CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2024
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE AND THE JOCKEY CLUB
The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar, and this year will be bigger than ever as we celebrate 100 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In March 2023, Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend became legends and wrote themselves into the history books with a scintillating performance in the Gold Cup - racing's most esteemed race.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one they all long to win, many times over, above all others. Greats become legends and legends rewrite history.
With four breath-taking days and 28 races, including 14 Grade 1 races, nowhere beats Cheltenham for the unrelenting prestige, competition, and pure excitement.
The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar, and this year will be bigger than ever as we celebrate 100 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In March 2023, Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend became legends and wrote themselves into the history books with a scintillating performance in the Gold Cup - racing's most esteemed race.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one they all long to win, many times over, above all others. Greats become legends and legends rewrite history.
With four breath-taking days and 28 races, including 14 Grade 1 races, nowhere beats Cheltenham for the unrelenting prestige, competition, and pure excitement.
DAY BY DAY GUIDE
CHAMPION DAY
TUESDAY 12TH MARCH
The Grade 1 Skybet Supreme raises the curtain to the Cheltenham Festival with the famous "Cheltenham Roar".
Last year we saw Marine National land the spoils for trainer Barry Connell, who enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival winner as a trainer, having had previous success as an owner. It was also jockey Michael O’Sullivan’s first Cheltenham Festival winner.
History was made in the Unibet Champion Hurdle as Jump Racing’s hero Constitution Hill came home in emphatic style under Nico de Boinville for Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley. Constitution Hill’s performance was breath-taking, he jumped with speed, precision and accuracy and awarded Nicky Henderson his 9th Champion Hurdle winner spanning from 1985 to 2023.
The legendary Honeysuckle provided for some the most memorable moment of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, when she recorded her fourth Festival win on her final visit to Presbury Park. Her triumph provided emotion, elation and pride for horse racing fans across the land. She captured our hearts and to see her finish her prolific career with a Cheltenham Festival win, was exceptionally special.
Last year we saw Marine National land the spoils for trainer Barry Connell, who enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival winner as a trainer, having had previous success as an owner. It was also jockey Michael O’Sullivan’s first Cheltenham Festival winner.
History was made in the Unibet Champion Hurdle as Jump Racing’s hero Constitution Hill came home in emphatic style under Nico de Boinville for Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley. Constitution Hill’s performance was breath-taking, he jumped with speed, precision and accuracy and awarded Nicky Henderson his 9th Champion Hurdle winner spanning from 1985 to 2023.
The legendary Honeysuckle provided for some the most memorable moment of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, when she recorded her fourth Festival win on her final visit to Presbury Park. Her triumph provided emotion, elation and pride for horse racing fans across the land. She captured our hearts and to see her finish her prolific career with a Cheltenham Festival win, was exceptionally special.
STYLE WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH
Irish raider Energumene has won the last two renewals of the Queen Mother Champion chase and he has earned his place next to greats like Altior and Sprinter Sacre. Can he make it three in a row at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival?
The Real Whacker made a dream come true for trainer Patrick Neville, when landing the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ chase by a short head against the Irish powerhouse Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe. The Real Whacker provided trainer Patrick Neville, previously an electrical engineer, with his biggest victory to date, will he be able to achieve an even bigger prize this season and when he goes for gold in The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The day concludes with the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, where stars of the future are often making their first visit to the Cotswolds. We saw A Dream To Share come home in front last year, providing 82 year-old trainer John Kiely and young jockey John Gleeson with their first Cheltenham Festival winner. The JP McManus owned a Dream To Share gave the Gleeson family memories to last a lifetime, Claire Gleeson, wife of ITV Racing’s Brian bred both horse and jockey! There looks to be bigger days to come and surely, he will be visiting Presbury Park in the not-too-distant future.
Style Wednesday is a celebration of thrilling and exhilarating sporting action, make sure you’re there to celebrate in style as racing’s glitterati put on a show like no other.
The Real Whacker made a dream come true for trainer Patrick Neville, when landing the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ chase by a short head against the Irish powerhouse Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe. The Real Whacker provided trainer Patrick Neville, previously an electrical engineer, with his biggest victory to date, will he be able to achieve an even bigger prize this season and when he goes for gold in The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The day concludes with the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, where stars of the future are often making their first visit to the Cotswolds. We saw A Dream To Share come home in front last year, providing 82 year-old trainer John Kiely and young jockey John Gleeson with their first Cheltenham Festival winner. The JP McManus owned a Dream To Share gave the Gleeson family memories to last a lifetime, Claire Gleeson, wife of ITV Racing’s Brian bred both horse and jockey! There looks to be bigger days to come and surely, he will be visiting Presbury Park in the not-too-distant future.
