The fields for races at the Cheltenham Festival are beginning to take shape.

Entries for the 4 Novice Chases throughout the week have been revealed, with less than 8 weeks until the racing world descends on Prestbury Park.

The Festival™ takes place from 15th - 18th March 2022.

​Arkle Chase Entries: Tuesday 15th March
Blue Lord
Brave Seasca
Captain Tom Cat
Ciel De Neige
Coeur Sublime
Do Your Job
Edwardstone
Elixir De Nutz
Ferny Hollow
For Pleasure
Grand Bornand
Hardy Du Seuil
Haut En Couleurs
Jungle Boogie
Red Rookie
Ribble Valley
Saint Sam
Shadow Rider
Shakem Up’Arry
Third Time Lucki
War Lord
Magic Daze
Riviere D’etel

National Hunt Chase Entries: Tuesday 15th March
Annual Invictus
Back On The Lash
Beatthebullet
Big Nasty
Braeside
Brinkley
Capodanno
Castle Robin
Cavallino
Come On Teddy
Corach Rambler
Diol Ker
Does He Know
Doyen Breed
En Beton
Eva’s Oskar
Fantastikas
Farouk D’alene
Fern Hill
Five O’Clock
Front Assault
Fury Road
Gustavian
Hold That Taught
Indiana Jones
J’Ai Froid
Jungle Boogie
Lord Accord
Major Dundee
Mr Harp
Omar Maretti
Ontheropes
Opposites Attract
Papa Tango Charly
Pats Fancy
Rapper
Roi De Dubai
Run Wild Fred
Slipway
Stattler
Stratum
Streets Of Doyen
The Bosses Oscar
Threeunderthrufive
Tommie Beau
Torygraph
Vanillier
Your Darling
​

​Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Entries: Wednesday 16th March
Ahoy Senor
Annual Invictus
Barnaviddaun
Beacon Edge
Bob Olinger
Bothwell Bridge
Braeside
Bravemansgame
Brinkley
Bushypark
Capodanno
Dickie Diver
Diol Ker
Dusart
Egality Mans
En Beton
Fantastikas
Farouk D’alene
Fighter Allen
Five O’Clock
French Dynamite
Fury Road
Gabynako
Gaillard Du Mesnil
Gallyhill
Galopin Des Champs
Grumpy Charley
Hold That Taught
Imperial Alcazar
Jungle Boogie
L’Homme Press
Mister Coffey
Ontheropes
Oscar Elite
Papa Tango Charly
Pats Fancy
Run Wild Fred
Sounds Russian
Stattler
Stratum
Streets Of Doyen
The Bosses Oscar
Threeunderthrufive
Vanillier
Busselton
Delvino
Silver Forever

Turners Novices' Chase Entries: Thursday 17th March
Barnadviddaun
Blue Lord
Bob Olinger
Bothwell Bridge
Bravemansgame
Capodanno
Captain Tom Cat
Dusart
Egality Mans
El Barra
En Beton
Farouk D’alene
Ferny Hollow
Fighter Allen
French Dynamite
Fury Road
Gabynako
Gaillard Du Mesnil
Gallyhill
Galopin Des Champs
Grand Bornand
Grumpy Charley
mperial Alcazar
Jacamar
Jungle Boogie
L’Homme Press
Millers Bank
Minella Drama
Mister Coffey
Oscar Elite
Papa Tango Charly
Pic D’Orhy
Presentandcounting
Run Wild Fred
Stattler
Stolen Silver
Thedevilscoachman
War Lord
Bussleton
Hardy Du Seuil
Haut En Couleurs
Nassalam
Saint Sam
​Riviere D’etel

Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham takes place on Saturday 29th January 2022. 

This the the last opportunity to witness racing at Cheltenham Racecourse before The Festival™, and that means a superb competitive day of Jump racing.

With seven races on the card, it's the time to finalise your choices and favourites, before all roads lead back to Cheltenham in March. 

Last year's meeting was sadly abandoned but in 2020 we witnessed an excellent day of racing with names such as Paisley Park and Santini securing victories.

Make sure you head to The Centaur after the last race to see the Bootleg Beatles perform live from 4.30pm - 5.30pm.

You can purchase tickets in advance by clicking HERE.

The Scenic Supper will be “popping up”  at Moreton Wine Merchants in Moreton in Marsh this January and February.

The pop-up will take place in the beautifully refurbished Tasting Room which sits 36 comfortably, hosting tables of 2 upwards on Fridays and Saturdays for 6 consecutive weekends in January & February.

You’ll be able to choose from a selection of 9 mouth-watering small plates created by The Scenic Supper's "Master of the Kitchen" Sam Idoine, with wines to match or bottles to sip.

This will take place on:

Friday 21st – Saturday 22nd January

Burns Night Tuesday 25th January

Friday 28th – Saturday 29th January

Friday 4th – Saturday 5th February

Friday 11th – Saturday 12th February

Valentines Night Monday 14th February

Friday 18th – Saturday 19th February

Friday 25th – Saturday 26th February

The opening times for each date are from 5 pm – 9.30 pm (Last food orders)

To book visit thescenicsupper.co.uk

You can view the menu below.

Christmas comes early to Cheltenham every year, with the greatest gift of them all: two days of quality racing action at the Home of Jump Racing for The International on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 December.

The racecourse will be turning yellow on Friday 10th December in memory of Tiggy Hancock who tragically died in a riding accident in June 2021 aged just 15, whilst at team training for the Pony European Eventing Championships. Cheltenham Racecourse welcome everybody who is coming racing to wear an item of clothing that is yellow to support Tiggy's Trust.

With an overseas flare in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, and more top quality action in the shape of the Unibet Handicap Steeple Chase, Unibet International Hurdle and The International Gold Cup, this two-day race meeting is a highlight of the Christmas racing calendar and kick starts the festive sporting season.

