tuesday, March 11 – Friday, March 14, 2025
• Location: Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, England
• Total Races: 28 races over four days, including 13 Grade 1 contests
• Feature Race: Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday, March 14)

This is the biggest National Hunt racing festival of the year, attracting the best horses, trainers, jockeys, and punters from around the world.

Day-by-Day Race Schedule & Feature Races

Day 1: Champion Day (Tuesday, March 11)

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:20 PM) – Grade 1, 2m
  • Key Contenders: Kopek Des Bordes (favored after Dublin Racing Festival win)
• Arkle Challenge Trophy (2:00 PM) – Grade 1, 2m
  • Key Contenders: Majborough (strong form in Irish Arkle)
• Champion Hurdle (4:00 PM) – Grade 1, 2m
  • Key Contenders: Constitution Hill (2023 winner, looking to reclaim title)

Day 2: Style Wednesday (Wednesday, March 12)

• Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (1:20 PM) – Grade 1, 2m5f
• Queen Mother Champion Chase (4:00 PM) – Grade 1, 2m
  • Key Contenders: Jonbon (seeking first Festival win)
• Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2:50 PM) – Grade 1, 3m
• Grand Annual Chase (5:20 PM) – Grade 3, 2m

Day 3: St Patrick’s Thursday (Thursday, March 13)

• Turners Novices’ Chase (1:20 PM) – Now a Grade 2 Limited Handicap, 2m4f
  • Notable Change: Downgraded from Grade 1
• Ryanair Chase (3:20 PM) – Grade 1, 2m4½f
  • Key Contenders: Djelo (progressive form)
• Stayers’ Hurdle (4:00 PM) – Grade 1, 3m
  • Key Contenders: Lucky Place (highlighted as a strong performer)

Day 4: Gold Cup Day (Friday, March 14)

• Cheltenham Gold Cup (4:00 PM) – Grade 1, 3m2½f
  • Key Contenders: Galopin Des Champs (seeking third consecutive win)
• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2:50 PM) – Grade 1, 3m
• Triumph Hurdle (1:20 PM) – Grade 1, 2m1f
• County Handicap Hurdle (2:10 PM) – Grade 3, 2m1f

 Major Changes for 2025

1. Turners Novices’ Chase – Downgraded to a Grade 2 Limited Handicap Chase (2m4f).
2. National Hunt Chase – Now a Class 2 Novice Handicap Chase (0-145 rating, open to professional jockeys).
3. Cross Country Chase – Returns to handicap status.
4. Race Timing Adjustment – First race starts at 1:20 PM daily, feature race at 4:00 PM, final race at 5:20 PM.

Betting Insights & Notable Ante-Post Contenders

Strong Ante-Post Picks

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Kopek Des Bordes (proven festival form)
• Arkle Trophy: Majborough (dominant in Irish Arkle)
• Champion Hurdle: Constitution Hill (redemption arc for former champion)
• Queen Mother Champion Chase: Jonbon (big opportunity to claim a major win)
• Cheltenham Gold Cup: Galopin Des Champs (the horse to beat in the biggest race)

Handicap Race Insights

• Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Liam Swagger (solid form, well-rated at 124)
• National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase: Transmission (looks well-treated on a hurdling mark of 133)

Viewing & Attendance Information

• TV Coverage:

  • ITV: First six races each day
  • Racing TV: All 28 races live for subscribers

• Tickets:

  • Available via official racecourse channels
  • Options range from general admission to premium hospitality

Responsible Betting & Festival Experience

• Betting Considerations:

  • Utilize Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) markets for added security
  • Follow market movers closer to the event
  • Study trainer and jockey trends—Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson typically dominate

• Festival Atmosphere:

  • Dress code varies by enclosure
  • Book accommodations early
  • Consider traffic and transport options

General Facts

• Dates: Tuesday, March 11 – Friday, March 14, 2025
• Location: Cheltenham Racecourse, Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire, England
• Total Races: 28 races across four days
• Total Prize Money: Expected to exceed £6 million
• Attendance: Over 250,000 spectators across the four days
• Daily Attendance: Around 70,000 per day

Festival Structure

• Day 1: Champion Day (Tuesday) – Feature race: Champion Hurdle
• Day 2: Style Wednesday (Wednesday) – Feature race: Queen Mother Champion Chase
• Day 3: St Patrick’s Thursday (Thursday) – Feature races: Stayers’ Hurdle & Ryanair Chase
• Day 4: Gold Cup Day (Friday) – Feature race: Cheltenham Gold Cup

Race Facts & Records

• Most Prestigious Race: The Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m 2½f, steeplechase)
• Most Valuable Race: The Cheltenham Gold Cup, with a prize fund of £625,000
• Biggest Winning Margin: 25 lengths (Master Oats, Gold Cup, 1995)
• Fastest Gold Cup Time: 6m 30.3s (Long Run, 2011)

Historic Records

• Most Gold Cup Wins (Horse): Golden Miller (5 wins, 1932–1936)
• Most Festival Wins (Horse): Quevega (6 wins, Mares’ Hurdle, 2009–2014)
• Most Wins by a Jockey in One Festival: Ruby Walsh (7 wins, 2009)
• Most Wins by a Trainer in One Festival: Willie Mullins (10 wins, 2022)
• Most Gold Cup Wins (Trainer): Tom Dreaper (5 wins)

Recent Dominance

• Leading Trainer at the 2024 Festival: Willie Mullins (6 wins)
• Leading Jockey at the 2024 Festival: Paul Townend (5 wins)

Economic Impact

• Estimated Economic Boost: Over £100 million to the local economy
• Number of Pints of Guinness Sold: Around 250,000 pints over four days
• Bets Placed: Over £500 million wagered throughout the festival

Miscellaneous Facts

• The Cheltenham Roar – The festival starts with a massive cheer from the crowd as the first race begins.
• The Festival Plate Trophy is made of solid gold and dates back to 1924.
• Champion Hurdle Triple Winners include Hatton’s Grace, Persian War, See You Then, Istabraq, and Buveur D’Air.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival promises four days of elite National Hunt racing, featuring the best horses and jockeys competing for legendary status. Whether you’re attending or betting from home, keeping track of race conditions, form, and market moves is essential. The meeting is more than just a horse racing event – it’s a cultural phenomenon, blending sporting excellence with history, tradition, and excitement. Whether attending or watching from home, it remains one of the biggest highlights of the sporting calendar.