Style Wednesday is a celebration of thrilling and exhilarating sporting action, make sure you’re there to celebrate in style as racing’s glitterati put on a show like no other.
ST PATRICK'S THURSDAY
THURSDAY 14TH MARCH
Envoi Allen gave Henry de Bromhead his second victory of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase. No one thought anything could come close to Honeysuckle’s win earlier in the week for the de Bromhead family, but seeing Envoi Allen back in the sacred Cheltenham Winners’ Enclosure provided another emotional and exceptional moment at the Cheltenham Festival for racing fans.
The Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle went to the ever tough and ever consistent Sire Du Berlais for the Cheltenham Festival’s most successful of owner all time JP McManus. Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Mark Walsh, Sire Du Berlais, who comes to life in the Spring, put up a gutsy performance to win by 3/4 ‘s of a length to the Jeremy Scott trained Dashel Drasher.
Make sure you are there to see if the Irish dominate will dominate the feature races again on St Patrick’s Thursday?
The Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle went to the ever tough and ever consistent Sire Du Berlais for the Cheltenham Festival’s most successful of owner all time JP McManus. Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Mark Walsh, Sire Du Berlais, who comes to life in the Spring, put up a gutsy performance to win by 3/4 ‘s of a length to the Jeremy Scott trained Dashel Drasher.
Make sure you are there to see if the Irish dominate will dominate the feature races again on St Patrick’s Thursday?
GOLD CUP DAY
FRIDAY 15TH MARCH
Featuring The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband race. The pre-race tension, the exhilaration of the race and jubilations of the aftermath. You will never see or experience anything quite like it, as whatever the result, every year it is different.
Stay Away Fay gave British Champion trainer Paul Nicholls his second winner of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, with Harry Cobden doing the steering in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett on the final day of the Festival.
Galopin Des Champs was a spectacular winner of Jump Racing’s blue ribband race for the winning most Cheltenham Festival trainer Willie Mullins. The Cheltenham Gold Cup eluded Willie Mullins for many years, but since Al Boum Photo won his first Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019, and he has now won three of the last five renewals of the race, with fellow Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead winning the other two.
Can the exuberant and exceptional Galopin Des Champs repeat the feat of former stable mate Al Boum Photo and win back-to-back Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cups in the Gold Cup centenary year or will someone else take the most prestigious crown in Jump Racing?
Don’t miss out on the Cheltenham Festival, records will be broken, history will be made and dreams will come true and you could be part of it.
Stay Away Fay gave British Champion trainer Paul Nicholls his second winner of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, with Harry Cobden doing the steering in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett on the final day of the Festival.
Galopin Des Champs was a spectacular winner of Jump Racing’s blue ribband race for the winning most Cheltenham Festival trainer Willie Mullins. The Cheltenham Gold Cup eluded Willie Mullins for many years, but since Al Boum Photo won his first Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019, and he has now won three of the last five renewals of the race, with fellow Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead winning the other two.
Can the exuberant and exceptional Galopin Des Champs repeat the feat of former stable mate Al Boum Photo and win back-to-back Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cups in the Gold Cup centenary year or will someone else take the most prestigious crown in Jump Racing?
Don’t miss out on the Cheltenham Festival, records will be broken, history will be made and dreams will come true and you could be part of it.
HOSPITALITY AT THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
Award-winning restaurants and intimate private boxes are the most exclusive way to enjoy your time at The Cheltenham Festival.
Located the most stunning settings, from the heart of Cheltenham Racecourse to overlooking the winning line, an unforgettable experience awaits.
Working with the best local suppliers, Cheltenham's team of chefs are passionate about bringing their breadth of skills and culinary knowledge to our extensive and carefully crafted menus.
The newly refurbished Mandarin Restaurant at Cheltenham Racecourse
THE COTSWOLDS GENTLEMAN'S
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL STYLE GUIDE
ALL THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL
As well as some incredibly racing, there is lots of live music and entertainment to enjoy across the four days at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Wickermen, Vogue Williams (DJ Set), Lampa and The Chip Shop Boys will be live in the Centaur after racing with lots of other live music dotted around the racecourse during each day.
The Wickermen, Vogue Williams (DJ Set), Lampa and The Chip Shop Boys will be live in the Centaur after racing with lots of other live music dotted around the racecourse during each day.
10 HORSES TO FOLLOW FROM THE COTSWOLDS
We have teamed up with expert Paul Ferguson to give you 10 horses from the Cotswolds that you should be following this season.
Now in its 17th year of publication and once again sponsored by Fitzdares, Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow is an essential tool to guide you through the entire National Hunt season.
EAT COTSWOLDS
RESTAURANTS IN CHELTENHAM TO VISIT AFTER A DAY AT THE RACES
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