The International Friday

From the the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase to the Unibet Handicap Steeple Chase, it's an important day in the Festive racing calendar and one that always delivers in the entertainment stakes. 

Storm Control, Cogry and the Grand National-winning Mon Mome are just some of the names to taste glory on the Friday of the International.

After racing, we will see the return of the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale which provide clients the opportunity to purchase quality English and Irish point to pointers and National Hunt Form Horses from the spring season. The sale is attached to racing and takes place after the last race.

Saturday at The International

The second day of The International Meeting on Saturday 11 December is another fixture that isn't to be missed, and we will be getting in the Festive spirit with Christmas Carols and Live Music.

With clues for The Festival appearing in every race, there's plenty to get excited about with JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the Unibet International Hurdle.

Winners of those races include real fan favourites such as The New One, Cogry and Fusil Raffles, but who will be adding their name to our honours boards in 2021?

Got2Sing will get the Christmas party started with Christmas Carols on the Centaur Balcony as you enter the racecourse, you will then be able to catch them later in the day on the North Plaza - a perfect area to get racegoers involved in a Christmas sing-a-long.

As well as a fantastic variety of food and drink across the racecourse we will be offering a complimentary mulled wine and minced pie to racegoers on the North Plaza.

There will also be live Jazz music throughout the day from The Hipcats who will roam club/tattersalls enclosure 

Finish each day in The Centaur and watch The Wickermen perform from 3.45pm - 4.45pm.

For tickets and more information, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-international

We are just 2 weeks away from The November Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse, an unmissable three-day meeting at the Home of Jump Racing.

This is where the magic really starts. 

Countryside Day launches The November Meeting in true Cheltenham style on Friday 12 November.

Featuring six excellent races, including The Paddy Power Handicap Chase, which was won by Magic Saint in 2020, and The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase, it's a day that is jam-packed with top class Jump racing.

The Hipcats will be roaming around the Club/Tatts enclosure entertaining you with their Jazz music. Make sure you head to the Village where The Lucky 15's will be playing in between races!

Finish the day on a high and head to the Centaur where Chris Stark (from BBC Radio 1) will be joining us to perform a live DJ set from 4.30pm - 5.30pm.

Paddy Power Day returns on Saturday 13 November, and it's a day that simply can't be missed, with The Chip Shop Boys ready to entertain you after racing in the Centaur from 4.15pm - 5.15pm.

Paddy Power Day welcomes seven incredible races including the iconic Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The likes of Imperial Commander and Al Ferof have won the race down the years, but in 2020 it was Coole Cody that took home the glory for jockey Tom O'Brien and trainer Evan Williams.

The November Meeting Sunday returns on Sunday 14 November, and as our only Sunday fixture of the season, it's one that is famed for our world-class free Family Fun and entertainment for Club/Tatts ticket holders.

The Family Fun zone, situated in marquees M10 and M11 will provide a safe space for your tribe to let off steam.  The children’s TV character Bing will be making personal appearances throughout the day and you can find out more info in our Family Fun tab above. Don’t forget that U18’s go free!

There's plenty to enjoy out on the track as well with six thrilling races, including the feature race of the day in the shape of the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

The Shunter won the 2020 renewal, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Emmet Mullins, before going on to glory at The Festival™.

Book your tickets now  - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-november-meeting

Chef Thomas Straker is taking over the kitchen at Old Gore near Cirencester this weekend.

Thomas has designed an awesome menu meant for sharing for the table. His approach to food is honest, uncomplicated and totally produce driven, using the best seasonal produce available.

He has spent the majority of the last decade working in some of London’s top restaurants, The Dorchester, Dinner and Elystan street to name a few.

On Friday and Saturday night, and Sunday lunch, Thomas will be firing up all of the firepits at Old Gore, where he will be showcasing what his food is all about, simplicity, seasonality and conviviality, cooking in the open kitchen and outside on the monster grill and asado pit, expect fire and flavour in abundance.

Old Gore is a lovingly restored Cotswold stone barn situated just out of Cirencester which has recently been opened and will be hosting weddings, parties and private events throughout all seasons.’

Tickets have completely sold out for Saturday night but there are few remaining tables left for Friday night and Sunday lunchtime. 

Click HERE for tickets.

Click HERE for the menu

Location
Old Gore by Yard Space
Calmsden
Cirencester
GL54 4NW

Today marks six months until The Festival™ returns to Cheltenham Racecourse. 

​Enjoy four incredible action-packed days of racing, featuring 14 Grade One races across four seven-racecards as the best horses, trainers and jockeys go head to head.

This year's festival was dominated by the Irish horses with Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead, both having unforgettable weeks.

Tickets for The Festival™ are on sale now.

BUY TICKETS

The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2021 is thrilled to reveal this year’s unmissable full programme of events, setting the scene for an international literary celebration like no other. 

From Friday 8 to Sunday 17 October, the world’s foremost writers, thinkers and performers will descend on the vibrant spa town when the Festival village returns to the heart of regency Cheltenham. 
 
The world’s first literature festival continues to blaze a trail with unique experiences and the unparalleled line-up, announced today, is set to create even more unforgettable memories for book lovers this autumn. Showcasing literary legends, fresh new voices and the biggest books of the year, there is something on offer for everyone: from stars of the stage and screen to incisive political debate. The programme spans history, food, travel, poetry and spoken word, art, sport, faith, philosophy, fashion, psychology, science, nature, business and much more. 

The lively Festival village is the perfect setting for a family day out with a bumper programme of events, free activities, workshops, and story trails featuring the greatest storytellers and illustrators, sure to inspire a love of reading in children of all ages and stages. The Literature for Schools programme, featuring Cheltenham Festival’s flagship education programme Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils, will also give thousands of school children the chance to meet their literary heroes. 

