Cheltenham – The Biggest Action is Yet to Come
We get to look forward to four extraordinary days of horse racing action between Tuesday 14th March and Friday 17th March. Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races spread over four days, we can witness the best jockeys riding the best horses trained by the best trainers.
Whether you simply watch the races or enjoy a bit of Cheltenham betting, you can witness history taking place – whether you make it to the tracks or whether you are enjoying it from the comfort of your own home.
The Style of Cheltenham Festival
Undoubtedly, the Cheltenham Racecourse is considered the Home of Jump Racing, and the legendary festival offers us some of the best racing in the world. That also means that many people dress accordingly.
Although there is no specific ‘dress code’ put into place by the Jockey Club, pretty much everyone that goes likes to get dolled up in their Sunday best. We mean dress and heels (obviously more for the ladies – or whatever…) or suit and tie for the gentleman. However, the best rule is to dress how you feel comfortable and dress for the weather. This is a day out to remember – and if you will be taking selfies, you want to look good!
Entertainment
As well as lots of horse racing, there will also be all sorts of unmissable entertainment to enjoy if you manage to bag a ticket. From live bands, to rock music and jazz, there’s music to suit all tastes.
The Main Action
Whether you manage to get a ticket or not, here’s a taste of the action you can enjoy over the four days…
Tuesday: Champions Day
This is where all the reigning champions and future champions get together, all ready to etch their names onto that star-studded wall – littered with names of Jump Racing Greats.
Tuesday is home to the Unibet Champion Hurdle, which is the most prestigious hurdle race of the year. In 2022, Rachael Blackmore rode Honeysuckle to victory, retaining her title for the second year… Can she get win number three?
The excitement as the day of action begins is palpable – and by the time they raise the flag at the beginning of the Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, there will already be 60,000 spectators ready to get involved… and millions more at home.
Festival Wednesday
The second day of action features the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, where it’s all about jumping ability and speed. 2022 may have been a wet day, but that didn’t do much to dampen anyone’s spirits as Commander of Fleet upset the apple card while the legendary Tiger Roll ran his final race. This is a stunning day of action.
Festival Wednesday delivers some of the most sensational sporting action. With the quick and classy looking to come out on top of the Champions Hurdle or the speedsters looking to take the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, the thrills and spills come in thick and fast.
St Patrick’s Thursday
This is all about Irish passion – as those Irish horses look to pull out special performances and aim to win races such as the coveted Prestbury Cup. It also features the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase – where stamina and endurance reign supreme.
Any Irish winner during the day will be greeted with roars of appreciation like no other – especially from those who have travelled all the way from the Emerald Isle to watch.
Gold Cup Day
The final day of action, on Friday, is the Gold Cup. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup isn’t just the big event of the day… It’s the biggest event of the entire tournament, for horses, jockeys, spectators and bettors.
This race plays a huge part in the UK sporting calendar every year, with winners going down in history and becoming household names. If you want a ticket for the day – good luck as it’s always sold out quickly… but you can enjoy the action from home no matter where you are!