| The Cheltenham Festival is the most | | | | Jump racing being most popular |
| prestigious meeting in the National Hunt | | | | attracting most of the attention; the |
| Racing Calendar in the UK. The race | | | | entrants for the jump racing are in |
| prize is second to the Grand National. | | | | incredible form with months of training. |
| The Cheltenham Festival is a chance for | | | | The three most popular races being |
| the best Irish and British horses to | | | | Champion Hurdle which is ran on the |
| come together and race one another. | | | | Tuesday. Followed by the Queen Mother |
| The event takes place every year in | | | | Champion Chase on the Wednesday and on |
| March at the Cheltenham Racecourse in | | | | Friday by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. |
| Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Massive | | | | A number one priority of the Cheltenham |
| amounts of money are bet on this | | | | Racecourse has been to provide the best |
| occasion, with hundreds of millions of | | | | underfoot conditions for the horses. The |
| pounds being gambled over the period of | | | | aim has been to provide the best |
| four days. As with most horse racing | | | | conditions for the Cheltenham Gold Cup |
| events, betting comprises a significant | | | | but also for events taking place |
| aspect of its appeal. The event is known | | | | throughout the whole year. Using the |
| for its atmosphere, most notably the | | | | available ground has enable the |
| famous Cheltenham roar. The Cheltenham | | | | Racecourse to produce fresh ground on |
| roar refers to the noise made when he | | | | the new course for both third and in |
| horses enter the home straight and long | | | | 2005 the fourth day of the festival. |
| run in. The roar also refers to the | | | | Cheltenham now consists of two |
| incredible amount of noise which is made | | | | racecourses known as the new course and |
| at the opening race of the festival. | | | | the old course. |
| Traditionally the race was ran over a | | | | A day at the Cheltenham Festival |
| period of 3 days, however this changed | | | | comprises of six races, with the meeting |
| in 2005 when a fourth day was | | | | getting underway with the Supreme |
| introduced. There are 24 races | | | | Novices Hurdle on Tuesday afternoon, |
| altogether, with grade one events | | | | which is the first race of the event. |
| including the; | | | | The Feature race however being the |
| * Champion Bumper | | | | Champion Hurdle, which regardless of |
| * Triumph Hurdle | | | | attracting large fields is normally |
| * Supreme Novices Hurdle | | | | taken by those more favoured in the |
| * Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle | | | | Cheltenham betting markets. |
| * Arkle Challenge Trophy | | | | The most successful horse in Cheltenham |
| * Royal & SunAlliance Chase | | | | Gold Cup history was Golden Miller, who |
| * Champion Hurdle | | | | won five times from 1932. There have |
| * World Hurdle | | | | also been another three horses that won |
| * Queen Mother Champion Chase | | | | the gold cup 3 times consecutively. |
| * Cheltenham Gold Cup (The final race) | | | | * Cottage Rake in 1948 - 1950 |
| The first Cheltenham Festival took place | | | | * Arkle in 1964 - 1966 |
| in 1902 and since then has continued to | | | | * Best Mate in 2002 - 2004 |
| gain more and more distinctions within | | | | The race course has many advantages |
| the racing calendar, becoming nearly as | | | | including onsite accommodation and |
| in important as the Grand National, the | | | | several restaurants to choose from. At |
| prize money also seconding the Grand | | | | Cheltenham there is a huge choice of |
| Nationals prize. Every year without a | | | | places where food and drink is |
| fail now, the build up to Cheltenham | | | | available, ranging from bars to seafood |
| excitement begins months in advance. | | | | and beef burger stalls. An impressive |
| Most of the betting takes place when the | | | | range of hotels are in the surrounding |
| actual event is taking place, hundred of | | | | area, offering exclusive deals whilst |
| millions of pounds is spent on races. | | | | the Cheltenham Festival is on. |