The Festival is harnessing digital technology as part of its drive to create a world in which everyone can explore culture. Cheltenham Festivals’ YouTube channel will broadcast highlights from each day of the Festival, including filmed talks with international writers as part of the Read The World theme. In addition, recordings of over 140 events will be available on demand until 31 December 2021 via the #CheltLitFest Player. 

Charging into its 6th year in Cheltenham, for one night only Lit Crawl sees the town’s bars, record stores, cafes, tattoo parlours and barbershops packed with literary revellers until late into the night sampling everything from flash fiction to ghost stories, music to comedy, pop-up readings to spoken word.
 
An immersive and visually striking new venue and programme lands this October at the Literature Festival. VOICEBOX will bring youth voices to the forefront through a completely free programme of talks, workshops, panels, DJ sets and more, shining a light on the topics and trends that matter to young adults.  Events will feature the best established and emerging local and national young writers, artists and creatives and digital audiences will be encouraged to join in the conversation through the Festival’s social media channels, continuing discussion and debate beyond the 10-day event. 

Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festivals Members on Friday 3 September and general booking opens on Friday 10 September. 

You can find the full listing HERE.

www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

After an involuntary one-year hiatus, Cheltenham Beer Week returns to the town this month. 

The event starts on Bank Holiday Monday (30th August 2021), running through to 5th September 2021 across many venues around the town and beyond. 

Cheltenham Beer Week will help get the pints pouring again with a number of beer-focussed events hosted at some of the county's  top venues.

In addition, the expertise of nine independent breweries, alongside Brook House Hops, has been enlisted to help produce a limited-edition collaboration beer, ‘New Era ’, a 4.2 % English Summer Ale to be poured exclusively for the week.

With a remarkable number of independent breweries within Gloucestershire, and a great deal of venues that support them, the Cheltenham Beer Festival aims to raise the profile of each and every one and showcase the quality of the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire beer scene, which makes it one of the most desirable locations for beer drinkers around the UK.

The pandemic has brought with it many difficulties for breweries in the county over the last year, but they have all remained resolute in their aim to bring the freshest and best beer they can to the public.

This year, beer drinkers can properly celebrate a return to normality with a selection of events hosted in some of the top venues throughout the county, culminating with 'The Main Event' on 4th September at Stroud Brewery, where guests can join the breweries for a day filled with entertainment, food and, of course, plenty of beer.

The Cheltenham Beer Week will continue to support the National Star College in Ullenwood, who provide education and support for young people with complex disabilities. All profits from the week will be going to them.

For all the information and events during the Cheltenham Beer Week, please visit cheltenhambeerweek.co.uk.

Tickets for Cheltenham Beer Week's ‘Main Event’ are available to purchase here > TicketTailor.

The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is delighted to reveal a selection of early highlights appearing at the world’s oldest literature festival for its highly anticipated return to physical events this autumn. From Friday 8 to Sunday 17 October, the award-winning Festival will welcome audiences to all its venues across the heart of regency Cheltenham, as the vibrant spa town comes alive for a literary celebration like no other.
 
Welcoming over 1000 of the world’s very best writers, thinkers, and performers, the Festival continues to lead the way in showcasing the written and spoken word with something for everyone on this year’s unmissable programme. From the biggest new book releases to up to the minute political debate, there will be events covering history, poetry, art, sport, faith, philosophy, fashion, psychology, science, travel, nature, business and much more, plus a packed family programme that will inspire a love of reading in children of all ages.
 
READ THE WORLD
The Festival’s 3-year theme – Read the World – will showcase the best new voices in fiction and poetry alongside literary greats and high-profile speakers from around the world. The full Read the World programme will be announced in the summer.
 
FICTION
This year’s Fiction programme celebrates the biggest names writing today alongside inspiring new voices winning the hearts of readers. Early highlights include award-winning Maggie O’Farrell, who will reflect on the six books that would accompany her to a desert island; Torrey Peters will be talking to Elizabeth Day about her Women’s Prize-shortlisted Detransition Baby; and Elif Shafak discusses her new novel, which deals with belonging and identity, love, and trauma.
 
Jeanette Winterson will tackle the implications of Artificial Intelligence on the ways we live and love, Colm Tóibín takes audiences on a breath-taking journey through the eyes of the literary titan Thomas Mann, Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead will discuss his new book Harlem Shuffle as well as the miniseries adaptation of The Underground Railroad, and Guest Curator Bernardine Evaristo will chair a panel featuring Mary Jean Chan, Paul Mendez, Andrew McMillan, and Richard Scott in a celebration of queer writers.
 
For crime aficionados, Pointless star Richard Osman will reflect on the phenomenal success of his debut as well as introducing the Festival audience to The Man Who Died Twice; Mick Herron joins a special event honouring the great John Le Carré to mark his final novel Silverview; Ann Cleeves will discuss the latest in her Two Rivers series, and Robert Peston introduces his explosive new thriller.
 
CLASSIC LITERATURE & MEMOIR
For fans of classic literature, Hamilton’s Giles Terera will explore the linguistic similarities between Shakespeare and Lin-Manuel Miranda; Countdown’s Dictionary Corner doyenne Susie Dent will be sharing a history of the English language, and the mighty Sebastian Faulks joins other writers to reflect on the literary life of Paris.
 
The leading American activist and scholar, Rebecca Solnit, discusses her new book Orwell’s Roses with Deborah Levy, as the two consider how the author influenced their own works. Deborah Levy will also be in conversation with Guest Curator Joan Bakewell about her celebrated trilogy of ‘living autobiographies’.
 
For readers looking to learn more about their favourite writers, Richard Coles will be offering insight into life, death, religion, and community; presenter Anita Rani will recall growing up as a second-generation British Indian woman up north while Nikesh Shukla considers the world into which his young daughter, as a mixed-race girl, is growing.
 
