Thousands descend on Cheltenham for the first day of the Festival
Cheltenham Festival gets underway today
Last updated 12th Mar 2024
Cheltenham Festival gets underway tomorrow - the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar.
This year will be bigger than ever as the festival celebrates 100 years of the Gold Cup across the week.
So what is going to be happening this week?
DAY ONE - Champion Day, Tuesday 12 March
Seven races are scheduled for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival. The feature race of the day is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a 2 mile Grade 1 race. This takes place at 15:30.
DAY TWO - Style Wednesday, Wednesday 13 Match
On the second day, the highlight is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase. Runners in this Grade 1 event jump over 12 fences over the course of 2 miles. It is the highlight of the traditionally known Ladies Day and is off at 15:30.
DAY THREE - St Patrick's Thursday, Thursday 14 March
One of the key dates for Cheltenham Festival 2024 is St Patrick's Day, as it marks the third day of racing. The championship races today are the Ryanair Steeple Chase at 14:50 & Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at 15:30.
DAY FOUR - Gold Cup Day - Friday 15 March
The focus of the day will be The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as the name suggests. Over three miles and two furlongs long, this is the premier race of the event. It will begin at 15:30, and the winner will take home the Gold Cup.
THE RACES:
TUESDAY:
13:30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14.10 - Arkle Chase
14.50 - Ultima Handicap Chase
15.30 (Feature Race of the Day) - Champion Hurdle
16.10 - Mares Hurdle
16.50 - Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17.30 - National Hunt Chase
WEDNESDAY:
13:30 - Gallagher Novices' Hurdle
14.10 - Brown Advisory Novices' Hurdle
14.50 - Coral Cup Hurdle
15.30 (Feature Race of the Day) - Champion Chase
16.10 - Cross Country Chase
16.50 - Grand Annual Chase
17.30 - Champion Bumper
THURSDAY:
13:30 - Turners Novices' Chase
14.10 - Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
14.50 - Ryanair Chase
15.30 (Feature Race of the Day) - Stayers' Hurdle
16.10 - Festival Plate Handicap
16.50 - Mares' Novices' Hurdle
17.30 - Kim Muir Handicap Chase
FRIDAY:
13:30 - Triumph Hurdle
14.10 - County Hurdle
14.50 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
15.30 (Feature Race of the Day) - Gold Cup
16.10 - St James's Place Hunters' Chase
16.50 - Mares Chase
17.30 - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
100 years of the Gold Cup
Although a race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup had existed in the past as a three-mile Flat race in the 19th century, the Cheltenham Gold Cup as we know it was born in 1924.
Over the years there have been some memorable moments:
1924 - The very first Gold Cup, won by Red Splash.
1932-1936 - Golden Miller won the race 5 years back to back in the 1930s
2002-2004 - It was 3 wins over 3 years for legendary horse Best Mate, who was later inducted into the Cheltenham Racecourse Hall of Fame in 2007.
2022 - The first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, Rachael Blackmore, rode to victory on A Plus Tard.
2023 - Last year saw Galopin Des Champs win the Gold Cup, and he'll be back to defend his title this year.
In the Cheltenham Gold Cup’s history, only eight horses have won more than once, most recently Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020.
Kauto Star, who won in 2007 and 2009 and was the only horse to ever regain the Gold Cup.
The others were Best Mate (2002, 2003. 2004), L’Escargot (1970, 1971), Arkle (1964, 1965, 1966), Cottage Rake (1948, 1949, 1950), Golden Miller (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936) and Easter Hero (1929, 1930).
Golden Miller holds the record for the most Gold Cup victories, with five consecutive wins from 1932 to 1936.
The most successful trainer has been Tom Dreaper, who won five Gold Cups with three separate horses - Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964, 1965 and 1966) and Fort Leney (1968).
Paul Nicholls is the most successful current trainer with four wins with three separate horses - See More Business (1999), Kauto Star (2007 & 2009) and Denman (2008).
The most successful jockey has been Pat Taaffe, who recorded four victories on Arkle (1964, 1965 & 1966) and Fort Leney (1968).
Paul Townend is the only current rider to have been successful more than once, having partnered Al Boum Photo to both his victories (2019 & 2020).
ADVICE TO RACEGOERS:
Advice from the racecourse
"Delivering a safe and secure event is our top priority at Cheltenham Racecourse, and our team are dedicated to ensuring you have an enjoyable and safe day out.
"If you're coming to the Racecourse, please ensure you arrive in plenty of time to pass through the security checks. This will include bag and personal searches.
"The racecourse work closely with Gloucestershire Police to ensure everyone’s safety when they visit Cheltenham Racecourse. During your visit you may see armed police or police dogs. These are specially trained teams deployed to monitor and disrupt crimes and who are there to support the racecourse security teams keep everyone safe.
"If you see anything that concerns you when at the racecourse, please inform the nearest security or police officer. Our security wear brightly coloured coats or high visibility jackets so are easily identifiable.
"For further safety information for The Festival, please see the headings below. If you still have questions regarding your visit please contact the racecourse at Cheltenham.Reception@thejockeyclub.co.uk."
How do I get to Cheltenham Racecourse?
The nearest station is Cheltenham Spa. There is another station at the racecourse but this is a tourist attraction and not part of the general network.
Cheltenham Spa is just 3 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse. During the festival, a shuttle bus will run to and from the races.
Trains run from other parts of the country too, but may not go directly to Cheltenham Spa.
How do I get from the station to the festival?
A shuttle bus service will be running between Cheltenham Spa and Cheltenham Racecourse via the town centre. You can buy bus tickets for £6 when you arrive at the station. The last shuttle to the racecourse leaves at 13:15.
A taxi from Cheltenham Spa to the racecourse takes about 10 minutes.
Feeling active? Then why not walk or cycle along the Honeybourne Line to the festival.