The 4-day Cheltenham Festival runs from 15-18 March in the UK National Hunt racing calendar showcasing the finest runners and riders in the sport. It is second only to Aintree’s Grand National when it comes to prize money and, despite originally acting as a preparation race for the Aintree event, the Festival has established itself as its own standout fixture and is a firm favourite with horse racing fans.
Spectators get to see several Grade 1 races including the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, and Queen Mother Champion Chase. Adding to the party atmosphere, the meeting coincides with Saint Patrick’s Day on the Thursday and is very popular with Irish racegoers.
Last year, the Cheltenham Gold Cup was won by Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Indo with Jack Kennedy riding him to victory against a strong field which included A Plus Tard, Al Boum Photo, and Frodon. The victory sealed a historic hat-trick for the Irish trainer, who also landed the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase. In 2022, all involved in racing will be elated to have the cheering crowds back booming out the iconic “Cheltenham roar”.
Although the Guinness Grandstand with its party atmosphere is sold out, there are still tickets for other enclosures on sale. Best Mate Enclosure tickets – starting from just GBP £55 – arguably offer some of the best views, while the Club (from £100) and Tattersalls (from £70) enclosures provide prime grandstand viewing. What hurdles are stopping you? Purchase your ticket now! For those looking for an extra special day at the races, there are hospitality tickets on sale for Gold Cup Day (Friday 18 March) offering the opportunity to watch the finest racing from one of the course’s award-winning restaurants starting from £690.
Before we reach the big meeting itself, there is a fantastic selection of Cheltenham preview racedays at courses including Wincanton (10 March) and Exeter (11 March) as well as Imperial Cup Day at Sandown (12 March). These events are the perfect opportunity to see some of the prospects get in shape before they head to Cheltenham in mid-March.
After the Cheltenham Festival, there’s less than a month to go until the Grand National at Aintree. From 7-9 April, the 3-day meeting features the famously challenging steeplechase with up to 40 riders jumping 30 huge fences which is watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide. Why not opt for turning off the TV and head to Aintree to witness one of the world’s top sporting events first-hand?! Following the Grand National, a plethora of jump meetings, Easter racedays, and season finales see us nicely to the end of another thrilling National Hunt season.