POETRY & OFF THE PAGE
Giving a taster of the Festival’s legendary Poetry & Off the Page events, are the award-winning and bestselling poetry anthologist, Allie Esiri, who will be championing the hidden gems of poetry as well as the much-revered poets who shaped us. The taboo-busting, poetry and prose prodigy Hollie McNish holds up a mirror to our everyday existence, and Dylan Thomas Prize winning Kayo Chingonyi will present his dazzling second collection exploring inheritance.
 
STAGE & SCREEN
Adding some glitz and glamour to this year’s Festival will be the unapologetic Joan Collins giving a glimpse into the pages of her diary, star of the hit TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Bimini Bon Boulash will offer a behind-the-scenes look into the life of a drag queen, and the trailblazing frontwoman of Skunk Anansie, Skin will reveal what it is like to have been a global female icon over the past 25 years. 
 
Former politician, TV personality and Strictly royalty Ed Balls will reminisce on his early life and love of food, Gyles Brandreth explores his family history against a backdrop of 1950s Britain, comedian Josh Widdicombe will take a trip down memory lane as he recounts the TV shows that shaped his childhood and its wider impact on British culture, and Festival favourite Bob Mortimer returns to discuss his first autobiography, And Away….
 
CURRENT AFFAIRS, SCIENCE, FAITH & PHILOSOPHY
For those wanting to make a difference, Ed Miliband will teach Festival goers how to fix the world, while Amika George – founder of the Free Periods movement – and entrepreneur and youth activist Jeremiah Emmanuel share their Activist Toolkit, and Musa Okwonga opens up about his experience as young black man studying at Eton College. Ruby Wax lifts the spirits and finds the positives in every day, Sarah Sands finds a way to de-stress in the modern age, and Richard Dawkins will share an electrifying celebration of science writing and an essential guide to the most exciting ideas of our time.
 
PSYCHOLOGY
Critically acclaimed actor David Harewood will share his deeply personal, powerful and provocative exploration of race, identity, breakdown and recovery with the Cheltenham audience; Love Island and government ambassador for youth mental health, Dr Alex George will provide an invaluable guide for both physical and mental wellbeing; actor Evanna Lynch will deliver a raw yet intensely thoughtful account of her recovery from anorexia, and Hassan Akkad – Syrian refugee, cleaner and refugee rights activist – will share his journey of hope and connection.
 
FOOD, LIFESTYLE, SPORT & ART
For foodie fans, cookery stylist and writer Anna Jones will reveal how one pan can save the planet, Grace Dent and Katy Wix reflect on the central role of food in our lives and Ravinder Bhogal shares her favourite recipes from an immigrant kitchen.
 
Radio DJ and broadcaster Annie Mac and Candice Brathwaite, founder of Make Motherhood Diverse, share the life lessons they wish they had heard as young girls, and the extraordinary Michael Rosen will offer advice for those navigating the challenges that come when caring for a loved one.   
 
Katy Hessel, art historian and podcaster, participates in a panel of women making waves in the art world to explore the feminist art history revolution in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Linda Nochlin's 'why have there been no great women artists?'; and author and photographer Caleb Azumah Nelson and Charlotte Jansen will share some of the most exciting photographers defining the art form today.
 
Footballing legend Peter Schmeichel relives his career prime at Manchester United, England rugby star James Haskell will share his voyage of self-discovery on retiring from international sport, and boxer and humanitarian Ramla Ali will offer her valuable lessons about what it takes to become a champion.
 
HISTORY & ANCIENT WORLD
History buffs are in for a treat with this year’s Festival with military historian Max Hastings shedding light on Operation Pedestal, Alison Weir will conclude her sweeping Tudor saga with an introduction to the last of Henry VIII’s sextet of wives, Katharine Parr; and Antonia Fraser is in conversation with Allan Mallinson about her new biography on the nineteenth century pioneering women’s rights activist Caroline Norton. Sathnam Sanghera explores the impact of our imperialist history on modern Britain, and Fatima Manji offers a vital new perspective on Britain and the Orient.
 
NATURE, TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE
The original Yorkshire shepherdess Amanda Owen offers a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a farmer in all seasons, and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and Sam Lee will explore the nightingale in folklore, poetry, and song. Nepalese mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and former Royal Marines sniper turned adventurer Aldo Kane will share their stories of making the impossible possible.
 
FAMILY
This year’s bumper Family programme, invites children and young adults on an unforgettable literary adventure around our own world and beyond. Festival favourite Lenny Henry  unveils his first book for children, Victoria Hislop returns to the Greek setting of her international bestseller The Island in her debut children’s book Marias’ Island and the nation’s favourite storyteller Michael Morpurgo introduces his first new novel in two years, When Fishes Flew.
 
Further highlights include magic, mayhem, and mishaps galore from current Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell and Tom Gates’ creator Liz Pichon.
 
This year, the non-fiction programme is bigger and better than ever, including four special events curated by Guest Curators The Week Junior. Sports icon Clare Balding presents ideas on how to develop resilience  in the face of tough situations; CBeebies presenter Maddie Moate shares some mind-boggling facts about the stuff we use every day; and the original QI Elf, Molly Oldfield will be providing the answers to the most curious questions.
 
Poets and performers pop up across the programme. Word-play maestro Jonny Fluffypunk performs his new show, The End of the Pier Show, complete with poetry, puppetry, story, song, and a healthy dose of ramshackle anarchy; James Mayhew’s musical production Once Upon a Tune tells stories from the orchestra and stand-up poet Joshua Seigal performs from his new collection Yapping Away!. Spoken word poets Tongue Fu and Chris Redmond will showcase the power of poetry and music in the fight against climate change.
 
Little ones will be in for a treat with events from the extraordinarily talented Spanish author-illustrator Anuska Allepuz, Meet the Oceans with Caryl Hart, the award-winning illustrator and designer Dapo Adeola, plus blockbuster Supertato creators Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet will be bringing the laughs with their spooky new read Supertato: Night of the Living Veg. With live drawing, props and live music, author and illustrator of the brilliant Big Bright Feelings series Tom Percival shares the craft of creating picture books and shows that even little people can have big feelings.
 
The Upper World, soon to be a Netflix film produced by and starring Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya, Alex Wheatle will share his powerful historical novel based on the true stories of the eighteenth-century slave uprising, and Holly Jackson will unveil the final instalment in her killer A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy.
 
FULL PROGRAMME & BOOKING
The full Festival line-up will be announced on 12 August at cheltenhamfestivals.com. Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festivals Members on Friday 3 September and general booking opens on 10 September.

The line-up for the 2021 Wilderness Festival was announced this morning. 

Jamie xx, Loyle Carner and Rudimental will headline the festival that takes place at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire from 5-8 August. 

You can see the full line up and buy tickets on the Wilderness website - www.wildernessfestival.com

Following the fantastically popular 2020 Summer Season, The Luna Drive In Cinema is returning to the stunning Blenheim Palace grounds from the 6th - 24th May.

After spending months inside you’ll be able to enjoy a classic movie on the big screen in a social distanced and safe Drive-In setting in the comfort of your own car.

With state-of-the-art in car speakers and high-definition outdoor screens, you won’t miss a moment of the action – whether that’s Baby and Johnny having the time of their life in Dirty Dancing or going Back to the Future in a DeLorean at 88 miles an hour. You can even treat yourself to delicious hot food on site or pre-order a Luna Hamper jam-packed with tasty retro treats.

Visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/luna-cinema for all the information and click HERE to see the list of films.

The Big Feastival have announced their day breakdown with the confirmed acts, chefs and entertainment so far.

Friday will see Sigala and Sophie Ellis-Bextor headline the main musical stage, with Giz n Green (Chef Gizzi Erskine and musician Professor Green's foodie venture), Theo Randall and Jack Stein all in kitchen.

​Saturday's music headliners include Nile Rodgers & Chic, Zara Larsson and Tom Grennan. Nathan Outlaw and Mark Hix will feature on the feasting side of the festival.

​Rag 'n' Bone Man will close the festival on the Sunday, with Tom Walker and All Saints also appearing on the main stage. 

The Big Feastival will take place from 27 - 29 August 2021 on Alex James' Farm in near Kingham.

Visit thebigfeastival.com for tickets

You can now buy tickets for the Cheltenham Festival that takes place from the 15th to the 18th March 2022.

Enjoy four incredible action-packed days of racing, featuring 14 Grade One races across four seven-racecards as the best horses, trainers and jockeys go head to head.

This year's festival was dominated by the Irish horses with Rachael Blackmore, Henry De Bromhead and Willie Mullins who all had a hugely successful week. 

Visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-festival/ to secure your tickets.

The line-up for The Big Feastival was announced this morning. 

The festival, located at Alex James' Farm in Kingham, is now in its 10th year and will boast DJ Sigala, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Rag 'n' Bone Man, Tom Walker and Zara Larsson as its musical headliners. 

The beauty of The Big Feastival is that the food side of things is as good as the music. This year will see two Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw, Tom Brown from Michelin-starred Cornerstone, Mark Hix and Theo Randall all appear in The Big Kitchen. 

As always, there will be an incredible selection of street food on offer too. 

Visit https://thebigfeastival.com/ for tickets.

There will be more live racing on terrestrial TV than ever before this year as it was announced that ITV will be showing six live races every day. 

ITV have been given a one-off permission to extend its output beyond their usual five daily races by rights manager Racecourse Media Group, as it's looking more and more likely that The Festival will be held behind closed doors. This will mean the programme will run from 1pm to 4.30pm and the gap between races will be reduced to 35 minutes from 40 minutes.

There will be new provisional race times too with the first race brought forward to 1.20pm, with the feature each day moving to 3.05pm.

A major new charity partnership announced today between WellChild and The Jockey Club will see Jump Racing’s flagship event, The Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, and the sport’s most prestigious race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, support one of the UK’s leading charities helping seriously ill children and their families.

Several million people in the UK will watch The Festival supporting WellChild between Tuesday 16th and Friday 19th March, broadcast on ITV’s main channel and via its digital platforms. Based on Government restrictions for professional sport, currently the event’s 28 races would be staged over four days without any spectators present at the racecourse.

On the climactic Gold Cup Day will be the Grade 1 2021 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Willie Mullins-trained Al Boum Photo is currently the favourite to win the race and become only the fifth horse in history to do so three or more times, alongside the legendary Best Mate, Arkle, Cottage Rake and Golden Miller.

WellChild is the national charity for seriously ill children and headquartered in Cheltenham. More than 100,000 children and young people are living with serious illness or exceptional health needs across the UK. Without the type of support WellChild offers, many can spend months or even years in hospital. Meanwhile those who are at home are constantly challenged by inconsistent or inadequate levels of support. The charity helps children and young people living with serious health needs to have the best chance to thrive, properly supported at home with their families.

When the COVID-19 crisis took hold, the charity lost 60% of its projected income and had to quickly adapt its services to meet a sudden and urgent demand for help from families having to deliver round-the-clock care to their children alone. The charity expanded its digital services with online information and peer-to-peer support, and set up a crisis response service in 10 days to source and distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to shielding families so that they can let external carers back into their home. The charity has now distributed more than 289,000 items of PPE to more than 1,000 vulnerable families across the country.

The Jockey Club, which is one of the UK’s leading sport businesses and runs Cheltenham Racecourse, hopes to build significant awareness and inspire donations for WellChild. The pair plan to launch a series of activities in the build-up to next month’s event and over the four days of racing, including a soon-to-be-launched competition to inspire children who are currently home schooling to showcase their creativity.

Colin Dyer, Chief Executive of WellChild, said:

“As a national charity with its headquarters in Cheltenham, we are thrilled to have been invited to work with The Jockey Club, particularly around an event as iconic as The Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

“This has been a challenging year for our organisation and the families we support, many of whom have felt hidden and isolated more than ever before. However, we have responded at every turn to ensure that families have access to the support and equipment they need to thrive at home. This partnership will bring a much-needed boost to our organisation after a challenging period and will help to ensure that we are ready to respond again in 2021 and beyond.”

Ian Renton, who runs Cheltenham Racecourse as The Jockey Club’s Regional Managing Director, said:

“WellChild plays a vital role in our society supporting seriously ill children and young people, and those who care for them. Their services have been needed more than ever during the pandemic and we are very proud indeed to help such an important charity amongst our communities, including in Cheltenham.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Magners for their support in 2019 and 2020, and express our gratitude to our various and valued partners who have retained their involvement with The Festival in 2021 and those we are welcoming for the first time.”

The Jockey Club hopes to garner support for WellChild from across the British Racing industry and amongst racing fans. 20-times Champion Jump jockey, Sir Anthony ‘AP’ McCoy, welcomed the news:

“This is a fantastic move from The Jockey Club‘s team at Cheltenham. What WellChild does is just so important when you look at it and I’m really pleased that the best four days in our sport are being put forward to help. Racing is a charitable sport, full of generous people and I’m sure they’ll get right behind this. I’ll certainly support the charity in any way I can.”

Ed Chamberlin, ITV Racing’s Lead Presenter and WellChild ambassador, said:

“I have been an ambassador for WellChild for nearly ten years. When I was being treated in Southampton Hospital the children’s cancer ward was next door and broke my heart. If I recovered I vowed to support a charity that got children treated at home, rather than a hospital ward. The work WellChild do from their headquarters in Cheltenham with seriously ill children is truly remarkable. They, like all charities, have had a brutal year and I’m so thrilled about this partnership. It combines two of the passions in my life: WellChild and the Cheltenham Festival.”

Entries are unveiled today for the three G1 novices’ hurdles at The Festival™ - the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – plus the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, which is restricted to four-year-olds.

​There are 96 entries in 2021, with a record 59 of those trained in Ireland. Sponsor Sky Bet make one of the Irish-trained entries, Appreciate It (Willie Mullins), the clear 5/2 favourite. The seven-year-old was runner-up in the G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival™ in 2020 and has looked hugely talented when landing both his starts over hurdles this season, most recently sauntering to a nine-length victory in a G1 contest at Leopardstown on 27 December.

To view all the entries, news and odds, click here - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

​St. James’s Place Wealth Management has renewed its brand sponsorship at Cheltenham Racecourse for a further five years, up to and including The Festival™ in 2025.

Cirencester-based St. James’s Place Wealth Management will be promoted at The Festival through the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase. First contested in 1904, the St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase takes place on the fourth and final day of The Festival (Friday, 19 March in 2021).

The extended three and a quarter mile chase was previously run as the St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase and the updated race title is intended to strengthen the race’s identity as being a fundamental part of The Festival, while respecting its rich heritage as one of the leading hunter chases in the sport.

The St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase is unique in being the only race at The Festival open to trainers who are not full-time professionals. To secure a place in the field, previously race conditions required horses to have either finished in the first two in a hunters' chase on two occasions or won two open point-to-point races, or one of each, within the previous two-and-a-half years. A condition has been added for this year only as a result of the pandemic to allow horses who finish in the first four on two occasions in a hunters' chase between 20th January – 1st March 2021 to qualify.

Point-to-pointing on both sides of the Irish Sea plays a vital and complimentary role to racing under rules, often acting as a springboard for horses and jockeys to go on to achieve great success in front of a larger audience at the racecourse. The 2003 winner Kingscliff was a point-to-point graduate who went on to achieve G1 success in the inaugural running of the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in 2005.

Further back in time, perhaps the greatest ever winner of the contest was Spartan Missile in 1979, a point-to-point graduate who was owned, trained, ridden and bred by John Thorne. Spartan Missile famously went on to finish a gallant second behind Aldaniti and Bob Champion in the 1981 Grand National at Aintree. The 1981 hero and fellow point-to-point graduate Grittar actually went one better at Aintree, going on to success in the Grand National of 1982.

Many famous amateur jockeys feature on the race’s roll of honour, including Lord Oaksey, Gay Kindersley, Ted Walsh and Nina Carberry. There are also numerous examples of winning riders going on to forge highly successful careers as professionals. Two recent examples are Sam Twiston-Davies and Bryony Frost.

The St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase acknowledges Jump racing’s grassroots, while also being the source of a number of successes for women at The Festival. Jockey Caroline Beasley’s success aboard Eliogarty in 1983 was the first victory at The Festival for a female jockey and the contest has been won by female jockeys a further nine times – most recently Maxine O'Sullivan aboard It Came To Pass in 2020.

Former champion, Nina Carberry who won the race in 2015 and 2016 with companion, On The Fringe, said: ‘I was thrilled to win it twice – it’s a special race, an amateur’s gold cup which holds a lot of fond memories for me. I really like the name St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase – it reinforces the race’s connection with the Home of Jump Racing whilst also keeping its tradition as one of the sport’s most iconic Hunter Chases.’

Ian Renton, Regional Managing Director for The Jockey Club, commented: “The Jockey Club is extremely grateful to St. James’s Place for extending its generous sponsorship at The Festival. All of us at Cheltenham look forward to working with St. James’s Place for the next five seasons.”

Ian Gascoigne, Managing Director for St. James’s Place Wealth Management added: “We have been a proud sponsor at Cheltenham Racecourse for a number of years and are delighted to continue our support of a flagship event in our local community. Cheltenham Festival provides the opportunity to reach a large audience and the team continuously offer St. James’s Place a fantastic experience.”

A total of 41 horses have been entered for the Magners Gold Cup at Cheltenham to be held on Friday 19th March. 

Al Boum Photo will seek to emulate Best Mate and become a triple winner of the Grade 1 encounter, ran over three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards.

There are 6 entries from Cotswolds-based trainers.

Here are all the entries. Cotswolds entries are in bold.

Acapella Bourgeois (FR) W. P. Mullins IRE
Al Boum Photo (FR) W. P. Mullins IRE
Allaho (FR) 7 W. P. Mullins IRE
A Plus Tard (FR) Henry de Bromhead IRE
Aso (FR) Venetia Williams
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) Gordon Elliott IRE
Black Op (IRE) Tom George
Bristol de Mai (FR) Nigel Twiston-Davies
Burrows Saint (FR) W. P. Mullins IRE
Castlebawn West (IRE) W. P. Mullins IRE
Champ (IRE) Nicky Henderson
Cyrname (FR) Paul Nicholls
Delta Work (FR)  Gordon Elliott IRE
Frodon (FR)  Paul Nicholls
Imperial Aura (IRE)  Kim Bailey
Itchy Feet (FR) Olly Murphy
Kemboy (FR) W. P. Mullins IRE
Lake View Lad (IRE) N. W. Alexander
Lord du Mesnil (FR)  Richard Hobson
Lostintranslation (IRE) Colin Tizzard
Magic of Light (IRE) Mrs J. Harrington IRE
Master Tommytucker (GB) Paul Nicholls
Melon (GB)  W. P. Mullins IRE
Minella Indo (IRE) Henry de Bromhead IRE
Mister Malarky (GB) Colin Tizzard
Monalee (IRE) Henry de Bromhead IRE
Native River (IRE) Colin Tizzard
Presenting Percy (GB)  Gordon Elliott IRE
Real Steel (FR) Paul Nicholls
Royale Pagaille (FR) Venetia Williams
Saint Calvados (FR) Harry Whittington
Samcro (IRE)  Gordon Elliott IRE
Santini (GB) Nicky Henderson
Shattered Love (IRE) Gordon Elliott IRE
Simply The Betts (IRE) Harry Whittington
Spyglass Hill (IRE) Henry de Bromhead IRE
Terrefort (FR)  Nicky Henderson
The Conditional (IRE) David Bridgwater
Vinndication (IRE) Kim Bailey
Waiting Patiently (IRE) Ruth Jefferson
Yorkhill (IRE) Sandy Thomson

Cheltenham Festivals have announced the dates of their 2021 events. 

The year kicks off with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival at the end of April and finishes with the incredible Cheltenham Literature Festival in October.

28 April – 3 May 2021

Cheltenham Jazz Festival (In association with BBC Radio 2)

Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of Europe’s leading jazz festivals, featuring international headline acts, cutting-edge jazz and unique collaborations.

For more info and updates visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz
 

10 – 13 June 2021

Cheltenham Science Festival

Cheltenham Science Festival explores the theme ‘Be The Change’ combining in-person and online events to show how science is shaping our future. The Schools and Family programme will be available digitally for free, while hands-on activities will be presented in a safe, socially-distanced environment for people of all ages.

For more info and updates visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science
 

2-9 July 2021

Cheltenham Music Festival

Cheltenham Music Festival will celebrate the best of British music, with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, New English Ballet Theatre and the UK’s finest soloists. There will be talks from industry leaders and an Opening Weekend of free music outdoors, with a wealth of artists covering Western classical music and beyond.

For more info and updates visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music
 

8-17 October 2021

The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 

Still leading the way in celebrating the written and spoken word, the world’s first literature festival will Read the World, presenting the best new voices in fiction and poetry alongside literary greats and high-profile speakers. The Festival’s pioneering mix of in-person and online events won it a coveted FutureBook 2020: Best Lockdown Event award and its Literature for Schools programme inspires a love of books in thousands of school children.

For more info and updates visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

The Trustees of Blenheim Palace today announced that The Jockey Club has been awarded a five-year contract as organisers of the prestigious Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials from 2021, following a competitive tender process.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1750 and with Her Majesty The Queen as its Patron, is one of the largest organisations in British sport and stages more than 340 horseracing fixtures each year, along with thousands of other events at its 15 venues nationwide.

The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is a pinnacle of the eventing calendar and normally takes place over four days in September each year. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 event.
The fixture includes FEI-accredited and internationally-recognised competitions; a CCI4*-L (four-star Long) and CCI4*-S for eight and nine-year-old horses (four-star Short).

The 2019 CCI4*-L competition was won by one of Britain’s leading event riders, Piggy March, with her then ten-year-old gelding, Brookfield Inocent. The 2019 CCI4*-S was won by Australian Chris Burton and his nine-year-old, Clever Louis.

Roy Cox, Estates Director, Blenheim Palace, said:

“The International Horse Trials is one of our most prestigious events, attracting world class riders to compete in this iconic competition.

“We are delighted its future has been secured and have every confidence The Jockey Club, with its rich history and wealth of experience, working alongside British Eventing, is the perfect combination to ensure this great event which contributes so much to the local area continues to thrive.”

Ian Renton, The Jockey Club’s Regional Managing Director, whose role includes the running of nearby Cheltenham Racecourse, said:

“It truly is a great honour to be appointed to organise the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for the next five years. We look forward to working closely with Blenheim Palace and British Eventing to ensure the event has a fantastic future.
“As a company we welcome nearly four million people a year to events at our venues and our team are excited to put on a fantastic show at Blenheim in keeping with the international prestige of both the Horse Trials and the Palace itself.
“With the Home of Jump Racing just 40 miles away I’m also confident there are economies of scale and cross-promotional opportunities from this partnership.

“Overall we’re thrilled to be involved and thank the Blenheim Palace and British Eventing team for placing their faith in us.”

Jude Matthews, Chief Executive of British Eventing, said:

“Blenheim Place International Horse Trials is a key fixture in the British Eventing calendar, showcasing some of the most talented horse and rider combinations in the world. The event has been established over many successful years and we look forward to working with The Jockey Club to continue this development and to potentially bring our sport to a wider audience.”

The Blenheim Palace Horse Trials will take place from the 16th -19th September, 2021.

www.blenheimhorse.co.uk

Cheltenham Racecourse have launched a jump racing hub for you to enjoy all the racing, news and views from the comfort of your own home. 

You can also see updates of the going from Simon Claisse, the racecards for all the races, as well as all the race replays moments after the races have finished.

Click RACE AT HOME WITH CHELTENHAM to find our more.

Racing returns to Cheltenham with The Showcase on Friday, 23 October and Saturday, 24 October. The two-day meeting is the first action to be staged at The Home of Jump Racing since The Festival™ in March. In accordance with government COVID-19 regulations, the meeting will take place behind closed doors.

You can follow the action with the Jockey Club's new Racing At Home service.

There are seven races on each day of The Showcase with Saturday's highlight being the £48,000 Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase (3.50pm) over three miles and a furlong. Heading the 17 entries is Frodon (Paul Nicholls), who famously landed the 2019 G1 Ryanair Chase at The Festival™ under Bryony Frost. The eight-year-old is a five-time winner at Cheltenham and was last seen when fourth in the 2020 Ryanair Chase. Also engaged is Cogry (Nigel Twiston-Davies), winner of this race in 2017. The 11-year-old went on to be second in 2018 and third in 2019.

Another possible starter is Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford). The 10-year-old finished fourth to Tiger Roll in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National and is twice a winner over the Grand National fences at Aintree, having taken the Randox Health Becher Chase in 2018 and 2019.

​​Dorset-based Robert Walford said today: "Walk In The Mill is in good form and a possible runner at Cheltenham on Saturday. It all depends on the weather but if it is good to soft, he will take his chance.

"We are delighted with him at home and he seems to be in really good order. He had a nice summer break and obviously we were gearing up for the Grand National until COVID-19 intervened. We are looking forward to seeing him back in action.

"The Grand National is again a potential long-term target for Walk In The Mill. The big race we will target first however again is the Becher Chase. He has a fine record in the race and we just need to get one run into him before we head to Aintree."

Saturday's action gets underway with the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2.05pm) which takes place over an extended two miles for four-year-olds only. The roll of honour includes dual Randox Health Grand National hero Tiger Roll (2014) as well as subsequent Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase scorer Dodging Bullets (2012).

The top-rated performer among the 11 entries is the front running Allmankind (Dan Skelton), a G2 winner over the course and distance at The November Meeting last season before going on to win the G1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December. He ended the campaign when third in the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival™, a race in which Sir Psycho (Paul Nicholls) finished fifth.

​rainer Dan Skelton said: "Allmankind is in good form and Saturday's contest at Cheltenham has been the plan since the start of the season.

"The Masterson Holdings Hurdle is an ideal race to run in given it is against four-year-olds, so he can take on his age group one last time before he takes on the older horses.

"He has to carry a penalty, but he is a G1 winner. I would just like to see a bit of rain, but he is a planned runner at the moment. I am really happy with him at home and he is ready to start.

"He just ran quite flat at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle. I am not saying he would have beaten Goshen in the Triumph Hurdle, but he just ran very flat in that race.

"There is no point dwelling on the past and we are looking forward to getting him started. It is a new season, with a new start and new objectives."

An intriguing contest could be further enhanced by Grand Roi (Gordon Elliott), successful in three of his four starts when with Nicky Henderson last season, and the potentially unexposed performers Botox Has (Gary Moore) and Monte Cristo (Nicky Henderson).

Fusil Raffles (Nicky Henderson), G1 winner at Punchestown in 2019, tops the 10 entries for the Best Odds At Matchbook Novices' Chase (2.40pm) over just under two and a half miles.

Mossy Fen (Nigel Twiston-Davies) landed the G2 Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick in January before going to finish fifth in the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at The Festival™ and is likely to make his chasing debut at The Showcase. 

Carl Hinchy, who owns Mossy Fen in partnership with Mark Scott, said today: "Mossy Fen is in fine form and the plan is to head to Cheltenham this weekend. He will either run on Friday [Matchbook Better Way To Bet Novices' Chase, 3m ½f] or on Saturday, but we haven't made a decision yet as to which race to target.

"Mossy Fen is a point-to-point winner and he has schooled very well. We are excited about getting his season underway, but we would not want to risk him to early in the season on watered ground. Rain is forecast so hopefully it will ease the ground so he can run."

This could also be another fascinating contest with the likes of recent Listed Chepstow winner Grand Sancy (Paul Nicholls) and Pileon (Philip Hobbs), the short-head runner-up in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at The Festival™, also holding entries.

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3.15pm, 32 entries) over three miles is the first race in the series of qualifiers for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at The Festival™. Horses need to finish in the first six in a qualifier to be eligible for the contest at The Festival™. Tobefair (Debra Hamer), the neck runner-up in the 2019 contest at The Festival™, won this qualifying contest 12 months ago and is entered once again.

Completing Saturday's programme are the Showcase Novices' Hurdle (4.25pm, 3m, 11 entries), the Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (5.00pm, 3m 1f, 20 entries) and the concluding Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (5.35pm, 22 entries).

Friday's programme at The Showcase runs from 1.50pm through to 5.15pm and is headlined by the £48,000 October Handicap Chase (3.35pm, 17 entries). This contest was previously run on the Saturday of The Showcase. The weights are headed by G2-placed Dolos (Paul Nicholls), who is entered alongside stablemate Getaway Trump, runner-up in G1 company over hurdles and the comfortable winner of a beginners' chase at Warwick on 1 October.

Going
The going at Cheltenham is currently Good. The forecast is for an unsettled week, with rain at times. Racing at The Showcase takes place on the Old Course.